But our situation in Tennessee is this: Our state legislators and governor work to re-district the state so that areas that might have leaned toward gun control - Nashville - are redrawn and the person elected to represent us in Congress lives an hour south.
Just read this in Heather Cox Richardson's daily post. I really enjoy her writing and the way she sums up current and historical events . It's too often very disturbing - but we need to know what's happening. "In the wake of the shooting, Representative Andrew Ogles (R-TN), who represents Nashville thanks to redistricting by the Republican legislature that cut up a Democratic district, said he was “utterly heartbroken” by the shooting and offered “thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost.”
He’s a sham. He lives south of Nashville and now represents a growing, diverse city. And all this was possible because of redistricting by our state legislature. Heather Cox Richardson is one smart lady.
I’m so sorry this has happened again. It hits hardest when it’s closer to home. I wanted to write that you are brave to say what you did, but you only spoke the truth and anyway, don’t we have something called free speech? Your comments need to be heard. Assault weapons should be deployed on the battlefield, not in our schools.
With heavy and sad heart, we act. We bring everyone to the table, even if they don’t want to talk about it, don’t want their rights taken away. This isn’t for us. This is for the next generation and the next. And if you ask me, this is the only way America will ever be great again.
Driving from Chattanooga to Nashville, a visitor passes billboard after billboard of signs advertising guns-- not those for hunting, but those for killing people. Across the US, I see shooting ranges advertised as a form of entertainment. I've had people tell me smugly that I'm naive, and that I would be surprised by who carries a gun. I'm far from naive. I am quietly appalled by the indifference to human life. As you point out, Dunblane caused my native Britain to recoil. Here, people have become numb, persuading themselves that. "nothing" can be done. Fatalism.
It’s the fatalism that scares the hell out of me. Seeing faces of parents resign themselves to this sort of ‘’normal’’ lifestyle. It’s not normal, it’s a disease. And we must do everything in our power to stop it.
Thank you, thank you Anne for saying everything that needs to be said over and over and over. Now, we all need to turn our anger and frustration into emailing and letter/post card writing, calling all of our elected officials you mentioned about this horrible tragedy as well as all the others. It really is time for action. The French, or Israelis know how to make their voices heard and as we see officials are listening to them. Our complacency is allowing this to continue. Again, thank you Anne.
Teresa, thank you for commenting. It’s complacency but also fear. How can we make a difference when we feel like government and elected officials are not expressing OUR desires? Where are the mothers and wives of these politicians? Where are the daughters, the mothers of their grandchildren? Women rose up to fight for the right to vote. We need anger and grief and action.
The issue is about guns and mental health. It isn't an either-or situation. As a retired mental health professional, I have seen how we in this country frequently ignore or downplay mental health issues. Clearly the woman who committed the murders yesterday was not of sound mind, and there were signs of this that were ignored. As for our gun laws, I am in complete agreement that we need to make major changes, such as background checks, waiting periods, etc. But PLEASE, don't separate the issue out (a trap set by politicians to further divide this already divided country) and let's address BOTH mental health and gun regulations.
Stephen, I stand corrected and appreciate your comments. If I went on defense quickly re mental health vs guns it is because in my state if you mention guns, the counter is - no, it’s mental health, not guns. It’s both. But in the short term, reinstating an assault rifle ban is tangible.
I completely understand your frustration because this is a commonly used tactic by politicians: pit one side against the other. We must start working together if we are ever going to accomplish anything. Sadly, I don't think the politicians want to work together...I hope this isn't true of the citizens of this country (although it may be true). We really must address both mental health and gun laws to prevent more shootings. And thank you for your kind and understanding comments.
You are spot on. And social media feeds the pitting one against the other. Us or them. I believe Americans are better than the politicians. We need to be around the table together. I could care less about NRA money grabbing politicians but am curious just how much they are paid to be pro gun. Hope some investigative outlet makes that public.
I am in complete agreement with you. If we could get together around the kitchen table, we might be able to adequately address the issues of gun control and mental health. Isn't it wonderful that we can use a forum such as this to talk and understand one another? The political elite could do the same if they had more concern for the citizens and were less concerned about their own power and being reelected. Chatting with you has not only been a pleasure, but it has made me feel just a little more hopeful.
I will say this afternoon’s conversations have a softer tone than those from this morning. Where we go from here? Our families, neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, book clubs, wherever people gather. And yes the fear of losing power has ruined politics. It’s all about power.
Oh, Anne, I am sorry. I truly don't know what it will take, just how much tragedy, for our country to change. It's incomprehensible to me. And the rest of the world is baffled by our passivity.
Exactly, Aleksandra. I want the world to know that not everyone in the South is pro gun. We may seem passive because we are constrained by redistricting and our votes go nowhere. But we can be active in voice. It needs to be channeled. Thank you.
