I add my thanks for expressing my feelings, and especially for your insight about AND. I sent off quick emails to my state senator and rep and governor. My state senator questions the legality of bringing guns unto school property (in cars.) I didn't find information on this in a quick search. Could you help me document this change, which came after the major batch of loosening laws in 2021. Thank you.
Everytime I hear about one of these shootings ANYWHERE, it just sickens me to think that this is the way we are solving our problems. My usual thought is, "Come on people! We have to be better than this. This is not the way."
I know there are other dimensions of this ever growing problem, but you are right Nicole that "We Are Better Together". If we want to make a difference, we need to envoke change. Something has to happen. Praying is important, but your list of "ANDS" takes us to the next step.
I thought your first one was great! "Have honest conversations with people you care about. Face to face, knee to knee, with your heart wide open to share and hear what they have to say, too. I’m convinced that nothing changes people’s hearts and minds like an honest dialogue with someone they love." I taught for 37 years and one thing I tried to do regularly was to build relationships with my students. I wanted them to know that I cared for them. I wanted to them to know that I was one they could trust. I wasn't always successful with this, but I tried. I found that if I could get kids to believe in themselves to be successful with the content I was covering, modeling the importance of work ethic, quoting my mom stated to "be one of the good guys/girls", and having a positive atmosphere in my classroom, that kids would "walk through fire for me." I saw that so many times over my career. I know I didn't reach everyone, but I tried to reach as many as I could.
I love your heart! Thank you for doing the hard work of building relationships with your students and neighbors. I do believe change happens in community.
I wish all of us could read and re-read chapter VI on the Second Amendment....in “SixAmendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution “, by retired Justice John Paul Stevens. He makes an incredibly strong argument for adding five words to the Second Amendment: “when serving in the Militia “. But we are far from such a possibility, unfortunately.
Thank you for your thoughts, Nicole. And we all weep for that sweet sixth grader!!!
Quite simply, so long as the Supreme Court has interpreted the 2nd Amendment at variance with the past views which did allow rational limits, the only true answer is repeal of the 2nd Amendment. Then rational gun laws may be enacted. Despite the outrage such a suggestion will draw from a minority but powerful politcal segment, that repeal is the necessity. Many will say that repeal can never happen. It can if enough voters are determined.
I hope the tide is shifting and that people are starting to realize that change is necessary. The statistics are so shocking--and I fear gun violence will only get worse, not better. I'm neither a politician nor an activist, and I'll leave the difficult work of fixing this to brighter minds than my own, but I do hope people will begin to move beyond "thoughts and prayers" into a space where tangible progress can be made. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
So well said Niki. I completely agree with you, thank you for putting words to my thoughts. Thank you also for all of the great links and resources listed throughout.
My piece today is much less eloquent than the one I now comment on, but I believe I make a critical point in connecting today's financial situation to mental health. Referring to a WSJ piece from two years ago that points to how today a person has to work 3-4x more hours at a minimum wage job to afford average rent - and how that affects the nuclear family. This is the 'and' that I would like to add: our families, our school teachers, and our other public servants feel financial stress in a way that contributes greatly to the mental health issues that are exhibited. This also is inline with Amber's piece - https://ambergustafson.substack.com/p/mass-shootings-arent-about-mental - demonstrating that it is collective, not individual, mental health that is the culprit.
Thank you so much for commenting and for highlighting another AND. I should have indicated that my list is nowhere near comprehensive, but I’m grateful for all the voices that are chiming in. We can fix this--I have to believe that because I can’t live without hope (or the thought that my grandchildren will someday go to school behind razor wire with armed guards). But you’re so right, financial stress is terrifying, debilitating, and can leave people feeling desperate. Thanks for your contribution. I’m off to read your article.
I add my thanks for expressing my feelings, and especially for your insight about AND. I sent off quick emails to my state senator and rep and governor. My state senator questions the legality of bringing guns unto school property (in cars.) I didn't find information on this in a quick search. Could you help me document this change, which came after the major batch of loosening laws in 2021. Thank you.
