On Wednesday, February 21, 2018, GVP activists and allies joined students, teachers and the NJ 3rd Congressional District Action Group for the United We Stand for Gun Safety Rally in Marlton, NJ. Below is the text of a speech I delivered that afternoon.
To all present today, thank you for coming. Never underestimate the power of standing up for a cause you believe in. To the students of Stoneman Douglas, I say “you are not alone”. We will stand with you today, next week and for as long as it takes to end the scourge of gun violence in America. Last week you sat huddled in a darkened classroom while the sound of gunshots signaled the injury or death of fellow students and educators. Yesterday, some of you traveled by bus to the Florida State House in Tallahassee, Florida, to implore legislators to discuss a ban on assault weapons. I ask you how many AR-15s do gun enthusiasts use for hunting or shooting at a range? Despite this reasonable request, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to reject bringing the issue of assault weapons to the floor for discussion. To these lawmakers, we say “Shame on you.”
The mass shooting was carried out by a young man with a history of mental health problems. Mental health plays a significant role in mass shootings. Overall, it is a part but not the heart of the number of gun fatalities annually. President Trump recently said the US needs better mental health treatment to reduce gun violence. If the President sincerely believes this, he can dust off the Obama regulation he rolled back in early 2017, which restricted the access of a mentally unstable person to guns.
The CDC estimates there are in excess of 30 thousand gun deaths each year in America. Japan and Australia average less than 100. Do Americans suffer from mental illness 100X more than these countries? Or, are there too many guns on the streets and in the homes of America? Guns are the third leading cause of injury-related deaths in the US, after poisoning and car accidents. The cost of care to US ERs and the medical system is about 8.6 billion, according to Giffords Law Center. This is a public health epidemic. Listen to the story of a woman who survived the Columbine HS shooting in 1999. Amy Over, in TheDaily Beast, recalled the first day her daughter attended kindergarten. Amy said she thought she would experience joy. Instead Amy had a panic attack. She later realized she was afraid to leave her daughter. Gun shootings affect entire families and last many years.
So what can we do? We can give of our time, our talents and our treasure. There are several GVP groups here that would be happy to have you join their volunteer efforts, as well as donations. We have the power of the pen to write to our legislators about a particular bill or about gun safety, in general. The most important thing we can do is VOTE. Today, I have brought along a pink slip for a congress person who takes money from the NRA. I say to this legislator “your time is up”. Who will join me? (Others held up pink slips)