Cowards, cowards

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I am so upset by the recent failure of the Senate to pass a bill on background checks. I don't want to write a bunch of words... I want you to watch this video. It is an excellent recap.  Please, regardless of your stance, will you watch this video and consider what it has to say?

I would also like to make one point clear. The background check bill had language in it to forbid the creation of a national registry from the background checks. That was one of the major concerns. So where was the problem?

 

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Late to the Party

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I know I am late to the party on this issue, but it's still an important one, and I'd like you to read about it and become part of the movement!

Today I became part of the revolution of women and men who will WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to violence against women and girls on 2.14.13.  (check out some of the great videos from these events here.)

ONE BILLION RISING is a global call to women and men across the planet to gather in their communities to dance and demand an end to violence against women and girls.

http://onebillionrising.org/

Right now, 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime.

V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls, refuses to watch as more than one billion women experience violence.

ONE BILLION RISING is a promise that on February 14th, 2013, we will ensure that millions of women and men rise up around the world to say, "ENOUGH. The violence ends NOW."

http://onebillionrising.org/

Thank you! 

Pictures Speak Louder than Words

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You know what this picture is? The number of people killed in gun deaths since Sandy Hook.  Since there is no national database, this is based on numbers reported. 

1833 is the number.  This map shows the 250 that occurred closest to Atlanta.

I mean holy shit batman!!! Scary huh? 

Please visit One Million Moms for Gun Control for more information.

I can't think of any reason why we shouldn't be having a national discussion on gun control?

But if you can, you know I like to hear both sides of the story...

Biting the Bullet Part Two

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If you happen to want to get involved in the call to action, 1MM4GC provides the following very useful information:

What do I say when I meet with an elected official?
Your message when visiting your representative's office is simple. And if they are on our team, always ask what you can do to help!

PRO Legislation: Thank them for their support of common sense gun violence prevention legislation. Ask them what you can do to support efforts on the hill to pass comprehensive legislation.

ANTI Legisltaion: You are there to express your support for comprehensive gun violence prevention legislation that includes our top three points. You are there because you hope that (insert representative name) will support such legislation. Don't be scared to ask questions, such as
- Are there any components that this rep would support? If so what are they?

SHARE Your Viewpoint:
Below are the talking points that we have found most helpful to remember and to practice over and over again. They cover everything in the easiest most digestible way.

- Gun violence is a public health issues. We want common sense solutions to the epidemic of gun violence.

- We want to see one comprehensive piece of legislation that incorporates a ban on assault weapons, limits magazines to 10 rounds, background checks for all gun sales, reports large sales of ammunition to the ATF.

- We support President Obama's points and want to see a comprehensive piece of legislation.

- We are moms and we vote. And we are going to vote on issues of gun violence prevention.

- We do not want to worry about the safety of our children when the go to school, to the park or to the mall to see a movie.

- 30,000 people are killed by gun violence every year. Anything else responsible for this number of deaths would be addressed and regulated.

- Gun violence is the number 2 killer of children between the ages of 2 and 19.

- There are 4 million NRA members. There are 80 million moms. We demand action, and will not stop until we have common sense legislation to regulate guns and bring about an end to this epidemic of gun violence.

- Our goal is passing legislation. To that end we will continue to build membership here and across the country. To pass legislation on a national level and on a state level, and we will keep our membership growing and focused and engaged until we do so.

- SC ranks 2nd in the nation for domestic homicide - domestic violence turning to murder with 52% of those murders being committed with a firearm. (2010, Violence Policy Center)

-SC - nearly 70% of all murders in SC were committed with a firearm (SC, SLED, 2010)

-Domestic violence situations where a firearm is involved increase the risk of a woman's murder by 500%. (Campbell et al. American Journal of Public Health 2003: 93:1089-1097).

 

Biting the Bullet

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Pun very much intended!

Friends,

I have not written anything in quite awhile.  I've been working on my primary blog and simmering on a lot of issues.  From the discussions we had prior to the elections,  I know the topic of gun control is an extremely volatile issue. I want to make it clear that I am NOT opposed to guns, hunting, or homeowners having guns in their homes.

