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Mothers of America, turn despair into action
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The continued news coverage regarding the Newtown, Conn., tragedy is about too much to bear. Despair for me needs conversion to action, and a bold idea is to form chapters of Mothers Against Gun Violence with a goal of having twice the National Rifle Association membership in 90 days, raise twice the money and be equally committed to punishing any politician opposing gun regulation. I see a MAGV caucus and advertisements listing members and opponents. Politicians against these mothers wouldn't be welcome at their own kitchen tables.
I would also like to see major involvement by the Centers for Disease Control seeing major gun violence as a public health threat not unlike cigarette smoking a generation earlier. Cigarette smoking eventually has been cut in half.
We all know the heartfelt relationship between NRA members and guns. Possibly the only greater motivation is that of mothers in protecting their children. Teachers and school principals in the Newtown tragedy placed themselves in harm's way, costing them their lives, while gun-supporting politicians were not to be found in the days after the shootings. There are good models in Canada and Australia where gun violence has been radically reduced with registration, background checks and waiting periods. There clearly is a way; the question always is, do we have the will? Mothers can best answer this question.
GEORGE FECHTER
Mount Washington
First Published December 23, 2012 12:00 am
