#enough

As a teacher, I am not supposed to bring my opinions into my classroom. However, the opinions of others have not only violently entered my classroom, but put my students, myself and the right to a safe education in danger. When something or someone I love is in harms way, I am fierce. I apologize if my voice upsets you, but I'd like to talk to you about your guns.

I became a teacher for of a lot of reasons but I can say without hesitation that I never thought I was choosing a career that would put my life in danger. I’m not in the armed forces, I don’t work in law enforcement or public safety. I did not train to be a first line of defense against anyone or any gun. However, now as a teacher, I must participate in lock down drills, have an app on my phone that links to the police department, and worst of all I have to look in the eyes of my students who feel helpless against gun violence and hate. I am a teacher, which means I am a part of an army of men and women who are willing to die for our students right to a safe, fair and equal education in America.

So let’s talk about it!

I hear it’s your constitutional right. The 2nd amendment, written in 1791, grants you the right to have a gun. The founding fathers could have never imagined that an assault rifle or automatic weapon would exist, let alone be used against innocent children or be so easily accessible. I think it’s pretty clear that the original amendments should be open to revision (see 13th amendment), certainly after 200+ years. A change must me made.

And let’s be clear, people abuse their rights and privileges all the time. When a child abuses their rights, there are consequences or punishments, often things get taken away. Same goes for adult offenders. In this case, children and adults are abusing their right to own weapons, and there have been no consequences. A change must be made.

You want to protect your family. I respect that desire. Be honest, you’re not protecting your home with a giant assault rifle? You can’t keep that thing near your bed in case of a burglar- it’s huge! Regardless, the answer to potential guns isn’t more guns. Is holding onto your gun worth the life of a child? Sure, you might not know these kids who are dying every day, they are just numbers on a television or “another school shooting.” What if it was your child that you had to know had their last moment looking down the barrel of a gun? Your grandchild, who you had to watch your own child bury? Your niece who’s funeral you had attend all because you wanted to hold onto your assault rifle. Neither your gun nor your right to have one is more important than the life, hopes, dreams of a young person. THE ANSWER TO GUNS, ISN’T MORE GUNS. A change must be made.

I’m happy to talk to you about your guns or your constitutional rights or how you feel you are so graciously protecting us all with your massive weapons. But you will never convince me that your gun is worth the risk of losing any one of my students. I will never understand how you can so selfishly hold onto a weapon while parents are burying their children.

It’s not about you and your gun and your rights anymore.

It’s about public safety.

It’s about access to mental healthcare.

It’s about universal love and respect regardless of race, gender, religion, sexuality or lifestyle.

It’s about human kindness, empathy and understanding.

Weapons do not support or solve any of these.

Do you see these young people? Do you hear their voices crying out, begging you to reconsider your laws and your guns? Rather than turn the channel or worse, try and convince them that their passion is wrong- be an adult. Listen to how they feel and encourage them to not feel ashamed or wrong for having a feeling, opinion or passion. That’s what teachers, that's what adults, are supposed to do for the next generation- encourage and empower them!

A change must be made and it starts with us. #Enough is enough. #MarchForOurLives #ImWithThem #blacklivesmatter

https://www.elitedaily.com/p/how-to-call-your-representatives-about-gun-control-following-the-parkland-school-shooting-8233472

https://actionnetwork.org/groups/stop-gun-violence-in-our-schools

https://www.preventioninstitute.org/focus-areas/preventing-violence-and-reducing-injury/preventing-violence-advocacy