1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,119 Speaker 1: All right, Chip, I'm really excited about our guests today. 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: We've been talking a lot about how pop culture topics 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: seem really irrelevant to us right now, and so we 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: can't really start talking about, you know, celebrity gossip or 5 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: anything that's happening in our world without really getting to 6 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: some growth points, at least with this gun violence situation. 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: And so you and I decided we really want to 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: keep spreading information, bringing on guests that can help educate 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: us and give us tools of where to go, because 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: I think one of the things that we've bumped up 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,240 Speaker 1: against is people just feeling so helpless. So we're really 12 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: excited because we have Melody McFadden here today. Hi Melody, Hello, 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: how are you? We're great? Thank you for asking how 14 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: are you. I'm doing good today, doing really well, good, 15 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: great having me, Thank you for being here, and you are. 16 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 1: We've found you because I've talked a lot about every 17 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: town on this podcast, and I reached out to you guys, 18 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: and I was given your name. You are a volunteer 19 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: of the South Carolina chapter of Mom's Demand Action, which 20 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: is underneath every time I didn't understand that you guys 21 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: were connected. You also told me you're a faith outreach 22 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: lead and you're a survivor of gun violence, and so 23 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: I loved your story because when I told you this 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,040 Speaker 1: before we got on the podcast, you're a gun owner, 25 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: you were a part of the army, and you have 26 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: your own story relating to gun violence. So would you 27 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: start by maybe telling our listeners your journey? I absolutely would. Again, 28 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 1: I want to thank you so much for having me. 29 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: My story actually began when I was seventeen years old. 30 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: My mother had lived in domestic violence for many years 31 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 1: and during that journey, she was abused severely. When she 32 00:01:54,720 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: decided to leave the domestic violence situation, her murderer decided 33 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: that he would not let her go. He decided to 34 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: kill her in front of my three little sisters, and 35 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: they were ten, eleven, and twelve years old. He shot 36 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: her in the forehead and then victimized them in the 37 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: aspect of He said, if you didn't get help for her, 38 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: then she was going to die. So it became very 39 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: traumatic for my family over the years that now, my 40 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: grandmother had to raise three more children because my mother 41 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: died instantly. When she died, I decided to give up 42 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: my college scholarship and go into the army because that's 43 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: the way that I could get a paycheck immediately to 44 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: help her raise three other children. And when I did that, 45 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 1: it benefited my life in such a major way. I 46 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: became a military police investigator. I traveled throughout the world. 47 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: I went to Alabama where I was trained to be 48 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: a military police investigator. I've been was stationed in California, 49 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:16,560 Speaker 1: left California and went to NATO headquarters in Belgium shaped Belgium, 50 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: and so carrying a weapon every single day was normal 51 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:26,120 Speaker 1: to me. I wore civilian clothing. I carried a hoster 52 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: right under my arm and one around my ankle. It 53 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: was normal for me to have weapons every single day. 54 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: I grew up in the country in South Carolina. We 55 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: hunted the earliest time I can remember, it's probably four 56 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: or five years old, shooting guns in the backyard, hidding 57 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: cans so my uncles could teach us safety. So guns 58 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: have always been a part of my life. But when 59 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: they took my mother in such a heinous fashion, it 60 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: became a way that it became a mission. Then I 61 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: had to help others that were living in domestic violence 62 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: find a way to leave safely and a way to live. 63 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 1: You know, we constantly go out and help families and 64 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: children that are in abused and neglected situations to get 65 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: out safely and to live a better life. That's one 66 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: of my missions. Well, shortly after my middle sister, Sabrina, 67 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 1: she had one daughter, and this one child she grew 68 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: up to be a beautiful young woman, Sandy. And when 69 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: Sandy came home from the hospital when she was born, 70 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: my sister Sabrina brought her straight to my house because 71 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 1: I became, you know, the oldest sister mommy, and they 72 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:49,599 Speaker 1: came to my home. So I helped raise Sandy. Sandy 73 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: lived in my house twelve of her twenty two years, 74 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: and so she became one of mine. She was the 75 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: first girl in a family that had many boys, including 76 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 1: for my own, and so we all spoiled her rotten. 77 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: We loved her to pieces and she was a kind, gentlewoman. 78 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: So when she was twenty two years old, her cousins 79 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 1: asked her to drive them to the beach because she 80 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,919 Speaker 1: had a car and a job and gas. She was 81 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: so kind, she drove all the cousins and the friends 82 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,840 Speaker 1: to the beach, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They went 83 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,239 Speaker 1: to see the biker's parades. While they were on the 84 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:33,840 Speaker 1: beach just to watch parades and party and have a 85 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: good time, like all young people should be able to do. 86 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 1: Some folks started fighting on the beach. They started shooting 87 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: into the crowds, and Sandy didn't come home. Excuse me. 88 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: A random bullet took my sister's only child. It spiked 89 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: the fire in me, and it made me know that 90 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 1: I never wanted people to understand what we feel every 91 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: single day. You know, this mission that we walked, this 92 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: path that we're on, we don't want other people to know. 93 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 1: Because now we had lost our mother. She was taken 94 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: in gun violence, and now my sister's only child was 95 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: taken in gun violence. And I had to do something 96 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: to help others. So we started with Mom's man action. 97 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 1: They came to my sister's home right when Sandy was 98 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: taken because three other young people were also shot on 99 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 1: the beach at that same time. Four young people total 100 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: was shot. Demante Danceller was shot and killed. He was 101 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,480 Speaker 1: his mother's only child. He was twenty one years old. 102 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: Two days before he went to the beach, Jamie Williams 103 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: was shot and killed. He was twenty five years old 104 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 1: and the father of a two and a one year 105 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: old that will never know their dad because he was 106 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 1: taken in gun violence. Also another young man. He was 107 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: shot five times and he lived, but three young people 108 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: died that day when they all came, all four of 109 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: them came from the same community. So the community gathered around, 110 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 1: and I noticed that those folks in the red T 111 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: shirts kept coming back supporting my family, asking how they 112 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:18,679 Speaker 1: could help. They explain that they were after common sense 113 00:07:18,720 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 1: gun laws, and I said, what is that. I wanted 114 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: to know. Explain to me what they're talking about, because 115 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: of course I am a gun owner. I'm an army veteran. 