August Response to Mass Shootings
As we head into a holiday weekend that honors and remembers those who died for our country, the team at August is feeling horror, grief, and anger about the spate of recent mass shootings across the country. We also remember and mourn for the innocent lives lost and the countless others affected by these senseless and abhorrent acts.
There is an often-quoted (especially following the murders in Uvalde) tweet from 2015 by journalist Dan Hodges that reads: “In retrospect Sandy Hook marked the end of the US gun control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.” Indeed, much of the news coverage and commentary in the wake of Uvalde expressed a tone of resignation that nothing can change the unwillingness of our elected officials to bring about sensible changes to our gun control laws and protect innocent lives.
We cannot succumb to the understandable feelings of helplessness. As Coretta Scott King so eloquently stated, “It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are indeed part of the problem.”
Over the last several days, we have been encouraged to see many prominent individuals and organizations speaking forcefully for change. Golden State Warriors head coach, Steve Kerr, whose father was tragically shot to death when Kerr was a teenager, was as forcefully outspoken as anyone about the need for elected officials – specifically Republican Senators – to respond to the will of the people and take legislative action to restrict access to deadly weapons. Gabe Kapler, the manager of the San Francisco Giants expressed similar passion and has decided for now that the will not take the field for the national anthem. And the New York Yankees – arguably the most famous franchise in the history of professional sports – joined with the Tampa Bay Rays to use their respective Twitter feeds to educate the public about gun violence.
In boldly taking a stance, they are using their platforms to drive change. Each one of us can do the same. Even if we, as individuals, can’t reach as many people as Steve Kerr or the New York Yankees, each of us can be part of a groundswell of public opinion demanding, and ultimately achieving, meaningful action. And we must remember that there is an overwhelming majority of Americans who believe that what is right is taking various forms of legislative action to limit gun access and deter gun violence. In fact, 88% of Americans support universal background checks for all gun purchases and two-thirds of Americans support banning assault weapons.
So, what can you do? Here are some suggestions and links to resources:
1. Vote. Every Senator, Congressperson, and Governor who ignores the undeniable logic of common-sense gun laws can be voted out of office and stripped of their power. If you want real change, then commit to voting for and supporting candidates who are in favor of meaningful changes to our federal and state gun laws.
2. Make your voice heard. Regardless of where you live, call your Senator, Congressional representative, and Governor and express your views, and encourage people you know to do the same
3. Use your financial power. As individuals, each of us can commit to not supporting companies that make contributions to politicians who accept money from the gun lobby and/or do not support legislation to help stop gun violence. And companies and other organizations can similarly make this type of commitment.
4. Donate (if you can) Support organizations that advocate for stopping gun violence, including Everytown for Gun Safety; Sandy Hook Promise; and Giffords. These organizations are making an impact even if it doesn’t seem like change is happening.
5. Volunteer. Each one of the organizations listed above can use support. Or you can volunteer to help candidates who are committed to passing gun control legislation.
There is power in numbers. If we all do our part and trust that others will do the same, we can help to erode the gun lobby’s influence. Our firm hopes and believes that there is enough anger and passion now that companies and individuals will have a sense of collective responsibility to ensure that change happens.
As for August, we are individually and as a firm making donations to each of the non-profit organizations that are listed above. We are committing to not supporting businesses or organizations that make contributions to or otherwise support the gun lobby.
That is just our starting point. We will continue to advocate for change and support the effort to implement sensible gun control laws – because in following Coretta Scott King’s guidance we are using our small slice of power to help bring about positive change. It’s either that or be part of the problem.