What to do…..

Hello All,

I know I have not written in a bit. I wanted to be sure that when I wrote that it would be constructive, and not a crazy rant about how insane our world is right now. And I do believe our world has gone nuts – there is a war overseas that threatens democracy – women’s rights are in jeopardy – books are being banned and burned – suicide is at the highest rate ever- gun violence is so high that for the first-time guns are the number one cause of death for children and adolescents (number ONE – that should give each and every one of us great pause!) – and two horrific mass murders in less than two weeks.

Trudi sent me this quite a week ago:

“The culture of any organization is shaped by the worst behavior the leader is willing to tolerate.” – Todd Whitaker

That is so true. Think back to any boss you have ever had – what was the worst behavior she/he tolerated? I wonder if also he meant behaviors that he/she did? That would make sense to me. I have had excellent bosses and those who were far from that. The bad bosses I had not only tolerated bad behavior, but actually pitted staff against each other – withheld information that was needed – treated people poorly. And come to think about it, the people who succeeded working with these bosses either had or adopted the same behaviors.

It is not just the culture of a single organization though, I believe Whitaker’s comment can also mean the leaders of our families, the communities and states we live in, the government at all levels. What do they tolerate? Today, it appears that for some it is almost everything I started this blog with.

I also believe that is also the responsibility of the people. For instance, the vast majority of the American public supports universal background checks prior to buying a gun and red flag laws – so why aren’t our elected officials moving forward on that? A growing number of Americans also want to restrict/ban the use of AR-15s – I am not sure why anyone would need those short of the zombie apocalypse – but where is the action on that? Women’s rights are at stake – and don’t think that they will be stopping at abortion. Have you heard the discussions around IUDs? Birth control pills? Books are being banned because they meet someone’s definition of pornography, obscenity or being detrimental to the “health of our youth”. (Ladies – no more “Fifty Shades of Grey” for you!) So, what are WE tolerating?

In looking at the number of public shootings in which four or more people were killed, the United States has the unique distinction of being number one in developed countries. We are a “global outlier”. Looking at the data from 1998 to 2019 on the number of mass shootings, the US has had 101. The next country – France at 8! Germany – 5. Canada – 4. Finland – 3. Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland – each had 2. The following countries each had 1 – Australia, Austria, Croatia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia and the United Kingdom. OVER 21 YEARS. In just this past weekend from 5:00 p.m. on Friday June 27th through 5:00 a.m. THIS MORNING – there were 12 more mass shootings with 9 people killed and over 60 injured. Look at the list of countries again – in each and every one of these countries they have people who are mentally unstable – who get into fights – who are racists – who don’t like what someone says or does – who makes you spill your drink. So why is it that in the United States of America it is easier to pick up a gun and shoot somebody – or many somebodies?

So let me say this before I go further. I am not saying we need to run around and take back guns. At least half of my family (birth and chosen) have properly obtained gun permits and practice at shooting ranges. Many of them actively carry. It is their choice, just like is mine not to do so. (I do have an old, tiny canister of mace in my purse, which, frankly, I would be just as likely to spray in my own face as an attacker’s!) What I am saying is that there is a way to honor this and our second amendment – and not have the incredible access that exists today and at young ages – to not have assault rifles available – to not have high capacity magazine rounds. We need common sense solutions.

So as the header to this blog says, what to do? We can wring our hands and complain. We can say one more time that we are sending thoughts and prayers. Unfortunately, those are not effective strategies. We need to treat this as the public health emergency that it is. It is not a time to do nothing. If there was ever a time for action, it is now. We have the national data that shows the states with the more restrictive laws have reduced the rate of mass shootings. We can start today – in your own backyard, at the local, state and federal levels.

Research candidates for office – look at their stances/voting records/who and what organizations are financially supporting their campaigns. VOTE. VOTE. VOTE. Then write the leaders often – make sure they know what you believe in. Let them hear YOUR VOICE.

Support organizations that are making a difference. Join MOMS DEMAND ACTION. This over 8 million people strong organization is a grassroots movement of “Americans fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence”. (I hope they all turn out to vote at our next elections!) Wear orange during June because it is National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Support the March for our Lives protest on June 11th – a student-led movement about gun control.

Support efforts to improve safe gun storage. Gun safes – gun cases – safety devices such as trigger or cable locks.

Mental health comes up in almost every conversation (“It’s not the gun…..”). Then government agencies – put your money where your mouth is. Fund initiatives to universally support mental health. Make reimbursement for psychiatrists look like that for cardiac surgeons. Put social workers in every school – and pay teachers (often our first line of defense outside of families) what they are worth.

And the list could go on. We have so much we can do. We need to show the will to do it.

As Kathleen Parker writes – “We might not stop the next massacre, but we can stop making it so easy.” Actually, our collective big hairy audacious goal as a society should be for mass shootings to become never events.

Phyl