116 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: I still go to the rage. I still you have weapons, 117 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: but I keep them safely security, I will say that. 118 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: And so I wanted to know what they were talking about. 119 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,920 Speaker 1: And they said, we just want people to have background 120 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: checks before they buy weapons. We want people to store 121 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: weapons safely so that children can't have access to them, 122 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: or people that are in danger to themselves or others 123 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:59,239 Speaker 1: can't access them. And I said, that makes sense. It 124 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,560 Speaker 1: makes it is common sense, It makes all the sense 125 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 1: in the world to save lives and anything that we 126 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: can do so that others do not understand this pain, 127 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: this tragedy. Then it's a good thing. It's a very 128 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: good thing. Yeah, A couple of things. One, I'm so 129 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: grateful that you just said the names of the kids 130 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: that are the people that died at that beach, because 131 00:08:22,000 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: I think Chip and I talk about this a lot, 132 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: like we've become so desensitized as a culture to like, oh, 133 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:30,280 Speaker 1: another shooting and twelve people died or something, and it's 134 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: just like this nonchalant mention of people's lives, like people 135 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: losing their lives. And I think that there's a real 136 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,439 Speaker 1: disconnect there happening in our culture because we're just it's 137 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: happening so often that we're missing you know that unless 138 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: it happens to you, you're missing that. Like, No, this 139 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 1: is an actual human being's life that has been taken 140 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 1: for no reason, Like there isn't any any reason that 141 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: this is. We're not at war, This isn't like something 142 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 1: like that, you know, right. One of the things that 143 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: survivors take as an honor is someone mentions the name 144 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 1: of their loved one. My mother's name is Patricia Ann. 145 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: My niece's name is Sandy Patrese. It gives me joy 146 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: to hear their names, to know that they're not forgotten, 147 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: to know that, you know, still being mentioned, to know 148 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:27,599 Speaker 1: that their stories are saving lives. It does matter. It 149 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 1: does So saying their names is it's a it's an honor, 150 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: it's a good name. Yeah, they're not just statistics. They 151 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: were here, they were loved, they were people that were 152 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 1: making a difference in the community. They were special, They 153 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: had families, friends, you know, they mattered. Yeah, exactly. Well, 154 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,680 Speaker 1: I want us to keep doing that in us. Maybe 155 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: Chip and I can start incorporating that into the things 156 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:59,080 Speaker 1: that we discuss. But another thing you said that I 157 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:02,600 Speaker 1: really like about your story is that you're a gun 158 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: owner that you have and you're not planning to stop 159 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 1: being one, Like this is not the goal here, and 160 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: I think we try to mention that over and over 161 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: and over because you know, the simple things that to 162 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 1: me they seem simple, the things that we're asking, like 163 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 1: the background checks, like you mentioned, these laws that are 164 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: actually that a lot of people like every town are 165 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: really fighting for, are not to take away people's guns. 166 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: And it's there you go. Um, So, can you talk 167 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: us through a little bit about what that beginning process 168 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: was like for you, because I think a lot of 169 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: our listeners might be in the same boat where it's 170 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: just like we don't understand what is actually being asked 171 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,079 Speaker 1: and what or what we could be asking of our 172 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:54,319 Speaker 1: government right now. Yes, well, um, just recently I went 173 00:10:54,360 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: to Washington and we had many rallies, and these rallies 174 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: were to ask the Senate not to look away, not 175 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: to forget that there have been so many lives taken 176 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 1: that every single day in the United States, one hundred 177 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,600 Speaker 1: and ten people are taken in senseless gun violence. You know, 178 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 1: we want them to know that those people are family 179 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: members that are loved and that are treasured and now 180 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: that are missing because they've been taken. We wanted them 181 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: to make some laws to put in place so that 182 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 1: people feel safer in their communities. Some of these laws, 183 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 1: matter of fact, I can just tie directly into my story. 184 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: The boyfriend loophole that we're asking that they close as 185 00:11:41,920 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: a part of this law is concerning domestic violence. The 186 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: domestic violence boyfriend loophole is right now, if you are 187 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: married to someone and commit domestic violence, then you will 188 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:58,480 Speaker 1: not have access to purchasing a weapon until that situation 189 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 1: has resolved. But if you are a boyfriend, you still 190 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:07,720 Speaker 1: can purchase a weapon, and many boyfriends have accessed weapons 191 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: and killed people. And it's not just boyfriend, it could 192 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: be a girlfriend as well, because domestic violence occurs against 193 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: men too, so or same sex partners, and so that 194 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: loophole would then be closed. If the Senate passes this 195 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: bill that's been just sent to the table, the boyfriend 196 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: loophole would the boyfriends would not have access to buying 197 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:36,000 Speaker 1: a weapon after they've committed domestic violence, which would save lives. 198 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: Another part of that law ties directly into my story 199 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: as well, red flag laws. I'm a veteran. Many veterans 200 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: over twenty two a day are dying to suicide or 201 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: some other issues concerning gun violence, and so red flag laws. 202 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: If your family seems that you're having a PTSD moment, 203 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: or if you're struggling mentally, or if you're having some 204 00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: sort of problems, they can call the police and have 205 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:10,480 Speaker 1: a judge remove weapons from the home for a set 206 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: period of time. It's not to take your guns permanently. 207 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: It's to help you get them mental health that you 208 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: need and to get your family to a place of safety. 