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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRosanne Cash on Facebook: "Do NOT Tell Me She 'Should Have Had a Gun.'"
https://www.facebook.com/RosanneCash/posts/10153586998595336I have as much concern for the safety of my children as any mother alive and if that makes me 'political', so be it. I don't hurl insults because I think some of you have a bewildering attachment to military-grade weapons and a refusal to consider mandatory background checks. I'd appreciate the same civility.
For ten years, I was on the board of PAX- an organization whose sole purpose was to prevent gun violence among children. (PAX merged with Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence several years ago.) After ten years of meeting grief-stricken parents of children killed by guns, I had to quit. I couldn't take the endless parade of innocent people with shattered lives. It was eating at my soul. More pre-schoolers die by guns every year than police officers in the line of duty, and people seem to accept it as collateral damage for 'freedom.' Whose freedom are we talking about? Certainly not a classroom of first-graders lying in a pool of blood. And we're not talking about the freedom of their parents either, whose lives are utterly destroyed.
In 2000, as a representative of PAX, I attended the Million Mom March in Washington, DC with my husband, my year-old baby and my 11 year old daughter. I had a lot of hope that day-- the energy was powerful and the thousands of parents holding pictures of their dead children was a mandate in itself.
At the end of the day, my friend Patty Smyth, who marched alongside me with Bette Midler, Emmylou Harris, Raffi and many, many more, said 'if nothing else, we helped carry the burden of the grieving mothers for one day.' I wrote an article for Rolling Stone about that day. I was full of expectation that our elected officials would rise to the occasion and enact basic gun safety legislation like background checks, safety locks and a ban on military-grade weapons.
It turned out that, in fact, all we did was help carry the burden for a day. Nothing changed.
Several years later, my precious daughter, Chelsea, was held up at gunpoint in the jewelry store where she worked. The gunmen held her for twenty minutes. I'm so grateful she was not killed and I'm also so acutely aware that the difference between me and the moms carrying the photos on the march is a split second. Do NOT tell me that Chelsea 'should have had a gun.' If she had, she'd be dead. She is not physically or mentally able to coolly aim a gun at someone who is already pointing a gun at HER, and fire sharp-shooter style at another human being while terror-stricken. Nor am I. Nor are millions of other people.
The logic that 'if more law-abiding citizens had guns, there would be fewer mass shootings' is confounding to the point of nihilism. What's the end game? Every first grade teacher should have a gun in her desk to prevent another massacre like Newtown? Every pastor in his pulpit? Every movie-goer, mall shopper, night club patron and mom pushing a stroller, until we are reduced to anarchy and violence in every social venue of this country?
If you can make a compelling argument why we have laws requiring safety locks on medicines to protect children, but no law requiring a safety lock on a gun, I'd like to hear it. If you can make a compelling argument why a mentally disturbed youth should be able to easily stockpile military-grade weapons because of loopholes in the law and no background checks, please-- go ahead. I'd like to hear an articulate and reasoned logic behind that thought.
The Constitution is a living document-- if it hadn't changed since its inception, I personally would not be allowed to vote. The language 'well-regulated militia' doesn't equal 'mentally ill person with stockpile of automatic weapons' in my interpretation, but if you believe the amendment extends to that, then I believe Congress needs to amend the amendment, as it has done before in other cases.
Personal handguns and hunting rifles will never be banned in this country. Not a single person talking about the gun issue, that I have heard or read, has suggested that.
If one classroom of first graders can be saved just by requiring background checks and a ban on military style weapons, wouldn't it be worth it? One teenager in a movie theater, one student nurse, one pastor in the pulpit, one little pre-schooler? If the answer is no, or the answer is just more vicious rhetoric, then we should be ashamed. That child could be yours. It was almost mine. So don't tell me to keep my mouth shut.
Thanks to the kind follower who posted this fantastic essay:
https://idlehandsworkshop.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/lets-not-talk-about-gun-control/
Journeyman
(15,036 posts)secondwind
(16,903 posts)mainstreetonce
(4,178 posts)There is a well written article that counters every argument.
Thanks for posting this.
me b zola
(19,053 posts)joanbarnes
(1,722 posts)Frank Cannon
(7,570 posts)I've been a fan of hers (and her father) since I was a lad. She's definitely a chip off the old block, that one.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)She's been at it a long time
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)It's pretty dicey to espouse liberal views these days. Even the daughter of a legend is at risk. You go girl.
spanone
(135,846 posts)hopemountain
(3,919 posts)she comes from strength and talent.
