HERE WE GO AGAIN

Here we are again with “thoughts and prayers, paranoia about losing the 2nd amendment and more innocent people murdered because we refuse to do anything in this Country about gun violence. Does anything even matter anymore to people when it comes to gun violence?

 

The latest incident was when suspect, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa shot and killed 10 people at a Boulder, Colorado grocery store Monday, March 22, 2021, when he walked in around 2:30 p.m. and began shooting, according to law enforcement. "He was taken into custody about an hour later with a gunshot wound in his leg. " And if I may say so, it looked like he was going through a stroll in the park, the way police offers casually walked him across the parking lot, with the media speculating that he may have just been a victim and arrested as a precaution.  Seriously?  And also I'd like to add that there is a race problem in this country, especially when it comes to gun violence but that would be a whole other article.

Back to the topic at hand...Do you know how ignorant we look to the rest of the “civilized“ world every time we have a mass shooting in the United States!? It is absolutely shameful that this Country’s obsession with assault weapons and guns, apparently outweighs our need for safety!  

 

If you don't see a pattern here, (see image below) then we have nothing further to discuss. 

 

(Image source: Twitter/Adam Best)

 

 

Half of the battle is in trying to have an open dialogue regarding this gun violence issue. Recently, my husband was on a panel at a local television interview (relating to this issue) and there were two other guests on the show, who were proponents of gun ownership, as well as a gun expert on the panel.  The entire interview was steered in the direction of dissecting the differences between automatic weapon and semi-automatic weapons, and the legalities of the 2nd amendment, completely missing the point of the problem we have in this Country.  No one (at least not myself, my family nor people I have spoken to on this topic) want to take away gun rights.  The 2nd amendment states: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.  Basically, it states that the people have "the right to bear arms."  However, with that being said, we must also remember that assault weapons were not taken into consideration back then, when they said "right to bear arms," nor did they have the bump stocks and powerful amounts of ammunition that are so readily available today to any civilian.

 

We can banter about semantics all day and argue about different types of weapons but the point that NEEDS to be addressed, is that there IS a problem with gun violence and we keep sweeping it away with useless thoughts and prayers."  Those thoughts and prayers are too little too late for the victims. 

I was there the day that March for Our Lives, co-founder, Cameron Kasky (then a high school junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas,) asked Florida Senator, Marco Rubio, if he would reject money from the N.R.A. (Nation Rifle Association.)  He could not answer the question directly, but the roundabout answer was the N.R.A. buys into his agenda.

 

 

 

 

Basically, the NRA "owns" a lot of the politicians in office. Politicians, that we the citizens, keep in power, even though they appear to have some kind of sick symbiotic relationship with each other (politicians and the N.R.A. that is.)  Sure, there are other forms of lobbying that go on in Washington (D.C.) but right now this is one of the most dangerous ones!  The results speak for themselves. 

For example, "Nearly three years before a gunman walked into a crowded supermarket in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with an AR-15 style weapon and killed 10 people, the city of Boulder, Colorado, voted to ban assault weapons...But just 10 days before the March 22nd rampage, the measure was blocked in court after a lawsuit backed by the National Rifle Association. The ruling came under a Colorado law that bars local officials from making their own gun laws."

 

How in the world can you deny the correlation?  And at the federal level, President Joe Biden said Tuesday that “we have to act” to pass reform legislation and Democrats said they are pushing toward a vote on expanded background checks, but it faces a difficult road in the Senate. Congress has not passed any major gun control laws since the mid-1990s, leaving most significant gun legislation in states’ hands. 

 

We have to come together NATIONALLY and try to agree upon gun reform that makes sense to try to keep us ALL safe.