Completely disagree with your view and rather disappointed that you have used your otherwise neutral cooking platform to put in your opinion as your secret ingredient. I knew and formerly worked with both women killed.
Stacy, I am sorry for your loss. But I hope you understand that I am a whole person, as Leah pointed out. And I do believe lax gun laws are at the heart of this. I also believe that the women of Nashville need to come together, no matter our politics or religious beliefs. There is a lot of love here to be shared.
It’s horrifying. As parents and grandparents we see these reports and wonder when it might be “our” children. But maybe If we treated all of them as “our” children we’d do something.
I don’t know…there’s something very weird about America and guns. Some sort of fetish that I don’t understand. Who do they think is after them??
It’s selfish. People who feel they have been displaced in the world are trying to cling to rights and ownership. Yes, these children are OUR children. The UK Parliament knew that in 1996.
Thank you for speaking out from your heart. Reason and compassion need to prevail, and it’s not “political commentary” to call out this national failing for what it is. These shootings don’t happen in other countries, and we all know why. May the bakers, cooks, and nurturers rise up and demand better!
Why is it when we mention guns, that the conversation becomes political? In my mind, too many women in this country have let men make too many decisions for them. Feminists come in all stripes, and it’s time they band together for those who can’t look after themselves - children.
The Wall Street Journal stated that yesterday’s shooting was the 89th school shooting this year (it’s only March) and so far 75 wounded or killed. How is this possible? Thank you for providing details about how England responded & how effective it’s been. I’ll be sharing your post with others. We can make a difference with our voices & our votes.
It’s just reprehensible. Women of all ages must collectively come together and say NO MORE. Thank you. Texas is a big state, but I think you can handle it!
Omg, how beyond horrible....Terrifying actually. How people can support these representatives, their actions and beliefs. The Christmas card alone is nauseating.
I want cake pictures in the news, not more violence. I want flowers and strawberries not the report of more children dying, not the insistence that LBGTQ is in any way subversive, and that books be banned for illustrating history and bias. I want to take politics out of health, allowing the medical community to prescribe treatment. I want there to be NO guns except by police and the military and even those to be tightly controlled. Sorry hunters. I will make an exception for animal control officers. Take the classes and get deputized. But then this is off topic for this blog. Let us go back to cake, flowers and strawberries. My sympathies alone won’t fix this. Be proactive in elections and hold representatives accountable.
Why oh why can we not minimally ban assault rifles? All it took for the first ban was a presidential assignation attempt and the shooting of James Brady. Now we have hundreds of school children dying and nothing. In fact, it almost seems as if all the shootings make for more assault rifle sales and the people owning them even more entrenched in their “rights”. As far as I’m concerned, there should be no reason for anyone outside of law enforcement and military to possess as assault rifle. There should be no concealed carry without a visit to court and a judge approving the reason. Everyone should be over the age of 21, have a license to own a gun, and the process to obtain one should be should include a thorough backround check and be at least a rigorous as obtaining a driver’s license.
As the many of the gun rights people seem to be the same group that supported the appointment of the latest two Supreme Court justices. Those new justices seem to feel that the Constitution should be interpreted as it written at that time, when the founding fathers wrote that, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and secure Arms, shall not be infringed” should keep in mind, first militia. Is your representative with his gun toting family Christmas card going to send his twelve year old daughter off to fight foreign attackers? Is she a member of the militia? We now have the National Guard to fulfill the role of national militia. Second, if the Constitution is to be interpreted as a document of its time then every citizen has the right to own a musket. Those were the only guns available at that time and it’s obvious the founding fathers were writing about every, male citizen at the time, being able to own a musket.
Why won’t this stop? Everyone elected to any time of public office needs to refuse money from the NRA, pull up their big boy and big girl pants, and stop this from happening.
Absolutely! Thank you, Karen. You bring up the sad reality that politicians are influenced by lobbyists. Follow the money. They are often uneducated about history too. That assault rifle ban occurred back when the voting public remembered the JFK assassination and the profound grief felt across this nation regardless of political party.
I'm heartbroken for my city of Nashville. And I concur with some of what you've said however the conversation DOES need to talk about mental health and not just guns. It's ok to hold two thoughts and priorities at the same time. My blessings to you!
Absolutely. Guns and mental health need to be discussed together. Why do we allow guns in the hands of people who cannot handle them? Should we make access more difficult - more hoops to jump through - then we have at least tried. We have to try.
The Republicans can keep their "thoughts and prayers " and start doing the right thing. I'm afraid they won't. Voting them out is the only way.
But our situation in Tennessee is this: Our state legislators and governor work to re-district the state so that areas that might have leaned toward gun control - Nashville - are redrawn and the person elected to represent us in Congress lives an hour south.
