Gathered on the steps of Santa Barbara’s magnificent Spanish-style courthouse at 10:00am January 8, 2012, members of the community marked the anniversary of the Tucson shooting with a memorial vigil. Organized by the Coalition Against Gun Violence, a grassroots nonprofit and only gun control organization on California’s Central Coast for 18 years, the vigil was well attended by many who have been affected personally by gun violence. These individuals lined up to ring the bell and announced the names of their loved ones whose memories they were honoring. Beginning with the six victims from Tucson, we then honored the memories of the three other California mass shooting in 2011.
Ed Easton, Mayor of neighboring Goleta, solemnly rang the bell six times while reading the names of the victims of the Goleta Post Office tragedy, January 30, 2006. Many more tollers of the bell followed, recalling friends and family members who have fallen due to gun violence. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal rang the bell in honor of his sister, and his brother in law.
Other local officials addressed the gathering, urging us not only to remember the fallen but encouraging us to do something about it. Congresswoman Lois Capps gave an emotional speech recalling her good friend and colleague Gabrielle Giffords and called upon us to push Congress for safer gun laws. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf reminded us “in addition to monitoring and advocating for sensible gun legislation to prevent further tragedy, we also need to look at strengthening our mental and public health systems, recognizing the vital role that treatment and intervention can play in reducing the incidence of gun violence in the first place.”
Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider urged everyone to keep in mind the importance of civility, especially in political discourse. As the 2012 election year heats up and the rhetoric on all sides escalates, we must communicate respectfully and peacefully.
The Chair of the Coalition Against Gun Violence, Toni Wellen, summed up everyone’s sentiment with the simple statement, “There are too many victims lost to gun violence. Enough is enough.”
Our Congresswoman gave a wonderful speech, sympathetic and understanding. However, she asked us to “push her and her colleagues to do something.” Perhaps we have to, but why shouldn’t she and the congress pass effective legislation for our cause without us “pushing them?” They are aware of the problem, the senseless killings, etc. Someone has to challenge the NRA. Are all of our legislators “on the take” from these unconscionable lobbyists?