[Applause] once I was rock climbing and I got
once I was rock climbing and I got
once I was rock climbing and I got dangerously high before I realized that
dangerously high before I realized that
dangerously high before I realized that my harness wasn’t safely attached to the
my harness wasn’t safely attached to the
my harness wasn’t safely attached to the rope so my life which I thought was
rope so my life which I thought was
rope so my life which I thought was being held safely was literally in my
being held safely was literally in my
being held safely was literally in my own hands I had a moment of perfect
own hands I had a moment of perfect
own hands I had a moment of perfect clarity where I realized I was gonna
clarity where I realized I was gonna
clarity where I realized I was gonna have to get myself down and I was gonna
have to get myself down and I was gonna
have to get myself down and I was gonna really have to be perfectly present and
really have to be perfectly present and
really have to be perfectly present and perfectly focused to get that done
perfectly focused to get that done
perfectly focused to get that done perfect clarity is stripping away the
perfect clarity is stripping away the
perfect clarity is stripping away the details of all things all insignificant
details of all things all insignificant
details of all things all insignificant things so that you can focus on one
things so that you can focus on one
things so that you can focus on one important idea it’s not we’ve called it
important idea it’s not we’ve called it
important idea it’s not we’ve called it simplicity but when I’ve lived it I’ve
simplicity but when I’ve lived it I’ve
simplicity but when I’ve lived it I’ve experienced moments of perfect clarity I
experienced moments of perfect clarity I
experienced moments of perfect clarity I had perfect clarity as I sat next to my
had perfect clarity as I sat next to my
had perfect clarity as I sat next to my cousin’s bed as she died slowly after a
cousin’s bed as she died slowly after a
cousin’s bed as she died slowly after a horrible accident I had perfect clarity
horrible accident I had perfect clarity
horrible accident I had perfect clarity the day my son was born and in fact I’ve
the day my son was born and in fact I’ve
the day my son was born and in fact I’ve lived with a kind of perfect clarity
lived with a kind of perfect clarity
lived with a kind of perfect clarity ever since then that the main reason I
ever since then that the main reason I
ever since then that the main reason I exist is to keep him safe now I have a
exist is to keep him safe now I have a
exist is to keep him safe now I have a good marriage and I have a job that I
good marriage and I have a job that I
good marriage and I have a job that I enjoy
enjoy
enjoy I have faith and activism that give my
I have faith and activism that give my
I have faith and activism that give my life meaning I have an unhealthy
life meaning I have an unhealthy
life meaning I have an unhealthy addiction to reality TV and shonda
addiction to reality TV and shonda
addiction to reality TV and shonda rhimes shows but when you strip it all
rhimes shows but when you strip it all
rhimes shows but when you strip it all away the reason I exist is to make sure
away the reason I exist is to make sure
away the reason I exist is to make sure that my son and my daughter who was born
that my son and my daughter who was born
that my son and my daughter who was born a few years later live my constant
a few years later live my constant
a few years later live my constant mantra is please God let these children
mantra is please God let these children
mantra is please God let these children outlive me I had perfect clarity the
outlive me I had perfect clarity the
outlive me I had perfect clarity the moment I saw the man with the gun
moment I saw the man with the gun
moment I saw the man with the gun pointed at my wife’s head it was
pointed at my wife’s head it was
pointed at my wife’s head it was November 2008 just a few days after
November 2008 just a few days after
November 2008 just a few days after President Obama’s first election it was
President Obama’s first election it was
President Obama’s first election it was November and it was only about seven
November and it was only about seven
November and it was only about seven o’clock in the evening but it was dark
o’clock in the evening but it was dark
o’clock in the evening but it was dark already because the time had just
already because the time had just
already because the time had just changed we’d been at the grocery store
changed we’d been at the grocery store
changed we’d been at the grocery store I was very very pregnant came out and I
I was very very pregnant came out and I
I was very very pregnant came out and I got in the car talking on the cell phone
got in the car talking on the cell phone
got in the car talking on the cell phone to my dad
to my dad
to my dad while Amy put the groceries away in the
while Amy put the groceries away in the
while Amy put the groceries away in the trunk and I noticed somebody pulled up
trunk and I noticed somebody pulled up
trunk and I noticed somebody pulled up behind us and then Amy got in the car
behind us and then Amy got in the car
behind us and then Amy got in the car and I heard her say no you don’t have to
and I heard her say no you don’t have to
and I heard her say no you don’t have to do this and when I turned and looked the
do this and when I turned and looked the
