HRC's protege is reaching out to HS students to ask what should be done about gun violence in schools. As a parent of a student in his district I replied on my child's behalf. It's a rigged survey as expected as it asks for school name, grade, age, etc to be sure to exclude any valuable feedback. Copy of my response below - feel free to respond here: www.seanmaloney.gov
Representative Maloney,
This is a feel good exercise that will no doubt provide you with the emotional appeal for gun control you so deeply desire. However, in my opinion, students are not prepared to decide how to best protect themselves due to lack of life experience and perspective. You should be asking parents/adults for recommendations, not children. As a parent of a child in the XXXXXX School District I will provide you the feedback you are requesting.
Shootings like the tragedy in Parkland are heartbreaking and we all need to work toward a solution that addresses the drivers of such a violent act including mental illness and prescription drugs. Unfortunately for the students and the Parkland community, those in law enforcement charged with protecting the school neglected their duties through cowardice and inaction and allowed the tragedy to unfold. Despite more than 30 warnings and no less than 2 FBI investigations into the potential danger of the perpetrator officials failed to take any actions to prevent it from occurring. The right solution, armed security, was available yet unused as 4 officers stayed outside failing to stop the perpetrator. As a society we protect our most valued assets with armed security (banks/money centers, corporate offices, sports arenas, concerts, government properties, etc). Aren't our children more precious than these other things? I say resoundingly YES and therefore worthy of similar protections. Yet you and your Democratic colleagues continue to press to keep schools as gun free zones leaving our children vulnerable to the worst elements of society. Perhaps you can explain your point of view directly on your website or facebook page?
To answer your question "What do you think Congress should do to combat gun violence in our schools?"
1) I suggest you and your congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle work together to address the reasons these senseless acts of violence are committed rather than the tool used. What are the roles that mental illness and prescription drugs play in these tragedies? Scapegoating millions of law abiding citizens who happen to own firearms is beneath the office of our elected officials and the worst kind of partisan politics.
2) I propose Congress stop politicizing these tragedies and ensure law enforcement and medical professionals can adequately share information without violating the due process rights of citizens. There are no additional laws that would prevent tragedies like this as individuals dedicated to violence don't obey laws.
3) Immediately overturn any Gun Free Zone legislation so that our children can be adequately protected in their schools.
As one of your constituents I hope that you will take the time to read my note and at a minimum consider its content. Our children are truly our most precious asset and should not be used for political leverage.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely and with best regards,
Representative Maloney,
This is a feel good exercise that will no doubt provide you with the emotional appeal for gun control you so deeply desire. However, in my opinion, students are not prepared to decide how to best protect themselves due to lack of life experience and perspective. You should be asking parents/adults for recommendations, not children. As a parent of a child in the XXXXXX School District I will provide you the feedback you are requesting.
Shootings like the tragedy in Parkland are heartbreaking and we all need to work toward a solution that addresses the drivers of such a violent act including mental illness and prescription drugs. Unfortunately for the students and the Parkland community, those in law enforcement charged with protecting the school neglected their duties through cowardice and inaction and allowed the tragedy to unfold. Despite more than 30 warnings and no less than 2 FBI investigations into the potential danger of the perpetrator officials failed to take any actions to prevent it from occurring. The right solution, armed security, was available yet unused as 4 officers stayed outside failing to stop the perpetrator. As a society we protect our most valued assets with armed security (banks/money centers, corporate offices, sports arenas, concerts, government properties, etc). Aren't our children more precious than these other things? I say resoundingly YES and therefore worthy of similar protections. Yet you and your Democratic colleagues continue to press to keep schools as gun free zones leaving our children vulnerable to the worst elements of society. Perhaps you can explain your point of view directly on your website or facebook page?
To answer your question "What do you think Congress should do to combat gun violence in our schools?"
1) I suggest you and your congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle work together to address the reasons these senseless acts of violence are committed rather than the tool used. What are the roles that mental illness and prescription drugs play in these tragedies? Scapegoating millions of law abiding citizens who happen to own firearms is beneath the office of our elected officials and the worst kind of partisan politics.
2) I propose Congress stop politicizing these tragedies and ensure law enforcement and medical professionals can adequately share information without violating the due process rights of citizens. There are no additional laws that would prevent tragedies like this as individuals dedicated to violence don't obey laws.
3) Immediately overturn any Gun Free Zone legislation so that our children can be adequately protected in their schools.
As one of your constituents I hope that you will take the time to read my note and at a minimum consider its content. Our children are truly our most precious asset and should not be used for political leverage.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely and with best regards,
