Whitehouse Petition: Ask Representatives to Attend Funerals of Victims of Gun Violence

[IdaBriggs]

in their Districts as a Sign of Respect.

I just started a petition on the White House Petitions site, We the People. Will you sign it? http://wh.gov/UwLn

Dear friends,

I wanted to let you know about a new petition I created on We the People,
a new feature on WhiteHouse.gov, and ask for your support. Will you add your
name to mine? If this petition gets 25,000 signatures by February 03, 2013,
the White House will review it and respond!

We the People allows anyone to create and sign petitions asking the Obama
Administration to take action on a range of issues. If a petition gets
enough support, the Obama Administration will issue an official response.

You can view and sign the petition here:

http://wh.gov/UwLn

This petition asks that President Obama:

Request House members attend the funerals of victims of gun
violence in their districts as a sign of respect.

Please ask members of the House of Representatives to attend the funerals of victims of gun violence in their districts as a sign of respect. Not only will this provide the members an opportunity to interact with the people of their district, it will also illustrate the importance of addressing this painful issue. If members cannot attend due to other commitments, please ask them to send staff. If there are "too many", one can only hope it will illustrate the urgency of this problem.

Please - let the ones we lose to gun violence (including the suicides) - stop being "numbers" and start being seen as important and valued members of our community.

Thank you in advance for your support.

[Brickbat]

1. Uh...do the families want representatives there?

[IdaBriggs]

3. That would be up to the families and the Representatives to determine.

But first they need to make the offer to show up.

I would like to see this handled the same way they currently handle losing one of our military people in their district. I am confident there are already procedures in place to address those issues. This would simply expand and "enlighten", in my opinion.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Some wouldn't possibly have the time.

The murder rate in KCMO is well over 100 a year. That would average to a funeral every 3 days.

This is a ridiculous idea.

[IdaBriggs]

4. Think that through. One funeral every three days.

Perhaps this is a problem that our elected officials should be more aware of - and if they can't *personally* attend due to logistics, then they can send staff.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. It should be up to the families.

Most reps try to attend funerals of soldiers killed in combat. And I know that some of those families have asked the reps NOT to come to the funeral.

This could be seen as politicizing tragic deaths.

[IdaBriggs]

12. Agreed. But first the representatives need to *think about being there*.

It *might* be seen as politicing tragic deaths.

It *might* also be seen as INCENTIVE to AVOID tragic deaths.

What we are doing now - ignoring it - isn't working for me. This seems like a simple thing to ask as a place to begin the discussion.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. How do you know they are ignoring it?

I would say any of them promoting legislation that addresses gun violence are not ignoring the problem.

[IdaBriggs]

17. Are you aware of any who are currently promoting that type of legislation?

I have been paying attention, and so far I haven't seen anything like that kind of talk coming from the House. Perhaps I just missed it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Yep. I don't see how you could have missed it.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2013/01/gannett-big-push-new-congress-for-gun-control-010413/

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress-legacy/the-112th-congress-addresses-gun-control-20121214

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Eight Smart Gun Bills Introduced On Day One Of The New Congress — And Two Stupid Ones

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/01/04/1397911/eight-smart-gun-bills/

[Sunlei]

5. A noble petition, however just with kids alone-8 each DAY die from guns in America.

[IdaBriggs]

8. I do not like the idea that "too many" means "they oughtn't."

I would hope they would realize there is a PROBLEM.

Maybe I am just too optimistic.

The petition *asks* - it doesn't require. I also hope it could be the start of an appropriate dialogue - how many is TOO MANY?

When is ENOUGH actually REALLY ENOUGH?

How many funerals should one attend before it stops being about the NRA, and starts being about the people in your district who are grieving?

[Sunlei]

11. It is a shame the NRA spends billions to keep the issue 'all about them', they are a gun sale lobby.

[IdaBriggs]

21. Agreed, but they somehow managed to convince everyone they were a "Civil Rights" organization.

Brilliant marketing campaign. (Deleting Inappropriate Description)

[tradecenter]

6. Bad idea.

Politicians being politicians would some how turn it into some sort of a political event, like a photo op or something. And I doubt that most families would want them there in the first place.
Also, Reps. just wouldn't have the time.

[IdaBriggs]

7. Then they can send staff.

Representatives are supposed to represent their districts. This needs to stop being "other people's problem" and start hitting home.

[tradecenter]

10. Most families probably wouldn't want them there.

I know I wouldn't, I would see it as a political stunt only.
I'm sure there would be some who would welcome this but probably most wouldn't.

[IdaBriggs]

13. Each representative is their own person.

Some might use it as a photo op. Families can ask that there be no photos (that is an easy one).

Respectful attendance - listening to the stories, and sharing the grief of loss - can be powerful for all involved.

I am so tired of the victims being nothing but numbers - I am so tired of the fact this has become NORMAL.

We are all PEOPLE, together.

[tradecenter]

14. Agreed.

Each rep. is their own person.
If the Reps agreed to no photo ops, no making it into a political ploy, just a quiet, respectful attendance, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. They do remain respectful when they

Attend military funerals.

This would help them realize these are just not numbers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Signed it

Anything to make them think.

[IdaBriggs]

22. Kick. Nt