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They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of WGTE public media.

Of course, you remember the school shootings at Sandy Hook and Columbine, but did you know that there have been more than 417 school shootings since Columbine, many of which you've not heard of, like the shooting at the Pearl Anderson Middle School in Dallas, where a 14 year old boy held a revolver to a girl's chest and asked if she was ready to die.

Almost 400,000 children have been affected by school violence since Columbine, and its numbers, like these and the overall impact of gun violence on our nation.

That drives the grassroots efforts for what they call commonsense gun laws.

Join me for my discussion about Guns in America with Donna Malone and Sharon Henley of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

I'm Doni Miller.

Welcome to the point.

Doni: Connect with us on our social media pages.

You can email me if you'd like.

At Doni underscore Miller at wgte .org.

And for this episode and other additional extras, please don't hesitate to go to wgte.org.

To that point.

You know, there's no conversation, I think, in this town or in this country that, is filled with more emotion, more angst than a discussion about guns.

Whether we deserve to have them, what we do with them, when we get them, do they do more harm than good?

All of those things are things that that we struggle with all the time.

We're having what I think is an important conversation this morning with two women who were working on the ground, every day to help us better understand how to be responsible when it comes to these issues of guns.

I'd like to introduce you to Donna Malone and Sharon Henley from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.

All right.

That's a that's a lot.

That's a lot to get out there.

It's a mouthful.

Welcome.

This morning I am so glad to have you both.

Why don't we start out, Donna, with you explaining to folks exactly what you do, what?

Your goal is here.

Donna: Well, the goal with Moms Demand Action, is actually just to fight for public safety measures to protect people.

Moms is a grassroots organization of all volunteers.

We are part of an organization called Every Town for Gun Safety that was started by one woman after the Sandy hook shooting was a Facebook page post, and it's grown from there.

She joined forces with Mayors Against Illegal Guns and, a national.

Every national survivor network, and they formed this, Everytown for Gun Safety.

Moms Demand Action, as I said, is the grassroots folks.

And, moms man action has been around for over ten years, and over 10 million volunteers were, in every state, in every state.

And then each state has local chapters.

Toledo local chapter has been around intermittently for probably about 6 to 8 years.

And there's various focuses depending on the interest of the volunteer.

Doni: So before we go there, let me let me ask you, why is this important now?

There there seems to be a decline in gun violence.

That's what the stats are saying to us.

But I have a sense that you don't really care too much about the the stats, that this is an important issue, no matter what.

Donna: Well, we're still seeing mass shootings are still making.

I mean, they're not making the news as much because they're way more common.

And Doni: yeah, and that is true.

They're not the lead story like they used to be.

Donna: Yeah.

They're not.

And, and it's just, I mean, as a to me, I got involved because of mass shootings because I saw it as a society.

We can't just accept this and we have to do something.

And it's, it's an ongoing struggle, state by state.

There is federal legislation, thank heavens.

But most of the laws that impact people, are made by the state.

And in Ohio we have some of the weaker gun laws.

So consequently, we still have people who are at risk.

Doni: Yeah.

Sharon: your interest in this organization, because I'm sure as a nurse, you probably have a million other things you could be doing.

Why are you spending your time?

ISharon: t's so true.

I'm so passionate and want to be involved in moms demand action as a survivor, because I lost my only son and it just put me at a time in my life where, as Donald was saying, you just can't sit back and allow this to continue to happen because not only am I standing up for my son and what has happened to him, but I want to stand up to everyone else's as well.

Something has to be done.

We can't just keep sitting in our homes watching it on the TV.

And as far as statistics to this as we know, they fluctuate.

We're not hearing a lot about it, as Donna said, because they don't bring it forth.

But it's there and it is unfortunately not going anywhere.

And someone has to stand up and try to bring some sort, I see what's happening and let's stand together and form a group and make it even bigger.

Doni: Yeah I, it doesn't sound to me like, like you all are saying that people should not have guns.

Donna: That's right.

Sharon: That is true.

Doni: And so we should say that again.

I'll say that again.

You're not saying that people should not have guns.

You are simply saying that there is a way, a safe way to manage gun right.

Donna: Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety are not anti-gun.

We're just anti-gun violence in its many forms.

And promote responsible gun ownership.