209 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: And then once you resolve those issues, those guns can 210 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: be returned to you. It's to save life so that 211 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: when you're in the middle of a crisis, you don't 212 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 1: hurt yourself or others. Veterans directly would be impacted. If 213 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: you saw your family member having an episode and you 214 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: could call and save their lives. Why wouldn't you want 215 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: to do that? You absolutely, we would want to do that. 216 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,280 Speaker 1: To have extended background checks for those that are under 217 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: twenty one years old that are buying automatic weapons that 218 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: are killing many people in schools and churches and at 219 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: the beach and birthday parties. You know, we need to 220 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: do extended background checks because if a shooter has a 221 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: mental health issue, and now you go to purchase a 222 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: weapon and they do a random background checks that takes 223 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: three days and it's not back yet. The law says 224 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:22,800 Speaker 1: that person could then purchase a weapon on the third 225 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: day if the seller wants to sell, so an extended 226 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: background check would make them wait a little while longer 227 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: until we get all of the information back. Right when 228 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,840 Speaker 1: my niece Sandy was taken at Myrtle Beach along with 229 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: the three other young men that were shot, we had 230 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: a senator, Senator Clemente. Pinkney here in South Carolina. He 231 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 1: visited my family. He was helping us with peace rallies 232 00:14:52,240 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: at marching and doing whatever he could to help the 233 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: community heal from that tragic event. And in less than 234 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: a year later, I was sitting in the VIP section 235 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 1: of his funeral because he was the pastor of the 236 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: Emmanuel Nine. He was killed in his sanctuary with nights 237 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:20,680 Speaker 1: of his church and his shooter. If more time had 238 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: been given, then the Charleston loophole is what we call 239 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: it for the background check, then his shooter would not 240 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: have had access to a weapon. We need more time 241 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,000 Speaker 1: to do a proper background check. If you are a 242 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: legal gun owner and you are buying your weapon properly 243 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: and having your background check and securing it properly, by 244 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: all means to have your weapon. But if a person 245 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:50,560 Speaker 1: is having a issue and should not access a weapon, 246 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: we need to know that as well, because if it 247 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: saves a life. I've often had people when I'm speaking 248 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: around the country say to me, what difference will if 249 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: it saves one life? What difference will it make if 250 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: it saves one person. Well, here's my answer to that. 251 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 1: My sister's only child, It will make every difference to 252 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: her because she has no grandchildren, she has no future coming, 253 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 1: no weddings, no graduations, nothing else. Just recently she asked 254 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: me about what do I do when I don't have 255 00:16:29,120 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: any new pictures to look at? So I called a 256 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:37,520 Speaker 1: whole bunch of her friends on social media, Sandy's friends, 257 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 1: and I said, can you look through your cameras, your phones, 258 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: your whatever you have, if you can just find one 259 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: picture that we don't have and send it to me. 260 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: It would do so much for my sister's to see 261 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: a picture she hadn't seen of her before, and to 262 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: have several pictures come in and it just it helps 263 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 1: her heart. Yeah, but that one would have made a difference, 264 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:10,680 Speaker 1: and that one to somebody else will make a difference. Right. 265 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,640 Speaker 1: I can't believe people even say that, because I cannot 266 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: imagine if I think of anyone in my life losing 267 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:22,159 Speaker 1: them to gun violence. To me, of course it matters. 268 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to lose anyone to that. And if 269 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,439 Speaker 1: you can't empathize with that, like, that's a part of 270 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 1: our culture that I'm really getting upset about. It's just 271 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: the insensitivity to like, like try to put yourself in 272 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 1: that position and what that would feel like. And we 273 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 1: can't be desensitized to this because it can happen to you. 274 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:44,199 Speaker 1: If nothing is registering more than that, it should like 275 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:47,480 Speaker 1: these school shootings. Looking at sending your kids to school 276 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: every day and the fear of the school being shot 277 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: up and your child dying, like I cannot get past that. 278 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: That was what really shook me, is just this hasn't changed. 279 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: We were talking before the podcast, Chip and I are 280 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,119 Speaker 1: going to talk to a survivor of Columbine in a 281 00:18:04,119 --> 00:18:07,679 Speaker 1: couple of weeks, and I said to you, I started 282 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:12,439 Speaker 1: researching that and nothing has changed since then. How is 283 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: that possible. It's been over twenty six years since significant 284 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,240 Speaker 1: gun laws have been passed by our Congress in our Senate, 285 00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 1: and we need them at this time to make this happen. 286 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 1: This bill can save lives. It's been too long, twenty 287 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: six years. Thousands of children that have been killed in 288 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 1: school shootings, thousands of people that have been killed at 289 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:45,160 Speaker 1: the grocery store, at the beach, at parties. This makes 290 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,120 Speaker 1: no sense at all. You're not safe anywhere in the sectuary, 291 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: in church, in church, right, we should be safe somewhere 292 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: unless some things that are put into place, Unless our 293 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:01,400 Speaker 1: Senate acts. We're gonna have more people people, and all 294 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 1: we want to do is save lives. Because lives. It's 295 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: not about your political standing. It's not about I say 296 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:15,240 Speaker 1: often and I do. So many lives have been sacrificed 297 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:20,040 Speaker 1: on the altar of greed, you know, of people selling weapons, 298 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: of people getting something that they want back. Well, it's 299 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:30,160 Speaker 1: time to put the right things on the altar lives. 300 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:36,400 Speaker 1: It's time to put lives as the priority instead of money. 301 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 1: You know, And if our Senate does not want to 302 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: do that, then maybe they shouldn't be in the Senate. 303 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 1: It's time for us all to look at that. If 304 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 1: the people that we elect to represent us are not 305 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,199 Speaker 1: going to do the jobs that they were elected to 306 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: do and protect us and keep us safe, then it's 307 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: time for us to do what we're supposed to do 308 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 1: and go and vote, yeah, if necessary, vote them out. Well, 309 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:08,160 Speaker 1: the thing you mentioned earlier too about we're just trying 310 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: to slow down the process, Like if there's a sense 311 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: of urgency when you're buying a gun, I'm not trusting 312 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: you with that. Why is there a sense of urgency, Because, 313 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 1: as you said, there are many people who want to 314 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: be gun owners, and that isn't what any of this 315 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: is about to me. I know a ton of men 316 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,240 Speaker 1: where you know, we live in the South. There's a 317 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: ton of hunters here, and they are the most responsible 318 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: gun owners that I've ever seen. They have such high protocol, 319 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: but they plan everything out as far as even like 320 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: when the gun is bought. Everything is planned and coordinated, 321 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: and there's permits, and there's safety, and there's education when 322 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: anyone's around the gun. There's all of those things. And 323 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,119 Speaker 1: so none of that is an issue to me. But 324 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,840 Speaker 1: the issue is if you're going into a gun shop 325 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 1: and you have to buy an assault rifle that day 326 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,399 Speaker 1: with how many bullets? Wasn't chip that was bought any valley? 