do this and when I turned and looked the first thing I saw was the gun and it was
first thing I saw was the gun and it was
first thing I saw was the gun and it was like time stopped everything went silent
like time stopped everything went silent
like time stopped everything went silent the moment seemed to be wrapped in
the moment seemed to be wrapped in
the moment seemed to be wrapped in cotton and I had the clarity to say to
cotton and I had the clarity to say to
cotton and I had the clarity to say to my dad dad were being robbed I’ve got to
my dad dad were being robbed I’ve got to
my dad dad were being robbed I’ve got to go hung up the phone and just by pure
go hung up the phone and just by pure
go hung up the phone and just by pure instinct walked away from the car with
instinct walked away from the car with
instinct walked away from the car with my back to the car so that the baby and
my back to the car so that the baby and
my back to the car so that the baby and my body was as far away from the gunman
my body was as far away from the gunman
my body was as far away from the gunman as possible Amy had a harder time with
as possible Amy had a harder time with
as possible Amy had a harder time with it she had to get out right next to him
it she had to get out right next to him
it she had to get out right next to him he stood there and demanded her wallet
he stood there and demanded her wallet
he stood there and demanded her wallet demanded her phone with the gun on her
demanded her phone with the gun on her
demanded her phone with the gun on her the whole time but eventually she got
the whole time but eventually she got
the whole time but eventually she got out as well he got in our car his
out as well he got in our car his
out as well he got in our car his accomplice pulled forward and they both
accomplice pulled forward and they both
accomplice pulled forward and they both drove away the local paper and the TV
drove away the local paper and the TV
drove away the local paper and the TV Evening News didn’t pick up the news of
Evening News didn’t pick up the news of
Evening News didn’t pick up the news of our carjacking unfortunately in
our carjacking unfortunately in
our carjacking unfortunately in Washington DC incidents like this are
Washington DC incidents like this are
Washington DC incidents like this are pretty regular but a local blogger in
pretty regular but a local blogger in
pretty regular but a local blogger in our neighborhood did write about it and
our neighborhood did write about it and
our neighborhood did write about it and he said two things he said that we were
he said two things he said that we were
he said two things he said that we were we were left unharmed and that we
we were left unharmed and that we
we were left unharmed and that we probably wish we had a gun with us and
probably wish we had a gun with us and
probably wish we had a gun with us and both of those things are wrong you don’t
both of those things are wrong you don’t
both of those things are wrong you don’t live through an incident of gun violence
live through an incident of gun violence
live through an incident of gun violence unharmed you may not die you may not
unharmed you may not die you may not
unharmed you may not die you may not bleed but the emotional impact of an
bleed but the emotional impact of an
bleed but the emotional impact of an incident like ours is long and real and
incident like ours is long and real and
incident like ours is long and real and exceptionally painful so these shocking
exceptionally painful so these shocking
exceptionally painful so these shocking clarifying moments when everything comes
clarifying moments when everything comes
clarifying moments when everything comes into view I have experience with that
into view I have experience with that
into view I have experience with that also though
also though
also though have experience with clarity that comes
have experience with clarity that comes
have experience with clarity that comes after disorientation so you have this
after disorientation so you have this
after disorientation so you have this moment a moment in time that’s very
moment a moment in time that’s very
moment a moment in time that’s very confusing and you don’t know what’s
confusing and you don’t know what’s
confusing and you don’t know what’s going on and then eventually the lesson
going on and then eventually the lesson
going on and then eventually the lesson of the moment comes to you and so this
of the moment comes to you and so this
of the moment comes to you and so this was similar also in 2008 my dad called
was similar also in 2008 my dad called
was similar also in 2008 my dad called me to say there was a shooting at your
me to say there was a shooting at your
me to say there was a shooting at your brother’s church today my brother and
brother’s church today my brother and
brother’s church today my brother and his wife were at home with a brand-new
his wife were at home with a brand-new
his wife were at home with a brand-new baby so they were unharmed they were not
baby so they were unharmed they were not
baby so they were unharmed they were not physically harmed my sister-in-law
physically harmed my sister-in-law
physically harmed my sister-in-law wasn’t sitting in the quiet room at the
wasn’t sitting in the quiet room at the
wasn’t sitting in the quiet room at the back of the church we’re parents with
back of the church we’re parents with
back of the church we’re parents with fussy babies keep them quiet that’s the
fussy babies keep them quiet that’s the