You're right - isn't that how Andy Ogles was elected?
Just read this in Heather Cox Richardson's daily post. I really enjoy her writing and the way she sums up current and historical events . It's too often very disturbing - but we need to know what's happening. "In the wake of the shooting, Representative Andrew Ogles (R-TN), who represents Nashville thanks to redistricting by the Republican legislature that cut up a Democratic district, said he was “utterly heartbroken” by the shooting and offered “thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost.”
He’s a sham. He lives south of Nashville and now represents a growing, diverse city. And all this was possible because of redistricting by our state legislature. Heather Cox Richardson is one smart lady.
Correct! And with a bogus CV to boot!
Thank you for keeping it real!
I’m so sorry this has happened again. It hits hardest when it’s closer to home. I wanted to write that you are brave to say what you did, but you only spoke the truth and anyway, don’t we have something called free speech? Your comments need to be heard. Assault weapons should be deployed on the battlefield, not in our schools.
Amen, Juanita. Thank you for your support.
I couldn't agree with you more. My heart is so heavy and sad.
With heavy and sad heart, we act. We bring everyone to the table, even if they don’t want to talk about it, don’t want their rights taken away. This isn’t for us. This is for the next generation and the next. And if you ask me, this is the only way America will ever be great again.
Driving from Chattanooga to Nashville, a visitor passes billboard after billboard of signs advertising guns-- not those for hunting, but those for killing people. Across the US, I see shooting ranges advertised as a form of entertainment. I've had people tell me smugly that I'm naive, and that I would be surprised by who carries a gun. I'm far from naive. I am quietly appalled by the indifference to human life. As you point out, Dunblane caused my native Britain to recoil. Here, people have become numb, persuading themselves that. "nothing" can be done. Fatalism.
It’s the fatalism that scares the hell out of me. Seeing faces of parents resign themselves to this sort of ‘’normal’’ lifestyle. It’s not normal, it’s a disease. And we must do everything in our power to stop it.
Thank you for writing this.
Thank you, thank you Anne for saying everything that needs to be said over and over and over. Now, we all need to turn our anger and frustration into emailing and letter/post card writing, calling all of our elected officials you mentioned about this horrible tragedy as well as all the others. It really is time for action. The French, or Israelis know how to make their voices heard and as we see officials are listening to them. Our complacency is allowing this to continue. Again, thank you Anne.
Teresa, thank you for commenting. It’s complacency but also fear. How can we make a difference when we feel like government and elected officials are not expressing OUR desires? Where are the mothers and wives of these politicians? Where are the daughters, the mothers of their grandchildren? Women rose up to fight for the right to vote. We need anger and grief and action.
Yes you are so correct. Sending good wishes and hopes. T
The issue is about guns and mental health. It isn't an either-or situation. As a retired mental health professional, I have seen how we in this country frequently ignore or downplay mental health issues. Clearly the woman who committed the murders yesterday was not of sound mind, and there were signs of this that were ignored. As for our gun laws, I am in complete agreement that we need to make major changes, such as background checks, waiting periods, etc. But PLEASE, don't separate the issue out (a trap set by politicians to further divide this already divided country) and let's address BOTH mental health and gun regulations.
Stephen, I stand corrected and appreciate your comments. If I went on defense quickly re mental health vs guns it is because in my state if you mention guns, the counter is - no, it’s mental health, not guns. It’s both. But in the short term, reinstating an assault rifle ban is tangible.
I completely understand your frustration because this is a commonly used tactic by politicians: pit one side against the other. We must start working together if we are ever going to accomplish anything. Sadly, I don't think the politicians want to work together...I hope this isn't true of the citizens of this country (although it may be true). We really must address both mental health and gun laws to prevent more shootings. And thank you for your kind and understanding comments.
You are spot on. And social media feeds the pitting one against the other. Us or them. I believe Americans are better than the politicians. We need to be around the table together. I could care less about NRA money grabbing politicians but am curious just how much they are paid to be pro gun. Hope some investigative outlet makes that public.
I am in complete agreement with you. If we could get together around the kitchen table, we might be able to adequately address the issues of gun control and mental health. Isn't it wonderful that we can use a forum such as this to talk and understand one another? The political elite could do the same if they had more concern for the citizens and were less concerned about their own power and being reelected. Chatting with you has not only been a pleasure, but it has made me feel just a little more hopeful.
I will say this afternoon’s conversations have a softer tone than those from this morning. Where we go from here? Our families, neighborhoods, schools, places of worship, book clubs, wherever people gather. And yes the fear of losing power has ruined politics. It’s all about power.
Oh, Anne, I am sorry. I truly don't know what it will take, just how much tragedy, for our country to change. It's incomprehensible to me. And the rest of the world is baffled by our passivity.
