Gun Safety
I’ve been angry for some time about shootings that have killed innocent people. I know that I am not alone. The ones that are the most upsetting are the shootings that have taken place at schools. My heart aches for the teachers and students whose lives have been lost, injured, or altered. And, all the families and friends that live with the memories. And, the fear that many teachers and students have, especially just after a school shooting takes place.
I remember clearly the following:
- Columbine High School, Columbine, Colorado, April 20, 1999, 12 students and 1 teacher murdered and 2 student perpetrators committed suicide
- Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut, December 14, 2012, 20 students (between the ages of 6 and 7), 5 adult staff members murdered, and 1 student perpetrator committed suicide
- Marjory Stonemason Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida, February 14, 2018, 14 students and 3 staff members
- Robb Elementary School, Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022, 19 students and 2 teachers murdered, perpetrator was shot at the scene
The shootings in Lewiston on October 25, 2023 stunned me beyond anger. Every time there has been a mass shooting I find myself wondering what is going to stop this behavior and I ask myself, what can I do? How can we as a society get people the help and attention and education that they need before they take actions that kill others and many times themselves? Yes, the laws need to change but we know laws alone are not the answer nor is taking away guns from all people the answer.
The following data is from 2021 and was published by the Pew Research center in August 2023. There is much more on this webpage.
- More Americans died from gun-related injuries, 48,830 people, in 2021 than in any other year on record.
- 54% of all gun-related deaths in the US were suicides (26,328), 81% involved a firearm.
- During the pandemic gun murders increased 45% between 2019 and 2021 and the number of gun suicides rose 10% during that same time.
- According to the BBC the US ratio is 120.5 firearms per 100 residents, up from 88 per 100 in 2011.
Please note: I grew up with guns in my home, they were used only for hunting. We had food on the table some years because of the rabbits and deer my father shot. I was taught to respect the guns in our home, they were always locked in a gun safe. When I was about 12 years old I took the hunter safety course and went on my first hunt with my father, sister, and brothers.
Today was the first session of the Maine Legislature. They started the session by honoring the 18 people killed in Lewiston. I traveled to Augusta to attend the scheduled rally in the State House. I’m guessing there were a thousand people there. When I arrived the line to get into the building and go through security wound around the State House, down the hill and across the entrance to the side of the street in front of the library. Many people had signs tucked under their arms with their hands in their pockets to keep warm. People were patient and on the quiet side, having small conversations. After 2 hours in the slow moving line we saw people leaving the building and the word passed along that the official rally was over, individuals were encouraged to go visit their legislators offices, and family members of those killed in Lewiston were telling their stories.
As I stood in line talking to strangers my mind wandered to all the teachers and students in schools across our state of Maine. I hope no Maine teacher or student has to go through a shooting in their school. I was grateful to have the chance to be there today but even though my attending didn’t really ‘do’ anything there was a small part of me that was there for all the teachers and students who were not there. I stood in line with the hundreds of others who care deeply about the lives of Maine people. I hope that we sent a clear picture and that the Maine Legislature can work together to do what is right for Mainers.
ARRT! (Artists’ Rapid Response Team) collaborates with 60+ non-profit, progressive groups to promote social change in Maine. This collective of approximately twelve artists meets monthly to create issue-oriented, socially-engaged banners and props. LEARN MORE!
LumenARRT created the following video. https://www.facebook.com/lumenARRT/videos/663147735748999
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