9/5/2025

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Today I am holding the families of Cole Gray, Mason Schermerhorn & Christian Angulo in the Light. I can only imagine their suffering as they face the effects of the school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, GA.

            While I appreciate your observation that “we cannot continue to accept this as normal,” yet, your new expression, “students across the country are learning how to duck & cover instead of how to read & write,” troubles me. It sounds like a catchy slogan, easy to recite but somewhat hallow.

            I encourage you to share facts such as those that can be found in today’s WP. Specifics like “school shootings are on the rise” & “shooters tend to be children who get their guns from home” demonstrate the need to do something to limit kids access’ to firearms. The fact that “school shootings disproportionately affect Black children” adds another layer of complexity to the issue.

            You might also invite members of the Principal Recovery Network to the WH & provide funding to Project SERV (School Emergency Response to Violence) which provides both money & crisis-response experts to schools after an incident of violence on campus.

            I also suggest you publicize the work of Sandy Hook Promise that includes a “Know the Signs” professional development for educators & a “Start with Hello” campaign for students to break the social isolation that can lead kids toward these terrible acts.

            Finally, stop selling weapons yourself & explain that violence only exacerbates problems. The situation in Burma shows that things can fall apart rapidly when violence prevails.

            I wish we had a magic wand to remove all guns from our nation & to remove the fascination that so many Americans have related to them. In the absence of that, I will be on the lookout for an isolated & frustrated child who needs some affirmation.

            BYBS,