Guest Post: "How Many Guns?" By Jim and Laurel Tangen-Foster

Friends of MoD Jim and Laurel Tangen-Foster shared their timely and evocative thoughts on gun violence with this heartfelt poem.  They ask that we add your own verses and pass it on, but I think they've captured the heart of it:

And how false the cares and unjust the fears
Of the totes who stand tall on their caches?
(...)
How many prayers and petitions must we send
Before a weapons bill passes?

I'm honored to reprint their poem here with permission and hope it inspires action.

...

How Many Guns? 

By Jim and Laurel Tangen-Foster

How many rounds must a gun addict have
To keep his assassins at bay?
And how many puppet-playing Washington clowns
Make their nut off the clan NRA?
And how vile the scenes, how pierced the screams
Of the boys with their toys as they play?

The answer they say, that clan NRA,
The answer is blowin' 'em away.

And how many tears must one mother shed
As she waits at the doors to the school?
And how big the guns and the fears of the kids
And the teachers whose bravery is true?
And how much grief must a father withstand
As he waits at the church for the news?

The answer they say, that clan NRA,
The answer is blowin' 'em away.

And how fierce the sound of a rapid fire gun
Does it take to make macho a man?
And how great the need to stand out from the breed
Make their mark with their blood in the sand?
And how many moms camouflaged in their pride
Teach their sons with their guns in their hands?

The answer they say, that clan NRA,
The answer is blowin' 'em away.

And how false the cares and unjust the fears
Of the totes who stand tall on their caches?
And how barbarous the plan of the inglorious clan
Who link arms, with honor, as fascists?
How many prayers and petitions must we send
Before a weapons bill passes?

The Majority has spoken. Our hearts have been broken.
PASS THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN.

Act:  Sign Senator Diane Feinstein's petition in support of reinstating the assault weapons ban here, and use this handy form from the Brady Campaign to contact your legislators.  You can also sign the petitions here and here.

Protect kids, not guns. 
Image from Laurel Tangen-Foster via UPI.

The White House calls on Americans to stand up for gun reform.
Learn more at www.barackobama.com/gun-reform.