8 Comments

  1. J Hardy Carroll
    February 25, 2018 at 2:20 pm · Reply

    This is superb. Thanks for inspiring the hero in us all. The whole series has been deeply moving. Thank you for writing it. I look forward to your next non-fiction endeavor.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      February 26, 2018 at 1:40 pm · Reply

      Thanks for your support! Your encouragement and support has made it possible.

      Like

  2. BAEast
    February 25, 2018 at 8:37 pm · Reply

    I’m signed up to march in DC next month. I hate that “Parkland” and “Columbine” and “Pulse” are now ironies about life with a taint of the most needless, tragic kinds of death.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. k rawson
      February 26, 2018 at 1:41 pm · Reply

      Thank you for reading, commenting, and most of all for marching!

      Like

  3. peterkirsch
    February 26, 2018 at 1:37 pm · Reply

    As I sort through the immense gray area presented by this issue, what I find most upsetting is the NRA’s blatant obstructionism not just of gun-regulation, but of even gathering, compiling, sharing, and analyzing gun data in order to craft sensible gun-regulation policy. Doing so perpetuates their oft-parroted, straw man argument, “There is no data to support…”
    True, there is no data, because they’ve stood in the way of its creation for 22 years. Self-fulfilling to say the least. (Source: http://www.newsweek.com/government-wont-fund-gun-research-stop-violence-because-nra-lobbying-675794)

    This is a complex issue and I am and ardent supporter of quelling not just mass-shootings, but gun violence in general. Past gun-regulation efforts in this country have lacked the sound reasoning that effective policy is based on (not to mention the teeth). There’s a sea-change brewing; gun regulation is looming. I would prefer we have the data to craft policy that actually has a chance of stemming gun violence, and not just reactionary bans with limited chance of saving lives.

    I accept that the NRA will fight tooth and nail to prevent gun regulation from passing or being enforced; that is its charge. But to stand in the way of mere data collection is just ignorant lunacy.

    In full disclosure, I am a multiple gun owner and enthusiastic shooter. I don’t hunt; I don’t carry; and I certainly don’t support or agree with the NRA. I enjoy shooting, marksmanship, and the intricacies of firearm technology. I do hope I am able to preserve as many of my rights to safe, legal, gun ownership as possible, but would never elevate those rights as an obstacle to sound policy that had a promising chance of preventing Sandy Hook, Parkland, or Columbine.

    On a separate, but equally important tack, we actually DO need FAR better mental health services across the country (something Republican state legislatures have drastically, purposefully underfunded in recent years). With multiple friends who’ve been struggling with mental illness in the past few months, the shortage of available beds and sensible evaluation and care available to them, and the lack of law enforcement personnel trained to deal with them, it’s yet another maelstrom that will only get worse without adequate legislation and funding. Despite it being a red herring thrown out by the gun lobby, I do hope we can avoid dismissing it and also elevate the need for full funding and nationwide care initiatives for the mentally ill.

    Along with sensible gun regulation, this has the makings of a recipe for success.

    Like

    1. k rawson
      February 26, 2018 at 1:45 pm · Reply

      Thank you for reading, and for sharing your carefully considered opinion and insights. I am with you on all counts.

      Like

  4. peterkirsch
    February 26, 2018 at 1:39 pm · Reply

    And I forgot to mention, this is a great post and a fitting tribute to these young women of courage. Let us hope the fire continues to burn within them and others of their generation who fight for truth and change in all of the areas where it is so sorely needed.

    Like

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