Time to Act, Ohio

I have never been subtle about my fear and anger about gun violence, especially in schools.

And here we are, four years after that post, struggling with what continues to happen in schools across the United States, and this week in Nashville. I personally know two people who have a connection to individuals deeply impacted by what happened at Covenant School on March 27.

It is naïve to walk through life at this point and think that we won’t be directly impacted by gun violence in some way.

Over the last year, I have had the privilege to be an Advisor for a new chapter of Students Demand Action in Dayton. The student leading this group is an absolute rockstar, and we are learning together more and more about gun safety and especially in Ohio. We attended Advocacy Day last week in Columbus, organized well by Moms Demand Action.

Friends – we have so much to worry about. We met fellow Ohioans who lost children to gun violence in many cities across our state. Gun violence is what we see on the news in schools, but it is also access to guns that are then used in drive by shootings and suicide.

You can spin data anyway you want. But the latest shows that 92% of Americans are in favor of improved gun safety. In the past, I was annoyingly anti-gun. But the truth is, all the gun owners that I personally know are responsible. And I would bet they are willing to have some additional checks or restrictions to make the general population safer.

Safe storage, better access to purchase policies, and a much better mental health safety net seem to be better ways to compromise.

Part of our Advocacy Day included 1:1 meetings with Representatives from across Ohio. Our own reps declined to meet with us – which is of zero surprise.

But here is what we did learn. It is OUR job to not be quiet anymore.

To be visible.

To be loud.

And to stall bad legislation.

In Ohio, any issue that gets to the House floor will pass – as this image addresses:

And we need to work hard to stop HB 51 Ohio. It is a bad law, and I challenge you to educate yourself about the details.

It puts second amendment rights on steroids, and there are so many opponents to this potential legislation.

Opponents listed here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/135/hb51/committee

Here is my ask – if you have any interest at all in contacting the Government Oversight Committee to let them know that you do not support this legislation, then please share your name and contact details in the Comments, message me directly, or fill out this form.

You will then be contacted with all the resources you need to write letters, send emails and make phone calls.

Let’s not be quiet, friends.

We must be better than this.