Marching for Change on Valentine's Day!

 “This is a matter of vital importance to the public safety ... While we recognize that assault-weapon legislation will not stop all assault-weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals.” Ronald Reagan

Back in September of 2012 I had a horrible premonition. I was driving by my daughter’s elementary school, and having been recently briefed about Rachel’s Challenge coming in to speak to our district’s school children, I recalled Columbine and said to my partner “Someday there will be a mass shooting in an Elementary School.”   He insisted it would never happen to children that age.  I countered as to why it would due to the proliferation of guns and more specifically, new trends I was seeing within mid-to upper-income suburban communities where a good portion of mass shootings occur, and where we live: 1) families going to the shooting range for entertainment, breeding a new generation of “enthusiasts” and 2) Twenty-Somethings having their picture taken at the shooting range then posting their pics as their New Profile on FaceBook looking “hot”, “commando” and “sexy” (as commented by their peers).

And while it is somewhat soothing to most Americans that mass shootings have been committed by the mentally ill, if we continue in this way, again it’s a matter of time before lines begin to blur.   I realized after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that gun violence is a public health issue.

I decided to join the grassroots, bi-partisan organization March for Change that is providing a platform for people to rally in Hartford on February 14th demanding safer gun laws in the state of CT.  I am also the President of the Greater Danbury Brady Campaign Chapter, a group of concerned citizens whose mission is the prevention of gun violence in America.  The analogy being made to the March for Change org is that of the MADD model; it took a vocal group of angry and energized moms, demanding change in the drinking/driving laws to get the concept of a "designated driver" into the vernacular.  As a local Brady chapter we adopted the Brady Campaign mission "To enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations, and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support gun laws, and increasing public awareness of gun violence." We are working closely with Connecticut Against Gun Violence  who has been working to reduce gun violence through common sense approach to legislative advocacy since 1993.  Collectively, we believe we can change the conversation, change the culture, and change the laws.

I asked my 9 year old daughter if she’d like to join me on the 14th to which she replied “Mom, will it really make a difference if I’m there?”  Her despair is widely felt across our great Nation and admittedly, I have asked myself the very same question.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.  So “Yes…” I told her, “Your presence does count.”

My partner, my daughter and I are going to Hartford on February 14th.  I can’t think of a better way for my family to celebrate Valentine's Day. We too, choose love.