Sharon: Which is so important now Doni: do you think the issues that kids, primarily people in general have too easy access?

Sharon: Very much so.

Doni: You think so?

Sharon: I truly do, especially in my son's loss.

His perpetrator, who has been locked up for numerous of years, as I had found out from my daughter when they were children, because they knew this young man as children, guns were always laying around, I think.

And yes, unfortunately in this area, I really feel like people are very this sensitized.

Yes.

About the guns.

Yes.

I know growing up a gun was a big deal.

I remember seeing a gun in my home and my dad was cleaning it, and that was so rare.

And I know that I was mesmerized in a way.

Oh that's a gun.

Let me be careful.

I wasn't allowed to touch it but I know it was a big deal.

People don't think of guns as a big deal anymore.

Yeah, because I feel like they're desensitized.

Doni: I think that's a perfect point.

I think they are decent, desensitized, and and I also think that, we, we display guns as a way of having power.

So for people who are essentially who feel powerless, you put that gun in your hand and you do feel a sense of power.

I know the very first time that I held a gun, I thought, wow, this is a big deal.

It scared me, though.

I put it down and I've never held one since.

But.

But I'm also not 14.

And I think for children it is a big deal.

Donna: And it is.

Yeah, it is.

And one of the big one of the areas of focus for Moms Demand Action is, promoting secure storage.

And there's a program called Be Smart.

The and the acronym is secure Your gun model responsible gun ownership.

Ask about the, if when your child goes to someone else's home, if they have a gun and is it secured, remember the role of guns and suicide.

Because actually there are more people who die by a gun with suicide than by homicide.

That's exactly right.

That is.

And it's just statistic that people, when they're making laws are accounting for that, at least in in Ohio they're not, Doni: you know, and you raise a great point about those folks who are making laws.

Why is this such a hard conversation to have?

How how are we holding elected officials accountable in this conversation?

Because that is really where much of the the managing of this issue has to come from.

Donna: Yeah, I think people need to look at the person they're voting for and that person's stance on common sense gun legislation, because in Ohio, that's the only way it's going to change.

I mean, in, Delaware for I mean, nationally, Moms Demand Action have been working with statehouses to pass some common sense gun legislation.

Just this year, Delaware passed a bill that require securing your guns in an unattended car.

I mean, as if I mean, I can't imagine anyone who is a responsible gun owner would have an objection to that.

But even in Toledo, guns are stolen at a huge rate from vehicles, and then they end up on the streets.

So, I mean, that's an example.

I think of a common sense gun legislation.

Doni: Absolutely.

And Sharon, what's the resistance that legislators have?

Sharon: I just feel a lot of times, unfortunately, people just don't like to be told what to do.

I strongly do feel that I feel especially when it comes to guns.

We are in a country, the right to bear arms, and now someone's coming in and telling them what to do with their guns.

Doni: Yeah, they don't.

So it sounds to me, though, that your conversation is you.

You can certainly own a gun.

Yeah, I want to.

Donna; Yes.

Just like car ownership.

Yes.

You can own a car, but you have to have insurance.

You have to follow the laws so that we all don't crash, you know.

And and to me, that's the analogy.

Yeah.

You know, we're a free land of the free.

And we can do what we want, right?

But we have to account for the safety of public safety.

And guns have just become way too political.

And I think we that's one reason I think kind of focusing on responsible gun because the responsible gun owners don't have an objection right now if they lock their guns up.

Right.

Sharon: And have no problem doing so, they have no problem to us.

Doni: Yeah.

And back to your point about people being desensitized.

I mean, some of the most horrific shootings that we've heard about this year alone had to do with parents giving their kids guns as gifts.

Yes, we can go ahead.

Donna: Well, and in Michigan they passed a secure storage bill.

So the parents there are being held accountable in Ohio.

I'm not sure how it would transpire legally, but if you had a bill that said you need to secure the gun and if you don't then the adult is held responsible.

Doni: I'm going to talk a little bit more about that when we come back.

Okay.

Well, you guys stay with me.

Certainly.

Thank you.

We're going to go away for just a moment, but we'll be right back.

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You know that.

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To the point we are talking to Donna Malone and Sharon Henley from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is determined to get it right that time.

You guys are doing the hard work.

You're on the ground, you're talking to people all day long at, events about the importance of gun safety.

You're talking to politicians.