327 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:06,920 Speaker 1: It was like thousands, right or something ridiculous, Like why 328 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: was that not like hello, red flag, red fuck? Like 329 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:16,720 Speaker 1: like that's not okay to go to war, you know exactly. 330 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: You know, I have two sons that served as well. 331 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 1: And being a person that carried an M sixteen machine 332 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: gun and I was trained on M fifty subcal machine gun. 333 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:36,719 Speaker 1: I have expert shots with many other weapons. I just 334 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: had a gift for it. But those uncles I told 335 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: you when I was a little girl that were teaching 336 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: us about shooting. They also taught us about safety. You know, 337 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: don't ever point this weapon at anyone. You haven't pointed 338 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:52,640 Speaker 1: at the ground. When you're not using it. You put 339 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 1: the gunlog back on it before you take it into 340 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: the house. You know, they taught us so many things, 341 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 1: and that education and right now is not being taught 342 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: the people that are purchasing weapons. If we have to 343 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 1: have our driver's license, we have to have licenses to 344 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: do all kinds of things. Why can't we have a 345 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:15,880 Speaker 1: license to own a weapon? Why can't we know about safety? 346 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: You know, to go through a concealed carry class and 347 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 1: to have to not do it one time in your life, 348 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: but to do it an ongoing basis. You go back 349 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: and renew your driver's license every ten years. Why can't 350 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,760 Speaker 1: you renew your concealed weapons carry and get new information 351 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:37,200 Speaker 1: about safety, new information about you know, handling it, new 352 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:40,399 Speaker 1: information about the laws that have been passed. We should 353 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: have more information to deal with so that we're as 354 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: safe as possible. I want to reiterate the fact so 355 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 1: many people think that to be a member of every 356 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,440 Speaker 1: town and to be a member of Mom's and man 357 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:58,359 Speaker 1: action that you want to take away guns. Right. I 358 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:02,240 Speaker 1: don't want your guns. None of us do. There are 359 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 1: many men, women that are gun owners as a part 360 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: of every town. We even have the Veterans Advisory Council, 361 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:14,439 Speaker 1: of which I'm a member. There's about thirty five of 362 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: us from all across the country. More are being added 363 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:22,440 Speaker 1: to this council. And we talk about guns. We talk 364 00:23:22,480 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 1: about laws that concern veterans. We talk about, you know, 365 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: how weapons are being misused by people that are not 366 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 1: trained with them. We don't want to take it from you. 367 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: We want you to properly use it. Right, we can 368 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 1: properly store it. We want you to properly secure it. 369 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: And then when it's time to go to the range 370 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 1: and you pull out your weapons and you handle it safely, 371 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,800 Speaker 1: and when you come back, you secure it by all means, 372 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: enjoy yourself. Well. I think the driving, as like an 373 00:23:52,920 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: example of comparison, is a really good one, because you're right, 374 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: we do have to. We go to Driver's d we 375 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: get a license, and you have to practice for a 376 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 1: certain amount of time. And it's like that's because cars 377 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,040 Speaker 1: can kill people. It's because they could kill us or others. 378 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: And it's like, so there's protocol put in place when 379 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: you learn how to drive. That should be the case 380 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: with any sort of device or weapon or anything that 381 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,040 Speaker 1: can take a life. In my opinion, that's how like 382 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,399 Speaker 1: it's just it's actually, the more I learn about this, 383 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 1: it's actually absurd that we don't have the law like 384 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: any laws every other country does and they don't have 385 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 1: these kind of issues happening. I don't know why it's 386 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:42,800 Speaker 1: a hard to talk about these issues when people are 387 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 1: being shot and killed every day. If you find up 388 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 1: two hundred people in a row, and then you just 389 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:55,040 Speaker 1: said you, you, you, you, until you got to one 390 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: hundred and ten, You're not going home to your families today. 391 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: You're not going back to work, You're not going back 392 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: to your communities. You're not going back to your churches 393 00:25:04,280 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: or your schools. You are being taken in gun violence today. 394 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: I think those hundred and ten people would be wanting 395 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: their lives enough to do something about this, right. I'm 396 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: just shocked that more people are not on board with 397 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:31,399 Speaker 1: saving lives. You know, I think people have misinformation and received, 398 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 1: especially from the NRA, that we're all gun takers, that 399 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:42,879 Speaker 1: we're gun control, that we want to come in your house, 400 00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:45,640 Speaker 1: and take all of your guns away from you. That's 401 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:49,120 Speaker 1: not what we are after. Want you to be safe. 402 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: I want to protect you and your family, you know. 403 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,439 Speaker 1: I want your family to be saved. I want my 404 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: family to be saved. I want all of us to 405 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,239 Speaker 1: be safe when we're out in our communities and in 406 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: our homes. Yeah, and just this, you know. I think 407 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: also ignorance is a big part of this topic in general. 408 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: And I am saying that because I myself was very 409 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:15,080 Speaker 1: ignorant around the numbers. Like when you keep saying one 410 00:26:15,160 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 1: hundred and ten people die at day, I'm like, what 411 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:19,960 Speaker 1: how It's like it's just but it's not talked about 412 00:26:20,359 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: or it's not it wasn't talked about in an atmosphere 413 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: that I absorbed it. I also read the hundreds of 414 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,360 Speaker 1: people that are injured exactly and are killed, that are 415 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 1: actually killed, and I saw on the everytown website this morning. 416 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 1: I was just kind of reading up on the website 417 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: since the Uvaldi shooting on May twenty fourth, today is 418 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:45,880 Speaker 1: June twenty second. I had to check that that we're 419 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: recording this. So less than a month, three thousand, five 420 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 1: hundred ninety nine people in America have been shot and killed. 