IT'S WORTH REPEATING - Women Against Gun Violence

“We may think we live in a digital age. But there are some things technology will never replace.”
— Katie Hopkins

Dear Fellow Activists,

Yesterday I bought Tide Laundry Pods — not a product endorsement although I do like that they are pre-measured, tidy to use, and for the most part are convenient. They do, however, come in a container that can be almost impossible to open! I recently went through my typical “opening” methods.

1st Attempt: Hands/Fingers (Opposable thumbs were not helpful!)
2nd Attempt: Teeth (My dentist friends are cringing!)
3rd Attempt: Scissors
4th Attempt: Knife

And that was just for removing the plastic seal. I still needed a screw driver to pry open the safety tabs.

From 2012 — when laundry pods first appeared on the market — through April 2016, more than 5,000 children were sickened by the product, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. During that 4-year time period, 2 children died from ingesting a laundry pod. In response to the injuries and 2 deaths, makers of laundry pods took action to make them safer; in September 2015 the companies agreed on a set of safety standards:

The pods now have a stronger film with an additive that makes them taste repulsive;
The containers they come in are no longer see-through and require more skill to open (I can attest to that!);
The product features warning labels and safety information about the dangers of ingesting the pods and recommends storing the pods out of the sight and reach of children.

In addition to those actions, the Consumer Products Safety Commission issued a warning to the public; our federal legislators are considering legislation to protect our children from laundry pods; and consumers are allowed to sue for damages in court.

From December 2012 to December 2013, a 12-month period, at least 100 children were killed in unintentional shootings — almost two each week!

In the first 3 1/2 months of 2017, 83 children have been killed or injured by a gun. That’s almost 6 children a week!

Wouldn’t it be nice if, like the laundry detergent manufacturers, the gun manufacturers embraced safety technology (smart guns) instead of thwarting its development and sales?

Wouldn’t it be nice if, like the laundry detergent manufacturers, the gun manufacturers supported safe storage instead of working to defeat any legislation that requires locking up guns in the home?

Wouldn’t it be nice if, instead of designing guns that are more enticing to children by branding them with Hello Kitty logos or making them pink, gun manufacturers would follow the lead of laundry detergent manufacturers and make their products less appealing to children?

And wouldn’t it be nice if Congress would protect our children instead of pandering to the gun lobby in exchange for campaign dollars?