You're talking to people like me.

Just to get the word out about the importance of this, I want to ask you a question.

I know you're a little sensitive about this, but don't worry about it, because I think it's important.

One of the most, controversial things that's happened lately, and we've seen it happen pretty close to home, is that parents are being held accountable for the actions of their children with guns.

What do you think about that?

Donna:Well, in Ohio, you have to be 18 years old in order to be licensed to have a rifle and 21 year old in order to be licensed legally to buy a pistol of any kind.

In.

I think parents of teenagers should be should know what their teenagers are doing.

And I personally I think they should be held accountable if their children have a gun and harm other people, I don't think they should go to jail.

They don't know what the answer is.

Maybe some maybe a fine, a fine or a required class is just like, like if you have caught drunk driving, I think you have to go to classes to kind of try to desensitize you to educate you on the responsibility of drugs.

I don't know, because I never went, but, I think there should be something.

Doni: Yeah, I think Sharon this is all.

So everything converges to to make the society a little less cautious, a lot less cautious about about guns.

We see them on TV all the time, we see them in video games, and our kids are watching video games, more than they should, frankly.

That's what the the data shows.

So, the question actually becomes and I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, but should parents of teenagers know what their teenagers are doing and, you know, the response is, I think, one of the things that we have to recognize is that, listen, at 13 or younger these days, you just don't have any don't have the same kind of control you had when they were six.

Sharon: I so I totally agree.

This gun violence is a pandemic.

Something has to be done.

I mean, who would have thought that gun violence would have became a pandemic right?

It's everywhere.

It's everywhere.

We can't just sit back and do nothing.

Laws, rules, guidelines have to be put in place.

It's we're at that time in our society where we have to stand up and say, let's do the best we can to help this situation in this pandemic.

As a nurse, pandemic nurses and doctors go running well.

We need lawmakers, change makers to put their feet on the ground and go running as well.

Doni: I could not agree more Sharon Henley that is clearly right.

And there are ways.

That's a great segue into asking how those people who want to do that, who want to put their feet on the ground, to run to a place where they can help put commonsense rules in place.

I remember, folks, we're not talking about taking away guns here.

That's talking about helping you understand how to make the ownership of your guns safe.

Safe to safe and educate and educate.

That's right.

So so how did people get involved with you?

Donna: Well, if people are interested in getting involved in Moms Demand Action, they can text ready to 64433.

Yep.

Or they can, contact us locally at Moms Demand Action Toledo at gmail.com.

But if they're interested in helping change the laws, right now is a great time to get involved in elections, work, and Moms Demand Action.

Every town has what they call gun sense candidates.

There are people who have the same approach to common sense gun legislation that we do.

And in for this upcoming election, it is Kamala Harris and, Sherrod Brown, Marcy Kaptur, but more importantly, locally, it's getting people to the statehouse who will pass these laws.

And that's the people running for, the House of Representatives and the the House of the Senate in Ohio.

Doni: So, so all the folks that you named are Democrats.

But if I'm a Republican and I'm at home and I want to ask you how you got there, how did you pick Kamala Harris over Donald Trump?

Donna: It's based on their stance on common sense gun legislation, their views, their their views.

And, in Ohio, at least locally, with all the people who have filled out the gun since candidate survey and who agreed to, promote common sense gun legislation happen to be Democrats, and Moms Demand Action is nonpartisan.

There's just we we support those who support the same issues that we have.

And locally, that's like Erica White, Dave Blythe.

Doni: So there are there are a number of candidates.

Can we figure that out from your website?

You have those.

Donna: You can go to Gun Sense Voter dot org.

And put in your address and you'll find your local person you can vote for.

All right.

And we have legislative work people who do who are interested in going down and, testifying in Columbus to either promote good bills or to fight against bad bills that we don't like.

But the problem in Ohio is the legislature.

I probably, I don't know how long ago, maybe ten years ago, passed a bill called preemption so that local communities cannot pass their own legislation regarding guns and gun ownership.

It's only the statehouse that can pass any bills.

So if people wonder, you know, why aren't we doing something in Toledo?

Legally?

We can't, because what was established in Columbus.

Doni: No kidding.

You're shaking your head.

Sharon: Yeah, I really strongly feel that.

That's one of our barriers.