fussy babies keep them quiet that’s the spot where the man stood as he started
spot where the man stood as he started
spot where the man stood as he started to shoot into the congregation and what
to shoot into the congregation and what
to shoot into the congregation and what I figured out from this is that I think
I figured out from this is that I think
I figured out from this is that I think all of us as Americans living in an
all of us as Americans living in an
all of us as Americans living in an insane time create this notion that
insane time create this notion that
insane time create this notion that keeps us safe in our minds we have to
keeps us safe in our minds we have to
keeps us safe in our minds we have to believe that even though thirty thousand
believe that even though thirty thousand
believe that even though thirty thousand people a year die from gun violence and
people a year die from gun violence and
people a year die from gun violence and even though young people are killing
even though young people are killing
even though young people are killing each other on our city streets and even
each other on our city streets and even
each other on our city streets and even though we’re having mass shootings
though we’re having mass shootings
though we’re having mass shootings happening at malls and movie theaters
happening at malls and movie theaters
happening at malls and movie theaters and elementary school classrooms somehow
and elementary school classrooms somehow
and elementary school classrooms somehow we have to believe this couldn’t happen
we have to believe this couldn’t happen
we have to believe this couldn’t happen to me this doesn’t happen to my family
to me this doesn’t happen to my family
to me this doesn’t happen to my family that’s something that happened somewhere
that’s something that happened somewhere
that’s something that happened somewhere what far away and that was taken from me
what far away and that was taken from me
what far away and that was taken from me I could had perfect clarity
I could had perfect clarity
I could had perfect clarity I could no longer pretend that this
I could no longer pretend that this
I could no longer pretend that this couldn’t happen to my family because it
couldn’t happen to my family because it
couldn’t happen to my family because it was pure luck that my brother and my
was pure luck that my brother and my
was pure luck that my brother and my sister-in-law and my niece and my nephew
sister-in-law and my niece and my nephew
sister-in-law and my niece and my nephew weren’t at that church that day and I
weren’t at that church that day and I
weren’t at that church that day and I know a story of a woman who was at that
know a story of a woman who was at that
know a story of a woman who was at that church that day and it haunts me she was
church that day and it haunts me she was
church that day and it haunts me she was a mother like me she was sitting in
a mother like me she was sitting in
a mother like me she was sitting in church between her two children two sons
church between her two children two sons
church between her two children two sons and that’s when the stranger’s bullet
and that’s when the stranger’s bullet
and that’s when the stranger’s bullet went into her head the gunman was the
went into her head the gunman was the
went into her head the gunman was the ex-wife at the ex-husband of one of the
ex-wife at the ex-husband of one of the
ex-wife at the ex-husband of one of the women in the church and he had come to
women in the church and he had come to
women in the church and he had come to exact revenge on her by killing fellow
exact revenge on her by killing fellow
exact revenge on her by killing fellow church members
church members
church members and when the mother was shot in the head
and when the mother was shot in the head
and when the mother was shot in the head she began to bleed profusely she bled
she began to bleed profusely she bled
she began to bleed profusely she bled all over herself and she bled all over
all over herself and she bled all over
all over herself and she bled all over her two children and miraculously she
her two children and miraculously she
her two children and miraculously she survived this event but when she thinks
survived this event but when she thinks
survived this event but when she thinks about that day she says that the thing
about that day she says that the thing
about that day she says that the thing she feels is guilty she says a mother is
she feels is guilty she says a mother is
she feels is guilty she says a mother is just not supposed to bleed on her child
just not supposed to bleed on her child
just not supposed to bleed on her child and she’s right
and she’s right
and she’s right my job what I do for a living is craft
my job what I do for a living is craft
my job what I do for a living is craft communications to help move legislative
communications to help move legislative
communications to help move legislative change so I’ve lived and worked in
change so I’ve lived and worked in
change so I’ve lived and worked in Washington DC for about 15 years now as
Washington DC for about 15 years now as
Washington DC for about 15 years now as a professional communicator focused on
a professional communicator focused on
a professional communicator focused on making change I’ve worked on issues as
making change I’ve worked on issues as
making change I’ve worked on issues as diverse as workers rights hunger and
diverse as workers rights hunger and
