I want to address the most recent mass shootings in the United States. These tragedies are unconscionable, and no words are enough. But I'm hoping we can take our anger and turn it into action. Read below:
"Uvalde, Buffalo, Milwaukee, Lafayette, Pittsburg, Brooklyn, Dallas, Sacramento and so many more, all in 2022. We are long past words to describe the horrific epidemic of gun violence gripping this nation. The sadness, pain, anger, and despair we all feel cannot compare to the devastation and heart break families who have lost loved ones must be experiencing. And yet, we must all imagine ourselves in their skin, to feel their pain, to bring home the reality that gun violence can happen to anyone, and to spur us to act.
In 2022, there have been more mass shootings than days in the year, often targeting our Black and Brown neighbors or religious gatherings. And while vigils and candlelight ceremonies help us reflect on these tragedies and honor the memories of the victims, we must move beyond demonstrations of our pain towards swift and comprehensive action as a nation.
Massachusetts has some of the best gun laws in the nation. Unsurprisingly we have one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the US. Let’s make our laws even stronger to serve as a model for other jurisdictions to follow. Then, let’s call all our friends and families in other states and urge them to do something and demand better laws from their legislators. Let’s donate to state and national anti-gun violence organizations to help dilute the power of the NRA, GOAL, and other pro-gun outfits. Let’s lift up candidates at all levels of government who support action, including and especially those from red and purple states who need our help. We must hold Congress accountable for the thousands of lives lost due to its inaction and lay blame at the feet of those who have enabled the decline of our great nation.
We must also stay focused on how we solve the problem. At a bare minimum, assault weapons must be banned, and background checks must be universal. We cannot allow ourselves to fall into the trap of conflating gun violence with mental health, substance abuse, and video games, as the NRA would like. America’s rate of mental illness is no higher than any other developed nation. Japan has the highest rate of video gaming, coupled with extremely low gun violence. The only significant difference is that in America, we have more guns than people. Don’t fall prey to the talking points of the NRA.
Most importantly, do not believe we are incapable of change. Remember that each of us has a role to play in preserving our democracy. Too often I encounter the non-voter, the apolitical, and the apathetic. Some of us wear our non-participation as a badge of honor, believing politics is somehow too dirty or too beneath us to deserve our attention.
This could not be farther from the truth. Change only comes about through continuous, diligent, engagement and each of us must participate if we want a stable, healthy, society. We can all agree that none of our children should have to grow up in fear. We owe it to them to build a better world."
Join me in this fight!