421 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: That is true, that like that reading that I had 422 00:26:57,560 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 1: to reread it like four times to make sure I 423 00:26:59,480 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: was reading it correctly. Less than a month and almost 424 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 1: four thousand people have died. Yes, the fact that we're 425 00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:10,719 Speaker 1: not even just talking about that as a culture is 426 00:27:10,840 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: again shocking to me. It's shocking to me that a 427 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: twelve year old I just mentioned to this for the podcast, 428 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: a twelve year old was shot in his school in 429 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:28,080 Speaker 1: the hallway by another twelve year old who had access 430 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: to his father's unsecured weapon. Well when he shot this 431 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: other twelve year old killed him. It was on the 432 00:27:35,320 --> 00:27:39,360 Speaker 1: news for all of probably two days locally, and they 433 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,480 Speaker 1: moved on to the next story. Of course, I'm like, 434 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:46,159 Speaker 1: that should drive us all crazy. We all should be 435 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,920 Speaker 1: doing something. Why does a twelve year old have access 436 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: to a weapon at all? And then once this other 437 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: twelve year old is never going to eighth grade, never 438 00:27:57,119 --> 00:28:00,400 Speaker 1: going to high school, his life is over as ended, 439 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 1: we should all be having this conversation. It makes in 440 00:28:04,840 --> 00:28:08,320 Speaker 1: the world that two days now no one's talking about it. 441 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 1: I mean that was literally why we started talking about 442 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:14,440 Speaker 1: that on this podcast, because it was like the Valdi 443 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: shooting happened. Everyone's on Instagram posting about it, you know, 444 00:28:18,119 --> 00:28:20,679 Speaker 1: trying to do the right thing. I'm doing air quotes, 445 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 1: I guess. And then a week went by and it 446 00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 1: was over and we're back to business, just forgotten, and 447 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 1: it's like, wait, no, no, no, no, nothing has changed, 448 00:28:29,280 --> 00:28:32,160 Speaker 1: and so if we don't keep talking about this, it's 449 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 1: just gonna be another like another school shooting is going 450 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: to happen, because if Columbine didn't teach us anything that 451 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: the fact that nothing has changed since then is just 452 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: there's been how many school shootings since? You know, Like 453 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:48,360 Speaker 1: I'm just yeah, it's just wild. And you know, Chip 454 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 1: always talks about just our culture being so desensitized, like 455 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,960 Speaker 1: you're you said you if even you heard about another 456 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:59,520 Speaker 1: one hip and you just were kind of like, oh yeah, wow, yeah, 457 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: I mean I think, you know, it's obviously there are 458 00:29:04,120 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: even the red flag walls. It's like, to me, it's 459 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,280 Speaker 1: not enough, but it's a start. And I think a 460 00:29:09,360 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: lot of people, people that I know, like they make excuses. 461 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:15,960 Speaker 1: They're like, well, there's more guns than people in the 462 00:29:16,040 --> 00:29:18,520 Speaker 1: United States, So what problem is that going to fix? 463 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 1: And it's like like you said that your niece sandy. 464 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: It's like that is one problem that it could have fixed, 465 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: and you know there's count countless other examples, one hundred 466 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:34,120 Speaker 1: and ten a day, and you know it's we cannot 467 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: allow ourselves to get caught up in the like, well 468 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: this isn't enough, because anything is enough right now, and 469 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 1: you tackle one thing and hopefully the dominoes start to 470 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: fall and you end up in a place where people 471 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,280 Speaker 1: are actually safe, you know, listening to you talk, like, 472 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:55,680 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a weird correlation to draw. But 473 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:58,479 Speaker 1: like I was a lifeguard when I was in high school. 474 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: My job was to keep people safe. I had to 475 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:07,200 Speaker 1: go through a class be certified in it. I had 476 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,560 Speaker 1: to be certified in CPR. I had to be certified 477 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:15,200 Speaker 1: to keep people safe. We are asking people to be 478 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 1: certified to keep people out of harm's way. You know. 479 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,800 Speaker 1: It's like those people should be certified before, like I 480 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 1: should be able to volunteer to keep people safe, you know. 481 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:30,920 Speaker 1: And it is just it's just nonsensical to me that 482 00:30:31,000 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: like there aren't these like small barriers in place. You 483 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 1: have to get a license to go fishing, you know, 484 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:43,840 Speaker 1: it's crazy. It's I just I just don't understand other 485 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:52,200 Speaker 1: than greed. How how are in this position? Yeah, and 486 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,560 Speaker 1: ignorant of the fact that we are losing so many 487 00:30:56,600 --> 00:31:00,960 Speaker 1: people every single day that do not make the news right. No, 488 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 1: nobody was gonna put on the national news that four 489 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: young people were shot on murder week. Other people in 490 00:31:08,080 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: other states or other parts of the country never even 491 00:31:11,480 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: heard Sandy Patrice's name, you see, never heard the names 492 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: of the others. That misinformation and the ignorance and the 493 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: just the indifference. It has to end. We have to 494 00:31:26,560 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 1: talk about this or otherwise eventually somebody will knock on 495 00:31:31,640 --> 00:31:34,920 Speaker 1: your door and say it's somebody that you love. But 496 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 1: before that happens, we want you to do something, do 497 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:43,320 Speaker 1: something down and save a life before it happens to you. 498 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: My navy son, he is a Navy recruiter. He's been 499 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:55,000 Speaker 1: in the Navy for eighteen years. He just recently was 500 00:31:55,360 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: recruiting a young man. His mother and his grandma was 501 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 1: raising him and another young lady that he her mother. 502 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 1: He was expecting a new baby and he was only 503 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 1: eighteen years old. So his grandmother and the mother of 504 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: his baby, they brought him to the recruiter's office and said, 505 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: you're gonna have to have a life so that you 506 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:22,040 Speaker 1: can support this new baby that's coming. They brought him 507 00:32:22,040 --> 00:32:26,520 Speaker 1: to the recruiter's office two months before he graduated. Two 508 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: days after he graduated, he went to a graduation party. 509 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 1: He was shot and killed at the graduation party. My 510 00:32:35,360 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: navy recruiters son went to the funeral and he said 511 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 1: to them in these words, and it was so potent 512 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:50,719 Speaker 1: to me. I am licensed to carry a concealed weapon. 513 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 1: I can carry a machine gun because the Navy has 514 00:32:55,680 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: certified me to do so. And they don't certify me once. 515 00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: Every year. I have to go back to training and 516 00:33:02,480 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 1: go through the drills. I have to go through the class, 517 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,719 Speaker 1: I have to go on the range, and I have 518 00:33:08,760 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 1: to qualify or otherwise I can't carry that weapon. And 519 00:33:13,840 --> 00:33:16,440 Speaker 1: you young people that are sitting at this funeral of 520 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:20,240 Speaker 1: it's eighteen year old, you think that you're more qualified 521 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: than me to carry a weapon where you're not. You 522 00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 1: should not have access to weapons because weapons take lives. 523 00:33:28,120 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: And if you young people don't put them down and 524 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:35,680 Speaker 1: stop accessing them, then we will be standing here again 525 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,560 Speaker 1: talking at your funeral. It is time for the grown 526 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:43,400 Speaker 1: ups to pay attention. It's time for the young people 527 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 1: to pay attention. It's time for all of us to 528 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 1: pay attention because otherwise that one hundred and ten number, 529 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: it's going to continue to rise. When I first came 530 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 1: to Mom's in action, it was about eight years ago, 531 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 1: nine years I think colase to nine. That number was 532 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:08,359 Speaker 1: in the eighties per day. Now it's one hundred and 533 00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:13,919 Speaker 1: ten people a day. That numbers continuing to rise. We 534 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 1: have to do something. We have to have these conversations 535 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:21,600 Speaker 1: to know that the black and brown communities are being distant, 536 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:26,719 Speaker 1: just affected in a mass way. We have to have 537 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:30,719 Speaker 1: these conversations to say we have to save lives. We 538 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,640 