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)LuvNewcastle
(16,847 posts)She's a good writer. I like her style.
KT2000
(20,584 posts)nirvana555
(448 posts)once when I was reservations manager at a luxury hotel and she and her band were staying there for the night. What a well written essay. I'd love to see it in the Op-Ed of the N.Y. Times.
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)Ive been able to buy ammo and go to shooting ranges without ever showing an ID. But I cant buy Sudafed without one.
Circular logicThey are convinced that easier access to more deadly weapons will allow them to defend themselves against someone who should not possess these weapons but does. Look at their circular logic. A. Someone very dangerous has access to firearms. B. I should be allowed to protect myself against that person. C. Therefore guns should be made easily available to everyone.
But what good are they?
That link in the OP is an excellent read.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)generally must appear to be macho in order to mask their fearfulness.
Your dad I'm sure is smiling upon you, Roseanne
groundloop
(11,519 posts)All these gun nuts who say otherwise are fools, until you've stared down the barrel of a pistol being held by a criminal you can't imagine how helpless you are.
And I guess I didn't realize Rosanne Cash was such an outspoken advocate of common sense laws.... more power to her.
Raster
(20,998 posts)...and trust me, there were already far too many guns in that conversation for any more to make sense. The solution is NOT to make sure everyone is armed to the teeth. The solution is to do just the opposite.
catbyte
(34,408 posts)Raster
(20,998 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,664 posts)malaise
(269,066 posts)Thanks Hissyspit
Solly Mack
(90,775 posts)Oldtimeralso
(1,937 posts)Fairgo
(1,571 posts)Thanks for this. A Very constructive conversation has started to rise above the predictable sound and fury.
The gun problem in the US is one component of a much deeper, wicked problem that has poisoned the nation. Solving wicked problems requires action research (applied community advocacy) engaged through a network of cause specific social interest efforts that share a basic value set. This, over time, can make produce the aspirational change...or violent revolution followed by a new round of horror. To me, that is where the only simple dichotomy is. We either slouch our way into extinction or we stand up as a human race, roll up our collective sleeves, and literally show the world that we are worthy stewards.
Beartracks
(12,816 posts)... background checks would provide such warning.
======================
coolepairc
(50 posts)When it's foreign terrorists, we pour resources into thwarting these sorts of acts. Why is it that we do nothing when the terrorist is an American national?
northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)Save, send, repeat. Save, send, repeat. Save, send, repeat.
Mister Ed
(5,940 posts)I was as tongue-tied as she is well-spoken. It delighted Mrs. Ed to see me at a loss for words for once.
WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Do you really need a gun?
Indydem
(2,642 posts)"Personal handguns and hunting rifles will never be banned in this country."
She's also clearly never visited our fine community either or she'd know, as I do, there are plenty calling for exactly that.
brer cat
(24,578 posts)NealK
(1,870 posts)Skittles
(153,169 posts)it is a sick, SICK culture
Triana
(22,666 posts)niyad
(113,392 posts)russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)Tumbulu
(6,291 posts)Only thing is that I want all guns gone! So sick and tired of bullies pushing guns on all of us!
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)that disqualifies her from Congress
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Yep. And the gunners insist there are too many laws.
Photographer
(1,142 posts)Gman
(24,780 posts)By telling them what Danid Crosny told someone in the front row that said the same thing: "go fuck yourself.", Thevguy shut up.
Unrepentant Fenian
(1,078 posts)Paladin
(28,266 posts)Owning a military style weapon is not self defense... its indulging in a personal cold-war with other gun owners.
chupacabra1
(4 posts)Thank you Ms Cash, it seems that gun nut's solution to mass killings is more guns. This won't end until some Congressmen's family becomes a victim.
bigbrother05
(5,995 posts)You can't make someone tell the truth when it's in their financial/political interests to sell the lies.
swilton
(5,069 posts)It's so interesting how these events get ignored.
vkkv
(3,384 posts)magazines of more than five rounds.
Background checks and 10 day hold periods are essential.
lisby
(408 posts)Well said, indeed.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)Just like her father.
niyad
(113,392 posts)The logic that 'if more law-abiding citizens had guns, there would be fewer mass shootings' is confounding to the point of nihilism.
thank you, ms. cash, for that statement.
I have not known anything about her until this moment, but am so impressed.