Ceremony of Awareness for the 93 gun deaths per day in the United States
Saturday, June 3, 2017
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| 93 volunteers represent the 93 lives lost to gun violence daily Photo by Wayne Pridemore |
On June 2nd and 3rd, thousands of Americans wore orange to send the powerful message that there is more we can do to end gun violence.
Locally, Shoreline Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America held a Ceremony of Awareness at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park on Saturday, June 3.
We assemble as a visible demonstration of the daily toll taken by gun violence in the US: an average of 93 lives are lost to firearms every day.
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| Rep. Ruth Kagi spoke Photo by Wayne Pridemore |
Jennifer Widrig reflected on 93 deaths a day.
Rep. Ruth Kagi spoke about common sense gun legislation. She has introduced a bill that would regulate safe storage of guns and ammunition in the owners' homes.
In the Ceremony of Awareness volunteers each took a space to represent the 93 gun deaths per day in the USA. When all were assembled, a bell tolled 93 times, once for each life lost.
The nuns and students of Buddha Jewel Zen Monastery in Shoreline chanted the Heart Sutra.
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| Setting up. Photo by Wayne Pridemore |
Ian Taylor, local lead of Shoreline Moms Demand, spoke about why the gathering was being held, "why we do this work; the future we want, and the work that remains."
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| Ian Taylor talked about the work to be done. Photo by Wayne Pridemore |
What started as a single Facebook page has grown into a nationwide movement.
In the past year, moms have taken on Starbucks for allowing customers to carry concealed, loaded guns in its stores—and won.
They called on Facebook to crack down on illegal gun sales on its platform—and won.
And they’re calling on state and national lawmakers to enact common-sense gun laws that will protect our kids.
More information about Moms Demand here.
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4 comments:
How is lying on the ground going to do anything? It isnt.
I find it ironic that these people utilized one federal and state amendment to try to deny others another federal and state amendment.
I find the comment by Anonymous saying that lying down doesn't do anything to be an odd statement. The fact that we're discussing it makes it clear that it "does something". "Anonymous" may not appreciate the symbolism in reflecting the tragedy of 93 deaths due to gun violence every day in the US -- but many do. And note that those participants are activists: they attend Lobby Day in Olympia, they write letter to Editors, they attend Town Hall meetings and ask questions of our Legislators, they collect signatures for Citizen's Initiatives, and sometimes they draw attention to the unacceptable level of gun violence in the US through symbolic gestures such as the "Awareness Ceremony".
The second comment by "Anonymous" finds irony where no irony is to be found. I'm going to guess that the "amendments" referred to are the right to free speech and the right to bear arms. Nothing about the ceremony opposes the right to bear arms. Moms Demand Action fights to reduce US gun violence from the currently unacceptable levels to something more like that found in other developed nations. That's it. We're not opposed to guns or the 2nd Amendment: we want to enact common-sense gun legislation that keeps firearms out of the hands of dangerous people and children.
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