Exactly one month since the tragic Newtown shooting,
parents, relatives and friends of the 26 victims came together at a press
conference to announce their plans to make a difference. Newtown residents
formed a group called Sandy Hook Promise as an initiative to “transform public
outrage into action to make our communities and our nation a safer, better
place.” Nicole Hockley, a mother to one of the young victims, said, “There is
no quick-fix single action but instead a multitude of interlinked actions that
are needed.” As parents voiced their support through speeches, they each held pictures
of their children who died in the shooting. This group has chosen to take their
grief and redirect it towards preventing anything like this from happening
again. They plan on increasing awareness by holding debates about gun ownership
and regulation, mental health, and school and public safety.
Since the Newtown shooting, support for gun control has
increased to 51% of Americans, as opposed to the 47% of Americans prior to the
shooting. Sandy Hook Promise’s announcement comes just days before Vice
President Biden, who was tasked with finding ways to decrease gun violence,
will announce his recommendations. Though a majority of Americans support gun
control, many gun rights groups, like the NRA, say that Biden’s suggestions
will fail in Congress.
What do you think? Will Sandy Hook Promise have any effect
on the current legislation? Will any of Vice President Biden’s suggestions be
passed?
2 comments:
Firstly, I think its great that these parents decided not idly mourn their loss in sorrow, but take action to make sure that their loved ones did not die in vain. However, its hard to say whether or not gun laws will change anytime soon. While the polls show that the percentage of Americans favoring reform has increased, 51% is still very close to half. Furthermore, there have been several incidents in the past with gun violence that have stirred up upheaval for a short time afterward, but the call for change largely dies off. I truly hope that the Sandy Hook Promise can succeed in their quest, but I don't think it will be easy.
I'm not so sure that the Sandy Hook Promise will heavily affect any of the upcoming legislature that is to be proposed, but it will definitely strengthen the public opinion for gun control. If word of this group is heavily publicized by the media (which I suspect it will be), then a growing proportion of Americans will most likely try to support its causes.
With regards to Biden's proposals... I am sure something will be passed because considering how much outrage there is on both sides of the issue, there has to be some new laws that will cater to pro-gun control folk.
More so than Biden's proposals alone, it'll be interesting to see how much public opinion can influence the legislative process given the current situation and concerns.
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