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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| The Creative Community Takes on Gun Violence |
| 2015-10-31 |
| Earlier this month, I joined dozens of my colleagues in the creative community to take a stand against the gun violence that has insidiously become routine in the United States. We are actors and artists, but we are American citizens first. We have a role to play and a responsibility to do more to prevent these tragedies. We are anxious to do our part to galvanize more Americans and find ways to help in the effort for sensible reforms. Our new Creative Council is part of Everytown and you can see a list of members and read about our organizing principles right here. New additions to the potential watering of the Tree of Liberty We're acting now because, for too long, the gun debate in this country has focused on choosing a side: pro-gun or anti-gun. That is simply a false choice. We respect the Second Amendment but keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of convicted criminals, terrorists, domestic abusers, stalkers and dangerous people isn't anti-gun; it's pro-common sense. If you had bothered to read what you wrote, you may have seen the contradiction: Keeping weapons out of the hands of unfavored classes. That is not common sense, but a fascist program. The ways that we reduced auto fatalities can serve as a model for how we can reduce gun violence. Many of us remember driving around without seatbelts or when driving drunk wasn't taboo. Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other groups teamed up with legislators and, together, they made it unacceptable and illegal to drive drunk or without buckling up. And they did it by violating individual rights to such a degree that rights are meaningless in local courts. As a result, countless lives have been saved. Sez you. While we have made dramatic progress in states and cities across the country, we still haven't done for gun safety what we've done for auto safety. The problem comes down to a powerful but calcified gun lobby that is out of step with its own constituents of gun owners and with the American people. No question about that. By Gun Lobby, Moore means the National Rifle Association which has been involved in more violations of 2nd Amendment rights than any other organization in the US. The NRA, despite its protestations is severely out of step with the Constitution. We know that more than 90 percent of Americans support common-sense reforms that are proven to save lives. What not enough people know and what the gun lobby doesn't want more of us to know is that a large majority of gun owners support these reforms too. The ratio could be every living soul on the planet, except me, but this is about my rights, not your mob. The Creative Council has already started our work and we need you to join us and help grow this movement. Please go to wecanendgunviolence.org, sign up, learn more about what you can do and take action. Email your Congressperson. Write a letter to the editor. Make a donation to Everytown. Talk to your friends and colleagues. There's no action too small with a task this monumental. Everyone and everything count (sic). We know that change won't happen overnight, but it will happen when everyone comes together, no matter who we are. If that happens, we can pave a path toward a safer future. If you can dodge all the pissed off patriots. |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #8 They can start by giving up their armed bodyguards and home security personnel, as well as their privileged claims on first responders' time and energy. Oh, and post "Gun Free Zone, C'mon In, Boys!" signs on the gates of their mansions.
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| Posted by: charger 2015-10-31 17:06 |
| #7 We [actors and artists] have a role to play. Yeah, it is to entertain and little else. You are not particularly special. If you don't like guns, don't own one. If you have a beef about guns, write an editorial but be warned, do your homework and don't take up space with a useless article that is just B.S. Don't parrot Democratic/leftist talking points. Be objective. Don't make up your statistics or facts. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2015-10-31 13:57 |
| #6 |
| Posted by: Sven the pelter 2015-10-31 13:36 |
| #5 How can an inanimate object be violent? |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2015-10-31 13:27 |
| #4 One group that never got traction in the acronym wars was DAMM (Drunks Against Mad Mothers). |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2015-10-31 12:52 |
| #3 The Mothers Against Drunk Driving analogy is the latest non sequitur argument from the "common sense" anti-gun crowd. MADD has never advocated for restrictions on the procurement of vehicles. Their success has come from the insistence of prosecution for illegal operation of said vehicles. Now if the Creative Community starts crowing about the frequent plea bargains that result in weapons charges being dropped I'll offer my support. Otherwise - step off. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2015-10-31 12:36 |
| #2 Mimes. I hate Mimes |
| Posted by: Frank G 2015-10-31 09:42 |
| #1 We also had drivers ed in schools. Some one thought that piece of technology, which kills more people annually than guns, needed a program to train people on the proper and safe handling of its capacities. Maybe, you might start some, you know, gun training at the school level as well. MothersAgainst Drunk Driving and other groups teamed up with legislators and, together, they made it unacceptable and illegal to drive drunk or without buckling up. Did the same in New Mexico. Nice laws. Didn't stop the DUI and deaths on the highways than all the unconstitutional gun laws in Chicago have stop the killing. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2015-10-31 09:08 |