Had ENOUGH yet?
20 Actions You Can Take to Eradicate Gun Violence
As a response to the recent mass shooting in Orlando (notice I had to qualify it with “recent”) a dear friend of mine, Tula Jeng, posted an amazing response on her Facebook wall. With her permission, I’m reblogging her recommendations of 20 things we can do to eradicate gun violence.
(Learn more about Tula by checking out her blog, Whorange, a website focused on fashion, design and, or course… all things fabulous! Or, follow her on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter)
To my FB friends and family who have had ENOUGH
“What are we going to do?” It’s the one question I hear over and over again in the aftermath of Orlando, San Bernardino, Charleston, Santa Barbara, Aurora, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, and Columbine. “What are we going to do?” In the face of such unimaginable tragedy, the answer feels overwhelming, but it is not unattainable. We need to grieve. We need to stand together. Then, we need to act.
This is what we are going to do:
1). We will find our local Democratic Party office.
We will volunteer and work to elect Democratic candidates who support increased gun control, banning assault rifles, and expanding background checks.
2). We will help elect down-ballot Democrats who support gun control.
Volunteer for and donate to your Senators’ and Representatives’ campaigns. Taking back the House and Senate from the GOP this November is KEY to passing gun control legislation!
3). We will support Senators who voted for background checks.
We will contact Senators who voted against background checks, give them hell, and hold their vote hostage. Meet the 45 Senators Who Blocked Background Checks.
4). We will write our Senators and Representatives and demand gun control now.
We will stay vigilant and hold their feet to the fire. Find out who your representatives are here.
5). We will support, advocate, and donate to gun control campaigns.
The bipartisan Brady campaign is a powerful one. Their hashtag is #ENOUGH.
6). We will volunteer for gun control advocacy groups.
Here are two:
- Gabby Giffords’ Americans for Responsible Solutions
- Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
7). We will hit the streets and canvas. Knock on doors, distribute informational materials, and empower and encourage like-minded people to vote.
Contact your local Democratic Party to find out how.
8). We will sign petitions to demand gun control.
Here is one.
9). We will support, vote for, and donate to California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom’s “Safety For All” initiative
This initiative requires background checks on ammunition purchases and ban the possession of high-capacity ammo magazines.
10). We will utilize our unique skills to get the message out…
We will write articles, make music, make podcasts, make videos, design t-shirts, design posters, make photographs, create art, tweet, post, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Keep the conversation going by providing tangible content that people can share.
We will collaborate with friends, colleagues, and/or family to create this content.
11). We will educate our friends and family on how to use social media so they can engage and spread the message.
12). We will step out from behind our mobile screens and join rallies, protests, and community action groups.
13). We will host phone-banking parties.
14). We will organize and host fundraisers (parties, yard sales, concerts, etc.).
15). We will attend and donate to fundraisers.
16). We will donate to our candidates.
17). We will travel to swing states to canvas for Democratic candidates.
18). We will educate ourselves on the gun control issues, gun violence, the NRA, and the 2nd Amendment.
We will know our platform and prepare to argue our points. Here are some good reads:
- America’s gun problem, explained — After the mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, many people are wondering: Why haven’t we done more to prevent this kind of horrific tragedy?
- How the NRA Rewrote the 2nd Amendment — The Founders never intended to create an unregulated individual right to a gun. Today, millions believe they did. Here’s how it happened.
- What ‘arms’ looked like when the 2nd Amendment was written — The men who wrote the 2nd amendment would never recognize an AR-15
- What Congress is doing – and not doing – on guns — According to Congress.gov, 227 pieces of legislation introduced in Congress in 2015 were related to firearms. Most or even all of those proposals are going nowhere, but it’s not for lack of attention on the issue.
- Gun violence in America, in 17 maps and charts — Among developed nations, the US is far and away the most violent — in large part due to the easy access many Americans have to firearms.
- Trump on Gun Control — Read what Donald Trump has to say about why we have so many mass shootings in our country. Note: It’s not pretty.
- Clinton on Gun Control — Read Hillary Cliton’s stance on addressing gun violence.
19). We will FIGHT LIKE HELL to defeat Trump and the GOP.
We will call them out on their hypocrisy, their dangerous rhetoric, their bigotry, their racism, their homophobia, their transphobia, their Islamophobia, their misogyny, their fear-mongering, and their toxic gun culture.
20). Finally, we will vote for our Democratic nominee – Hillary Clinton.
She is a strong advocate for gun control, LGBT rights, women’s reproductive rights, and will appoint progressive Supreme Court justices. To my #BernieOrBust friends, I know you disagree and I’m not trying to convert you. We have different journeys and I respect yours. But, should you choose to stand with me in the future, I look forward to fighting the fight together.
Our work has just begun, but we can do this, and we MUST do this. I will continue to update this list as the election goes on and new info and ideas arise. Please share! Also, please feel free to add your action ideas, helpful articles, and resources in the comment section.
As President Obama said, “Inaction in the face of mass shooting is also a political act.”
Are you with me?
Orlando Nightclub Shooting | Obama FULL SPEECH
Watch President Obamas remarks about the mass shooting below:
Related reads: