The Cowardly Lion and Trump

It may be that we cannot fully measure the depth and breadth of our courage until we stare unimaginable danger right in the eye.
Well, we are all about to find out something about ourselves.

We thought long and hard about what to write in this e-mail responding to the election of Donald Trump. We were determined to avoid platitudes such as “it’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow some good” or “the tough get going when the going gets tough” or “we’ll get them next time” or “hit the donate button.”

So, we’ll share a few observations and a personal decision.

1. The National Rifle Association (NRA) invested heavily in the election of Donald Trump and maintained steadfast support for his candidacy in spite of – or because of – his racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic exhortations. The NRA is one of the bulwarks of Trumpism.

2. The NRA will expect to be paid back for their loyalty and blood money and the current composition of the United States Congress poses a grave threat to the minimal checks on gun proliferation that have been established in a nation bludgeoned by gun violence.

3. More Americans voted for Hillary Clinton, a gun sense champion, than Donald Trump, an NRA apologist. Victorious U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) ran television campaign ads highlighting his support for national background checks on gun sales because he believed that stance would help him win reelection in Pennsylvania. The two leading gun sense champions in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Delaware County – Leanne Krueger-Braneky (D) and Jamie Santora (R) – both won reelection. Just because Trump managed to win slim victories in a handful of key states does not alter the fundamental fact that a majority of Americans and Pennsylvanians support sensible gun policies.

Each and every one of us who cares about human rights, peace, and social justice must now figure out how they will fight back in the era of Trump. We understand and respect that this is a time of discernment, discussion, and decision for millions of Americans who care about our country.

After much thought and soul searching, we have decided to stay active with the gun sense movement and fight Trump and Trumpism from that base of operation. We have decided to fight to help preserve the gains of the post-Sandy Hook era and to resist the coming counterattack from the NRA, their Congressional puppets, and their debtor in the White House.

Here is one thing we can say with certainty. We are frightened. We need to find our courage.

If you want to help us to be courageous…and let us help you to be the same…you are welcome at Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy.

Terry Rumsey and Robin Lasersohn, Co-Chairs