There are so many things we can TRY to do to help prevent mass shootings in this Country. Instead, we watch as innocent people die, we send thoughts and prayers and nothing changes, all because gun-obsessed individuals stuck in the mindset that they need their guns to protect themselves from the government or some apocalypse or something catastrophic that they fear may happen. It has transcended from a “right to bear arms” into I must go around owning the most powerful weapons I can because I am fearful.”  I understand the right to bear arms and protect yourself and your family, I really do!  Recently, in that television interview I mentioned earlier, they asked my husband if he had a weapon at the time of the shooting at our daughter's school, would he have used it?  I can say that if I had been there with a weapon, in a position to defend my first born child and other people, I damn well would have done what I had to protect them. I don't disagree with gun ownership - with that being said (hypothetically, of course,) I would be a legal gun owner (which, for the record, I do not own any weapons,) I would have hypothetically passed a background check and I sure as hell would not have purchased a weapon in the back alleys of some random street!  

 

My point is that yes, everyone wants and feels the need to defend themselves but I also think there is a huge difference between the right to bear arms and the ease with which weapons are readily available, as well as the type of arms in question. There has to be rules and regulations in place when it comes to gun ownership. At this time there are too many loopholes and way too much money involved with the N.R.A.

How is an assault weapon in the hands of civilians anything remotely productive? There are pictures on the internet of grown men at grocery stores toting assault weapons, strapped on their backs.  The only thing I see when I look at images like this is that we are on our way back to the days of the “wild, Wild West,” only this time, on steroids. 

 

 

How can you look at the picture above and be okay with living like that? Surrounded by weapon-toting citizens, who may or may not have passed a background check or are perhaps mentally unstable? How does this remotely make you feel comfortable?  We can argue statistics, semantics, technicalities etc...but the truth is, we have a gun-obsession problem in this Country compounded with mental health issues, among many other problems!

It is truly shameful that high school students had to lead this Country into a “March for Our Lives” because adults failed at protecting them! They deserve all the respect and credit for being so young and brave and wanting to make change. However, they are still kids and it is OUR job as adults to protect our children, our families and our future!

We can try to make changes without infringing on the 2nd amendment. Why can’t people from opposing points of view have these civilized discussions? I can completely understand the right to bear arms and the need to protect your family but how far will we go with this?

Why does any civilian need an "assault" weapon that is used in war and tactical exercises?  I know there are hundreds of other things that are detrimental to our health and our society but right now, the topic at hand is gun violence and gun reform.

When the 2nd amendment was established, I am sure AR-15s (and similar weapons) in the hands of civilians, was not taken into consideration.

So I ask, What is so wrong with universal background checks? What is wrong with restrictions on weapons of war? What is wrong with restricting mentally unfit citizens with owning weapons? Why does your gun-toting obsession outweigh my need and my children’s need for safety?

Sure, we can argue statistics about how only a small percentage of people die in mass shootings, but why should any die at all? When people started dying at the hands of drunk drivers, we tightened up the rules there and tried to do something about it. When people died because of tainted Tylenol, we did something about it. When the “shoe bomber” boarded an airplane, we did something about it! Damn, we still have to take off our damn shoes to get on an airplane!

Do we not have rules, restrictions and regulations for other things in our lives? Why is this any different?

I will tell you why! Money and the NRA! It always come down to business and making money for the lobbyists and gun manufacturers in this Country, especially when it comes to this issue.

Sadly, we keep talking about this, writing about this, having interviews about it but the sad reality is, that if nothing changed after Sandy Hook, where innocent little kids were massacred, nothing will move the needle. That is the discouraging conclusion I come to each and every time there is a different mass shooting.

We currently live in a society where people are obsessed with being right no matter what. We live in a Country that still thinks it is the “greatest nation on Earth,” when we are far from it. (You can disagree with your government and some of its laws and still love your Country by the way.)  It is not unpatriotic to want to fight for innocent lives and speak up for those who no longer can.

Gun reform may not solve all the problems of our gun violence epidemic right away, but it should not be easier for someone to buy an automatic weapon, than it is to get a drivers license or to vote! Sometimes, girl's clothing in school is more regulated than guns in America! And that is just not right!

