Thank you for writing Matthew.

Sadly, the loss of these lives does not matter.

To half the country.

To half its politicians.

To half its elected officials.

To half its servant leaders.

To half the polled populace.

To Mitch McConnell.

To Greg Abbott.

To Ted Cruz.

To the NRA.

If they did, House Resolutions (H.R.) 8 and 1446 would have passed long before Buffalo, Uvalde, or Tulsa took place, unanimously.

The Robb Elementary School shooting took place 16 days ago in Uvalde, TX on 24 May 2022.

The Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting took place a fucking decade ago, in Newtown, CT on 14 December 2012.

Let’s be real.

Let's stop pleading.

Let's stop pontificating.

Let's stop pretending.

To ourselves and each other.

To our children.

The gun lobby bought and paid for their bullets with our blood long ago.

My public health graduate practicum focused on an educational intervention to increase resident physician screening rates for violence in the emergency department of Long Island, New York’s premier Level 1 trauma center.

I know what I’m talking about. I’ve done the research. I know the statistics.

We tried nothing. And we are all out of ideas. How about that?

Sincerely,

An exasperated uncle, brother, son, public health professional, mental health advocate, suicide prevention activist, American (and global) citizen