When I heard that our latest school shooting involved three 9-year-olds being torn apart by an AR-15, my first instinct was sadness … and anger. I was 13 when Columbine happened. I’m 38 now, and I can’t fully comprehend how the politicians in charge of serving us, the people, have allowed school shootings to become commonplace for 24 years, for over half my life.
On March 27, our Congressional Rep. Chuck Edwards tweeted, “My heart goes out to the families of those killed in Nashville today. In the wake of this tragedy, I trust that local law enforcement will investigate and shed more light on the causes that led the shooter to this heartbreaking act of violence.”
Now, conventional wisdom tells me that Edwards sent out this communication-director-written, milquetoast tweet because he’s more concerned with money and toeing the party line than enacting meaningful change that will save lives. I wasn’t born yesterday. I get it.
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However, conventional wisdom also tells me there’s no way someone who identifies as a Christian, who’s a parent and grandparent, who wants to “help improve the lives of other folks living in Western North Carolina”—heck, how anyone with a conscience — hears about three 9-year-olds getting ripped apart by a semiautomatic weapon and doesn’t want to do everything in their power to stop it.
Where’s the outrage? Where’s the urgency? Where’s the true despair? Despite what conventional wisdom tells me, I fundamentally don’t understand a neutered, empty response to one of the most significant, objectively upsetting problems facing our country today.
I think, then, what I’m going to try my hardest to do, is to try to understand Chuck Edwards. I’m going to try to get a rational, direct explanation as to why he, by my estimates, is choosing to prioritize party lines and NRA scare tactics over the well-being of American kids (well, all of us, really).
When he took office, Edwards said one of his goals was “to be available, to listen, and to have a team that is passionate about serving the people.” He claimed he wanted constituents to reach out with concerns via phone or email and that, when possible, he’s open to one-on-one meetings. I’m going to take him up on this because I’m tired of these headlines, and hoping an honest dialogue — if he’s up for it — can at least help me understand why the Republican party is willfully siding with the gun lobby at the expense of American lives. Maybe — and maybe this is naive — minds can be changed.
I’m planning on sending Edwards an email. I’m still working on it because I don’t want it to come across as an attack but as a legitimate plea to help me understand his stance (and as of this writing, my emotions are still hot).
I’ll point out that as of March 28, 2023, there have been 13 school shootings in the United States and that this recent Nashville shooting was the 129th mass shooting so far this year. I’ll point out that last year there were 647 mass shootings, and how according to the Child Fatality Task Force’s annual report, North Carolina saw an increase of 120.8% in firearm-related deaths among children between 2019-2021.
I’m going to ask Edwards how anyone with an understanding of what an AR-15 does to bodies — and I’m assuming a responsible gun owner like Edwards knows this but will include a recent upsetting yet vital Washington Post article for good measure — not be moved to offer up more than thoughts and prayers.
My dream would be a one-on-one meeting where I can ask Edwards why kids dying at an alarming but stoppable rate isn’t his top priority and why he’s choosing to use his position of power to do nothing. That might be a pipedream, but maybe it’s not.
If I don’t get an answer, I’ll send another email, and then I’ll make some phone calls — I’m committed to this— I’ve had enough. If you’re as similarly confused, angry and frustrated, I implore you to do the same. We often forget that politicians (ostensibly) work for us, and we could write op-eds or send social media missives, but reaching out ensures we get in front of the people who matter. This is a national problem, and in NC-11, Edwards is our national voice.
Pat Brothwell is a former high school teacher, and current writer and marketing professional living and working in Asheville.