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Enough is Enough

Writer's picture: jnwashington0905jnwashington0905

Image: Google images

Today in Winder, Georgia, a mass shooting occurred at Apalachee High School, where a 14-year-old killed four people and wounded nine others.There are no words to express the pain and grief caused by this senseless tragedy. Unfortunately, the reasons behind this crime will likely be debated, with mental health being the primary focus, and political parties inevitably becoming part of the discussion. But the larger issue here is access to assault weapons, particularly AR-style firearms, and guns in general. What drives a 14-year-old to harbor such intense hatred that leads to murder? And perhaps most importantly, how does a child gain access to a gun in the first place?

As someone who subscribes to the ideology of Motherism, this calls for a reordering of our national priorities. Motherism is about re-ordering what is not working in our society. Some believe that community involvement is a preventive measure, but the real issue lies in political support for the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the lack of legislation for comprehensive background checks. This isn't about the Second Amendment or the right to 'bear arms. What I am suggesting is that guns should NEVER be in the hands of minors, and that everyone purchasing a gun must undergo a background check. These two simple measures help ensure our collective freedom from random gun violence.I’ve always wondered how quickly legislation would change if every African-American man purchased a gun. I bet it would happen faster than we could blink.

The praxis of Motherism is community protecting, community care and the wellbeing of not just one’s own children but the community’s children, it has no boundaries on love.  It is embedded in community nurturing. Mothering is profoundly spiritual and multifacted. 

I remember when the Sandy Hook shooting happened; my step-mother passed away the next day. I was certain that tragedy would compel us as a nation to do the right thing, but I was wrong.The next day, I received a phone call from a friend who didn’t know my stepmother had passed. They called after having a dream in which they saw her getting off a school bus, hurrying to protect children who were hiding from a darkness and afraid to step into 'the light, mom was holding a shepherds hook.' I take comfort in her passing i in this dream. I choose to believe that Mom became an angel, continuing her mission to protect children, in their time of fear and being alone. When will we, as earthly beings, become the angels who protect our community children?

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