US Addiction to Guns/Violence, Prevention, Open Dialogue
From: connie nash
Hello both Fellow DP Abolitionists and a few “Consistent Life Ethic” folk:
Re: Recent attention to both violence and death penalty issues in our country…
May I raise the question at this time–if there is no abolitionist group working on prevention, might there be before the Texas Journey of Hope trip?
The most moving experiences, dialogues and promising possibilities for further work to abolish the death penalty, in the 20 or so years I’ve been involved–especially when I went on the last Texas Journey of Hope, centered around wanting a Voice for all–
This include children and babes and women who were somehow unable to stand up for self…
“There are no lesser persons” (Rick Halperin often says)
Doesn’t that healing have to be wholistic if there is to be healing?
ie, that if we cut down on the huge expense leading up to executions–wouldn’t it make sense for this $ to go into prevention?
All we have to do is look at Baghdad & Palestine to see the horror of death weaponry on the loose from all sides and factions–a “mirror” perhaps for ourselves? A reminder that a lot of this is instigated or made originally in the USA?
So in which ways might gun control or awareness education be a small yet intrinsic part of prevention or not? (Along with inner wholeness, spiritual and mental health, nonviolent communication, Dept of Peace campaign, healing for the inflicted, etc.?)
Also, apparently little discussed: what might be the practical value to the Abolition movement if some of us were to become leaders in the prevention of violence and could offer this to our audiences?
My hunch is that our audiences would be all ears.
(especially if they hear this offer/plea from some who should know–exonnerees, family of the executed, family who’s loved ones are on death row due to their own or anothers’ use of guns, victims family who have forgiven, etc. etc.)
Thanks for listening. I would gladly welcome your comments!
Connie