Finding Common Ground

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     I have been reflecting upon the gun debate, that usually increases our awareness after a mass school shooting. What is different about Parkland or Santa Fe High School is the responses from the school, or school community after the shooting. Regardless of response, or the complexity of the gun debate, for any approach to work, common ground must be found, between those that support guns, and those that don't. We also have to remember that there are different narratives. For example: Armed police officers, law enforcement, border patrol, or anyone who has received military training for the use of a gun. Then we also have the narratives who are able to possess and keep a gun, legally through the rights that are obtained through the second amendment. There is also the issue of being able to buy a gun through the influx sold illegally.

     There are also assumptions that we can make from the school shootings, such as school shootings also being a form of control. We can even think of the killers themselves being bought and paid for, similar to terrorists, or terrorist groups. But the argument of gun shootings in schools is also that which includes social justice. Where there are invisible demands for justice, for those seeking equity, or equality within the school systems, which brings us back to the idea of why there is gun control. 

     But the common ground as I mentioned earlier has to be found. Regardless of race, or ethnicity these are someone's children who died. The frequency of school shootings is an explicit demand, that common ground must be found, to prevent future school shootings. And I also say this in the strongest terms possible. It is the duty of leaders, and those who possess the power to think critically, and do something now. The rise of school shootings is an attack on the future - an intentional attack. These are planned, and must be analyzed. How are the youth getting the guns in the first place? Does the second amendment need revision? And do existing regulations need to be strengthened? Even if the future gun designs change, so that they can only be operated by the owner only, it will not alter or prevent the already existing circulation of arms in the country. 

     What makes this conversation even more important is the fact that guns are the most lethal weapon, in the sense that they are the most efficient way to cause fatality. Whilst officers do receive training, or individuals use these devices for sports, or hunting, what about private purchases, and individuals who do not possess any training? There are associated psychological costs to the possession of a gun, being healthy in the mind is absolutely essential to gun ownership, we can think about suicides that are committed with a gun. For the youth of parents who possess a gun, we have to question, are these guns being stored properly, so they don't have access to these? 

     While we can enforce or tighten laws as well, there is also the idea of using the law to evoke more stereotyping, and already existing prejudices to target specific communities, or individuals. This might entail additional training and development for officers, who use efforts or initiative to also build community. Overall there is a call to find common ground between the complexity of the debate, because the cost of life is absolutely outweighing the topic of the possession of the gun. Mass gun shootings in any form are a sabotage on America's future.

Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to all the armed men and women at border services and patrol, at the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit MI. Whilst the conversation about gun debate is critical and vital, we cannot underestimate the work that is invested to protect the Homeland. Thank you! 

My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

Further Reading:
Reich, K., Culross, P., & Behrman, R. (2002). Children, Youth, and Gun Violence: Analysis and Recommendations. The Future of Children, 12(2), 5-23. doi:10.2307/1602735 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand-written on May 27th, 2018. 
Image 1 - Photo taken May 26th, Ambassador Bridge Detroit, MI.