Exactly, Aleksandra. I want the world to know that not everyone in the South is pro gun. We may seem passive because we are constrained by redistricting and our votes go nowhere. But we can be active in voice. It needs to be channeled. Thank you.
Completely disagree with your view and rather disappointed that you have used your otherwise neutral cooking platform to put in your opinion as your secret ingredient. I knew and formerly worked with both women killed.
Stacy, I am sorry for your loss. But I hope you understand that I am a whole person, as Leah pointed out. And I do believe lax gun laws are at the heart of this. I also believe that the women of Nashville need to come together, no matter our politics or religious beliefs. There is a lot of love here to be shared.
It’s horrifying. As parents and grandparents we see these reports and wonder when it might be “our” children. But maybe If we treated all of them as “our” children we’d do something.
I don’t know…there’s something very weird about America and guns. Some sort of fetish that I don’t understand. Who do they think is after them??
It’s selfish. People who feel they have been displaced in the world are trying to cling to rights and ownership. Yes, these children are OUR children. The UK Parliament knew that in 1996.
Thank you for speaking out from your heart. Reason and compassion need to prevail, and it’s not “political commentary” to call out this national failing for what it is. These shootings don’t happen in other countries, and we all know why. May the bakers, cooks, and nurturers rise up and demand better!
Why is it when we mention guns, that the conversation becomes political? In my mind, too many women in this country have let men make too many decisions for them. Feminists come in all stripes, and it’s time they band together for those who can’t look after themselves - children.
The Wall Street Journal stated that yesterday’s shooting was the 89th school shooting this year (it’s only March) and so far 75 wounded or killed. How is this possible? Thank you for providing details about how England responded & how effective it’s been. I’ll be sharing your post with others. We can make a difference with our voices & our votes.
It’s just reprehensible. Women of all ages must collectively come together and say NO MORE. Thank you. Texas is a big state, but I think you can handle it!
Thanks for your comments. Keep commenting to the media and politicians.
Thank you, Elizabeth. I plan to. I hope everyone does.
Omg, how beyond horrible....Terrifying actually. How people can support these representatives, their actions and beliefs. The Christmas card alone is nauseating.
I want cake pictures in the news, not more violence. I want flowers and strawberries not the report of more children dying, not the insistence that LBGTQ is in any way subversive, and that books be banned for illustrating history and bias. I want to take politics out of health, allowing the medical community to prescribe treatment. I want there to be NO guns except by police and the military and even those to be tightly controlled. Sorry hunters. I will make an exception for animal control officers. Take the classes and get deputized. But then this is off topic for this blog. Let us go back to cake, flowers and strawberries. My sympathies alone won’t fix this. Be proactive in elections and hold representatives accountable.
Amen! ❤️
Why oh why can we not minimally ban assault rifles? All it took for the first ban was a presidential assignation attempt and the shooting of James Brady. Now we have hundreds of school children dying and nothing. In fact, it almost seems as if all the shootings make for more assault rifle sales and the people owning them even more entrenched in their “rights”. As far as I’m concerned, there should be no reason for anyone outside of law enforcement and military to possess as assault rifle. There should be no concealed carry without a visit to court and a judge approving the reason. Everyone should be over the age of 21, have a license to own a gun, and the process to obtain one should be should include a thorough backround check and be at least a rigorous as obtaining a driver’s license.
As the many of the gun rights people seem to be the same group that supported the appointment of the latest two Supreme Court justices. Those new justices seem to feel that the Constitution should be interpreted as it written at that time, when the founding fathers wrote that, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and secure Arms, shall not be infringed” should keep in mind, first militia. Is your representative with his gun toting family Christmas card going to send his twelve year old daughter off to fight foreign attackers? Is she a member of the militia? We now have the National Guard to fulfill the role of national militia. Second, if the Constitution is to be interpreted as a document of its time then every citizen has the right to own a musket. Those were the only guns available at that time and it’s obvious the founding fathers were writing about every, male citizen at the time, being able to own a musket.
Why won’t this stop? Everyone elected to any time of public office needs to refuse money from the NRA, pull up their big boy and big girl pants, and stop this from happening.
Absolutely! Thank you, Karen. You bring up the sad reality that politicians are influenced by lobbyists. Follow the money. They are often uneducated about history too. That assault rifle ban occurred back when the voting public remembered the JFK assassination and the profound grief felt across this nation regardless of political party.
I'm heartbroken for my city of Nashville. And I concur with some of what you've said however the conversation DOES need to talk about mental health and not just guns. It's ok to hold two thoughts and priorities at the same time. My blessings to you!
Absolutely. Guns and mental health need to be discussed together. Why do we allow guns in the hands of people who cannot handle them? Should we make access more difficult - more hoops to jump through - then we have at least tried. We have to try.