There have been more mass shootings this year than there have been days. The leading cause of death among children now is guns. And yet we have too many non-gunowners discuss only "common sense" legislation on gun regulation. We need to do more! We need to stop normalizing gun culture in this country by putting social pressure on gun owners in addition to pushes for legislative changes. Who would have thought 20 years ago that cigarette smoking in bars would be banned? Similarly, the ending of the slave trade by the British was greatly influenced by boycotts on sugar, and personal shaming of those who continued using sugar, the main import supporting the slave trade. Changing cultural attitudes is what leads to legislation and not vice versa.  

We need a similar approach to guns. We need to ALL take personal action in achieving this beyond calling our senators and representatives (which is still important!). Currently, gun owners are more indignant about owning guns than we are about being free from gun violence. We need to rise to the level of passion for a U.S. free from this perverted gun culture as they have for hugging their guns.

There is no such thing as a "responsible" gun owner because statistics have shown that a gun in the home is more likely to kill a member of that household than it is to protect the household. It is irrational to own a gun, but we still use this narrative of guns protecting the home. How often do we hear about kids killing their siblings or their parents with a gun? Not to mention the children of gun-owning parents - such as in Oxford, MI and Newtown, CT - who devastatingly used their guns to kill other children. Guns are not safe to have in the home, and it is not safe to associate with anyone who keeps a gun in the home. We need to make gun owners social pariahs just like we have done for cigarette smokers in this country.

For this reason, I am asking you to join me in making a pledge. The pledge is as follows:

I pledge to not allow my children to play in a home in which I know a gun is present.

I pledge to disassociate myself, as much as possible, from any individuals who own guns, in an attempt to shame them for their gun ownership. ("As much as possible" means that some may be unavoidable, such as coworkers or family members, but giving them the "cold shoulder" in letting them know that you strongly disapprove of their gun ownership is critical).

I pledge to boycott films, shows, and music made by individuals who are known gun owners (especially those who are NRA members).

Legislation is important but can do only so much. We need to change cultural attitudes about guns as well, and the only way to do so is to put social pressure on gun owners and the destructive gun culture that has taken over our country. This, I believe, will help lead to legislation and action, and free us of this oppressive gun culture. Thank you for your consideration.