Do We Care More About Guns Than Our Children?

Dear Reader,

Another tragic headline. Another shattered community. Another group of parents, siblings, and friends left to navigate the unthinkable.

It’s a question we cannot avoid any longer: Does America care more about guns than the safety of its children?

Every year, gun violence claims the lives of thousands of Americans and get this….GUNS ARE THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF CHILDREN IN AMERICA. I had to put that in all caps because this is not normal. Let’s all let that sink in. Guns are now the leading cause of death for children in the United States. Despite these heartbreaking statistics, meaningful progress toward common-sense gun laws remains an uphill battle.

Let’s talk about why this is an uphill battle.

Two weeks ago I flew to Washington D.C. with my mom and joined the nonpartisan group March Fourth to lobby to reinstate the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that was in place in America from 1994-2004 and advocated that our representatives cosign the GOSAFE ACT. These are just 2 common sense gun laws that the majority of Americans are in favor of.

In our meetings with various senators, staff members and representatives we heard the same thing, “You have to get the Republicans to sign this first, if they see 6 Democrats that have signed it already they won’t even look at it.” In one meeting with Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona he told us a story that was truly disheartening. He was conversing with a Republican friend and fellow congressman about the GOSAFE ACT that would regulate the sale, transfer, & manufacture of semi-automatic firearms when his “friend” said, “I know this will save lives but I can’t sign it because I’m up for reelection”.

March Fourth

Cue every curse word In existence. I feel like the father in A Christmas Story fighting with a malfunctioning dinosaur of a furnace.

So I put my most empathic therapist hat on and asked the difficult question, why is this an uphill battle and why is this a uniqueAmerican issue?

It’s uniquely American because republican Americans have a tight grip on constitutional rights and the Second Amendment. It’s blind unwillingness to hold onto this right for the fear of what could happen down the road. Their argument is that this is a “slippery slope” and any amendment or restriction could pave the way for broader gun bans or confiscation. The "slippery slope" argument is frequently invoked, suggesting that giving up even limited rights could lead to losing all rights.

As a privileged white woman who lives in an urban area, I have to put myself in the shoes of the person for whom this fear is real. Why do they fear this and why does it matter? To understand this fully we must look at why the Second Amendment exists. The Second Amendment was crafted in the 18th century to ensure the security of the newly formed United States by balancing the need for national defense with the protection of individual liberties. At the time, the Founding Fathers sought to prevent government tyranny by empowering citizens to defend themselves and their communities. It also reflected the reliance on state militias, rather than a large standing army, for defense and maintaining order. Influenced by English common law and the experiences of the American Revolution, the Second Amendment guaranteed the right to bear arms as both a safeguard of personal freedom and a practical necessity in a young, rural nation.

But we’re not a young nation anymore and England is no longer a threat. On the contrary one of their own Princes, “The Spare”, came to seek safety for his family here but that’s for another post. However the fact remains that many Republicans believe they still need guns for several key reasons rooted in personal freedom, safety, and distrust of government. Gun ownership is seen as a fundamental right tied to individual freedom and cultural values, especially in rural America. Concerns about rising crime, social unrest, and distrust in the ability of law enforcement to provide immediate protection further fuel the belief that firearms are essential for safety. I hate to say it but I get it. At times I fear all those things and want to know that if sh*t hits the fan I can protect myself because we all want the right to LIFE LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. Given the nuance and the complexities of people’s reasons for gun ownership, we need to find common ground and take a first step that should make sense to everyone, regardless of party affiliation: assault rifles are unnecessary in a civilian setting, full stop.

With the rise of school shootings we are confronted as a nation with the question, “does the second amendment still protect us from tyranny or is it causing the tyranny?”

We at March Fourth, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization led by survivors and advocates, are working tirelessly to demand federal legislation to prevent these tragedies—starting with the reinstatement of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. This law was proven to save lives during its original enactment from 1994-2004. It’s time to bring it back. What does that mean going forward in this uphill battle? We must continue to address republicans fears.

March Fourth

Addressing Republican fears requires:

1. Building Trust: We must demonstrate that reforms aim to protect lives without infringing on rights.

2. Clear Messaging: We must emphasize that gun safety measures and the Second Amendment can coexist.

3. Bipartisan Solutions: We must focus on shared values like preventing violence and protecting families.

The root causes of this epidemic:

We must also address the root causes of the gun violence epidemic by focusing on factors such as mental health, social isolation, and systemic inequality. Strengthening access to mental health care, particularly for those at risk of violence, can help prevent tragedies before they occur. Additionally, addressing issues like poverty, lack of education, and community disintegration can reduce the sense of hopelessness and frustration that often leads to violent behavior. By tackling these underlying issues alongside gun reform, we can create a safer society and reduce the frequency of mass shootings.

Ways you can take ACTION today:

ONE action item for you would be to sign and share THIS PETITION. This petition is demanding that Congress pass laws to end mass shootings!

We want to SHOW Congress that THIS is STILL our number 1 issue.

Make 3 daily calls to your senators and representatives. You can click HERE to find yours.

This is not a divisive topic, in fact, it is a uniting topic. Every American wants to feel safe going to school, the movie theater, grocery store, a parade, the mall etc.

Use this script for your calls:

With hope and determination,

Chrissy

P.S. To stay updated on this fight and discover ways to get involved, visit March Fourth (https://www.wemarchfourth.org) and subscribe to their updates.