We are one of the wealthiest nations on the planet, and yet every single day we knowingly, naively and somewhat stupidly send our most precious, sacred gifts – our children – off to school knowing full well that there will be another mass shooting somewhere in our country. That is a fact.
This was not a widespread issue 20, 30 or 40 years ago, and yet today, it’s just a fact of life. Why? Because of a belief that nope, we cannot do a single thing to fix gun violence because it would infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
Why aren’t we doing something? Complacency. Sleeping with the National Rifle Association. Allowing the NRA to pad the wallets of many Republican and some Democratic senators and House members in Congress. Republicans have no problem limiting or eliminating a woman’s right to an abortion. But guns? Hell, no. Republicans demand re-election and loyalty to the NRA within their own ranks.
Sandy Hook wasn’t enough. The Pulse nightclub wasn’t enough. Parkland wasn’t enough. And now, clearly Uvalde, Texas is still not enough.
Here’s a thought, in the spirit of peaceful protests: Keep your child home from school for one week and tell school officials why. Unless and until something is done about these mass shootings, children are safer at home.
Companies that are truly concerned about guns should collectively take a stance for gun control, background checks or other reforms. Then, just maybe, that would force Congress to act. Or maybe just vote Republicans out of office.
Unfortunately, the fear and loss of these tragedies have not yet registered with Republicans. Without that, there won’t be any change.
Thomas Becker, Portland
