Robert Jeffrey, Jr.,
Democratic nominee for City Council Election
For decades, there has been a fissure dividing Americans on the so called sensitive topic involving gun control and regulation. For decades, American lives have been wastefully ended due to senseless gun violence. In 2018, the fact that we find time to debate this issue rather than look at the evidence in the form of human causality within our communities is beyond unfortunate. The statistics are clear. There is no way around it. We have a serious problem with guns in America. We have a serious problem with guns in Virginia. We have a serious problem with guns in Roanoke City and it needs to be confronted.
Often, the aftermath of mass shootings creates an assumption that it is too early to have a conversation or insensitive to the victims and survivors to discuss removing weapons of war off the street. It takes less than a second to pull the trigger of a gun while the ramifications of these events last for a lifetime. And for those at the unfortunate end of the gun’s barrel; this discussion occurs far too late. It should never be normal for the citizens of Roanoke City and United States of America to lose a loved one because of gun violence. In the places that we expect to be safest; public facilities such as schools and churches, some find themselves consumed with anxiety and fear at that very real thought today. No one should ever have to wake up afraid. Gun violence is an issue that we need to address head on immediately with persistence, accountability and measurable results.
According to Every Town Research on Gun Safety in America, on an average day 96 Americans are killed with guns. There are approximately 13,000 homicides a year and for every one person killed with guns, two more are injured. Children are not excluded from these statistics. On average, seven children and teens are killed by gun violence. There have been nearly 300 school shootings in America since 2013, which on average would be one school shooting a week. According to the Roanoke Times, there were 16 homicides in 2017 representing a 25% increase compared to 2016. There have been 3 homicides already in 2018.
Sandy Hook, Charleston, Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, and now Parkland, Florida are places now synonymous tragedy. Our nation has been the victim of 18 school shootings since January 1st, 2018. Tragedy has become routine as lax gun laws continue being defined as having no correlation to gun violence. Individuals should not be allowed access to fire arms, made for the battlefield such as semi-automatic assault rifles. The same should be considered with gun accessories that increase the lethality of guns such as bumpstocks; the gun attachment used by the Las Vegas shooter which enabled a semi-automatic firearm to fire shots in rapid succession. There is no mention of this attachment within the 2nd Amendment or any understanding the lethality of high-powered assault rifles. The Supreme Court has ruled that there is a constitutional right to own a gun. But they have also ruled that government can limit gun rights in the interest of public safety. Clearly, assault rifles and dangerous accessories like bumpstocks need to be one of the limitations.
Solving the issue of gun violence requires action from State and local legislative bodies throughout the nation. Here in Roanoke, the Democratic Ticket for City Council is dedicated to making Roanoke a safer place by taking immediate and sustainable action to address gun violence. These actions include creation of city-wide tasks force to develop meaningful measures of gun prevention within communities, advocating for the State to allow the city to ban assault rifles in public places, and partnering with public, private and non-profit organizations to educate citizens on the impact of guns. Also, we must collaborate with our public schools to ensure they have the resources and knowledge needed to respond to instances of gun violence. But the long-term solution requires the implementation of common sense statewide and national gun control legislation.
Seventeen teachers and students were taken from their families on Valentine’s Day. Rather than offering “thoughts and prayers,” it’s time for politicians and voters to act. The effort to reduce gun violence is not a waste of time and energy, especially in our community. Only proactive measures today will help prevent the next shooting. This recurring sad story that continues to haunt us has no place in our communities or within our hearts and minds. Through empathy for the lives lost and their grieving loves ones, we should understand that our current state of affairs is not working. Immediate action is necessary to address preventable gun violence and promote a safe and healthy community,
About the writer: Robert Jeffrey Jr. is the Democratic nominee for the May 1st City Council election. Robert is a committed husband, father, grandfather, small business owner, and civic leader. Jeffrey was born and raised in the city; graduating from Roanoke public schools. As publisher of community-focused ColorsVA Magazine, his pursuit is to bring our diverse neighborhoods together by “Celebrating Our Similarities; Understanding Our Differences.” Robert is active board member for the Goodwill Industries of the Valley and participates in numerous volunteer activities to support children and families as a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Jeffrey graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in business and executive management certification at Northwestern University.
