This week Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) claimed President Obama was using family members of gun violence victims as “props” in his push for background check legislation. I cannot think of a more insulting characterization of these brave advocates, many of whom come from my community in Virginia where families suffered the loss of loved ones in the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. These mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, have personally been touched by gun-related tragedies–do they not have a right to petition their members of Congress? Is their alignment with the president’s agenda so inconceivable? Why would they not use their influence, combined with the president’s, to prevent future tragedies for other families?
Critics may dismiss personal appeals to reform gun laws or enhance our nation’s mental health care system as “emotional,” but they misunderstand the point of politics. Politics is always personal. We engage in politics to make a difference in people’s lives, and crafting public policy involves listening to real people. That’s why we speak to soldiers when handling legislation affecting veterans. That’s why we speak to retirees when debating Social Security reform. That’s why we should speak to victims of gun violence when writing gun violence bills. What these men and women have to say may not fit within a narrow political ideology, but it’s what should count when making law.
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