The father of a reporter who was shot to death on TV during a live broadcast is calling out politicians by name who oppose what he calls sensible gun laws.
Andy Parker, the father of Alison Parker, who in August was killed along with cameraman Adam Ward while reporting live for WDBJ in Virginia, wrote a scathing op-ed Saturday for the New York Daily News.
In the opinion piece, Parker calls out politicians like Texas Congressman Mike McCaul (R) "who allows known potential terrorists on the no-fly list to obtain firearms," and Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R) who has "over 100 common sense gun legislation bills on his desk that he refuses to address."
Parker pointed out that Goodlatte's district covers the one his daughter lived in and also victims from the Virginia Tech shooting, in which a gunman took the lives of 32 people in 2007.
"Here’s what the past few months have been like. First we were numb. Then we grieved. And even as we grieved, we also got angry. Because we couldn’t believe something like this could continue to happen in this country," Parker wrote. "While my emotions were still raw, I vowed on national television to do 'whatever it takes' to end gun violence. What does it mean? It means speaking out for sensible gun laws. It also means standing up for political leaders willing to do the right thing and calling out the ones who don’t."
Parker called lawmakers whose votes Thursday allowed people on the terrorist no-fly list to continue buying firearms treasonous.
"Add to that the Senate vote Thursday that defeated a measure to deny known or suspected terrorists the ability to obtain firearms and explosives and you have what amounts to, in my opinion, TREASON," Parker wrote. "These cowards would rather cash their NRA checks than protect our families and our country."
Parker said he's tired of politicians offering "thoughts and prayers" in place of legislation that would help stem the problem.
"Barbara, Chris and I became members of a club no one wants to join," Parker wrote, referring to his wife and Alison's boyfriend, Chris Hurst. "We have a new mission in life. But Alison is with us. And she wouldn’t just support the work we’re doing. She would insist that we do it."
