We have seen so much change this year in Washington state. Events like Friday’s horrific Newtown school shooting might leave you saying, “So what?” With effort, there is always hope. Washington Ceasefire is dedicated to the push for increased gun control in the state. In the end, it’s a federal issue. But as we’ve seen here in our Washington, not everything begins with the White House.
You can read more about Washington Ceasefire — and make a donation — here:
For the past 28 years, Washington CeaseFire has been the only statewide organization dedicated to reducing gun violence. The organization was formed in 1983 by citizens who had been directly affected by gun violence. From a small group meeting in private homes, it has grown to an organization with more than 5,000 members across the state. Washington CeaseFire is now one of the most respected gun safety organizations in the nation and continues to work to reduce gun violence in communities throughout Washington state.
You can also support the work of Sound Mental Health here. We profiled some of SMH’s local work in October — Living — and working — with mental illness on Capitol Hill
I worked at Sound Mental Health and what they do is invaluable. Guns aren’t going away and people intent on mass murder will get them. Our best bet, in my opinion, is to identify those people before that time. I firmly believe that even my small contribution at SMH (though my colleagues’ much more so) helped prevent a number of rapes, assaults, and murders, and it’s up to the rest of us to contribute where and when we can.