Enough Thoughts, Prayers, and Teddy Bears—Here Are Non-Partisan Ways to Prevent Gun Violence | Opinion

On the morning of April 16, 2007, the peaceful quiet of our sleepy college town of Blacksburg, Va., was interrupted by police cars blaring warnings to shelter in place. Hours later, I failed to comprehend the historic weight of the moment I was living through. A TV news anchor proclaimed there had been 32 casualties. I thought she was using the wrong word; surely, she meant 32 injuries. But that devastating body count was correct. The Virginia Tech campus shooting still holds the terrible distinction as the deadliest school shooting in modern American history. But mass shootings, school shootings, or young people dying from gun violence? That is hardly an anomaly these days.

There have been more than 600 mass shootings—or about a dozen mass shootings a week—this year alone. And each day 12 children die from gun violence in America. Guns are the leading cause of death among our children and teens. And, of course, this epidemic doesn't only impact youth—every day more than 110 Americans are killed with guns and hundreds more are shot and injured. And when it comes to domestic violence, gun deaths are downright shocking. Women are 28 times more likely to be killed with a gun in the U.S. than in other high-income countries.

Strikingly, this December marks 10 years since the Sandy Hook School massacre that prompted us all to say, "Never again." But our words were empty. And the thoughts, prayers, and teddy bears—all 65,000 of them that flooded the small town in the aftermath —were not enough to stop the repeating pattern of mass shootings.

The best way to honor the victims of Sandy Hook today is through concrete action; we've already waited far too long for legislators to make the changes we need. Each and every one of us can take simple, concrete steps to stop the cycle of gun violence and put real deeds behind the poetic holiday hymns about peace on Earth and goodwill toward humankind.

So, this holiday season, I challenge Americans—all Americans—to get serious about stopping gun violence. Before you cite the Second Amendment, know this—your political party affiliation doesn't matter. You don't have to become a full-time activist, either. And if you're a gun owner, you're even better poised to make a difference as a responsible ownership and safety advocate in your community.

Start at home. If you're a gun owner, keep your own household and neighborhood safe by securing your guns with locks or safes and storing ammo separately. Take a safety class, or better yet, volunteer as a gun safety educator with Moms Demand Action (non-moms welcome!).

Next, let's work on schools—keeping in mind it doesn't matter if you're a parent or not! Gun violence, especially school shootings, often stems from isolation, bullying, and mental health issues. Help address these problems early on. Ask your local schools or even your houses of worship to implement Sandy Hook Promise's violence prevention programs.

Then, take it to the ballot box. Dispel the myth that preventing gun violence is a partisan issue. Eighty-eight percent of gun owners support expanded background checks on sales of all firearms, including 72 percent of all NRA members. It's easy to identify and support gun sense candidates from your chosen party and common-sense measures like closing gun show loopholes and preventing sales of all firearms to people reported as dangerous to law enforcement by a mental health provider aka "red flag" laws.

Stay attentive around ballot measures, especially local ones, to allow guns in places they don't belong. And keep up the pressure with every new shooting headline. Use your phone to call, text, and email your representatives on both sides of the aisle. Apps like ResistBot make it easy.

Finally, take it to the bank and vote with your dollars. Divest your retirement and savings from companies that manufacture firearms and munitions. Boycott businesses and stop buying from stores that oppose common sense gun solutions or support the proliferation of assault weapons among civilians.

And if you feel inspired to give, take the time to send your money where it counts. Whatever you do, please don't send another teddy bear: donations are burdensome for the communities experiencing gun violence—just ask Sandy Hook. Even small monetary donations matter and to make your dollars go further, consider direct giving to small nonprofits, individual GoFundMe campaigns, and memorial foundations without large overhead.

Perhaps the most generous donation is your time—volunteer as engaged citizens in your community to work toward positive change and prevention efforts. Gun violence, poverty, and mental health are interconnected in America. There are countless organizations who could use your support addressing these systemic issues now or throughout the year.

Gun violence doesn't discriminate between small, conservative towns or big, liberal cities and neither should our prevention efforts. Thoughts and prayers without real action won't prevent another horrific tragedy. The best way to send peace and joy to children, and all your fellow citizens this holiday season, is with your individual contribution to ending the epidemic of American gun violence.

AM Alpin experienced the Virginia Tech shooting while working in Blacksburg, Va. in 2007 and has since studied the role of libraries and archives in responding to public tragedies. She is director of the Library Lab at New York University and a Public Voices Fellow of The Op-Ed Project.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.