Many of us in the United States are feeling hopeless about the ongoing gun violence in our country, and the lack of will among our representatives to address the issue. I was grateful last Sunday when our pastor conducted a post-service meeting for us to express our concerns and discuss ways to promote changes in our gun control laws.
The group made plans to approach our legislators at the upcoming March for Our Lives, to be followed up with a petition and visit to our state capitol. I have already called and written to my representatives, but still waiting for gun rights advocates to realize that children's lives are more important than their gun rights.
This is a blog about building bridges, but I confess I don't know how to build bridges with people who buy more guns every time there is a mass shooting, instead of working on stronger gun safety laws. One man who attended Sunday's meeting expressed his concern that an obligatory waiting period for gun buyers meant that it would be a felony for him to sell a gun to someone tomorrow. I can't understand how his right to sell a gun right away is more important than protecting innocent lives.
The 18-year-old who killed 19 children in Uvalde, Texas, bought two semi-automatic weapons and 375 rounds of ammunition just days before going on his rampage. If there had been a waiting period, he might have had time to reconsider his intentions before trying to kill his grandmother and then going to the school to kill children and teachers.
If there had been a higher age limit for gun purchases, this troubled youth would not have had the legal ability to purchase weapons. If he had had a background check, there might have been a red flag regarding his mental instability. Perhaps he would have gotten the help he needed?
If semi-automatic weapons were not available for purchase by private citizens, most of the mass shootings would not have happened.
I really don't understand why people can't build bridges of peace by agreeing on some commonsense measures to prevent tragedies like the ones in Uvalde, Parkland, Sandy Hook, Columbine, and too many others.
Please join me in contacting your representatives to beg for commonsense gun safety laws. To quote author Hollye Dexter:
I am begging you to VOTE in every election. Every single one.
To SPEAK UP against this sick gun culture, even when it’s uncomfortable.
