Recently I was asked to help out on a PSA for the pro-gun control Brady Campaign as a production stills photographer, capturing behind the scenes, candids, and portraits for the day. The campaign slogan was “We Are Better Than This” and I couldn’t agree more. Why our country is so much more obsessed with guns than most other countries is a testament to the increasing statistics of violence, especially the horrific mass homicide shootings that has shaken the communities of Colorado in recent years. The campaign interviewed several families, mostly mothers and fathers, who had lost children to such tragic events. Most interviewed were from the Aurora theater shootings, but also from Columbine. For 12 hours, we sat and listened to their unbelievable soul wrenching stories as they recounted their experiences and insurmountable sorrow into a camera. There wasn’t a dry eye in the studio, and at times many of us had to walk away and take a moment to compose ourselves. Its really hard to hear pro-gun activists arguments rationality when you listen to a grandmother explain that she received a call on her birthday at 6am informing her that her granddaughter was murdered by a lunatic and his AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle that had previously been banned under the Assault Weapon Ban that expired in 1995 (Congress didn’t renew the prohibition). Or how a daughter survived a previous mall shooting 6 weeks prior only to be gunned down in a theater minutes after texting her mom telling her how excited she was for her to come and visit. Some of these families are active members in the NRA, but even they understand the completely obvious.
America has a gun problem. People kill people…with guns. It’s that simple. And there are conservative gun enthusiasts who are so afraid of losing their 2nd amendment rights that they are willing to fight tooth and nail to protect their precious guns, even if it means more people dying.
These issues are never black and white but one thing is for certain, there needs to be change. There needs to be REASONABLE gun control laws in place, and we need to pressure our elected officials into making these changes so that families like these don’t have to lose loved ones.
On a side note, the Director, Griffin Dunne was incredibly heartwarming, gentle, and inspiring to work with. His professionalism was only bested by his compassion for the families involved.