diverse as workers rights hunger and poverty helping to make life better for
poverty helping to make life better for
poverty helping to make life better for children families but in 2008 when these
children families but in 2008 when these
children families but in 2008 when these incidents happened to my family I didn’t
incidents happened to my family I didn’t
incidents happened to my family I didn’t even consider taking on gun violence as
even consider taking on gun violence as
even consider taking on gun violence as an issue mostly because I’m a political
an issue mostly because I’m a political
an issue mostly because I’m a political realist I work on issues that may be
realist I work on issues that may be
realist I work on issues that may be hard but that can be one because there’s
hard but that can be one because there’s
hard but that can be one because there’s too much change that can happen for me
too much change that can happen for me
too much change that can happen for me to waste my time on something that’s
to waste my time on something that’s
to waste my time on something that’s intractable and that’s where gun policy
intractable and that’s where gun policy
intractable and that’s where gun policy was in 2008 and so I did what a person
was in 2008 and so I did what a person
was in 2008 and so I did what a person does after traumatic incidents I went to
does after traumatic incidents I went to
does after traumatic incidents I went to therapy I went to church we let our
therapy I went to church we let our
therapy I went to church we let our church community love and nurture us I
church community love and nurture us I
church community love and nurture us I prayed I went to therapy
prayed I went to therapy
prayed I went to therapy I took meds all the things you need to
I took meds all the things you need to
I took meds all the things you need to do to try to get back to clarity and
do to try to get back to clarity and
do to try to get back to clarity and just a few weeks after this incident our
just a few weeks after this incident our
just a few weeks after this incident our son was born and he was the perfect
son was born and he was the perfect
son was born and he was the perfect place to pour our love and our concern
place to pour our love and our concern
place to pour our love and our concern and our protection and I healed
until December 14 2012 on that day I was
until December 14 2012 on that day I was 8 weeks pregnant with our daughter and
my son was a few days shy of 4 he was in
my son was a few days shy of 4 he was in his preschool classroom and on that day
his preschool classroom and on that day
his preschool classroom and on that day a man walked into an elementary school
a man walked into an elementary school
a man walked into an elementary school in Connecticut he had taken his mother’s
in Connecticut he had taken his mother’s
in Connecticut he had taken his mother’s gun and killed her with it and then he
gun and killed her with it and then he
gun and killed her with it and then he killed six educators and twenty first
killed six educators and twenty first
killed six educators and twenty first graders and that day was a day of
graders and that day was a day of
graders and that day was a day of perfect clarity for me because as I
perfect clarity for me because as I
perfect clarity for me because as I thought about the incident I can only
thought about the incident I can only
thought about the incident I can only imagine that Sandy Hook classroom as my
imagine that Sandy Hook classroom as my
imagine that Sandy Hook classroom as my child’s classroom and I could only
child’s classroom and I could only
child’s classroom and I could only imagine myself as one of those parents
imagine myself as one of those parents
imagine myself as one of those parents at the fire hook for our house waiting
at the fire hook for our house waiting
at the fire hook for our house waiting in vain for a child that wasn’t going to
in vain for a child that wasn’t going to
in vain for a child that wasn’t going to come home and so with what I now
come home and so with what I now
come home and so with what I now recognize as part anxiety disorder I
recognize as part anxiety disorder I
recognize as part anxiety disorder I became obsessed with figuring out how to
became obsessed with figuring out how to
became obsessed with figuring out how to keep guns out of dangerous hands and so
keep guns out of dangerous hands and so
keep guns out of dangerous hands and so I did the things I do I researched I
I did the things I do I researched I
I did the things I do I researched I organized I gave money I communicated
organized I gave money I communicated
organized I gave money I communicated working with groups trying to stop gun
working with groups trying to stop gun
working with groups trying to stop gun violence and ultimately I ended up as a
violence and ultimately I ended up as a
violence and ultimately I ended up as a volunteer with a group called moms
volunteer with a group called moms
volunteer with a group called moms demand action for gun sense in America
demand action for gun sense in America
demand action for gun sense in America and we’re a group a group of mothers
and we’re a group a group of mothers
and we’re a group a group of mothers born out of the Sandy Hook tragedy who
born out of the Sandy Hook tragedy who
born out of the Sandy Hook tragedy who realized that we could no longer do
realized that we could no longer do
realized that we could no longer do nothing I helped the group with media
