Saving Our Children

     Every day in America, our many leaders on the federal, state, and local levels of government, debate numerous issues and determine the law accordingly. Among these issues are health care, tax rates, Social Security, environmental protection, and many other important matters. They also discuss many policies that would better the condition of Americans nationwide.

     However, amid all the deliberations of many issues, there is something that is rarely discussed. Solving this issue would improve the lives of all Americans, and that is the issue of gun control. We can no longer continue to view this issue with the smug complacency that has been the trademark of our past approaches. It is the responsibility of our leaders to act on this issue, and act now. These leaders are elected by the people who have been pained by the inaction of our government to help them in this matter.

     It is time to act now, for if we don’t, another murder will take place, another child will fall, and another town will suffer. If action isn’t taken, more children will die. We may be held responsible for the killing of a great hero, or a child who was destined to become the President of the United States. If we ignore this problem, then we may be responsible for the murder of our own friend, neighbor, relative, or even our own child.

     The focus of this work, and what the gun control movement should be about, is on the prevention of gun crimes committed by young people in America. If we are to be successful in creating a safer America, our concern must be with those who will lay the groundwork for the future. By concerning ourselves with youth violence and weapons abuse by young people, we will be able to ensure a more significant victory in the long-term battle to make our communities safer.

     We must act swiftly and rationally, before it is too late. Now we have the resources, now we have the means, and now we have more of a reason to act. We must create reform without compromise, laws without loopholes, and lives without fear. While this may be hard to accomplish, it is not harder than seeing another teenager succumb to a bullet fired by a classmate who is jealous, angry, or without aim. We must take aim, and help in every conceivable way. We cannot control who goes to school every day, but we can control what goes on in our children’s schools. We can, and we must.

(Taken from the Introduction)