Senseless shootings and gun deaths have always hit me hard. Especially those involving children, but last weeks school shooting here in my home town of Bend, OR was especially painful..
41 years ago, on July 13 1985 there was a shooting in NW Bend where my boyfriend, Chris Booker, was the victim. We were 18, and recent high school graduates from Mtn View and Bend High. Chris and I were both headed to the University of Oregon in the Fall.
Gun violence in Bend is not new.
Over the years I’ve tried to be involved and vocal on sensible gun laws. Once I met with a woman from Mom’s Demand, but they seemed to be anti-gun and I’m not anti-gun. Some of my best lifetime memories, and my love of the outdoors is due to Fall hunting season.
I spent the last two days hiking and pondering and processing. I know hopes and prayers do nothing. I came up with 6 actionable steps that could save a life. As an almost 60 year old woman who has been around guns and affected by gun violence, I finally feel qualified to share my thoughts on the matter.
Vote: Specifically, vote this upcoming November 3, 2026. gunssensevoter.org has a tool where you can see if your candidate is a Gun Sense Candidate or not. Tina Kotek IS on the list. Vote for your values. Vote for your community. Vote.
Read Gunfight, My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, written by Ryan Busse. (It’s good on audio as well) This is a 2021 non-fiction book by a Montana hunter, conservationist, dad, and former vice president of Sales for the gun manufacturer Kimber . He eloquently shares what he learned over 30 years in the gun industry.
Every city in America needs to host a Gun Buy Back Program. These have been very successful in cities across the country since the 1990’s. There are people who have guns and don’t want them. They worry about them falling into the wrong hands. These guns need to be destroyed. There are 1.2 to 1.5 firearms per person in the US. We are the only country in the world with more civilian owned guns than people. There are too many F*ing guns. Near… along side, the gun buy back we need a violent video game buy back table. Too many kids/boys are being raised on a deadly concoction of violent video games and processed food and drinks.
Ban military style assault rifles NOW. These have no place in Society.
Require a 24 hour waiting period before you can purchase a hand gun. When you return, the purchaser is required to sign up for a gun safety class. How to store it, clean it, shoot it. To quote a favorite line in a Chicks song…”Oh cut the shit, you ain’t goin’ to the gun range.” Too many people die from Suicide and accidents from handguns. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents. Over 20 states require a waiting period of up to 72 hours after pre-abortion counseling. If we can do it for abortions we can do it for purchasing a hand gun.
Close the loopholes at Gun Shows. I don’t know much about gun shows, but two weeks ago I was out camping and hiking with Marsh and I realized it was the opening day of hunting season. Buck mule deer. It used to be a big occasion in my life. I spoke to my dad that day and he said he was at a gun show. I was shocked to realize that a gun show could be held on the opening day of deer season; then I realized these are not hunters. They are gun obsessed men, and buyers and sellers attending these shows need to follow federal rules on background checks and any other regulation surrounding gun sales.
Medicaid For ALL. We need safe affordable medical care that includes Mental Health for everyone. We have hungry children and elderly people raising grandchildren on their Social Security checks. The more gun violence we have, the more mental heath care we need. 3 months after my boyfriend was murdered, I went to college. Put on your big girl pants and move on. I faked it pretty good for the first few months. I even managed to be engaging enough to be chosen by a Sorority. But after the newness wore off, and the rain started, and classes got harder, I started to have thoughts of suicide. I called the mental health center and U of O and said I need to see someone. They said ‘sorry, we are really busy and can’t see you for 2 months” Somehow, small town 18 year old Becky Branin, found her voice and said NO, I need to see someone tomorrow. I’m still grateful.
Thank you if you read this.