In addition to raising good little humans in a stable, loving home, I also rely on the government to protect my people. The non-action of doing nothing to prevent more mass killings is a repulsive action in itself.

This is not what I expect of my country. This is not the heritage our children should know. I feel so powerless when it comes to this horrid school shootings. But doing nothing myself feels just as wrong as the government’s non-actions.

I absolutely love Sharon McMahon’s “America’s Government Teacher” account. She encouraged citizens to protest school shootings by calling on those with power to move into action. We can call on these people by writing or calling their offices.

But what if we can’t stand the guys who represent our state?

Honestly, that doesn’t matter too much right now. Those leaders have that voting power whether we like it or not. Fortunately, those leaders have the job of representing the voices of us ordinary Americans. Let’s make sure they know what we really think. Let’s make sure that they are making the changes we want.

This is the email I sent to Utah senators Senator Lee & Senator Romney.

(Note: I chose to write my letter in a way specific to my own family instead of just families at large. I hope this tactic adds a face to the kids and teachers who were actually killed in the attack.)

Dear Senator Romney and Senator Lee,

My name is Mrs. Jacobs. I am writing to you to ask for your help in eradicating school killings. I am a mother of 3 young children and a wife to a middle school math teacher. My children & my husband could just as easily be a victim as the innocent people at Robb Elementary. I can hardly fathom how this is our reality, but it is. I am working hard to nurture my little children into someday-adults who will reject violence. But I need your help to protect my husband and children. Please help us.

In addition to my plea, I offer 2 short term solutions to implement while the long term proposals are debated.

Solution #1: Provide classroom-defense training for all educators in how to stop gunmen without the use of force amplifiers (ie weapons). My husband, a teacher at [redacted], takes a course from Fight Back Nation every year. Fight Back Nation trains teachers how to physically disarm a gunman using their own bodily force. Knowing that my husband can proactively protect his students even before a gunman enters his classroom is the only reason I don’t send him to work in a bulletproof vest.

Solution #2: Consider a temporary restriction on the purchase, sales, and use of high-capacity magazine weapons among private citizens. As an American, I believe we can ban the use of mass-murder potential weapons (such as bombs and assault rifles) without giving up our rights to possess self defense weapons (such as hand guns and tasers) to protect our homes. Ideally, a temporary restriction could lessen the probability of mass killings, while also making a public demonstration of taking this matter seriously.

Senator, even if my proposed solutions are rejected, I beg you to take immediate action. Please provide blanket protection for American children. Please protect my family.

Thank you so much for your consideration and service.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Jacobs

[redacted], UT

You can agree or disagree with my suggestions. I don’t really care either way. What I do hope is that you’ll email/call your senators with your own ideas. Google their names and emails. Call them. Email them on their websites. Please join the conversation of how to protect our vulnerable kids.