Florida Lawmakers Say Porn is More Dangerous than Guns

Valentine’s Day 2018 – the date of yet another school massacre. I read the news and my gut clenched.

I still vividly remember the horror of what happened at Sandy Hook. I live in Connecticut. Sandy Hook is my community.

Unfortunately, not much changed after Sandy Hook.

Today I’m feeling fiercely proud of the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for taking a stand. Public opinion on gun safety is finally beginning to shift in the right direction as a direct result of their activism.

Guns Are More Dangerous Than Porn

However, it takes longer for legislation to reflect public opinion. I was outraged when I read that the Florida state legislature had voted down a measure that could have lead to discussions on banning assault rifles. What’s worse is that in that same legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill declaring pornography a public health issue.

I’m not sure what planet these people live on. Pornography doesn’t kill kids; guns do.

But these amazing kids, even while grieving the deaths of their friends and struggling through survivor’s guilt, have stepped up in a big way. They are demanding to be seen and heard. They’re articulate and rational and make compelling arguments. They are demonstrating such unbelievable strength and power that I am filled with hope and inspiration whenever I hear them speak.

Kids Turned Activists

 

Last week, these kids organized a nationwide walk-out campaign to honor the victims of the Feb. 14 Parkland massacre and to call for more sensible gun control measures, such as a ban on assault rifles, universal background checks before gun sales, and gun violence restraining orders.

This week, they’ve organized a huge demonstration and protest in DC that has inspired over 800 sister marches around the world. According to the March For Our Lives website:

“On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington DC to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end this epidemic of mass school shootings. The collective voices of the March For Our Lives movement will be heard. Join us in DC or march in your own community.”

 

Have we have been preparing these kids their whole lives with dystopian novels like Hunger Games, novels about girls saving the world from fascist governments who are trying to destroy society for selfish and nefarious reasons?

Do we really need to enact Hunger Games? Has it really come down to a campus environment of “kill or be killed” in our schools? It’s devastatingly sad.

Laws Are Starting to Shift Toward Sensible Gun Ownership

The good news is that in the wake of public outrage, fueled by the powerful activism of these young people, the Florida lawmakers are now considering several more pieces of legislation related to enacting common-sense gun safety measures.

Florida recently passed into a law a bill that raises the minimum age to buy guns to 21 and allows for some teachers to be armed. The law also allocates more money for mental health and bans bump stocks.

Other states have begun passing their own laws reflecting this shift in public opinion. Not enough yet, but it’s a start.

Let us hope logic and compassion prevails. We’ll still need to deal with the fallout of a government that feels sex is more dangerous than guns, but it’s a start.

Let’s protect our kids.  For more on how to donate to their (our) cause, go to the March for Our Lives GoFundMe page here.

#MarchForOurLives

#NeverAgain

#Enough

#ProtectOurKids

Let’s Continue the Conversation

Dialogue is what leads to change, so let’s continue the conversation.

Did your kids participate in the school walkouts? Will your children be in D.C. for the March For Our Lives protest? Why or why not?

Do you think these protests are a good idea? Do they accomplish anything?

Is there a way to balance the need to protect our kids while also protecting our 2nd Amendment rights?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please comment below.