nothing I helped the group with media
nothing I helped the group with media relations and social media and we do
relations and social media and we do
relations and social media and we do several things to try to create a
several things to try to create a
several things to try to create a culture of gun safety we pass laws we
culture of gun safety we pass laws we
culture of gun safety we pass laws we work to pass laws at state houses that
work to pass laws at state houses that
work to pass laws at state houses that strengthen gun laws and keep guns out of
strengthen gun laws and keep guns out of
strengthen gun laws and keep guns out of dangerous hands we educate parents about
dangerous hands we educate parents about
dangerous hands we educate parents about asking about guns in the home to try to
asking about guns in the home to try to
asking about guns in the home to try to cut down on unintentional child
cut down on unintentional child
cut down on unintentional child shootings and we talk about the risks of
shootings and we talk about the risks of
shootings and we talk about the risks of teen suicide and how to recognize that
teen suicide and how to recognize that
teen suicide and how to recognize that and then finally we work on culture
and then finally we work on culture
and then finally we work on culture change because just as Mothers Against
change because just as Mothers Against
change because just as Mothers Against Drunk Driving changed the societal norms
Drunk Driving changed the societal norms
Drunk Driving changed the societal norms around drinking and driving we are
around drinking and driving we are
around drinking and driving we are trying to change the norms in our
trying to change the norms in our
trying to change the norms in our country and create a culture of gun
country and create a culture of gun
country and create a culture of gun safety because the political calculation
safety because the political calculation
safety because the political calculation was different after Sandy Hook suddenly
was different after Sandy Hook suddenly
was different after Sandy Hook suddenly leaders from both sides of the aisle
leaders from both sides of the aisle
leaders from both sides of the aisle were willing to talk with us to talk
were willing to talk with us to talk
were willing to talk with us to talk about tentative steps that they could
about tentative steps that they could
about tentative steps that they could take to try to curb this epidemic and
take to try to curb this epidemic and
take to try to curb this epidemic and even after in April 2013 you Mike Lee
even after in April 2013 you Mike Lee
even after in April 2013 you Mike Lee remember the national vote where we did
remember the national vote where we did
remember the national vote where we did not pass background checks on all gun
not pass background checks on all gun
not pass background checks on all gun sales so we went on to have went after
sales so we went on to have went after
sales so we went on to have went after win and state houses and in-state voter
win and state houses and in-state voter
win and state houses and in-state voter referendums and I want to tell you a
referendums and I want to tell you a
referendums and I want to tell you a little bit about my relationship with
little bit about my relationship with
little bit about my relationship with guns so my dad owns one my brother owns
guns so my dad owns one my brother owns
guns so my dad owns one my brother owns a couple and so did my brother-in-law’s
a couple and so did my brother-in-law’s
a couple and so did my brother-in-law’s I have cousins who are champion sport
I have cousins who are champion sport
I have cousins who are champion sport shooters and avid hunters and I was
shooters and avid hunters and I was
shooters and avid hunters and I was always a tomboy so I got to shoot guns a
always a tomboy so I got to shoot guns a
always a tomboy so I got to shoot guns a little bit myself as a child I never had
little bit myself as a child I never had
little bit myself as a child I never had anything alive except mistletoe which my
anything alive except mistletoe which my
anything alive except mistletoe which my dad taught me how to shoot out of a tree
dad taught me how to shoot out of a tree
dad taught me how to shoot out of a tree thanks dad but until I saw a gun pointed
thanks dad but until I saw a gun pointed
thanks dad but until I saw a gun pointed at Amy
at Amy
at Amy I enjoyed shooting them I have no
I enjoyed shooting them I have no
I enjoyed shooting them I have no problem with a family owning one to
problem with a family owning one to
problem with a family owning one to protect their home and the truth is I
protect their home and the truth is I
protect their home and the truth is I don’t think guns are nearly as
don’t think guns are nearly as
don’t think guns are nearly as contentious and issue as our politicians
contentious and issue as our politicians
contentious and issue as our politicians are making them out to be here’s what I
are making them out to be here’s what I
are making them out to be here’s what I believe there are some people like
believe there are some people like
believe there are some people like convicted felons and domestic abusers
convicted felons and domestic abusers
convicted felons and domestic abusers that shouldn’t have guns and we should
that shouldn’t have guns and we should
that shouldn’t have guns and we should make it harder for them to get guns by
