What do we do, those of us who want better gun control laws? What do we do or say to move the needle, even a little bit, towards sanity? The only thing I have to offer is this: I want to talk about public safety. I want the conversation to be about more than just guns (although, we must absolutely talk about controlling access to guns). I want the conversation to be about how those people who have chosen to have guns keep them safe; for there to be some measure of approval that comes from the rest of us for every action anyone takes that will keep our public spaces safe. Personally, I’d love to see people who have been harmed by guns suing gun companies—when a product is as egregiously unsafe as their product is, companies deserve to be sued. I’d love to see that happen, but I can’t do anything about that. I’m not a lawyer. I’d love to see very strict gun laws, laws that prohibit semi-automatic weapons, absolutely, laws that require repeated certifications and background checks for anyone who wants to own any weapon. That is what I want and that is how I vote. But I can’t just wish that those things will happen. What’s worse is that the people I have voted for have been remarkably unsuccessful in their attempts at gun control and management. That needle has been swinging backward for quite some time—guns are just too profitable. I am weary of waiting for them to act decisively. So, what do we do?
Here's my proposal: what if we invite everyone we know to make a pledge about what they are willing to do in service of public safety? And what if, whatever each person is willing to pledge, we say to them, “Good for you!” Are you someone, like me, who will pledge never to own a gun? Good for you! If you aren’t planning to own a gun, but you might shoot at a firing range or maybe accompany a friend on a hunting trip and borrow a gun, maybe you can make this pledge: “I will never fire a gun at a human being.” If that is your pledge, good for you!
What if you are someone who plans to own guns? Ok—let’s talk about public safety. Can you pledge to keep your firearms and your ammunition locked up securely? Good for you. Are you willing to get training and be certified in the safe use of firearms? Good for you. Can you pledge that you will never shoot a gun, intentionally, at another human being? That’s great! Good for you. Would you pledge to ensure that children cannot access the guns, cannot access the ammunition? Fantastic—good for you.
What if, then, one of the main reasons you want to own guns is to protect your home? You may not be willing to pledge that you would never shoot another human being. Can you pledge that you would never shoot another human being unless, on your own property, you felt that the lives of you and your family were being threatened? Wonderful—good for you. Are you willing to vote for politicians and political parties that support legislation limiting weapons to those that might be used for home defense, instead of weapons that are intended for military use? Since it is unlikely that any individual’s home will be invaded by more than one or two people, would you be willing to support legislation that limits the amount of ammunition a person can have in their home and that prohibits access to weapons with cartridges that hold more than a few bullets? That would move us forward, so good for you.
One of the biggest narratives for gun rights advocates is that it is people with issues of mental health who cause these public shootings and not the guns themselves. Can you, then, pledge to support increased funding for access to affordable or even free mental health services in your community? To vote for politicians and political parties who want to enact better access to mental health services? That seems logical, if you believe mental health is the primary issue in mass shootings. And if you’re willing to do so, then good for you. Are you willing to support politicians and political parties who pledge to work on issues of poverty and inequality, which are related to some of the mental health issues that might lead to public safety threats? That would help, so good for you.
Like most of the issues in the forefront of our culture’s dialogue today, the false dichotomies and absolutes shut down progress. Children’s lives are being sacrificed to our unwillingness to change our tactics, to move in every way that we can. It is time for us to call each other to be the very best we are capable of, to keep the conversation focused on public safety and not on whether or not something is a right, or on who is evil or controlling or to blame. We are all to blame when children get killed. That is a failure of our system, our culture. We are to blame, collectively, when teachers aren’t safe, when they have to spend time thinking about what they would do if an active shooter came walking down the halls.
We must do every single thing we can, and every action must be targeted at public safety. So, I offer the “Good for You” Pledge. Hand it out to your friends. Post it on your social media. Ask your faith community to all make the pledge, calling each other to actions that serve the whole of our society and saying to each other, without judgment, “Whatever you can do in service of a safe community, safe schools, safe churches, safe shopping centers and malls, safe streets, safe neighborhoods, is good. Whatever you are willing to pledge is good for me, good for us, good for you.”
The Good for You Pledge
Check the pledges that best fit what you are willing to do for public safety. Feel free to check as many as apply to you:
_________ I will never own a gun.
_________ I will never fire a gun at another human being.
_________ I will lock my firearms away safely and securely.
_________ I will lock my ammunition away safely and securely.
_________ I will support legislation to promote the registering of all weapons.
_________ I will support legislation for the protection of the public through background checks and requirements for training before gun ownership.
_________ I will submit to training, certification and background checks before owning a gun.
_________ I will support legislation to hold gun manufacturers and distributors accountable for incidents in which their firearms are used to harm people in the public sphere.
_________ I will ensure that children (people under 18 years of age) do not have access to any firearms in my possession.
_________ I will report individuals who express an interest in doing harm with guns.
_________ I will support legislation to improve the access of those living in America to affordable mental health care.
_________ I will support politicians and political parties who espouse legislation aimed at public safety.
_________ I will support politicians and political parties who espouse legislation aimed at increased access for those living in America to affordable mental healthcare.
________________________________ ___________
Signature Date
GOOD FOR YOU!
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