And Ohio, as she has stated earlier, we have the most relaxed laws for guns.

And that's just the testimony.

I mean, communities and everything is up to the state.

I don't agree with that at all.

I feel that the lower branches that are interactive and experiencing more dealing with this survivors and gun violence should be able to stand up and do something.

Doni: These decisions should be made at a local level.

Sharon:I strongly agree, I do feel that way.

Doni: So how's it going in Columbus with with your legislative efforts?

Are you moving ahead?

No.

Are you.

Donna: No, we're not there.

Doni: You're not.

Okay.

Donna: Well, like we, testified against arming teachers.

Luckily, Toledo, the Toledo public schools, they opted not to.

And it's that it's not a they have to arm teachers.

It is up to the individual schools.

And Toledo public Schools decide.

No, they would not do that.

We fought against, stand your ground unsuccessfully.

We have fought against Doni: everybody remembers the Trayvon Martin situation, the stand your ground.

Yeah.

Donna: We have fought against, Oh, gosh, it just blew my mind.

Various legislation.

Oh, that, the not requiring a license for concealed carry.

Yeah.

I mean, involved in that.

If someone got a license for concealed carry, one, they had to learn how to safely use the gun, right?

They had to practice.

Then there was, notice that went into the police system's computer system so that if they're stopping someone they know they might potentially have a gun that's gone.

doni: No kidding.

No, I didn't know that.

Donna: Now the onus is on the policeman when they stop someone to ask if they have a gun, rather than giving them some foreknowledge.

Doni: I did not know that.

I didn't know Donna: people can open carry anywhere and except for government buildings, you know, and other places that are posted, Doni: it's stunning to me that that you that in this town we can open carry.

It's pretty amazing.

What are the kinds of things Donna: well, there's city gun violence so locally and we have a number of us have been working with, Malcolm Cunningham.

And I'm going to ask you about the mayors.

I mean, we're just one of many people in the community who have been working with him to come up with a five year plan to address gun violence and to address the root causes of violence in some areas of the city.

Doni: Where where are you, Sharon?

Do you know where you are in the development of that plan or.

Sharon: Well, we are still coming together once a month and we're still developing, Donna: he did publish it.

He did complete it and publish it, and it was out for public comment.

And we're still working on it for sure, based on input from the community.

Doni: Is it out for public comment now?

Donna: It it is.

Well, it is on.

I'm honestly not sure about the time frame for public comment, but if people went to the city website, I'm sure they can find it.

Doni: And, five year, the city's five year plan to come back.

Sharon: Yes, yes.

A couple months ago it was open for public comment and we came back together to just try to to deal and what the responses and the suggestions, where we are still trying to work things out.

Doni: Huge, huge battle.

Donna: It's a huge component.

And it's I mean, there's social determinants that play into some folks using of guns and, you know, and it's a huge problem.

Malcolm is Malcolm Cunningham is, director.

It's the mayor's office on Neighborhood Safety and Engagement or Muncie is, Doni: yeah.

And I imagine folks could just reach out to that office as well if they wanted more, information and and just very quickly, I wanted to tell people that when you talk about social determinants, what Donna's actually talking about is the influence of where you live, where you were with your education, has been where your, whether your community is isolated.

I mean, there's a raft of social determinants that have been shown over the years to impact behavior.

And impact violent behavior as well.

So Sharon: and one of the aspects of that is the beautification, the changes that we are making in our city just to like door street, the flowers, it makes a difference.

Doni: It makes all the difference.

It does.

It really makes a difference.

Sharon: And that's one of the things that Muncie and Malcolm they're for fronting and I see a difference as well.

Doni: Yeah, yeah.

Final comments ladies.

Donna: Oh gosh.

Well, in terms of survivors, Sharon is our local survivor lead.

We did, have an event, fun event for survivors of a day of bowling that we had sponsored by local communities.

Toledo Tool and I. Doni: So let me let me just say that, if people want to know more about it, they can text, was it ready?

Where's my note?

664433.

And they can get all the information they need.

And you guys will certainly put them to work if, if they volunteer.

Thank you so much.

Sharon: Thank you for joining us, for having us.

Doni: So appreciate this conversation.

It's an important one.

And thank you guys for joining us.

And I hope to see you next time.

on the point, you know, be kind today just just because you can I'll see you next time.

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