From my cold, dead hands.

We're privileged to have Omar Woodard, a very good friend of mine, to bring his thoughts on gun violence in our communities to Ignorant Art this evening. Omar is an MPA candidate at The George Washington University and a Philadelphia native.

Where I'm from, gun crimes are typical. In Philadelphia, there have been almost 360 gun homicides alone since January 1. It was nothing for us to lay down and hear not firecrackers, but the sound of 45's clapping in the air. But recently, in the past year I've lost too many friends and family members to guns. One is too many, five is unbearable.

On my birthday, my best friend and prom date, Ardyce Hogan was shot and killed. My cousin was shot and killed just last night, over an Eagles jersey. An Eagles jersey that he didn't want to give up, so he gave up his life. This isn't a black issue, either. White folks have been killing each other for a long time now, I'm not sure if anyone has noticed flipping through your history books. But in America, our gun related homicide rates in major cities and rural areas are high every year. In PA, averaged over the past ten years, 70% of ALL homicides involved a gun. (source below)

I say that to say this: there are forces at work in our country that are actively opposed to the cessation of gun violence. ACTIVELY. OPPOSED. In my native state, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the legislature refuses to pass a one-gun-a-month law. They refuse, on the ground that it is unconstitutional to bar citizens from their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. So they can circumvent existing law to wiretap Americans, under the auspices of keeping America safe, but they can't bar someone from buying more than 12 guns a year that may actually go a ways to keep Americans safe?

Rural folks say that people in urban areas need to stop shooting each other. Would that it were that simple! It isn't about the urban and rural divide anymore, it's about priorities; it is about doing what is appropriate to keep kids safe on their streets. The Bush Administration thinks we should fear terrorism from Islamic extremists? We should fear the continued inaction of our state and national government. That is a far cry from being safe, from real "homeland security" - whatever the hell that means.

A single father of five was shot two weeks ago in Philadelphia, the victim of a stray bullet. It hit him in the head and killed him instantly. And we are scared of terrorism? Families are fearful to step outside their homes!

There are forces at work that actively oppose the cessation of gun violence in America. All the while, people are dying. Why won't we stand up to them? Why won't we demand that enough is enough? My family, my friends are being killed by guns, not bombs. They are not being killed by bearded Muslims, but by clean-shaven Americans.

Charlton Heston, the famous actor who once played Moses in the film The Ten Commandmants, and who walked with MLK Jr. in the March on Washington, uttered the now famous words, "They will pry this rifle from my cold, dead hands." Ironic, isn't it? The man who played Moses, the man who offered the Ten Commandments, one of which said, "Thou shalt not kill" - was President of the NRA?

There are forces at work that actively oppose the cessation of gun violence in America. People are dying. I'm not talking about taking anyone's guns away. But if 70% of ALL homicides over the past ten years in a state with 12 million people in it involved a gun, maybe we should reduce the number of guns available to people who shoot other people. Common sense measures can be adopted.

1. Limit purchases to one-gun-a-month

2. Renew and make permanent civilian ban on assault weapons

3. Increase age to buy guns through private sales to 21.

4. Allow local authorities, like Philadelphia, to set gun regulations

5. Adopt a national registration system, like for cars. We know what car you could hit someone with, why not know what gun you could shoot someone with?

Sources:1.http://bjsdata.ojp.usdoj.gov/dataonline/Search/Homicide/State/RunHomStatebyState.cfm

2. www.nra.org

3.www.ceasefirepa.org

*To my friends who worry about a career in politics, don't worry. I'm not.