Speaker 1: have to have these conversations to say we don't want 539 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:37,000 Speaker 1: to take away your weapons, we want you to let's 540 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,719 Speaker 1: work together so we can make our community safer, our 541 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 1: schools safer, our church is safer. My fourteen year old granddaughter, 542 00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:49,680 Speaker 1: she lives with me. At the last shooting they had 543 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 1: at a school where they were, they locked them down 544 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:58,080 Speaker 1: and it never even made the news because they got 545 00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 1: the gun out of the young man's back that brought 546 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:04,360 Speaker 1: a gun to school. She refused to go to school 547 00:35:04,400 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: for four days. She was shaking, she was trembling, having 548 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:12,840 Speaker 1: panic attacks. What do we do. Our children should not 549 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,880 Speaker 1: have to go through that, have to go through that. 550 00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:19,600 Speaker 1: I mean, you and I were talking before about that fact, 551 00:35:19,680 --> 00:35:22,959 Speaker 1: Like I've never thought about that going to school. It's 552 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:27,000 Speaker 1: like that shouldn't be on a child to think about 553 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 1: in their daily routine. Like, Okay, we have the protocol here, 554 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 1: we have you know, emergency things set up in case 555 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,600 Speaker 1: this happens. It's like, I get it. We do need 556 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:40,480 Speaker 1: that safety and unfortunately that might be a part of 557 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:43,879 Speaker 1: life now. But I don't feel like we're like we're 558 00:35:43,920 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 1: missing the root problem here. If we just start to 559 00:35:46,080 --> 00:35:49,240 Speaker 1: focus on how do we keep our kids safe at school, well, 560 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,920 Speaker 1: like we get guns or we make it harder to 561 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:55,000 Speaker 1: get guns, we put laws around this, Like we have 562 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 1: to start at the root of the problem if we're 563 00:35:57,600 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 1: gonna make any real changes, especially in the states that 564 00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:05,680 Speaker 1: have weak gun laws, like one of those states, South Carolina, 565 00:36:05,719 --> 00:36:09,240 Speaker 1: has weak gun laws, and we need stronger background checks. 566 00:36:09,320 --> 00:36:12,759 Speaker 1: We need red laws. We need laws to close the 567 00:36:12,880 --> 00:36:16,239 Speaker 1: Charleston loophole. We need to close the boyfriend loophole. We 568 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: need the Senate to act. We need them to say yes, 569 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:23,200 Speaker 1: we want to save lives with you and for you, 570 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: because that's what we were elected to do. We don't 571 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:30,360 Speaker 1: need to have conversations about all of the or we 572 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:32,759 Speaker 1: already have laws on the books. What good are the 573 00:36:32,840 --> 00:36:36,759 Speaker 1: laws on the books if they're not being enacted, if 574 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:39,839 Speaker 1: they're not saving lives, we need to update them. If 575 00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:44,600 Speaker 1: they're a hundred years old. Guess what, We're not carrying 576 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:52,080 Speaker 1: muskets anymore. We're carrying AK forty seven. It's a big difference. Yeah, 577 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:55,239 Speaker 1: And I say all the time because people ask me, 578 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:59,799 Speaker 1: you know, how can I, as a veteran, say that 579 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:04,719 Speaker 1: we should have stronger laws concerning guns. I can say 580 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 1: because I raised my hands, I was willing to give 581 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:10,760 Speaker 1: my life. I have two sons, one Army, one Navy 582 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:15,160 Speaker 1: that still served that we all raised our hands. We 583 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 1: are believers in the Constitution of the United States of America. 584 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 1: We believe in the Second Amendment. We don't have a 585 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:23,799 Speaker 1: problem with it. We have a problem with guns in 586 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: the wrong hands, in the hands of children, in the 587 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:29,799 Speaker 1: hands of criminals, in the hands of those that are 588 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:33,799 Speaker 1: danger to themselves or others. That is it. If you 589 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 1: secure your weapons, you have a proper background check, you 590 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:44,120 Speaker 1: purchased it legally, You're not trying to hurt another human being. Amen. Yeah, Well, 591 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:45,880 Speaker 1: we've mentioned a couple of times that we have to 592 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:49,239 Speaker 1: make changes, and I told you that one of the 593 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:52,480 Speaker 1: things that you know hit in our life, I think, 594 00:37:52,520 --> 00:37:53,759 Speaker 1: was when we had a lot of friends at the 595 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:58,200 Speaker 1: music festival Root ninety one that did survive, but it's 596 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: it's been a traumatic experience for the rest of their 597 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,680 Speaker 1: lives that they'll carry. And so the only thing I 598 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:06,600 Speaker 1: knew how to help was to start donating to every town. 599 00:38:06,719 --> 00:38:08,760 Speaker 1: So I've been doing that since then. I get y'all's 600 00:38:08,760 --> 00:38:11,799 Speaker 1: text messages and things like that, but that's really all 601 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:15,080 Speaker 1: I've known how to do. And it's really hard for 602 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:16,840 Speaker 1: me to sit here on this podcast and go something 603 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,800 Speaker 1: needs to change without giving people a tangible like here's 604 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,520 Speaker 1: one step you can take, So can you help our 605 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:26,400 Speaker 1: listeners and maybe in navigating, like what's a next right 606 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:28,360 Speaker 1: step that some of us can take, just as like 607 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:34,399 Speaker 1: an everyday American who just wants to have a safer country. Yes, 608 00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:38,600 Speaker 1: when I was in Washington just very recently, one of 609 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:42,960 Speaker 1: the most potent things I saw that again changed my 610 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:45,840 Speaker 1: life and made me even more passionate to do what 611 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,320 Speaker 1: I'm doing and to help save lives is to see 612 00:38:49,760 --> 00:38:55,120 Speaker 1: a whole stand full of about fifty children with bulletproof 613 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:58,960 Speaker 1: vest on, asking do we have to wear these to school? 614 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 1: Do I needed it? A bulletproof shield? It in my 615 00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:07,319 Speaker 1: book bag? Is this going to be our future? And 616 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:11,319 Speaker 1: saying don't look away if you don't do something, this 617 00:39:11,480 --> 00:39:15,520 Speaker 1: will be our future that to me should never happen. 618 00:39:16,239 --> 00:39:19,919 Speaker 1: So what we have to do is band together and 619 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 1: do something about it. You can text the word join 620 00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:30,040 Speaker 1: jo I N or the word bold bold to six 621 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,160 Speaker 1: four four three three and become a part of the 622 00:39:33,200 --> 00:39:37,359 Speaker 1: movement to just save lives. You know, when you text 623 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:41,480 Speaker 1: the word bold, that's giving you a direct access line 624 00:39:41,480 --> 00:39:44,879 Speaker 1: to your senators in your state so that you can 625 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:48,399 Speaker 1: tell them, I want common sense gun laws. I don't 626 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:51,960 Speaker 1: want to take away guns from people that are legally 627 00:39:52,000 --> 00:39:55,160 Speaker 1: purchasing them, but I want to save lives and have 628 00:39:55,520 --> 00:39:59,560 Speaker 1: common sense gun laws in place, background checks, you know, 629 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:04,520 Speaker 1: it's live laws. I want to save lives and just 630 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:09,680 Speaker 1: texting one little text join to six four four three three, 631 00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:13,040 Speaker 1: want to talk to your senator and asking them to 632 00:40:13,239 --> 00:40:17,359 Speaker 1: help bold to six four four three three. That will 633 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:24,239 Speaker 1: make so much difference. It will save lives. It will matter. Yeah, 634 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:26,480 Speaker 1: and like that's I'm really glad you brought up the 635 00:40:26,520 --> 00:40:29,719 Speaker 1: text situation because you know, I mentioned i'd donate. You 636 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 1: don't if if the money thing isn't the way that 637 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,680 Speaker 1: you can go about it, that's okay. And the best 638 00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:37,160 Speaker 1: thing about every Town for me has been like I 639 00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:41,960 Speaker 1: got a text actually this morning about the US Senate. 