What I AM opposed to is the lack of control and safety measures, the trafficking of weapons, senseless violence, and the number of children that are killed in our country each year due to gunshots. According to data by the FBI, more than 3000 are killed each year by guns, and that is not even counting accidental deaths.

I am opposed to my children being in danger.  I am FOR making this country safer for all children. Sandy Hook made me realize I DO have a very strong feeling about the lack of laws in this country to protect the people against guns.

As a mother, I decided this is something I want my voice to be heard about. I want my children to be safe at school, at the movie theater, at the mall, in the streets, driving down the street, on their school bus. (I was actually held up at my bus stop when I was in 5th grade! Thankfully no one was hurt... that day!)

I joined a movement called the One Million Moms for Gun Control. Their mission is simple. Let's get out there, talk to our elected officials, and MAKE THEM open up the debate and conversation. A real debate. With real changes.

1MM4GC is a non-partisan, non-antagonistic,about action and common sense solutions to the epidemic of gun violence.

It makes sense to me!  If we want to stop Columbine's and Sandy Hook's and future events of this nature, not to mention the hundreds of daily shootings and deaths, there has to be some kind of change.  Plain and simple.  There will have to be compromise.  There has to be a discussion.

Are you willing to use your voice and make this country safer for our children?

February 18-22 is officially "Moms Demand Action" week.  I received the following email that I'd like to share, that explains a bit about what the group has planned. 

Dear Alexa,

Next week is Moms Demand Action week. Our members of Congress are going home, to their districts, and together we are going to let them know that we support a comprehensive plan for common sense gun legislation!

Our week-long campaign kicks off on Monday, February 18, 2013. Below is a schedule for the week, as well as guidance to help get you started.

Week of In-District Meetings

Please set up appointments with your Senators and/or House Members. Schedule as many face to face meetings as possible between Monday February 18 - Friday February 22 (with a special focus on Tuesday February 19th).

Use this link to find your representative: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
• Type in your address and hit submit.
• Click on your representatives' name to get the page with local office contact information.
• Call their office and set up appointments. Tell them that you are with One Million Moms for Gun Control.
• If you can't meet with your representative ask to meet with their staffer who works on gun violence prevention issues.

Once you have set up an appointment, let us know by completing this form: http://onemillionmomsforguncontrol.org/in-district-meeting-information-form/

Take photos of your meeting and send them to photos@1mm4gc.org. Tweet using the hashtag #1mm4gc. Post on Facebook!

Schedule of Events for Moms Demand Action Week:

Mon. Feb. 18: Thank President Obama on President’s Day for his support of a comprehensive gun violence prevention package. You will be able to email and Tweet this thank-you note to the President and to your specific Congressional representatives.

Tues. Feb 19: Meeting Day! Schedule a meeting for Tuesday if possible. If not Tuesday, meetings should be scheduled whenever possible during the week.

Wed. Feb. 20: Twitter Day! Tweet your elected officials as frequently as possible between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m eastern time. We will provide twitter handles and hashtags for the day.

Thurs. Feb. 21: Email Day! Email your elected officials as frequently as possible between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m eastern time. We will provide email information that day.

Fri. Feb. 22: Call-in Day! Call your elected officials as frequently as possible between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m eastern time. We will provide phone contact information that day.

Updates on calls-to-action and events will be provided daily on the home page of the One Million Moms for Gun Control website, onemillionmomsforguncontrol.org

Join us and let your representatives know that you demand action; that you demand an end to senseless gun violence.
Sincerely,

Shannon Watts
Founder
One Million Moms for Gun Control

Copyright © 2013 One Million Moms for Gun Control, All rights reserved.
You are on the list because you opted in at our website, http://onemillionmomsforguncontrol.com/

Our mailing address is:
One Million Moms for Gun Control
PO Box 347
Zionsville, Indiana 46077

 So, this is where I stand.

What are your thoughts?

AND REMEMBER - this is a place where everyone is invited to share freely, as long as we agree to be respectful of each others viewpoints!