America needs our voices to speak out against the gun violence and deaths related to guns. America needs leaders to ask everyone to remember we are all citizens of a great nation. A nation where exercising our freedom of speech is a right, and not an excuse for those who disagree with us to commit violent acts against us, or to commit violence against our innocent children in schools. That we can agree to disagree and go home to our families free from harm.
America needs leaders with creativity and intelligence to put forward laws to help protect us against gun violence that won’t infringe on our 2nd amendment rights. Gun safes should be state sales tax free. They aren’t, I just bought one and had to pay a sales tax. They should be sales tax free because the state should be encouraging safety. The safe choice should be the affordable choice. Trigger locks should also be state sales tax free. Red flag laws should be implemented across the nation to protect us all from individuals with temporary mental illness who own guns. It’s not an easy bar to meet, and could save countless lives. Children of all ages should be taught gun safety in schools from state police officers. Little ones should be taught to tell an adult if they find a gun, and older children should be given full safety courses. This is not an exhaustive list. Creative minds can come up with more.
Most importantly, America needs leaders to remind us that we are all Americans. That we are all God’s children, no matter which God you believe in. We all deserve respect and courtesy. That in order to have the America that we were raised to believe in, a nation built on freedom, we need to leave the violence against each other behind us in a darker age. Please contact your state and federal representatives. Ask them to allow their better Angels to win the day. Ask them to reinforce the notion of love and respect for our neighbors. To do something to combat this scourge of political gun violence, and violence against school children. To call Congress, dial 202-224-3121. Thank you.
Roger Vannoy
Lewisburg
