I just received an email which read like this:
Friends,
I think it's time for all of us to emulate the NRA and become 'single issue voters', and the issue, of course, is banning sale and possession of assault, semiautomatic and automatic weapons. no ifs or buts or exceptions whatsoever.
Merrow then provides a link to a blog post titled
No More Petitions! which I urge you to read.
Merrow is one of the most important journalists covering education, as he does for years at PBS, most notably on the News Hour. Full disclosure: after some disagreement and misunderstanding, we are now close friends and colleagues.
Let me offer just a few snips from his post, which I again urge you to read.
Here’s my view: Assault weapons must be banned, pure and simple. No weapon that holds more than 10 bullets should be legal. No automatic or semi-automatic weapons. Period, end of sentence, full stop. These are not for hunting. They are for killing people.
He talks about possible buyouts for those weapons already in circulation that would violate such a ban. I note Australia did it and has not had a mass shooting since.
As to the cost? I wonder what the cost to America is in emergency response and criminal investigation and loss of prouctivity of even ONE such shooting - right now it is not clear if Sandy Hook Elementary will ever reopen, and think how many resources have been expended IN THE AFTERMATH>
Let me offer some more from Merrow below the squiggle.
We have acted against proven dangers in the past: asbestos wasn’t just banned in new buildings when we learned that it causes cancer; where it had been installed, it had to be removed. However, we have also waffled in the face of proven dangers, with tobacco being the best example I can think of now. So this will be a test of our determination and political will.
We must make it harder to own a gun, at least as difficult as it is to get a driver’s license. We are the laughingstock of the world, and we are terrifying our own children.
We should demand strong leadership, not just words, from our President.
It’s time for people who care about this country and our children to become single-issue voters, just like the NRA zealots. Make it clear that you will actively oppose candidates who are not fighting — and voting — for a complete ban on assault weapons, semi-automatic and automatic and for a sensible training and licensing procedure for all guns. Fight for candidates who will take on the NRA zealots and the pro-gun lobby.
Anything less will dishonor the memory of those innocent children and the brave educators who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday.
I STRONGLY suggest passing on Merrow's column to as many people as possible.
I already have.
I am making this post to call even more attention to it.
Do with this what you will, but please do what you can to make Merrow's post widely known.
Peace.