Thanks for reaching out, Karen. And thank you for contacting your politicians! Iowa lawmakers passed House File 654 in the spring of 2023. It allows “Iowans [to] keep guns in their locked cars in the parking lots of schools, city and county buildings, state universities and prisons...” You can read more about it in this Des Moines Register article: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/13/house-bill-would-expand-where-iowans-could-bring-guns-to-include-school-parking-lots/70107277007/
Everytime I hear about one of these shootings ANYWHERE, it just sickens me to think that this is the way we are solving our problems. My usual thought is, "Come on people! We have to be better than this. This is not the way."
I know there are other dimensions of this ever growing problem, but you are right Nicole that "We Are Better Together". If we want to make a difference, we need to envoke change. Something has to happen. Praying is important, but your list of "ANDS" takes us to the next step.
I thought your first one was great! "Have honest conversations with people you care about. Face to face, knee to knee, with your heart wide open to share and hear what they have to say, too. I’m convinced that nothing changes people’s hearts and minds like an honest dialogue with someone they love." I taught for 37 years and one thing I tried to do regularly was to build relationships with my students. I wanted them to know that I cared for them. I wanted to them to know that I was one they could trust. I wasn't always successful with this, but I tried. I found that if I could get kids to believe in themselves to be successful with the content I was covering, modeling the importance of work ethic, quoting my mom stated to "be one of the good guys/girls", and having a positive atmosphere in my classroom, that kids would "walk through fire for me." I saw that so many times over my career. I know I didn't reach everyone, but I tried to reach as many as I could.
I love your heart! Thank you for doing the hard work of building relationships with your students and neighbors. I do believe change happens in community.
I wish all of us could read and re-read chapter VI on the Second Amendment....in “SixAmendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution “, by retired Justice John Paul Stevens. He makes an incredibly strong argument for adding five words to the Second Amendment: “when serving in the Militia “. But we are far from such a possibility, unfortunately.
Thank you for your thoughts, Nicole. And we all weep for that sweet sixth grader!!!
Oh, how I wish we could add those five words. Thanks for joining the conversation, Josiah.
Nicole: Here is a short version of Justice Stevens' thoughts, which I just located:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-five-extra-words-that-can-fix-the-second-amendment/2014/04/11/f8a19578-b8fa-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245_story.html
Quite simply, so long as the Supreme Court has interpreted the 2nd Amendment at variance with the past views which did allow rational limits, the only true answer is repeal of the 2nd Amendment. Then rational gun laws may be enacted. Despite the outrage such a suggestion will draw from a minority but powerful politcal segment, that repeal is the necessity. Many will say that repeal can never happen. It can if enough voters are determined.
I hope the tide is shifting and that people are starting to realize that change is necessary. The statistics are so shocking--and I fear gun violence will only get worse, not better. I'm neither a politician nor an activist, and I'll leave the difficult work of fixing this to brighter minds than my own, but I do hope people will begin to move beyond "thoughts and prayers" into a space where tangible progress can be made. Thanks for sharing your perspective!
Worth reviewing Justice Stevens' commentary:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-five-extra-words-that-can-fix-the-second-amendment/2014/04/11/f8a19578-b8fa-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245_story.html
So well said Niki. I completely agree with you, thank you for putting words to my thoughts. Thank you also for all of the great links and resources listed throughout.
Thanks, Kathy. ♥️
My piece today is much less eloquent than the one I now comment on, but I believe I make a critical point in connecting today's financial situation to mental health. Referring to a WSJ piece from two years ago that points to how today a person has to work 3-4x more hours at a minimum wage job to afford average rent - and how that affects the nuclear family. This is the 'and' that I would like to add: our families, our school teachers, and our other public servants feel financial stress in a way that contributes greatly to the mental health issues that are exhibited. This also is inline with Amber's piece - https://ambergustafson.substack.com/p/mass-shootings-arent-about-mental - demonstrating that it is collective, not individual, mental health that is the culprit.
Thank you so much for commenting and for highlighting another AND. I should have indicated that my list is nowhere near comprehensive, but I’m grateful for all the voices that are chiming in. We can fix this--I have to believe that because I can’t live without hope (or the thought that my grandchildren will someday go to school behind razor wire with armed guards). But you’re so right, financial stress is terrifying, debilitating, and can leave people feeling desperate. Thanks for your contribution. I’m off to read your article.
Justice Stevens---ten years ago:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-five-extra-words-that-can-fix-the-second-amendment/2014/04/11/f8a19578-b8fa-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245_story.html