You
hear about gun violence daily, from robberies gone bad to deadly domestic
violence. We bare witness to mass-shooting tragedies all too frequently,
from Las Vegas to Parkland. The majority
of the country -- including members of the NRA -- say they are for tighter gun
control laws, ranging from assault-rifle restrictions, age requirements, and
tighter background checks. But it seems
that those in power, both in Congress and at many state levels, do little or
nothing. But there are signs of hope and
perhaps the book industry can lead the way.
In
terms of hope, we see a youth movement taking the lead on this. Our youngest
souls are speaking out and uniting against the senseless carnage, demanding
that adults finally take responsibility for the mess. Further, corporations like Delta, finally are
exercising their muscle not just to lobby for tax breaks or charge consumers extra
for things it used to provide for free, but to pull out its funding of
discounts or partnerships with the NRA.
Taking it a step further, Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the biggest arms dealers in the nation, declared it will no longer sell automatic rifles to anyone and will require purchasers of any gun to be 21 or older, regardless of the legal age minimum in any state or jurisdiction. Perhaps if more individuals, companies, groups, politicians, celebrities, and business leaders step forward we will truly see positive change.
Taking it a step further, Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the biggest arms dealers in the nation, declared it will no longer sell automatic rifles to anyone and will require purchasers of any gun to be 21 or older, regardless of the legal age minimum in any state or jurisdiction. Perhaps if more individuals, companies, groups, politicians, celebrities, and business leaders step forward we will truly see positive change.
But
one industry that seems to be quiet in all of this is the book publishing
industry. Here are some things that
could be done by our nation’s leading force for creativity, information, and
ideas:
Book People Out-GunThe NRA
1.
All
organized book-related groups should make a public statement and feature it prominently on
their websites and in their social media and press releases. The statement should strongly advocate for
change in our gun laws and should serve to put pressure on local and national
politicians. We have groups that advocate for authors, bookstores, genres, free
speech, and publishers – they should speak up, from PEN, BEA, and PW to ABA, Thrillerfest,
BISG, and AAP. Libraries and local book clubs should also
speak out.
Publish Anti-Violence Books
2.
More
books pushing an anti-gun agenda should be published and promoted. Let’s see more
ads for such books. Let’s see huge
discounts for them, to spark sales and a subsequent debate on the issue.
Use The Power Of The Press
3.
Publishers
should dedicate a page in every book, regardless of the subject matter, to
promote an anti-gun, violent-free nation.
Books can reach our young, old and all in between, in every state, of
every race, religion, sexual identity, size, shape, class, and status. Let's use our resources and voices to serve and influence the greater good.
Form A PAC: Put Money Behind Your Words
4.
Authors,
bookstores and publishers should officially form a PAC that outspends the NRA
and use it to fund the support of an anti-gun agenda.
Call Upon Your Creativity
5.
What
we need, more than money or better politicians, is better ideas to resolve the
gun issue. Our authors are brilliant thinkers. Can they dedicate a day or an
hour to come up with a better solution than exists now?
It
is time to make America great again, with fewer guns and more controls in place
for those who own or seek them. If
mental health needs to be supported, then fund it. If more training is needed, implement
it. If restrictions are needed as to
what type of gun and how many guns one can own, put them in place. Beef up security within reason. Let’s take
reasonable steps to reduce the violence and bring sanity back.
I do see a hopeful sign in a story from Publishers Weekly yesterday, where some in the children's book community are looking to get involved in the March 24 rally. We should all follow suit. here's the article: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/76172-authors-mobilize-children-s-book-community-to-march-on-march-24.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=cd4002b0f7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-cd4002b0f7-305058389.
Book industry, will you help, maybe even lead the way?
Don’t be silent when words and actions are needed the most.
I do see a hopeful sign in a story from Publishers Weekly yesterday, where some in the children's book community are looking to get involved in the March 24 rally. We should all follow suit. here's the article: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/76172-authors-mobilize-children-s-book-community-to-march-on-march-24.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly&utm_campaign=cd4002b0f7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_28&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0bb2959cbb-cd4002b0f7-305058389.
Book industry, will you help, maybe even lead the way?
Don’t be silent when words and actions are needed the most.
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