make it harder for them to get guns by
make it harder for them to get guns by requiring a background check on every
requiring a background check on every
requiring a background check on every cell there are some places that gun
cell there are some places that gun
cell there are some places that gun shouldn’t be carried bars playgrounds
shouldn’t be carried bars playgrounds
shouldn’t be carried bars playgrounds elementary schools we need to crack down
elementary schools we need to crack down
elementary schools we need to crack down on illegal gun traffickers and finally
on illegal gun traffickers and finally
on illegal gun traffickers and finally for people that own guns it’s important
for people that own guns it’s important
for people that own guns it’s important to store them as safely as possible
to store them as safely as possible
to store them as safely as possible which means unloaded
which means unloaded
which means unloaded locked with the ammunition separate and
locked with the ammunition separate and
locked with the ammunition separate and I will wager a guess that the majority
I will wager a guess that the majority
I will wager a guess that the majority of you agree with me on these issues
of you agree with me on these issues
of you agree with me on these issues because the majority of Americans do
because the majority of Americans do
because the majority of Americans do when you talk about gun control it
when you talk about gun control it
when you talk about gun control it conjures up this distant past there was
conjures up this distant past there was
conjures up this distant past there was actually a time when we considered
actually a time when we considered
actually a time when we considered getting rid of all handguns and
getting rid of all handguns and
getting rid of all handguns and disarming law-abiding people today’s
disarming law-abiding people today’s
disarming law-abiding people today’s conversation is about gun sense how do
conversation is about gun sense how do
conversation is about gun sense how do we protect the rights of people to
we protect the rights of people to
we protect the rights of people to sports shoot to hunt to protect their
sports shoot to hunt to protect their
sports shoot to hunt to protect their families while at the same time making
families while at the same time making
families while at the same time making it harder for dangerous people to get
it harder for dangerous people to get
it harder for dangerous people to get guns there’s so much common ground on
guns there’s so much common ground on
guns there’s so much common ground on this issue and so few conversations that
this issue and so few conversations that
this issue and so few conversations that happen on that common ground I find that
happen on that common ground I find that
happen on that common ground I find that this is an issue that people usually
this is an issue that people usually
this is an issue that people usually there come from their heart and not from
there come from their heart and not from
there come from their heart and not from their head and when people are talking
their head and when people are talking
their head and when people are talking about guns they seem to be more
about guns they seem to be more
about guns they seem to be more interested in being right than listening
interested in being right than listening
interested in being right than listening that has to stop to bring about change
that has to stop to bring about change
that has to stop to bring about change we’re gonna have to talk and listen and
we’re gonna have to talk and listen and
we’re gonna have to talk and listen and we need to be clear about the problem
we need to be clear about the problem
we need to be clear about the problem here it’s not my uncle Johnny and his
here it’s not my uncle Johnny and his
here it’s not my uncle Johnny and his nephews skeet shooting on the weekends
nephews skeet shooting on the weekends
nephews skeet shooting on the weekends there’s a gun lobby run by the gun
there’s a gun lobby run by the gun
there’s a gun lobby run by the gun manufacturers that pays to have
manufacturers that pays to have
manufacturers that pays to have politicians elected and then had them
politicians elected and then had them
politicians elected and then had them pass gun laws that the majority of
pass gun laws that the majority of
pass gun laws that the majority of Americans don’t agree with so while the
Americans don’t agree with so while the
Americans don’t agree with so while the gun lobby is owning these politicians
gun lobby is owning these politicians
gun lobby is owning these politicians they’re also scaring the rest of us to
they’re also scaring the rest of us to
they’re also scaring the rest of us to death so that will buy more guns I read
death so that will buy more guns I read
death so that will buy more guns I read an article recently in New York magazine
an article recently in New York magazine
an article recently in New York magazine it was by a woman named Lisa Miller and
it was by a woman named Lisa Miller and
it was by a woman named Lisa Miller and the magazine was about trying to find
the magazine was about trying to find
the magazine was about trying to find common ground on guns and she ended her
common ground on guns and she ended her
common ground on guns and she ended her peace with what I thought was a really
peace with what I thought was a really
peace with what I thought was a really precise idea which is the conversation
precise idea which is the conversation
