I’m utterly appalled, frustrated, and honestly exhausted. Every day, I reach out to my local representatives, and it feels like I’m talking to a brick wall. The influence of gun lobbyists seems to drown out our cries for change. Today, I lost my cool with their staffers.
But I’ve decided it’s time to ramp up the pressure. Here’s my game plan:
I’ll call them up, as always, sharing my name and location. I’ll mention that I’m a second-grade teacher in Brookhaven, Georgia, and the proud mom of three. Then I’ll smoothly transition into a crucial question: What steps are they taking to advance gun violence prevention legislation? How will they address the ongoing tragedy of innocent lives lost to gun violence?
Next, I’ll share what I’ve been doing since the tragedy at Sandy Hook. I’ll explain that I conduct safety drills with my young students, teaching them to quietly and calmly seek shelter in a bathroom in case of an active shooter. I remind them to be patient and still. To keep them calm, I turn on the fan to drown out any potential sounds of fear during a real crisis. In my emergency backpack, I keep Tootsie Pops—because who doesn’t love candy?—to help quiet them in tense moments. I also pack beautiful picture books and flashcards with soothing images and words. These could be the last things they see or hear.
I stand against the door, physically shielding these children from possible danger, knowing that my own kids are at risk elsewhere. I remind my children to remain silent and still during their drills because their lives could depend on it.
I’ll tell them about the time our elementary school received a threat that required a SWAT team response and a three-hour lockdown. I wasn’t even there, but the nightmares still haunt me.
I’ll recount the joy of taking my 8-year-old to a concert where I received an Atlanta Teacher Award. It was a magical moment until news of the tragedy in Las Vegas broke, and I realized that could’ve been us. The fear that I could have brought my child into such a nightmare is gut-wrenching.
If they haven’t hung up by then, I’ll firmly state that I’ve done my part as both a teacher and a mom. Meanwhile, my representatives have done nothing!
And you can bet I’ll call back tomorrow, and the day after, demanding they step up, just like I do every single day for my students and my children.
If you’re as passionate about this issue as I am, check out this excellent resource for more information on gun violence prevention. And for some great insights into parenting, visit this blog post as well as Make a Mom for all things related to home insemination kits.
In short, we must keep the pressure on our leaders to enact meaningful change. I’m committed to doing my part, and I hope you are too!