Anat Shenker-Osorio’s Post

The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, serves as a chilling reminder of how out-of-control America's gun policy has become and how deeply entrenched political violence threatens our democracy. Regardless of whom we support, such violence is unacceptable and must be condemned. The fact that a shooter, armed with an AR-style rifle, could attempt to murder a political leader in broad daylight is a damning indictment of our failure to address gun control. This incident should jolt us into recognising that our democratic process is at risk and that both parties must urgently unite to kerb this spiralling violence and champion non-violence. Implementing non-violence requires comprehensive gun control legislation, widespread education on conflict resolution, and a national commitment to fostering respectful political discourse, ensuring that violence has no place in our society.

It's fully possible - and necessary - to be able to hold two opposing points of view in our heads and hearts at the same time. Something I posted in 2022 about motherhood, now feels like it rings true in a completely different way. Do I condone political violence? Obviously and absolutely not. Have I seen it running rampant across our world and especially our country? Yes. Do I believe America deserves a president than prioritizes human rights and peace? Yes. Do I believe that's Trump? Absolutely not. Do I believe he has been one of the biggest perpetrator of political violence in the last decade? Yes. Do I want to see that violence enacted on any human including him? No. Our children aren't safe. Our brothers and sisters across the world aren't safe. Even those in power aren't safe. The ideal is currently out of reach. So at the least, we must ask ourselves what it looks like to organize ourselves around minimizing harm. And on American ground, the most meaningful act of harm-minimization is gun control. We need to get guns OUT OF PEOPLE'S HANDS. Especially in such a heightened political environment. Especially after a year-long pandemic. Especially when there's so much global unrest. None of us are as mentally stable as we were just a few years ago. Anti-depressants are the third most common medication taken by Americans (CDC). Just like we shouldn't be operating heavy machinery, we should also not be wielding semi-automatic rifles. I'm not sure how much simpler it can be. Minimize Harm. Advocate for stricter gun laws. #guncontrol #momsdemand #mentalhealthcrisis (all points of views are my own)

The Truth Behind Texas School Shootings: Policies and Consequences In this impactful video, we discuss how the current gun policies contribute to rising school shootings in Texas and across the nation. It’s time to examine the implications of these laws and their effect on families and communities. #GunControl #TexasShootings #PolicyChange #StopGunViolence #SchoolSafety #MassShootingAwareness #CommunityImpact #SecondAmendment #SafetyFirst #PoliticalAccountability

Unless a teacher is very well trained and practices routinely, not just target practice and general gun safety, but how to keep someone from getting the gun (which takes physical training and a level of physical fitness), it would be easy for a teenager or two to distract and take a gun from an armed teacher. Also, when people have guns, escalation of the threat level is more likely, unless they are also trained in threat deescalation. Teachers who carry guns in classrooms should be at least as well trained as school police. If a teacher is well trained in all of these areas and is carrying a gun in a school, he or she should be required to have the gun on their person at all times. If the need for it should ever arise, a gun stored properly in another room in no better than no gun at all and a gun stored insecurely is much worse. Tennessee Passes Bill to Allow Teachers to Carry Concealed Handguns https://lnkd.in/dNdWeFsW

📣 Important Update: A Victory for Local Governance and Public Safety! A recent ruling has declared that Indiana’s attempt to block Gary’s lawsuit against gun manufacturers is unconstitutional. This decision is a crucial win for the city of Gary, which is striving to hold gun manufacturers accountable for their role in the gun violence that impacts our community. Why this matters: ✅ Local Impact: Gary is at the forefront of addressing the devastating effects of gun violence, and this lawsuit is a vital step towards meaningful change. ✅ State vs. Local Power: The court’s decision underscores the importance of local governments having the authority to tackle issues that directly affect their communities. ✅ Shifting Attitudes: Interestingly, the perception of rising crime is leading to calls for public safety reforms—calls that are even resonating with Republicans in Indiana. According to our research, nearly 7-in-10 people say it is important that elected leaders pass common-sense gun reforms like universal background checks. Let’s support Gary in its fight for justice and safer neighborhoods. Together, we can advocate for the reforms our communities need. Story here: https://lnkd.in/g7HJVUSj @indystar #GunSafety #CommonSenseReform #LocalGovernance #IndianaNews #GaryIN

The sense of safety that should be born from small, close-knit communities feels further and further away in Indiana. According to our research, at least as far as perceptions go, Hoosiers say their communities are falling prey to rising crime rates. When reflecting on the issues most affecting their communities, rising crime rates and increasing gun violence were named at the top. Republicans are more likely to fear the former, and Democrats the latter, while Independents are concerned about both trends in equal measure. Interestingly, the perception of rising crime is helping to contribute to calls for public safety reforms normally unpopular with the Right. Even Republicans in Indiana are interested in finding compromise on some form of gun reform, such as background checks. Nearly 7-in-10 Hoosiers say it is important that elected leaders pass common sense gun reform like universal background checks. There is no better time to take on gun reform. The time is now. Our safety and our young people are betting on it. Make your voice count, register to vote and see you at the ballot this fall. #CommunitySafety #GunReform #EndViolence #Community #Values #Research #Vote

Evolving your thinking is a sign of strength in leadership.

Reap as you sow Violence, particularly political violence, is not acceptable in a modern democracy. The assassination bid on Trump has to be condemned in no uncertain terms. Bible says ‘you reap whatever you sow’. Trump unable to digest his defeat, incited the Jan 6, 2021 insurrection. He is doubling down and has been promising violence if he loses 2024 elections. Trump and Republicans have taken the constitutional guarantee to bear arms to the extreme. According to a study there are 120 guns per 100 Americans. Republicans have been pushing for laxer gun laws despite series of school shootings and other violent gun crime. Hope this incident serves as a wakeup call to Trump and Republicans. Or does their harebrained logic pushes them to clamour for further relaxation of gun laws. The real worrying question is ‘will sympathy factor help Trump to get into the Whitehouse for the second time?’. It may not. The US is so completely polarized along ideological and cultural lines that it appears as though two realities exist. God save America.

Gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and has decreased the lifespan of American adults by 2.5 years. In 2021, more than forty-eight thousand people were killed by guns in the United States. Nearly twice as many were injured. But beyond these statistics are the untold stories of doctors and health care workers who work to save the lives of victims of gun violence. In "Under the Gun," Cedric Dark takes readers into the harrowing experiences of these physicians. Combining research, an examination of gun culture, and an exploration of policy options, this book equips readers with a new understanding of the data and stories needed to confront and persuade politicians to better protect the health and safety of Americans. https://lnkd.in/ehWvjau5