We Cannot Stop Until Children Stop Dying From Gun Violence
On Saturday, January 26, I and many others will gather on the National Mall for the March on Washington for Gun Control. We are calling on members of Congress and state legislators to passcommon sense gun safety laws to stop the epidemic of preventable child and adult gun deaths. Others are marching in Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, San Antonio, Jersey City, and in communities across the country. Grassroots groups are coming together in the wake of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Mothers and fathers, grandparents, pastors, gun violence survivors, law enforcement officers, elected officials, child advocates, and everyone who believes that our children’s right to live, learn and grow up safely must be protected before guns, must not stop marching, calling, writing, and visiting and holding our political leaders accountable. We must vote them out if they do not act to end the preventable and immoral loss of child and human lives and honor what most Americans want and our children need.
A new Gallup poll shows that most Americans support universal background checks for gun buyers, a ban on assault weapons, limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds or less, and other proposals in President Obama’s Plan to Reduce Gun Violence. It will be a formidable fight to achieve these essential steps but we can and will succeed if all of us raise an irresistible and unrelenting voice in every state in the weeks and months to come, and for as long as it takes.
Don’t let anyone tell you current gun safety regulations are working just fine. They aren’t. The massacre at Sandy Hook woke up many Americans to the epidemic of gun violence, which has snuffed out the lives of 148,000 children since 1968 — this is the equivalent of 7,400 classrooms of 20 children and teens. Every 30 minutes a child or teen is shot in the United States. Every 3 hours and 15 minutes a child dies from gun violence. It’s time to say “no more.”
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The ‘March on Washington for Gun Safety’ is a good idea. If people got half as upset or concerned over issues like this…or over pollution, global warming, GM foods, or neglect of our public schools — AS THEY DO OVER BUY MORE AND MORE GUNS — we would be much better off.
And yet we find people in the news who are arguing about all sorts of petty issues… like “which leader is most like Dr. M. L. King…” Actually — none of them have yet lived up to the great accomplishments of Dr. King — not yet.
THE “anti- gun- safety’ ATTACK DOGS have been out in force. There have been too many of these attacks and accusations about Pres. Obama coming from all corners…and some of it just overboard and ridiculous. The NRA put a commercial out that implied that Pres. Obama’s wanted more for his children than for yours. And of course…they were promoting MORE GUNS.
We even have some “black leaders” who are claiming that….”Obama does not like Black people…” — despite all of what he has on the WHITE HOUSE website about services for AFRICAN-AMERICANS. Despite Obama’s “Black History Month Proclamation” and his declaration against SLAVERY….and the speech he gave at the URBAN LEAGUE regarding his INITIATIVE FOR BLACK EDUCATION…. there are some who continue with demeaning attacks upon him.
Michelle Obama has been promoting ” fitness and good eating habits” — which does effect most of the Black Community. And they started programs to fight against FOOD DESERTS.
But — WHO EVEN LOOKS THAT UP?????
WHAT WENT WRONG WITH OUR YOUTH who are so sucked up into nonsense… (glorifying violence, shooting each other in the streets, standing around drinking 40s, rioting in malls over gym shoes, wearing pants on the ground…etc.) ???
We cannot blame all of that foul behavior on Pres. Obama !!!
Pres. Obama set up “Green Jobs” programs…which helped businesses in “da’ hood” too. But we have those who ignore all of that …and even side with many of the “global warming, flat-earthers.”
We have to seriously question ourselves and society as to WHY SO MANY BLACK PEOPLE are suffering with unemployment, poverty, and are in prison…considering that HISTORICALLY… African-Americans created a wide range of inventions, machines, books, business ideas, musical forms… etc.
We can disagree with Governmental policies and activities…based upon protecting our Civil Rights…and we should. But we need to quit wasting time blaming other people and the President for things that some folks are doing to themselves.
Guess what semiauto rifles are not the weapon of choice on the street of Chicago. You are all drinking the same Kool aid and ban will not solve illegal guns on the street. WAKE UP parent our kids and change the mindset of these kids on the street.
A missed opportunity. The march for gun safety along with jobs would have had a resounding effect if it was done on Dr. King’s birthday.