Indiana, Flunking Gun Safety

I wrote yesterday about the community forum in South Bend on gun violence.  The statistics copied below are from a footnoted handout received at the event.

 Indiana is one of ten states where deaths due to firearms are outpacing motor vehicle deaths.

40% of all firearms sold in the U.S. fall through the cracks of the gun show and internet sales loopholes for private sales,

Indiana does not require private sellers at gun shows and on the internet to submit to a background check.  That means that thousands of firearms fall into the hands of felons or the severely mentally ill.

The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave Indiana an “F” for the strength of its gun law

In 2011, Indiana was the leading out-of-state source of guns used in crimes in Illinois, supplying over three times more crime guns than the second-highest source state.

Indiana needs work. Write your state legislators and ask to have these loopholes closed.

The Sad Anniversary of Sandy Hook

On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  Shortly after that I revived this blog and posted  information about guns and gun regulation along with suggestions for ways I thought gun use in this country could be safer.  I wrote letters to elected officials asking for change.  Two years later national regulations have not progressed though some states have made progress.  I became discouraged.  Some even believe the country has become more pro-gun these last two years.

Here in South Bend, a few Sundays ago on the anniversary of Sandy Hook, there was a community forum held as a culminating event for the annual Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, organized by Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, partnering with Mamas Against Violence and Community for Peace and Nonviolence.  I have been so lethargic about the issue I almost didn’t go.  However, I did, and it was a moving event that re-energized my commitment to gun safety.

The event was, first of all, a remembrance of all victims and survivors of gun violence, especially local violence here in South Bend.  A number of speakers talked of their experiences of losing a loved one to gun violence. However, the forum was also a call to action and legislatures and law enforcement people spoke as well.  I will write about more of this information in future posts.  For now, here is a site to help you find some your politicians at the state level.

Read about the above sculpture here.

Reset

I have not been thinking about writing these last few weeks.  Now, I think I want to return to some political issues.  However, before I do, I want to include a reflection sent by a friend—I can’t find the original source.

If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each one of us, there is a desert to travel. A star to discover. And a being within ourselves to bring to life.

Happy New Year!