The common thread connecting school shootings and child abuse is the conviction that adult rights are more important than children’s lives.
Gun advocates believe that anyone has a right to own any weapon, never mind how many children die as a result.
Child welfare activists on both edges of the political spectrum believe that parents and communities should control children’s lives without government “interference”, despite empirical evidence that current parent-friendly practices are getting children killed.
Rectifying this will require facing the fact that these groups currently control the political narrative and won’t compromise.
That makes this a battle, not a conversation.
To protect children we need an organized campaign to reclaim the political middle. This means for example redoubling our lobbying efforts, and being a voice for children in public forums even if we get shouted down or treated rudely.
Listen to a full podcast based on this blog post here or wherever you hear your favorite shows.
Read the transcript here.
Excellent job, Rich, describing the extreme views affecting child safety. Please keep up your good work!
Kate
Kathryn Piper, JD, PhD