"I know karate, so it's okay. I'll lead the way out."
Kaitlin Roig, a first grade teacher at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut,
recounted the horrific moments she experienced when Adam Lanza opened fire in
the school, killing 20 five and six year old students, six other adults and himself.
Roig and her students hid from the gunman in a small restroom as she assured
them everything would be okay even as they heard the gunfire just outside. One of
her students said "I know karate, so it's okay. I'll lead the way out."
We take comfort in the sweet bravery of that child, but we know that his karate would be no match for the assault weapon used by the gunman. Advocates of strict gun control share that same realization of utter helplessness when matched against the powerful gun lobby in Washington and in state capitols around the United States.
This graffiti art is meant to reflect that helplessness. You may find it shocking or offensive, but it is no more so than the events that inspired it, or the plain cowardice of those who have ignored the problem of gun violence when they could have helped stop it. Would that they were as brave as Kaitlin Roig's first grader.
We take comfort in the sweet bravery of that child, but we know that his karate would be no match for the assault weapon used by the gunman. Advocates of strict gun control share that same realization of utter helplessness when matched against the powerful gun lobby in Washington and in state capitols around the United States.
This graffiti art is meant to reflect that helplessness. You may find it shocking or offensive, but it is no more so than the events that inspired it, or the plain cowardice of those who have ignored the problem of gun violence when they could have helped stop it. Would that they were as brave as Kaitlin Roig's first grader.
This artwork has been sent to President Obama, Vice President Biden, the House and Senate leadership, the Acting Director of the
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, about one hundred senators and members of Congress, and selected opinion leaders.
© 2011-17 Peter J. Brennan, All Rights Reserved