I will keep writing and lobbying for gun reform as long as I can. I am forever grateful that our daughter survived a school shooting but it should have never happened. Period.

In the words of my husband, who addressed Marco Rubio and Rick Scott on TV, the day after the Parkland massacre, “Do Something!”

 

I also read something on the March for Our Lives Instagram page right after the Boulder, Colorado mass shooting and it said, "We deserve a Country free of gun violence."  And I couldn't agree more.

Do you agree? 

 

 

THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS VS. PROTECTING OUR KIDS

A NEW DAY...another school shooting and life goes on...May 8, 2019, was the most recent date of yet another school shooting, (that I know of!) This one was in Highlands Ranch, at a STEM school in Denver, Colorado and it was barely breaking news or a top of the news hour kind of story. When you literally have to Google a shooting because it is not plastered all over the news, we have a problem, meaning, we have become numb to this type of occurrence.

Now, we just count how many died and measure the gravity of the situation by the number of kids shot dead.  Only one this time, so a lot of people don't even know about it.  Sounds callous right?  Well, that is what we have become, callous and apathetic.

Sure, some will argue: "let's ban guns, bring back school prayer, discipline kids better..." well, guess what? They are all correct!  ALL OF IT MATTERS!

"Todos los poquitos cuentan!" (~JJR)  

WHAT IS HAPPENING? Well, it is the culmination of a LOT of things: Gun obsession, frayed families, politicians in the pockets of the NRA (National Rifle Association,) lack of faith, the integrity of the family unit has been broken often times, lack of discipline and so much more; however, the biggest thing (in my opinion) is that our fetish (in the U.S.A.) with guns has superseded the need to protect our children and citizens in general, and that within itself, is detrimental. 

The original concept of the “right to bear arms,” I’m sure was not intended for today's assault rifles, high-capacity ammunition magazines and weapons of war on our streets. 

Things have to change and we have to start somewhere. People often times comment on my social media posts that there are "too many guns in the streets" or "it's too late," some even say, "that things can't be changed at all."  What kind of world do you want to live in?  What kind of world do you want to leave for your children and grandchildren?  I know I don't want it to be this kind, a world, and a country where school shootings happen so frequently we lose track of the victims and the school names. That is just unacceptable.

I am all for the "right to bear arms" as per the Constitution, but I am also all for common sense, to which, apparently, we have lost! 


I believe you can be a gun owner and believe in the right to gun ownership (the "right to bear arms") and yet, NOT have to back NRA-funded candidates. It is always about greed and money when it comes to politicians (that are A-rated by the NRA.) The gun manufacturing industry is a very profitable industry and the NRA is at the forefront of all it!  The real problem is that gun violence has not really affected those that make the decisions, not in their families and not in their pockets!

Here in Florida, we have a three-day waiting period to purchase handguns, but that restriction doesn't apply to assault rifles. Really?! We also have the infamous "stand your ground" law (2005), which basically lets people go around shooting others if they feel threatened in some way. How crazy is that?!

PARKLAND,FL 2018

Florida also has no restrictions on large-capacity ammunition magazines.How in the world does that make any sense? These are things I am referring to when I advocate for common sense gun reform.  How does it offend someone to require age limits, background checks, waiting periods, restrictions on assault weapons?  And for crying out loud, what about mental health and gun ownership - that is a ticking time bomb!  I think that if someone has a track record of mental instability, owning a gun (especially an assault weapon,) may not be the wisest decision.
   
Back when the Orlando, Florida massacre happened, then governor, Rick Scott, was asked about assault rifles and his response was:  "The Second Amendment didn't kill people. Evil killed people."

And so, while I have to agree that there is obviously an element of "evil" to every mass shooting and gun violence incident, there should also be some semblance of common sense.  Let's take for example, my daughter's high school, where on February 14, 2018, an 18-year old was able to enter the school (with "evil intent") except, he had an assault rifle in tote and literally blew up 17 people, and injured another 17 and wreaked havoc emotionally on an entire community.  

