The U.S. Senate is ready to begin a wide-ranging and ambitious battle over gun control, with a vote scheduled for April 11. That would officially begin the debate on this polarizing issue.
This is positive news for the Obama administration, which has pushed for increased background checks on potential gun buyers and for new limits on assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania have joined together to create a bipartisan bill. The controversial issue of background checks is a key part of the legislation. Two other measures in the bill are expected to have an easier time in the Senate: more funds for mental health measures; and more funds for school safety.
All will face heavy opposition from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and its Republican and Democrat allies.
Lawmakers have been very vocal about their views, but so have their constituents including Blacks. Valerie Davis believes African-Americans should certainly speak out in support of gun control.
“Why do we need assault weapons, especially in (Black) neighborhoods? Black on Black crime is high. Why can’t we go through background checks,” she asked. “Blacks need to step up and be more involved. We need to protect our children. I’m so sorry for the Sandy Hook children, but our children are dying every day. Blacks are concerned about the gun control issue too.”
Renita Hill echoes Davis’ sentiments. She too is disturbed by all of the Black-on-Black crime, however she wants legislators to curb gun violence for another reason – domestic abuse.
“My ex-husband stabbed me 13 times in front of my 5-year-old daughter. Weeks after, she said ‘Mommy, I’m glad daddy stabbed you.’ Of course I looked at her like ‘what?’ Then she said ‘because if he had shot you, you’d be dead,’” said Hill. “Even a 5-year-old knows the dangers of guns. Why do we as adults not understand this? We need more accountability.”
Davis, Hill and other advocates of gun control, recently marched to the offices of Indiana U.S. Sens. Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly to drop off more than 20,000 petitions. Several marchers were able to speak with Sen. Coats’ staff and others were able to speak directly with Sen. Donnelly. Davis and the marchers went to the senators’ offices to urge them to support gun reforms.
Neil Heslin joined in the local march as well.
On Dec. 14, 2012, 26 people – 20 students and six adults – were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Heslin’s son, Jesse McCord Lewis, age 6, was one of them.
“I hope changes can happen,” said Heslin. “It’s not about taking the 2nd Amendment away from somebody or taking guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens. It’s about observing the rights, keeping sportsmen with their weapons and allowing people to protect their homes. But there’s got to be limitations on it. I certainly don’t want anybody to go through what I’m going through.”
Hoosiers outside of the state capital are also making their voices heard. Mayor Tom Henry of Fort Wayne, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson of Gary, Mayor Dennis Tyler of Muncie, and Mayor Richard Hickman of Angola are part of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which is a national, bipartisan coalition of mayors working to make communities safer. This group is spearheaded by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
“Last year we sponsored three gun buy-backs and took over 500 guns off the streets of Gary. Some of those were assault weapons. We also have a comprehensive anti-violence effort under way. This is great, but I’d also like to see background checks, a ban on assault weapons and large magazine clips in our nationwide gun laws,” said Mayor Freeman-Wilson in a recent interview with the Recorder.
“People should continue to call their congressmen and tell them what changes they want to see and what they support,” added Heslin.
Many wonder if they will listen.
Many, including Democrats, are expected to reject President Obama’s proposals to ban military-style assault rifles and to limit the size of high-capacity magazines. Obama’s proposals for expanded background checks could also be compromised. Republicans also plan to filibuster or obstruct progress on this issue. The NRA is also working on their own gun control proposal.
Even if a gun control bill can pass through the Senate with background checks intact, it still needs to be approved by the Republican-controlled House.
