Gun Control in Schools
In the wake of the shooting yesterday in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two adults were murdered, I am sad, angry, frustrated and fed up. I do not plan to sit in these feelings any longer. I am tired of hearing about yet another shooting in yet another school in yet another city. Instead of sitting and waiting for policy changes, I plan to use my skills as a lawyer and mom to invoke those changes and you should too. Here are a few of my recommendations for how we, as citizens and parents, can invoke changes in policy.
1. Recognize Your Strengths
You know best what you can bring to the table. Are you an amazing public speaker, networker, accountant, writer, planner, artist, advocate, etc.? First, realize your skills and use them to show up and show out. Show up as your best self, your most authentic self with an honest heart and good intentions. The rest will follow as God guides you along the way.
2. Understand the Power in Numbers
Once you have recognized your strengths, use it to build or work with a community that will work with you to bring about the necessary changes. We have to be willing to have difficult conversations about gun violence, gun control, security in schools, and our current shortcomings. In building a community of advocates all on board to changing our current situation, change will come.
Below is a brief, and non-exhaustive, list on organizations and groups you can reach out to:
Schools
Board of Trustees
Superintendents
Principals
Parent-Teacher Associations
Senators
House of Representatives
Governors
Mayors
City Councils
Nonprofits
Places of Worship (Churches, Temples, Mosques, Synagogues, etc.)
Hospitals
Other Community Organizations
Businesses/Corporations
There are many companies, organizations and nonprofits that would be interested in helping. Let’s make the calls and ask. If you would like to reach out to me and work together to help you make those calls or even to discuss what to ask, please email me at info@marrongebremeskel.com.
3. Observe and Research Gun Violence in Schools
Once a group is assembled and ready to combat these difficult conversations, a team entrusted with conducting a case study and compiling reports, trends and statistics regarding past gun violence in schools would be highly beneficial. These studies can help with the next step.
4. Outline a Plan Moving Forward
Once said report and studies are conducted, an outlined plan for moving forward is the next step. A few of the items that this plan may encompass include, but are not limited to:
Better securing schools
Better securing entrances and exits
Creating more effective alarm/emergency systems
Increasing law enforcement staff on campuses
Creating more emergency drills
Increasing mental health awareness and programs for students
I want to close this conversation by stating that it is imperative that we figure out a way to discuss gun control without running to our “designated corners of the ring” in politics. As we all know, gun control policy is what is NEEDED, as these mass shootings are not limited to schools. Gun legislation is being stalled in Congress AND THIS MUST STOP. Both sides MUST recognize that children are being murdered and not coming home to their families in both parties after being dropped off. No one wants this, no political party member. Therefore, let’s unite to bring change. Let’s work together to eliminate another shooting from happening in our children’s schools. We can do this together! Feel free to contact me at info@marrongebremeskel.com to discuss ways we can invoke change.