Now, had he had a knife or baseball bat, for example, do you think he would have left behind so much destruction and carnage?  Even the surgeons attending to the victims at the hospitals talked of the irreparable damage caused by automatic weapons to the organs of the victims.

It is sickening what is happening in this Country and many are unmoved by it.

People will start the "a vehicle is also a weapon" argument but honestly, I am not even going to engage in those debates right now because we don't have a "drive a car into a school" epidemic,  we have a serious problem of gun violence in this Country. You would have to be blind not to acknowledge that. And while statistically, you may argue that the problem is not of epidemic proportions, losing the life of even ONE child at school, is one too many!

And so in conclusion, my belief is that while we do have the right to bear arms, we also have a right to safety, especially for our kids.  A gunman's hobby and obsession, should not trump the safety of our children. There has to be balance, common sense and legislation passed to enable gun reform and a safer future for all. It has to become more difficult to obtain  weapons of war. 

In case you are wondering  who the NRA spends money on and who the members of the House and Senate are here is a detailed list  of Senate and House members with the most contributions from the NRA. In the 2016 election, the NRA spent $11,438,118 to support Donald Trump—and another $19,756,346 to oppose Hillary Clinton. That’s over $31 million spent on one presidential race.  We could be using that money to invest in better education for our children, who are our future and keep them safe!

Even though this list and graphic is from a few years ago, not much changes. Some politicians come and go, but the fact remains that they are happy to fill their pockets with "blood money," while our children cower under desks during school lock downs and active shootings.

So, therefore, I will be actively advocating to NOT vote for any NRA-funded candidates. We have to hit them where it hurts, their pockets and show them that the lives of our children are worth more than their greed and desire for control and power!

Thoughts and prayers mean nothing when our children are being shot dead at SCHOOL!!! 

BLOGGER:

Lissette Rozenblat - 

Bilingual|Blogger|Network Marketing & Social Media|Mompreneur|Organ Donor Advocate|Online Boutique Owner|Author in Progress|Brand Ambassador|Gun Reform Advocate|Passion for Inspiring Others




Sources:
The Washington Post
Fortune
Open Secrets

THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE END - SANDY HOOK

(Pictured below: Daniel Barden, 6-year-old victim of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
May he rest in eternal peace.)

As you scroll through your computer in the comfort and safety of your surroundings, please take a few moments of your day to read the article below from the Washington Post.

As human beings, as US citizens, we have grown accustomed to tragedy and have become sadly, apathetic to much of it. As a parent, as a mom, I implore you to take the time to read this article, even if it is long, even if it makes you sad or angry. Even if you are pro-gun, anti-gun or could careless about it all.

It is absolutely unacceptable that our children must live in fear of going to school, the movies, the mall or anywhere else because gun violence has become so prevalent - as if every neighborhood was Compton or the streets of Chicago.

This is no way to live. Sure, we can take the attitude of, “that’s life now-a-days, get over it,” but I refuse to accept this as the “new normal.”

Less than a year ago, I had to visualize my own daughter hiding in fear, listening to bullets flying around, ricocheting off walls outside her classroom, as she hid underneath a desk, huddled alongside classmates, praying the shooter wouldn’t turn around and shoot inside her classroom, in SCHOOL!!

Yes, it happened. Yes, it's over and thank G-d she is safe. “Move on,” they say, but no one really knows what that was like, unless they lived it or have been to war. As well as the repercussions survivors have to face unless you are living it first-hand.

What about those people who didn’t make it out of school safely on February 14, 2018? Are we to forget them and do nothing? What about the babies killed at Sandy Hook?

When I visualize 6-year-olds hiding in a bathroom at school hiding from the “bad guy,” it breaks my heart. We spend our lives protecting our children from bad things and the proverbial “bad guy,” and this time and way too many other times, lately, the “bad guy” has won. 💔

Why were we so apathetic to letting these poor children die in vain?

