Rep. Maxwell Frost is a big fan of gun control. That’s what he was elected to try and push since that was apparently his primary schtick when running for office.

Now, I get that. I disagree with him, of course, but I can totally understand that he and I disagree about the best way to address things like Monday’s mass shooting at a Nashville school.

The problem is that Frost doesn’t see it that way, which he made very clear on the House floor.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) took to the House floor Monday in response to the Nashville school shooting, saying he was furious at Republican “cowards” who “don’t give a damn” about children and won’t back gun control legislation.

The freshman congressman slammed his Republican colleagues in a terse but fiery speech:

I rise today because I am furious, angry that three kids died today in Nashville, Tennessee. Angry that hundreds of parents had to cry their eyes out today not knowing if their child would come home from school, and angry that we have to live day after day when we turn on the news and see rampant gun violence claiming life after life.

And all of this is because politicians in this chamber that have been bought and paid for by the NRA, that put profits over people, over human lives. Cowards who wasted our time last week passing a Parental Bill of Rights, not giving a damn about the rights of children to go to their classroom without the fear of being gunned down due to senseless gun violence.

…

“It is likely that at this moment, the next mass shooter is planning their shooting,” Frost said. “What will this chamber do about it? I filed my bill last week to simply create a federal office of gun violence prevention. Three kids are dead today and every day that we wait, 100 more people die. I pray to God there are some Republicans in this chamber that can help support my legislation to save lives.”

Alright, folks. We know what Frost has to say about this.

Now, it’s my turn.

Dear Rep. Frost,

I see that you’re rather upset about how your Republican colleagues have not joined you in passing gun control measures you believe to be the way forward, calling them “cowards.”

That’s a fascinating take, but one that has absolutely no reflection on reality.

You see, for them to be cowards in this instance, it would require them to believe that gun control is the right answer but are too afraid to pass it for whatever reason. Neither you nor anyone else has presented anything in the way of evidence to support this, however, which makes me wonder a few things.

First, what do they have to be afraid of, anyway? People such as yourself routinely claim that the public agrees with you on gun control. If that’s true, then they wouldn’t have anything to fear from their constituents, now would they?

And don’t try to sell me on the idea that these lawmakers are beholden to the NRA for anything. I know it’s a common talking point among gun control advocates, but the truth is that groups pushing for that gun control have deep pockets too.

So what do they have to be afraid of?

The answer, of course, is nothing. So the idea that they secretly agree with you doesn’t seem to hold up under scrutiny.

So what is the answer? Why do they refuse to pass gun control as you wish, Rep. Frost?

Maybe the issue is that people such as yourself can’t muster a coherent argument in defense of your precious gun control and must resort to high-school-level antics of trying to shame grown adults into compliance. Instead, you throw a temper tantrum because this House passed bills that had nothing to do with gun control or mass shootings–nor were they intended to, it should be noted–while you fail to lash out at your fellow Democrats for their own non-gun control efforts.

Pro-gun lawmakers aren’t cowards. They aren’t afraid. That’s just something you tell yourself when you go to bed so you can feel better about being about as convincing as a four-day-old salad.

So knock it off.

If you want something done, calling your colleagues names isn’t exactly going to entice them to come over to your side. Act like an adult, for crying out loud, and try talking to people who disagree with you and find areas where maybe you can make a change without trampling on our rights.