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(DIR) Return to: Politics & Current Events
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#Post#: 8751--------------------------------------------------
To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott after La
bor Day
By: HelloKitty Date: May 29, 2018, 7:52 am
---------------------------------------------------------
To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott after
Labor Day: Arne Duncan
Pam Bosley and Arne Duncan, Opinion contributors Published 3:15
a.m. ET May 25, 2018
After the Santa Fe and Parkland school shootings, parents need
to draw the line. We can make Congress pay attention by keeping
our kids at home.
What would happen if millions of parents across America kept
their kids out of school for a few days this fall to put
pressure on Congress to pass gun safety laws? With the midterm
elections coming and control of Congress hanging in the balance,
would our politicians finally do something about the mass
shootings in schools and other public places?
Maybe we should find out.
We’re both parents. One of us was the top education official in
the country and is now working to combat gun violence in
Chicago. The other lost her 18-year old son to a drive-by
shooting, and is the founder of an organization called Purpose
Over Pain, which provides support for parents like her, parents
whose children have been shot and killed.
Across America, the number of grieving parents is growing month
by month. Even hour by hour. In Chicago alone this year, 935
people — and counting — have been shot. That’s more than six
shootings a day.
More: Gun purchase waiting periods are a powerful way to prevent
suicides and save lives
More: Ban assault weapons, buy them back, go after resisters:
Ex-prosecutor in Congress
Neither of us opposes gun rights for hunters and
target-shooters. We don’t object to people who keep a legally
obtained gun in the home for personal protection, as long as it
is stored safely.
But when it comes to weapons of war, like the AR-15-style rifle
that was used by Nikolas Cruz in Parkland, Fla., to gun down 17
people, America needs to draw the line. When it comes to
high-capacity magazines that allow a gunman to wipe out an
entire classroom of kids without reloading, America needs to
draw the line. When children are victims of daily shootings
across the country, we draw the line.
America stands alone
When it comes to school shootings, America is simply and
tragically in a class by itself. The Washington Post tracked
every deliberate act of gunfire at a primary or secondary school
during school hours in the United States and found 115 school
shootings since 2009. The closest country to us is Mexico with
eight. India has four times the population of the U.S. and had
just five school shootings during this period.
This crisis has gone on so long that it sometimes feels like
nothing can be done about it. But commonsense gun laws can make
a real difference. According to one study, when the U.S. banned
assault weapons for a decade starting in 1994, the death toll in
gun massacres dropped, defined in the study as six or more
people being shot and killed. When Australia banned most guns
after a mass shooting in the mid-1990s, introduced a 28-day
waiting period for gun purchases, and started a national gun
registry, gun violence virtually disappeared overnight.
Some states are working to improve public safety:
►When Connecticut passed legislation requiring gun
licensing and background checks, homicides declined by 40%.
►When states beefed up gun store licensing regulations,
trafficking declined.
►Criminal background checks blocked 2.8 million gun
purchases in America between 1994 and 2014.
The vast majority of Americans want reforms like these; even
most gun owners support background checks — a step that does not
infringe on Second Amendment rights.
Yet the problem continues. The death toll increases.
And in Washington, the politicians continue to give lip service,
at best, to the idea of taking action. Across America, children
and their families are living in fear, but what some officials
are most afraid of is losing the support of the gun lobby, which
backs their campaigns and blocks needed reforms.
If Congress only cares about the next election, then let’s make
this an election issue.
Plan for a boycott
That’s why we’re calling for a boycott. Here’s how it could
work.
We’re calling for parents to keep their children home from
school after the Labor Day holiday weekend to send the strongest
possible message to lawmakers that enough is enough. We invite
parents across America from cities, suburbs and rural areas to
participate. And that includes parents who are responsible gun
owners. We know you love your children as much as we love ours.
We know that having a child out of school, even for a few days,
will be difficult for most Americans. But given the stakes of
this struggle against gun violence, we think Americans will come
together — as we always do in times of crisis — and find ways to
make this work. Community groups, churches and local businesses
could coordinate with retirees and non-working adults to set up
activities for our kids during the days of the boycott.
We also know that this is a surprising — even counterintuitive —
idea. But the old, familiar responses aren’t getting results.
We’ve got to work together to shake things up.
It’s often said that culture drives politics and politics drives
policy. The good news is that a change in America’s gun culture
is beginning to happen: The number of adults living in a house
with a gun in the USA dropped from 50.4% in 1977 to 31% in 2014.
Now we need to translate that into political change — and then
policy change. Because the alternative is unacceptable.
Do you really want to live in a country where the threat of gun
violence infects everyday life? Do you really want to walk
through metal detectors to buy groceries or go to church? Do you
want your child searched for guns every day in school?
Our children have shown courage and leadership on this issue.
Parents need to step up to send a message to Congress. We all
want our children to grow up safe and secure. Let’s give them
that chance.
#Post#: 8795--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: LuckyEightWow Date: May 29, 2018, 8:47 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I did not read all of that, but I agree about the boycott.
It will never happen though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 8982--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: MyLady Date: May 29, 2018, 12:36 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Millions of parents can't afford to keep their children out of
school for a few days.
