We Can No Longer Afford To Just Sit By And Watch by Malina Lobel-karimi

For us desert rats, driving to Huntington Beach and being welcomed by overcast clouds and cool temperatures was a welcome relief. Alisha Clark, another political activist and friend, drove two hours to meet up with “Every Town For Gun Safety” and “Not One More”, two groups which have merged (started by Michael Ramirez whose son was yet another victim of a school shooting in Santa Barbara this past June and from Michael Bloomberg who has pledged $500 million towards ending this insane violence), offered everyone there a lovely T-shirt, crisp signs and nearly 3000 postcards they collected from residents of Huntington Beach and surrounding area(s) that falls under the jurisdiction of one Dana Rohrabacher, who is currently representing the 48th congressional district. He previously represented the 46th, 45th and 42nd since 1989 - and if I may add, uselessly so. His office has a magnificent view overlooking the ocean with an extremely large patio – large enough to accommodate about fifty of us who gathered there along with ONE NBC camerawoman. He of course, wasn’t there, although well aware we were coming. He is vehemently opposed to ANY additional sensible gun legislation, even a la Brady Bill which was enacted under his idol, Ronald Reagan. Kelly, a woman in her 30’s, unassuming and friendly, spoke to his longtime assistant who ‘assured’ all of us he would be getting these postcards and letters that we filled out while there. I chose to challenge his assistant's words saying he hadn’t shown consideration for his constituents who disagree with him in decades, (I’ve known this man since I was in my 20’s). She simply reiterated her previous statement. All-in-all, it was a pleasure meeting up with Kelly and these men and women who literally came from thirty to almost two hundred miles in order to SPREAD THIS MESSAGE.

Alisha and I inquired about a local chapter here in the Coachella Valley where we were told one hadn’t yet been established. Kelly asked if we were interested in starting one. We both said, “Hell yes!” and she’ll be sending us all the necessary tools. This should NEVER, EVER be a right-wing, left-wing topic. This is a human topic: These are OUR children being slaughtered on what has become nearly a weekly basis. I wholeheartedly hold firm to the belief that if ONE child belonging to a billionaire was killed in a school shooting, five minutes later, you’d see legislation galore pop-up, just as we did when James Brady was shot and has remained brain-damaged from that encounter. The NRA via these rabid militia groups have acted to tie Barack Obama’s hands by having warned of his intent to take their guns away these last six years. Funny how just the opposite has occurred with the proliferation of these militias having not only MORE guns but been emboldened by what is basically a lobbyist, albeit a powerful one yet one that has no more than three or four million members. Keep in mind that this country has over 300 million citizens, though. 

So at the end of the day, which one is REALLY more powerful?

That’s why we can no longer afford to just sit by and watch One More Child being shot dead because they were…IN SCHOOL. 

(Photo: Katey Dadakis, Event Lead, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America - California Chapter)