a reflective journal about social action from JustDane
IF NOT THEN, WHEN? IF NOT NOW, WHEN? BY LINDA KETCHAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The following is an excerpt from remarks I shared on December 14, 2013 on the one year anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School: “One year ago today, as the horror unfolded we held our children to our chests, we wept, we prayed. We called for an end to this country’s fascination with guns. We thought, surely this will bring about change. Surely the massacre of 20 school children will bring us to our senses.
Community vigil to end gun violence
ACTION ITEMS FOR GUN CONTROL MEASURES IN WI Universal background checks Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) keep guns from those at risk to self/others
Community violence intervention funding Reasonable permitting process for carrying firearms Contact your elected representatives Elections matter: VOTE!
Daniel Barden, Josephine Gray, Chase Kowalski and Grace McDonnell were seven years old when they died on December 14th, 2012. My daughter Minna was also seven years old on that day. This year my daughter learned to ride a two wheeler, to swim with confidence, she went to Girl Scout camp, she ran her first 5k, tonight we will decorate our Christmas tree. In the last 12 months our family has shared moments that Daniel, Grace, Josephine and Chase and their families will never again share. One year ago today many of us sat together in quiet, huddled conversation wondering how to talk to our kids about the 20 children who never came home from school. At that same time powerful forces were already working on strategies to silence our calls for an end to unfettered access to guns. We were told not to politicize the deaths, that the time to talk would be after the funerals, but as we have learned, the funerals never end, one after another. Every time there is a mass shooting the media asks “what was wrong with the shooter?” The truth is, only when we ask and honestly answer “what is wrong with us as a society?” will we ever begin to understand the change required to end gun violence goes far beyond the need for stricter gun laws. Change can come, change must come. It will come through sustained action and effort. It will come when we join our voices together and demand change."
Summer 2022