640 00:40:42,239 --> 00:40:46,040 Speaker 1: They released what was it, the Bipartisan Guns Safety Law 641 00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:49,239 Speaker 1: or it's moving forward in the Senate, and so like 642 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:52,560 Speaker 1: every town sends out a text that says, send us 643 00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:55,440 Speaker 1: your zip code right now and we'll tell you exactly 644 00:40:55,480 --> 00:40:58,640 Speaker 1: where you can call your senator in your state to 645 00:40:59,160 --> 00:41:01,440 Speaker 1: have a direct line of like, yes, we want this 646 00:41:01,520 --> 00:41:04,560 Speaker 1: to go through, like keep the bill going. And what 647 00:41:04,760 --> 00:41:09,760 Speaker 1: is this that the oh wow, she's showing a picture 648 00:41:09,800 --> 00:41:12,880 Speaker 1: of the kids in the bulletproof vest. That is chilling. 649 00:41:13,840 --> 00:41:20,960 Speaker 1: Yeah wow, yeah, sorry that one took me back for 650 00:41:21,000 --> 00:41:25,799 Speaker 1: a second, but it makes it. Yeah, it is striking 651 00:41:25,920 --> 00:41:29,560 Speaker 1: and it but it's reality, unfortunately, And that's what I 652 00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:32,799 Speaker 1: think that we need to register here. That's like the 653 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:35,880 Speaker 1: purpose for me of talking about this stuff is it 654 00:41:35,960 --> 00:41:38,920 Speaker 1: is really easy I think to go, well, that happened 655 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,960 Speaker 1: in Texas and blah blah blah, blah blah. But like 656 00:41:42,040 --> 00:41:45,160 Speaker 1: those people probably were saying before then, like that happened 657 00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:48,640 Speaker 1: in Columbine in Colorado, like you know, whatever, it can 658 00:41:48,760 --> 00:41:51,640 Speaker 1: happen to you. And the more that we don't change things, 659 00:41:51,760 --> 00:41:55,480 Speaker 1: it's happening everywhere. Yeah. So anyway, the thing about the 660 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:57,719 Speaker 1: text that makes it so easy is it's just like 661 00:41:58,000 --> 00:42:01,279 Speaker 1: you don't really do anything, like it's an extent to you. 662 00:42:01,280 --> 00:42:03,680 Speaker 1: You guys have done all the legwork. All we have 663 00:42:03,760 --> 00:42:05,399 Speaker 1: to do is put in a zip code and then 664 00:42:05,440 --> 00:42:07,520 Speaker 1: it tells you exactly what to do, walks you through 665 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,279 Speaker 1: the steps. It makes it really easy. And those are 666 00:42:10,320 --> 00:42:12,400 Speaker 1: just simple things that you can do that really do 667 00:42:12,480 --> 00:42:15,359 Speaker 1: make a difference. Like you said, yeah, I was gonna 668 00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:17,279 Speaker 1: I was gonna say, I got that text too, and 669 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:19,680 Speaker 1: it's there is a phone number that you can actually 670 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:23,600 Speaker 1: call to that will then put you in direct contact 671 00:42:23,640 --> 00:42:26,239 Speaker 1: with your senator. So I'm gonna give that number. It's 672 00:42:26,320 --> 00:42:31,520 Speaker 1: one eight six six eight nine four five four seven three. 673 00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:34,840 Speaker 1: I'll repeat at eight six six eight nine four five 674 00:42:35,080 --> 00:42:41,200 Speaker 1: four seven three, and you know there's there's wow, wow, 675 00:42:42,239 --> 00:42:44,719 Speaker 1: there are um you know, just to give a quick 676 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:47,560 Speaker 1: overview two and what's in that bill? I mean it's all. 677 00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:52,520 Speaker 1: It just seems so obvious that the stuff needs to 678 00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:55,400 Speaker 1: be done. There's seven hundred and fifty million dollars for 679 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:59,400 Speaker 1: states to implement and run crisis intervention programs. Just closing 680 00:42:59,440 --> 00:43:03,480 Speaker 1: the boyfriend loophole. There's requirements that gun sellers would have 681 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:07,319 Speaker 1: to register as federally license firearm dealers. I mean yeah, 682 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:09,760 Speaker 1: it's like we should also know who is selling the guns, 683 00:43:09,840 --> 00:43:13,120 Speaker 1: not just who is buying them. Um, there would be 684 00:43:13,200 --> 00:43:16,279 Speaker 1: more thorough reviews of people eighteen to twenty one. It 685 00:43:16,320 --> 00:43:20,319 Speaker 1: would create federal statutes against gun trafficking and straw trafficking, 686 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:23,640 Speaker 1: and then it would also increase funding for mental health programs, 687 00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:29,840 Speaker 1: in school security, um, all things that like want it. 688 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:32,680 Speaker 1: Why wouldn't you want it. It's like it's like adding 689 00:43:32,719 --> 00:43:36,160 Speaker 1: stop lights to you know, just crossings. It's you know 690 00:43:36,200 --> 00:43:38,719 Speaker 1: these are look, anyone can drive through a red light, 691 00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: but you're taking a chance every time you do it, 692 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,520 Speaker 1: so you know, um I would I would venture to 693 00:43:44,520 --> 00:43:46,560 Speaker 1: say most people think it's probably best to stop and 694 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:49,240 Speaker 1: look at both ways before you do that, and that's 695 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:52,520 Speaker 1: all that we're asking people to do is stop, look 696 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:55,560 Speaker 1: both ways, make sure it's you're you're you know you're 697 00:43:55,600 --> 00:43:59,400 Speaker 1: doing things in the most safe way possible. Um. You know. 698 00:43:59,640 --> 00:44:01,600 Speaker 1: From for me, one of the things that I struggle 699 00:44:01,640 --> 00:44:07,160 Speaker 1: with is like you know, um, people that NRA and 700 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:11,000 Speaker 1: and and you know pro gun people And I'm not 701 00:44:11,080 --> 00:44:13,759 Speaker 1: anti gun. I'll repeat that like, I'm not anti gun, 702 00:44:13,800 --> 00:44:16,440 Speaker 1: but pro When I say pro gun people, I mean 703 00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:20,000 Speaker 1: people who are not pro safety. Um. You know, they say, well, 704 00:44:20,040 --> 00:44:22,360 Speaker 1: I need the guns to you know, protect my family. 705 00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:25,560 Speaker 1: And I don't think the answer. Um. You know, I 706 00:44:26,040 --> 00:44:28,680 Speaker 1: get wanting to protect your your your your family and 707 00:44:28,719 --> 00:44:31,360 Speaker 1: your property and all those things. That's that is a 708 00:44:31,480 --> 00:44:34,600 Speaker 1: right that I support from the Second Amendment of the Constitution. 709 00:44:34,920 --> 00:44:37,400 Speaker 1: But I do not think that you being able to 710 00:44:37,440 --> 00:44:40,360 Speaker 1: protect your family, um is an excuse for making the 711 00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:45,000 Speaker 1: world less safe because it's hypocritical. Like what we're saying 712 00:44:45,080 --> 00:44:47,479 Speaker 1: is we want to protect our family too, and there's 713 00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:50,320 Speaker 1: a safer way to do it. And you know, I 714 00:44:50,600 --> 00:44:53,400 Speaker 1: implore anyone who's listening that is on the fence about 715 00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:56,759 Speaker 1: this just a little simple reading, like I think you 716 00:44:56,800 --> 00:44:59,720 Speaker 1: will have aha moments where it's like wow, this is easy. 717 00:45:00,280 --> 00:45:03,879 Speaker 1: It's not intruding upon my rights in any way. In fact, 718 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:09,919 Speaker 1: it's making my rights stronger. So yeah, it's to me, 719 00:45:10,040 --> 00:45:12,960 Speaker 1: it's I think there's a lot of just laziness in 720 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:17,680 Speaker 1: our country too, you know, like every it's excuses. You know, 721 00:45:17,920 --> 00:45:21,000 Speaker 1: people people like they don't want to think, they think 722 00:45:21,040 --> 00:45:24,919 Speaker 1: that these things affect them, But I can guarantee you 723 00:45:25,880 --> 00:45:28,600 Speaker 1: losing a loved one is going to affect you so 724 00:45:28,719 --> 00:45:32,200 Speaker 1: much more every day of your life, every day of 725 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:36,040 Speaker 1: your life. And when you think about the lives lost 726 00:45:36,120 --> 00:45:38,560 Speaker 1: and the impact that those people could have had on 727 00:45:38,600 --> 00:45:41,279 Speaker 1: the world that will never know it, it just you know, 728 00:45:41,360 --> 00:45:44,880 Speaker 1: it's dreams are you know, crushed in those moments, and 729 00:45:44,920 --> 00:45:48,759 Speaker 1: it's like God, who will never know? We will never 730 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:51,480 Speaker 1: know the contributions of the people that we've lost, and 731 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:54,439 Speaker 1: that's really sad, you know, like they could they could 732 00:45:54,440 --> 00:45:57,160 Speaker 1: have been Sandy, could have been who was going to 733 00:45:57,440 --> 00:46:01,560 Speaker 1: find a cure for cancer exactly? No, I don't know. 734 00:46:01,680 --> 00:46:05,440 Speaker 1: It just makes me really sad that like how how 735 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:09,000 Speaker 1: how I'm easily we just sort of disregard that as 736 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:12,920 Speaker 1: a society. It's just come on, people, like what are 737 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:19,680 Speaker 1: we fighting for? You know? I think people, um, they 738 00:46:19,719 --> 00:46:25,200 Speaker 1: make excuses because they figure if they do nothing, then 739 00:46:25,239 --> 00:46:29,600 Speaker 1: they're not a part of the problem. But in my view, 740 00:46:29,960 --> 00:46:34,760 Speaker 1: if you do nothing, you are agree with that betting 741 00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:39,640 Speaker 1: more lives be lost. Until you get up and get involved, 742 00:46:40,800 --> 00:46:44,080 Speaker 1: you're not a part of the solution. So if you're 743 00:46:44,120 --> 00:46:46,239 Speaker 1: not a part of the solution, then you're a part 744 00:46:46,280 --> 00:46:50,640 Speaker 1: of the problem. And we need action. You know, we 745 00:46:50,760 --> 00:46:55,200 Speaker 1: say often we To me, love is a verb. I 746 00:46:55,360 --> 00:46:59,520 Speaker 1: love people by honoring them with action. I don't just 747 00:46:59,640 --> 00:47:03,640 Speaker 1: say things. I get it done. I want to save lives. 748 00:47:03,760 --> 00:47:07,640 Speaker 1: I'm out here making that happen. I'm out here every 749 00:47:07,719 --> 00:47:10,879 Speaker 1: single day doing what i need to do. And I 750 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:14,359 Speaker 1: just want the Senate to hear us and to see 751 00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:18,400 Speaker 1: us and to know that we mean it. We want 752 00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:22,560 Speaker 1: them to save lives. This bill, it's not the end 753 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:26,719 Speaker 1: dog do all, but it's a critical step forward and 754 00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:30,239 Speaker 1: it will help save lives. It's what we need to 755 00:47:30,320 --> 00:47:33,640 Speaker 1: move forward because we've been still for twenty six years 756 00:47:33,680 --> 00:47:38,040 Speaker 1: doing nothing that we need more. We can do this 757 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:41,040 Speaker 1: if we do it as a community, as a country, 758 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:44,480 Speaker 1: as if we all say we're not gonna take this anymore. 