precise idea which is the conversation we’re having here isn’t about guns the
we’re having here isn’t about guns the
we’re having here isn’t about guns the conversation we’re having is about fear
conversation we’re having is about fear
conversation we’re having is about fear and in the face of fear do you arm
and in the face of fear do you arm
and in the face of fear do you arm yourself and hope that you’re at the
yourself and hope that you’re at the
yourself and hope that you’re at the ready in case somebody comes to attack
ready in case somebody comes to attack
ready in case somebody comes to attack you or do you try to make it harder for
you or do you try to make it harder for
you or do you try to make it harder for that person to get guns in the first
that person to get guns in the first
that person to get guns in the first place some of my favorite people do both
place some of my favorite people do both
place some of my favorite people do both I am not willing to live in a world
I am not willing to live in a world
I am not willing to live in a world where the good guys shoot it out with
where the good guys shoot it out with
where the good guys shoot it out with the bad guys over my kids heads and so
the bad guys over my kids heads and so
the bad guys over my kids heads and so even though I’m perfectly clear that the
even though I’m perfectly clear that the
even though I’m perfectly clear that the reason I exist is to keep them safe I
reason I exist is to keep them safe I
reason I exist is to keep them safe I don’t carry a gun
don’t carry a gun
don’t carry a gun mostly because I’ve learned it’s more
mostly because I’ve learned it’s more
mostly because I’ve learned it’s more likely to be used against us than we are
likely to be used against us than we are
likely to be used against us than we are to use it against somebody trying to
to use it against somebody trying to
to use it against somebody trying to hurt us that said I’m completely
hurt us that said I’m completely
hurt us that said I’m completely committed to having conversations with
committed to having conversations with
committed to having conversations with people who think differently than me I
people who think differently than me I
people who think differently than me I want to hear the vision of a mother who
want to hear the vision of a mother who
want to hear the vision of a mother who carries a gun to try to help keep their
carries a gun to try to help keep their
carries a gun to try to help keep their kids safe I want to understand her
kids safe I want to understand her
kids safe I want to understand her perspective I want her to understand
perspective I want her to understand
perspective I want her to understand mine I want us to come to some common
mine I want us to come to some common
mine I want us to come to some common ground and then push our legislators to
ground and then push our legislators to
ground and then push our legislators to pass some gun same gun laws because I
pass some gun same gun laws because I
pass some gun same gun laws because I have really good news the way gun
have really good news the way gun
have really good news the way gun violence is in our country right now
violence is in our country right now
violence is in our country right now doesn’t have to stay this way so let’s
doesn’t have to stay this way so let’s
doesn’t have to stay this way so let’s be clear with each other and then let’s
be clear with each other and then let’s
be clear with each other and then let’s be perfectly clear with our legislators
be perfectly clear with our legislators
be perfectly clear with our legislators who have power to do something about it
who have power to do something about it
who have power to do something about it let me be clear with you here’s what I
let me be clear with you here’s what I
let me be clear with you here’s what I want I want you to start conversations
want I want you to start conversations
want I want you to start conversations about gun violence and I want you to not
about gun violence and I want you to not
about gun violence and I want you to not stop with just talking I want you to
stop with just talking I want you to
stop with just talking I want you to join an organization I want you to give
join an organization I want you to give
join an organization I want you to give time I want you to contact your
time I want you to contact your
time I want you to contact your legislators on both sides of the aisle
legislators on both sides of the aisle
legislators on both sides of the aisle call them email them show up at their
call them email them show up at their
call them email them show up at their offices because even in this topsy-turvy
offices because even in this topsy-turvy
offices because even in this topsy-turvy political climate nothing moves
political climate nothing moves
political climate nothing moves legislators more than constituent action
legislators more than constituent action
legislators more than constituent action and as I’ve said my vision is perfectly
and as I’ve said my vision is perfectly
and as I’ve said my vision is perfectly clear
clear
clear I’m here to make sure my kids outlive me
I’m here to make sure my kids outlive me
I’m here to make sure my kids outlive me I’m here to make sure you outlive your
I’m here to make sure you outlive your
I’m here to make sure you outlive your parents and that some day your kids
parents and that some day your kids
parents and that some day your kids outlive you too thank you
”
Be First to Comment