Six years ago, I was in my own bubble, busy living my own life, as many of us were and are. Sure, I heard about Sandy Hook, I was devastated and saddened but did nothing. Why?! Why didn’t I speak out? Why didn’t this become a bigger issue for me? Why didn’t I try to help, or at the very least bring about awareness on the gun violence issue....because like most people, until it doesn’t affect you directly in some way, you do nothing.

I am not asking you to do anything else right now, other than read the article, then you can go about the rest of your day and enjoy your family, friends and health.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/after-newtown-shooting-mourning-parents-enter-into-the-lonely-quiet/2013/06/08/0235a882-cd32-11e2-9f1a-1a7cdee20287_story.html

 
Too many innocent lives have been cut short because of gun violence. This can happen again anywhere at any time in any town.

“Please know, this is NOT about gun control but gun responsibility!” Common sense gun safety.

“SANDY HOOK SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE END! “The Sandy Hook shooter used 30-round magazines. He fired 154 bullets in four minutes, murdering 20 CHILDREN and six adults in the United States of America at an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!”

This should have never happened again at any school!

                                 

                                     Parkland Elementary School student after the MSD shooting

 

BLOGGER:

Lissette Rozenblat - 

Bilingual|Blogger|Network Marketing & Social Media| Mompreneur|Organ Donor Advocate|Online Boutique Owner|Author in Progress|Brand Ambassador|Passion 

for Inspiring Others

NO MORE CLEAR BACKPACKS AT MSD

So my 15-year old daughter is away for the summer working out of state. She opted for this after the end of the year at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. She seems to really be enjoying herself and working hard,  though she rarely ever calls home. I know from what family members tell me and a few pictures I can see on social media and sporadic late night face-time calls.

Today, at 12:50pm, in the middle of the work day, she called my cell phone. Rare. My heart momentarily stopped. I couldn’t even say “hello” properly. I said, Hi, what happened?” “Nothing, she replied, (thankfully,) it's just I found out that we don’t have to use clear backpacks at school this year.” “Oh that’s great! I said. I am happy for you. What else? I asked. “That’s it, gotta go, bye, love you.” And with that she hung up. 

Whew! I thought to myself. My immediate instinct was to think something bad happened. Ever since Feb. 14, 2018, it is an underlying fear I have. That was the day she texted both her father and I (at 2:35p.m.) to tell us there was an active shooter in her school. That is the one text (or call) no parent EVER wants to receive!  That fateful day of Feb. 14th, she said she could hear someone crying and praying because they had been shot. She said she was in the 1200 building on the 3rd floor. She said she was hiding and that she was fine but that she was terrified. After that, we lost comunication with her for 30-40 minutes!

That was the most terrifying thirty to forty minutes of my life not knowing if my child was dead or alive. I know she was scared for own life as well.  That day was "hell" for everyone involved.

Fast-forward to the simple phone call today to share news with me. Sure it was an over-reaction on my part, I guess, but it just took me momentarily, to a dark place and thought.  Thankfully, it was good news.  It may seem like no big deal, but the news of that rule (no clear backpacks) being implemented made her day, enough to actually call me. I imagine it was a feeling of a sense of privacy returned. It is a small sense of normalcy returning. 

Who knows how each of these students will react as they return back to Marjory Stoneman Douglas, when summer is over. after what was, a long and painful end to the school year.

My hope is that with some of the changes that have been implemented over the summer, such as no more clear pack backs, (pilot) metal detectors being installed (hopefully in the Fall 2018,) fire alarm tones being altered, higher fencing, and extra school resource officers (SRO's,) there will be some semblance of security and a feeling of getting back to “normal”

Realistically, we all know things will never be the same for anyone of these students or anyone affected by the tragedy at Stoneman Douglas, but we have to find the silver lining wherever we can and keep moving forward to make things better, especially when it comes to gun violence awareness and safety in our schools!