In the #MeToo movement, we have come to a point where we demand the resignation of those who protect the abusers. Should we not have an equivalent standard for those who protect the gun lobby and the murders that they allow to continue to happen?
Don’t just demand action and legislation. The time for that was after Columbine. After Sandy Hook. After Pulse. After Las Vegas. Also, now, sure, but at this late hour it is also time that we start making it clear that we blame those who are protecting the existing status quo as well. Thus, you should not be demanding Paul Ryan to act—or not only that. You should also be demanding that he, and anyone else obstructing the gun debate, put up, shut up, or get out of the way. That means persistent ongoing demands that they resign in disgrace immediately for the blood that is already on their hands. Every subsequent gun massacre (which we know will happen as night follows day) should prompt a new round of activism to remind the public of their culpability until they either act or are replaced.
It is time to make it clear that it isn’t just lives, but also, with every death, our leaders’ jobs and reputations that are on the line as well—and they are further imperiled and morally tainted by every single gun massacre from this point forward. Every event will only increase their responsibility—and correspondingly intense demands/campaigns for their resignations or replacement in the next election. Once that social change happens, THEN we will have gun reform in America.