759 00:47:45,040 --> 00:47:48,759 Speaker 1: We're not gonna continue to lose our loved ones, you know, 760 00:47:49,200 --> 00:47:52,440 Speaker 1: and sit down and do nothing about it. We're gonna 761 00:47:52,440 --> 00:47:55,600 Speaker 1: be out here every day, and we're gonna make a difference. 762 00:47:56,040 --> 00:48:00,920 Speaker 1: We're gonna save lives. To me, it's so inting because 763 00:48:01,160 --> 00:48:03,480 Speaker 1: you know, hear a lot of the Second Amendment arguments 764 00:48:03,520 --> 00:48:06,359 Speaker 1: and all of that stuff. But actually, to me, if 765 00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:10,080 Speaker 1: we don't use our voices and we don't do these 766 00:48:10,120 --> 00:48:13,480 Speaker 1: things to take make changes like that, that's the whole 767 00:48:13,520 --> 00:48:16,799 Speaker 1: point of the American culture and the democracy, and so 768 00:48:16,840 --> 00:48:20,399 Speaker 1: like we're actually working against ourselves if we just keep 769 00:48:20,560 --> 00:48:23,040 Speaker 1: arguing that like no one has to stay this way 770 00:48:23,120 --> 00:48:26,080 Speaker 1: or whatever, and just stay brainwashed, like I really do 771 00:48:26,280 --> 00:48:29,560 Speaker 1: feel I'm not trying to change anyone's political views or 772 00:48:29,600 --> 00:48:32,520 Speaker 1: anything like that, but this to me is just common sense, 773 00:48:32,560 --> 00:48:34,719 Speaker 1: like do you want to live? Do you want your 774 00:48:34,760 --> 00:48:37,440 Speaker 1: family to live? Do you want to feel safe when 775 00:48:37,480 --> 00:48:39,200 Speaker 1: you send your kids to school or go to the 776 00:48:39,239 --> 00:48:43,200 Speaker 1: grocery store or go to church? Like it's simple, it's 777 00:48:43,239 --> 00:48:46,640 Speaker 1: just and for me, I really resonate with the ignorance peace, 778 00:48:46,760 --> 00:48:49,960 Speaker 1: Like I just didn't know, and so now that I know, 779 00:48:50,080 --> 00:48:52,120 Speaker 1: it's like once you know better, do better, And like 780 00:48:52,400 --> 00:48:55,840 Speaker 1: that's what we're trying to do here is just bring 781 00:48:55,920 --> 00:48:58,960 Speaker 1: light to this topic, not just turn the other way 782 00:48:59,080 --> 00:49:02,000 Speaker 1: and start talking about the stupid shit that we talk 783 00:49:02,080 --> 00:49:05,600 Speaker 1: about all the times, like our culture laughing that we 784 00:49:05,640 --> 00:49:10,360 Speaker 1: want to hear as the vibors is, especially from politicians. 785 00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:14,160 Speaker 1: Butts and prayers. Oh god, right, you're like, do you 786 00:49:14,239 --> 00:49:17,480 Speaker 1: think it's cool? Right, It's like, what are you doing? 787 00:49:17,880 --> 00:49:22,360 Speaker 1: Because I'm a member of the clergy and I get it, Yeah, 788 00:49:22,560 --> 00:49:25,400 Speaker 1: in a lot to people like me. I believe in prayers. 789 00:49:25,480 --> 00:49:29,760 Speaker 1: I know prayer works, sure, but it also says faith 790 00:49:29,760 --> 00:49:34,080 Speaker 1: without work is dead, meaning it has no action, has 791 00:49:34,120 --> 00:49:37,280 Speaker 1: to have a Yeah, you got to put some work 792 00:49:37,360 --> 00:49:40,920 Speaker 1: with your faith, right, Yeah, just having faith is lazy. 793 00:49:41,080 --> 00:49:44,040 Speaker 1: You know, faith is a lazy excuse, So that has 794 00:49:44,080 --> 00:49:47,600 Speaker 1: to be action. Prayers are not gonna matter anymore. We 795 00:49:47,640 --> 00:49:51,880 Speaker 1: want to do something about it, right, Well, you know 796 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:55,879 Speaker 1: it's it's the irony and all of it is the 797 00:49:56,040 --> 00:49:59,960 Speaker 1: argument that guns keep us free. You know, it's our 798 00:50:00,200 --> 00:50:06,000 Speaker 1: freedom that allows us to have these guns. And as 799 00:50:06,000 --> 00:50:09,080 Speaker 1: a result of the fear that we now live in, 800 00:50:09,520 --> 00:50:12,840 Speaker 1: none of us are free. Like right, the fact that 801 00:50:12,920 --> 00:50:15,640 Speaker 1: people can't go to the beach and enjoy a biker 802 00:50:15,719 --> 00:50:21,600 Speaker 1: parade without the fear of death, that's not freedom. Like, 803 00:50:22,000 --> 00:50:25,080 Speaker 1: I don't think about it anytime I'm in a crowd 804 00:50:25,239 --> 00:50:29,239 Speaker 1: now store at a football game, like you're just like 805 00:50:29,320 --> 00:50:33,480 Speaker 1: you just start thinking about it so differently. And I 806 00:50:33,480 --> 00:50:36,080 Speaker 1: mean sometimes I feel the safest, Like we were just 807 00:50:36,160 --> 00:50:38,200 Speaker 1: at CMA Fast here in Nashville and it was this 808 00:50:38,520 --> 00:50:42,200 Speaker 1: huge like production and we had a lot of security, 809 00:50:42,400 --> 00:50:44,960 Speaker 1: so I actually, you know, there there was safety yet 810 00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:48,560 Speaker 1: that I felt. But again it's because we're taking action 811 00:50:48,880 --> 00:50:52,480 Speaker 1: of safety protocols. Like it's really like, don't you want 812 00:50:52,520 --> 00:50:55,240 Speaker 1: to feel safe? That's like, that's all I keep saying 813 00:50:55,320 --> 00:50:58,759 Speaker 1: is I just want to feel safe, and I don't 814 00:50:58,800 --> 00:51:03,040 Speaker 1: want to lose someone that I love, something senseless that 815 00:51:03,200 --> 00:51:06,799 Speaker 1: could have been prevented. And hearing your story like, I'm 816 00:51:06,840 --> 00:51:12,479 Speaker 1: so sorry that's happened to you twice. I can't imagine twice. Wow, 817 00:51:12,560 --> 00:51:15,200 Speaker 1: I told you about two loved ones in my family. 818 00:51:15,640 --> 00:51:18,600 Speaker 1: I didn't tell you, but Laurel in Chicago, who was 819 00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:21,719 Speaker 1: eighteen years old, got out of her car was hit 820 00:51:21,760 --> 00:51:25,400 Speaker 1: by a random bullet. Her identical twin had to drive 821 00:51:25,400 --> 00:51:28,120 Speaker 1: her to the hospital, but she was before she got there. 822 00:51:28,600 --> 00:51:31,680 Speaker 1: I didn't tell you, but Louie that was eighteen years old, 823 00:51:31,680 --> 00:51:34,239 Speaker 1: step out of his car and apartment complex and the 824 00:51:34,360 --> 00:51:37,760 Speaker 1: person said, oh, they shot the wrong person. I didn't 825 00:51:37,760 --> 00:51:41,880 Speaker 1: take about Corey g whose girlfriend was playing with a 826 00:51:41,960 --> 00:51:45,000 Speaker 1: gun on New Year's Eve and Corey was lost to 827 00:51:45,080 --> 00:51:47,960 Speaker 1: his one year old daughter. I didn't tell you, but Josh, 828 00:51:47,960 --> 00:51:51,319 Speaker 1: who has three daughters who are never going to see 829 00:51:51,320 --> 00:51:54,080 Speaker 1: their dad because a random shooter drove by his car 830 00:51:54,160 --> 00:51:57,360 Speaker 1: and shot inside his car. There are many more people 831 00:51:57,480 --> 00:51:59,960 Speaker 1: in my family than I loved that had been taken 832 00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:04,640 Speaker 1: and senseless gun violence. Now Chris Chris Petty, who I 833 00:52:04,680 --> 00:52:08,680 Speaker 1: just told you was eighteen years old. His newborn baby, 834 00:52:08,920 --> 00:52:12,760 Speaker 1: she's not three months old yet. Her name is Olivia Raine. 835 00:52:13,120 --> 00:52:16,200 Speaker 1: She will not know her daddy because Chris is now 836 00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:22,040 Speaker 1: gone to senseless. There are many more names of loved 837 00:52:22,080 --> 00:52:25,160 Speaker 1: ones that have been taken in senseless gun violence that 838 00:52:25,280 --> 00:52:30,279 Speaker 1: are never coming home. Well, I'm so sorry for your pain, 839 00:52:30,560 --> 00:52:35,839 Speaker 1: because that to me would be an immense pain. I 840 00:52:35,920 --> 00:52:38,960 Speaker 1: am so grateful that you're using your voice to help 841 00:52:39,000 --> 00:52:41,440 Speaker 1: spread this word and that you were here with us 842 00:52:41,480 --> 00:52:45,560 Speaker 1: today to help educate us and our listeners. Um. I 843 00:52:45,600 --> 00:52:48,960 Speaker 1: think that's the best we can do with our painful experiences, 844 00:52:49,160 --> 00:52:51,760 Speaker 1: is you know, use them to learn and help others. 845 00:52:52,320 --> 00:52:55,360 Speaker 1: So I'm really grateful for that for you today because 846 00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:00,200 Speaker 1: we needed it. I did personally and to I have 847 00:53:00,239 --> 00:53:02,960 Speaker 1: had this conversation so much because I just want to 848 00:53:02,960 --> 00:53:04,880 Speaker 1: help and I don't know how you know, And so 849 00:53:05,080 --> 00:53:09,120 Speaker 1: these are really simple steps that we all can do. 850 00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:11,080 Speaker 1: You have five minutes you sit on a toilet in 851 00:53:11,080 --> 00:53:14,600 Speaker 1: a day like go it's not difficult. You know. If 852 00:53:14,600 --> 00:53:16,600 Speaker 1: you try to make the excuse that you don't have 853 00:53:16,640 --> 00:53:18,560 Speaker 1: the time for this, I'm sorry. No one's that busy 854 00:53:18,760 --> 00:53:21,919 Speaker 1: that you're just not. And if you want to keep 855 00:53:21,960 --> 00:53:24,160 Speaker 1: you and your loved ones safe, it's just a really 856 00:53:24,200 --> 00:53:28,360 Speaker 1: simple task. Yeah, and start off by just texting the 857 00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:32,000 Speaker 1: word join to six four four three three and doing 858 00:53:32,080 --> 00:53:36,600 Speaker 1: something that's something will matter. Yeah, it will save lives. 859 00:53:37,080 --> 00:53:40,319 Speaker 1: You can start there six four four three three the 860 00:53:40,400 --> 00:53:43,480 Speaker 1: word join. I'll put that in a description of this 861 00:53:43,520 --> 00:53:46,520 Speaker 1: podcast as well. But Melody, thank you, thank you so 862 00:53:46,600 --> 00:53:50,560 Speaker 1: much for sharing your story with us. I just before 863 00:53:50,640 --> 00:53:52,840 Speaker 1: she's gone to and I've said this is this is 864 00:53:52,840 --> 00:53:55,160 Speaker 1: an audio format, so people aren't seeing her. But it's 865 00:53:55,920 --> 00:53:59,000 Speaker 1: the fact that like you're you have such a beautiful 866 00:53:59,080 --> 00:54:02,400 Speaker 1: smile and like you're approaching this with like so much love. 867 00:54:02,560 --> 00:54:06,560 Speaker 1: I think it's really important because and it's worth noting 868 00:54:06,680 --> 00:54:10,600 Speaker 1: because I think I would be angry as hell. And 869 00:54:10,960 --> 00:54:13,839 Speaker 1: you know, it's sometimes it's like you really do have 870 00:54:13,960 --> 00:54:18,160 Speaker 1: to like shower people with kindness to win, and I think, 871 00:54:18,200 --> 00:54:22,120 Speaker 1: like it's the tone of your approach is really important. Now, 872 00:54:22,120 --> 00:54:25,840 Speaker 1: I wanted to point that out. Thank you. I've really 873 00:54:26,280 --> 00:54:29,680 Speaker 1: just harnessed this pain and I'm not going to let 874 00:54:29,719 --> 00:54:33,520 Speaker 1: it be for nothing. This pain has become power and 875 00:54:33,640 --> 00:54:39,280 Speaker 1: purpose and I feel in doing so, my life one's life, 876 00:54:39,640 --> 00:54:43,359 Speaker 1: my loved ones lights, nor their deaths are in vain 877 00:54:44,080 --> 00:54:48,280 Speaker 1: right because of that, they still continue to matter because 878 00:54:48,280 --> 00:54:53,719 Speaker 1: their stories are still saving lives right. Well, thank you, Yeah, 879 00:54:53,760 --> 00:54:56,920 Speaker 1: thank you Melody, and thank you guys for listening. Text 880 00:54:57,080 --> 00:55:01,120 Speaker 1: join to six what does it explore? Four three three 881 00:55:01,560 --> 00:55:04,200 Speaker 1: six four four three three You guys can do it. 882 00:55:04,239 --> 00:55:07,000 Speaker 1: We got this. Bye bye