#Post#: 9522--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: Leadfoot39 Date: May 30, 2018, 7:12 am
---------------------------------------------------------
a boycott will accomplish nothing. they need to address the real
issues.
#Post#: 9971--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: Reaandiziesmama Date: May 30, 2018, 8:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg8795#msg8795
date=1527601650]
I did not read all of that, but I agree about the boycott.
It will never happen though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]How do you think it would help?
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
#Post#: 9972--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: LuckyEightWow Date: May 30, 2018, 8:43 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9971#msg9971
date=1527730863]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg8795#msg8795
date=1527601650]
I did not read all of that, but I agree about the boycott.
It will never happen though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]How do you think it would help?
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
It would send a message that something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 9973--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: Reaandiziesmama Date: May 30, 2018, 8:46 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg9972#msg9972
date=1527730996]
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9971#msg9971
date=1527730863]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg8795#msg8795
date=1527601650]
I did not read all of that, but I agree about the boycott.
It will never happen though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]How do you think it would help?
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
It would send a message that something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]I don't think anyone on any side is ok with the way
things are. I believe everyone agrees something needs to change.
It's what and how that's the issue being debated. I think we
need to move past sending that message and work together on
fixing in. Neither side has the exact answer. The solution lies
in the middle and being good humans.
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
#Post#: 9980--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: LuckyEightWow Date: May 30, 2018, 8:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9973#msg9973
date=1527731189]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg9972#msg9972
date=1527730996]
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9971#msg9971
date=1527730863]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg8795#msg8795
date=1527601650]
I did not read all of that, but I agree about the boycott.
It will never happen though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]How do you think it would help?
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
It would send a message that something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]I don't think anyone on any side is ok with the way
things are. I believe everyone agrees something needs to change.
It's what and how that's the issue being debated. I think we
need to move past sending that message and work together on
fixing in. Neither side has the exact answer. The solution lies
in the middle and being good humans.
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
I agree with everything you have said. The problem is that no
one is doing anything. No one (I’m talking our government) does
anything beyond lip service after each incident.
Until something drastic, beyond the innocent lives lost, cause
that apparently isn’t enough, happens and Americans stand up as
a collective whole to make our government listen and know that
as parents we are tired of the lip service. Nothing will change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
#Post#: 9983--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: Reaandiziesmama Date: May 30, 2018, 8:56 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg9980#msg9980
date=1527731569]
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9973#msg9973
date=1527731189]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg9972#msg9972
date=1527730996]
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9971#msg9971
date=1527730863]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg8795#msg8795
date=1527601650]
I did not read all of that, but I agree about the boycott.
It will never happen though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]How do you think it would help?
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
It would send a message that something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]I don't think anyone on any side is ok with the way
things are. I believe everyone agrees something needs to change.
It's what and how that's the issue being debated. I think we
need to move past sending that message and work together on
fixing in. Neither side has the exact answer. The solution lies
in the middle and being good humans.
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
I agree with everything you have said. The problem is that no
one is doing anything. No one (I’m talking our government) does
anything beyond lip service after each incident.
Until something drastic, beyond the innocent lives lost, cause
that apparently isn’t enough, happens and Americans stand up as
a collective whole to make our government listen and know that
as parents we are tired of the lip service. Nothing will change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]I agree. But I think it's more hit them in their
pockets. We need new blood. We need term limits.
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
#Post#: 9993--------------------------------------------------
Re: To fight school shootings, we call for a school boycott afte
r Labor Day
By: LuckyEightWow Date: May 30, 2018, 9:07 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9983#msg9983
date=1527731774]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg9980#msg9980
date=1527731569]
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9973#msg9973
date=1527731189]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg9972#msg9972
date=1527730996]
[quote author=Reaandiziesmama link=topic=646.msg9971#msg9971
date=1527730863]
[quote author=LuckyEightWow link=topic=646.msg8795#msg8795
date=1527601650]
I did not read all of that, but I agree about the boycott.
It will never happen though.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]How do you think it would help?
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
It would send a message that something needs to change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]I don't think anyone on any side is ok with the way
things are. I believe everyone agrees something needs to change.
It's what and how that's the issue being debated. I think we
need to move past sending that message and work together on
fixing in. Neither side has the exact answer. The solution lies
in the middle and being good humans.
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
I agree with everything you have said. The problem is that no
one is doing anything. No one (I’m talking our government) does
anything beyond lip service after each incident.
Until something drastic, beyond the innocent lives lost, cause
that apparently isn’t enough, happens and Americans stand up as
a collective whole to make our government listen and know that
as parents we are tired of the lip service. Nothing will change.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
[/quote]I agree. But I think it's more hit them in their
pockets. We need new blood. We need term limits.
Sent from my SM-S737TL using Tapatalk
[/quote]
That’s the hard part. I’m my state Republican’s outnumber
Democrats 4 to 1. In our state primaries, every republican ran
on protecting gun rights and being a Trump supporter. The kind
of change on the level you are speaking just won’t be possible
for many demographics.
Not sending a single kid, or at least a majority, to school is
something as individuals we can do.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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