A year has passed since the massacre of 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, Conn.
Since that time there have been more than 10,000 deaths due to guns in America and there has been no national legislation addressing the issue. In a call for Gun Safety, Reach Out America, a grassroots not-for-profit organization engaged in social and political issues, decided to address the subject of preventing gun violence in our communities.
Many of our members are residents of Great Neck and surrounding areas. We planned and advertised a forum at the Saddle Rock Elementary School on Monday, Dec. 19.
We invited speakers from New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Gun Free Kids, the Nassau County Police, our local assemblywoman and the rabbi from Newtown.
We wanted their expertise and advice on gun safety in an effort to keep our children and our community safe. We are looking for sensible solutions to a national epidemic of gun violence.
Many of our neighbors attended as did a sizeable group of the Oath Keepers, a pro-gun organization who made their presence felt by their black and yellow T-shirts and by shouting their objections to the first speaker who was state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel.
Our moderator was able to get each member of our panel to speak but keeping order was a challenge as the shouting continued. The atmosphere was tense.
Trying to change the mood, she called on the Oath Keepers to have one of their representatives come to the podium and speak. He had the same five minutes as did the panelists.
Following his presentation our moderator asked if we could come to a consensus on some issue relating to guns, for example, background checks on gun buyers.
That set off a firestorm.
One of gun advocates beliefs it seems is that background check are synonymous with the confiscation of guns by the government.
Before the meeting was adjourned the panelists agreed to stay and talk informally with any of the Oath Keepers who wished to do so.
The high spot of the evening came after adjournment when many of them stayed to talk directly with the panelists and Reach Out members. Nobody’s mind was changed, but there was a serious dialogue between the two groups about their differences in a civil manner.
Since Sandy Hook there have been 11,400 gun deaths in this country.
We are not asking that guns be taken from law-abiding, rational citizens. We only ask for legislation to establish safe, sensible laws. The majority of Americans agree with us. Gun safety is the issue.
Surely we can and must do better.
Sandra Salat
Chair Reach Out America
Great Neck
