What I've Learned Since Sandy Hook

I was invited recently to participate in a webinar with other mom bloggers about the work of the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns.  It was fascinating and I want to share some of what I've learned.

It gave me a little hope at a time when contemplating the difficult issue of gun violence in our country has me, frankly, depressed.  Like many, the mass murder of small children at Sandy Hook Elementary caused me to look critically at our laws and culture and consider what should change.  I did not know what sort of laws and regulations were currently in place, or the vast variety of problems we have involving guns in our society.  I've learned a lot since Sandy Hook.

Unfortunately, one of the things I've learned is that when it comes to gun ownership in America finding common ground with people on different ends of the issue is more difficult than I would have believed.  

I have tried to engage gun enthusiasts I know in discussions so that I may better understand their side.  I don't relate to the kind of passion I see for gun rights that I reserve for my family, but I think for many gun owners it's the same thing, since they see possessing weapons as a way of protecting what they love.  I look at the statistics available about what having a gun in the home means in terms of the risk it poses to people I care about and come to a different conclusion.  This difference in world view is emotional for people on both sides, and problems in communication may come down to the fact that the presence of guns makes some feel safer, and others feel less safe.

On this point we may simply be at an impasse.

However, I still think there is room to come together on some policies that will make all of us safer.  I'd like to begin by passing along information from the online discussion, and then I have some additional thoughts of my own.

Here are some facts about gun violence in our country that you may or may not know: