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I think we’ve all heard by now that the majority of people in the U.S. favor at least some portions of common-sense gun laws. You can Google that. I think we also know that gun violence is the leading cause of death of children in the U.S. You can Google that. We know that a lot of thoughts and prayers have been offered up and they are definitely not putting a dent in the trajectory of gun violence in our country.
Maine had our “yes it can happen here” moment in Lewiston two months ago. Through that tragedy, the whole world learned a whole lot about Maine for all the wrong reasons. In 2021, 158 families in Maine learned more than anybody should ever have to know about suicide by gun.
Whatever you are doing to help us on the way to gun violence prevention, thank you! Here’s a small ask: When you are moved to pray, support or donate to victims and their families, please take one more step and write. Write to your elected representatives, you can Google their addresses. Write to your newspapers. Write to your school boards, your mayors, your city councils. Write to the president. If writing is not for you, they all have phone numbers.
And please vote as if your life depends on it. And yup, you can Google who does and does not support common sense gun legislation.
Judy Doran
Eliot
