By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A week after Democratic members of Congress held a sit-in demanding action against gun violence, a group of local residents held their own sit-in – this one in Congressman Bob Latta’s office in Bowling Green.
It was brief – eight minutes – one minute for each of the eight people killed by guns each day in Ohio.
“We’ve had enough,” said Toby Hoover, founder of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, as she handed Latta’s staff member a petition demanding action on proposed gun violence bills. “This isn’t about gun rights. This is about victims’ rights.”
Hoover knows. Her husband was killed in 1973 by a robber with a gun.
Latta, a Republican from Bowling Green, joined others in Congress last week refusing to discuss any legislation involving guns. A good start, Hoover said, would be to just let the issue be studied by the Centers for Disease Control.
“Certainly he can’t be against the CDC doing their job,” she said.
But that is a sticking point for Congress, with many refusing to even discuss any collection of data on gun violence.
“Common sense things can be done,” Hoover said. But only if Congress will discuss the topic. “We just want them to talk about it. Let people discuss it,” she said.
Citizens hold sit-in against gun violence in Congressman Bob Latta’s office.
Rallies against gun violence are being held in communities across the nation this week in response to the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history in Orlando, and in solidarity with the sit-in for gun violence prevention in the U.S. House that followed.
“These are happening all over the country today and tomorrow,” Hoover said, with many of them held at the offices of congressional members. “We’re going to keep watching them. We all want some common sense steps.”
In Bowling Green, Hoover was joined by about a dozen others who stood along North Main Street in front of Latta’s office, holding signs saying “Freedom from Gun Violence,” “Disarm Hate,” and “Enough.”
One of those joining the rally was Jim Litwin, of Bowling Green. “I’m disgusted with America’s policy on guns,” he said. “President Obama is right on track. If we don’t do something about guns after Sandy Hook and Orlando, we’re never going to do anything.”
Litwin said the lack of gun regulations makes no sense. “I don’t know how Americans can accept regulations on food, drugs and driving, but not on guns.”
Sheri Wells-Jensen shared similar concerns.
“Those kids in Orlando could have been our kids,” she said.
And the eight people killed by guns each day in Ohio, “it’s too much,” Wells-Jensen said. “And Bob Latta has to listen.”
Wells-Jensen said she was thrilled by the sit-in held in Congress last week – though disappointed with the lack of any results.
“I was up all night following it. I was so moved by that,” she said. “I’m appalled that they wouldn’t even vote. We’re talking about people dying.”
As she stood by Main Street, holding her sign, Nancy Wellman said the CDC studies so many products and industries in order to make life safer for Americans. “And yet Congress refuses to let CDC collect any statistics,” she said. “It just is illogical.”
Wellman said she has voiced her concerns in letters to members of Congress, but has never gotten a response that wasn’t a canned comment. “Their letters are insulting,” she said. “My happiness is just as important as someone’s right to carry a gun.”
Father Bob Schramm joined in the rally, expressing concerns about civilians owning military-like weapons, and the unwillingness of government to keep them out of the hands of people who pose threats.
Hoover said semi-automatic rifles can easily be adjusted to shoot more than 100 bullets a minute, and can be purchased anywhere. “I could stand right here and sell you a gun and it’s absolutely legal.”
There are more guns in the U.S. than people, but yet lawmakers refuse to see a problem. “They’ve been listening to the gun lobby’s rhetoric,” she said.
Latta was not in his Bowling Green office and did not respond to requests left at his office to speak on the subject.
