Yesterday 93 People Were Shot And Killed In America. We CAN Do Something About it!
Yesterday, on average, 93 people were shot and killed in America. We only heard about the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia that injured 4, including Representative Steve Scalise who remains in critical condition.
I cried yesterday when I woke to the news of the Alexandria shooting but not because of the shooting itself. I cried because I realized I had no compassion, no sympathy, no empathy for the Senators and Representatives who were shot, who had to run in fear. I didn’t and still don’t care because these are all people who have the power to keep shootings like this from happening. But they don’t.
I don’t wish fear, terror, and danger on anyone but I have no concern for the people who, in exchange for money, have consistently put the NRA’s interests over the people of this country. While I watched their mouths trembling from fear and shock and looked into their eyes red with tears, I could only think of their votes — votes that put guns into the hands of the mentally ill, votes that allowed the ban on assault weapons to expire, votes that allow domestic abusers to keep their guns, votes that allow terrorists to have guns, votes to deny universal background checks, votes that deliberately undermine our strong state gun laws.
When Texas Representative Joe Barton cried and held his son Jack to his chest, I could only think of how Barton has repeatedly voted to endanger the lives of my children and of your children and of our country’s children.
And when I heard about the excellent healthcare that Representative Steve Scalise is receiving, care that could well extend throughout his lifetime — both physical and psychological — I could only think about how these men are voting to take away healthcare from more than 23 million people, many who are gun violence survivors themselves, while keeping their own.
It is ironic that one of the meetings the House of Representatives cancelled yesterday — so that they could comfort themselves with thoughts and prayers — was a meeting to push through the removal of regulations on silencers. Now let’s imagine how that would have worked at the Alexandria baseball field. The shooting starts. No one can tell where the shooting is coming from because the shooter is using a silencer. Where does everyone hide? Where do the Capitol Police direct their fire? Where do you run?
We haven’t yet heard from the NRA on this shooting but we will, either directly from NRA leadership or indirectly through the mouths of their bought and paid for Congress. You’ll recognize their voice when you hear calls for more guns everywhere.
We may not have the money to buy Congress but we do have OUR voices and OUR votes!
Here are 3 things you can do today to prevent gun violence!
- Take a look at the Gun Violence Archive to learn about the other people in America that were shot and killed or injured yesterday and this year.
- The Senate continues to fast-track the passage of the American Health Care Act. It is estimated that 23 million people will lose their healthcare under the AHCA, many of them gun violence survivors who require life-time physical and emotional care.Please call your United States Senators today and tell them to vote NO on the AHCA! To find your Senator, click here.
- The House will continue to consider removing regulations that govern the ownership of silencers.Please call your United States Representative today and tell them to vote NO on HR 367, to deregulate suppressors. To find your Representative, click here.
Here are other activities that will help all of us prevent gun violence!
Tonight, June 15
Join us at Micky’s in West Hollywood. We’ll be there from 5 pm to 9 pm to Remember Orlando, Honor Lives Lost, Celebrate PRIDE, and Commit to #DisarmHate. For more information, click here.
Sunday, June 18
Join gun violence prevention activists, Attorney Charlie Blek and Canon Mary Leigh Blek at All Saints Church in Pasadena on Sunday, June 18th, 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. to learn about the Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO). The GVRO is a mechanism for family and household members to work with law enforcement to temporarily remove guns and prevent the purchase of new guns by individuals who pose a potential risk to themselves or others. This important presentation takes place in Sweetland Hall at All Saints Church. Parking is available in the Kaiser Administration Building garage (enter from Euclid, one block north of the church.)
Additional events this year:
Concert Across America – Los Angeles
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Firearm/Domestic Violence Summit – Los Angeles
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
AND VOTE #GUNSENSE IN EVERY SINGLE ELECTION — LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL!
We look forward to seeing you and hearing from you as we all work together to prevent gun violence in our communities, in our state, and in our nation!