There’s nothing sadder than grieving the loss of your child. But Andy Parker, the father of slain journalist Alison Parker, has decided to be a “crusader” — his word — for stricter gun control. “It’s senseless that [Alison’s] life and Adam’s life were taken by a crazy person with a gun,” Parker told CNN Thursday morning. “Look, I’m for the Second Amendment, but there has to be a way to force politicians that are cowards and in the pockets of the NRA to come to grips and make sense, have sensible laws so that crazy people can’t get guns.” He went on to preemptively denounce the “if Alison and Adam were carrying” argument he promises the NRA will make. No one has made it yet, nor do we expect them to because it’s a foolish argument in this case. And then Parker concluded, “I’m not saying let’s take away guns, I’m just saying, let’s make it harder for people with mental issues … to purchase guns.”

No one wants “crazy” people to have guns. But he mentioned the Newtown shooter, who murdered his mother and stole her guns. What legislation would stop that? Murder’s already illegal. We sympathize with his loss, and are loath to criticize a grieving father, but his empty crusade won’t stop the next murder. We can only hope he finds peace.