Thank you for your support!
I’m not sure where you were or what you were doing when you first heard about Friday’s tragedy, but chances are you have heard. I found out just a couple of hours after learning the good news that I was the 1st runner up in the Red Tricycle Totally Awesome Awards for family travel sites, but before I had a chance to send out a big THANK YOU to you all for your many votes of support that earned me that honor, I was dropping off my kids at their schools and dashing out to take care of a few errands before returning to help at school holiday parties.
Like many people across America, I was driven to tears by the news without even knowing anyone directly affected. And like many of you, I’m sure, I’ve been left with a knot in my stomach and questions on my mind including how could this happen? How can this keep happening? And… what can I possibly do to help prevent it from happening to the people I love?
Thankfully, a federal ban on assault weapons–something which had already been in place for 10 years but was allowed to end in March 2004–will be reintroduced to congress as it reconvenes in early January. No matter where we stand on other various issues of gun ownership in the U.S., this is the time to stand up and say that guns that can take 20 lives in as many seconds (or less) have no place in the hands of civilians, in our homes, or in our neighborhoods.
Two U.S. Senators previously endorsed by the NRA (with A ratings) have already agreed today that it is time for a ban on assault weapons in this country, but several more members from the House and Senate are waiting to hear from you. That’s why I hope that each of you living in the U.S. will take just a few minutes to assure your state’s representatives that you support a renewed federal ban on assault weapons and are counting on them to help make it happen ASAP. You can click here to easily locate your representatives’ online contact pages and send your message today.
Again, I am very grateful for your ongoing support of this blog and website, and I am also so grateful to each of you for taking a moment to help facilitate a critical change at this sad moment in our nation’s history.
Safe journeys,
Shelly Rivoli