Courage to Do Better
Matthew McConaughey is from Uvalde. Our buddy Cottrell met him in the bathhouse at Pecan Grove Trailer Park when they were RV neighbors back in the day. Both proud Texans, 2nd Amend supporters, gun owners, and fathers. They both understand that responsible gun ownership laws can help reduce the risks of mass shootings while protecting the 2nd Amendment.
So boys where is the "everythings bigger in Texas" courage? Where is the courage of the proud Texan heroes who defended the Alamo?
"Not my barn, not my cows" ain't working no more IMHO.
Why are the shit-kickin' cowboys in the Texas so afraid to find practical, tactical, data-driven, common sense policies to lower the risks of mass shootings in public schools? #mtfu
Why are Texas women afraid to demand protections for their innocent children from military assault gun mass killings? Why are the MADD mom's not starting a sister organization MASS? #momsagainstschoolshootings
I only know three people from Uvalde: Val Link, Craig Garnett, and his lovely wife Melissa. We all had an opportunity to come together in Austin, TX during the SXSWedu 2025 conference. Craig and my new friend John Van Dreal were on a panel entitled: The Pivotal Role of Community Engagement in School Safety.
Craig Garnett at SXSWedu
Afterwards, we went to Craig’s book signing, and we got a dozen signed copies to send to some friends who we apparently don’t care if they sleep well at night (after reading “Uvalde's Darkest Hour”) You can BUY IT HERE!
Kelli and I read Craig’s book, “Uvalde's Darkest Hour” over two (2) days. It’s a quick read but full of pain and sadness that would make Jesus, Muhammad, Budda, and Ghandi so mad they could spit nails. Take a look at all these innoccent people killed because the USA can't pass responsible gun ownership laws that protects our 2nd Amendment Rights.
If Bob Barr (President of NRA, Former Rep. GA) read this Craig's book and consided the safety of his own grandchildren in this type of evil darkness, he’d surely admit we all own the responsibility for Uvalde: politicians, NRA, law enforcement, school officials, and the community.
PICTURE: THIS IS A CRAYON DRAWING OF A BLOODY CLASS ROOM WITH CHILDHOOD FRIEND'S BODIES SPLATTERED ACROSS THE FLOOR UNDER A BULLET-HOLED AMERICAN FLAG. IN GOD WE TRUST, BUT 116 BULLETS WERE FIRED INTO THE SMALL CHILDREN AND THEIR TEACHERS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
I am ashamed for our nation and not speaking out! Are you? Why should a 18 year old be able to buy an AR15 in 15 minutes? We don't let them drive a car or boat without a license. Drink booze or smoke dope under 21. Hellfire boys, you gotta be 21 to pack a dip of Copenhagen between your lip and gums.
We all must have the courage to do better.
Bottom line: Craig's book is a balanced account of what happens to a community after a mass-killing.
Ugly truth IMHO: You probably won’t read this book because you are too busy watching Tic-Tock/insta video clips of people doing random stuff that suits your specific proclivity for shame, lust, hate, self-promotion, or humor. I think Nate Bargatze is funny, but …
19 small children and 2 elementary school teachers in Texas were killed by an 18 year old boy with mental health issues that was able to purchase an assault weapon and mountains of ammo off the Internet.
Does anyone pay attention after the old grey hair-sprayed politicians, click-bait journalists, and global media trucks leave the bloodied playground?
BEFORE A SCHOOL SHOOTING HAPPENS NEARBY ...
Representative Government is Just That: All across the USA, our democracy allows folks to elect politicians that represent (mirror) them to represent them. It’s how it works. People vote for who they like … and who they like mostly reflects their values, bias, and culture on voting day. So when voters read that gun violence is the #1 killer of youth in their state, it’s provides a mirror as clear and honest as the Evil Queen’s in Snow White.
Local Government is Local: As much as folks don’t care for Biden or Trump politics, local government officials are voted into office by locals. So, when local issues arise and the local government is not prepared, that is because the local community was not prepared. It’s easy to wanna blame Federal, State, County, and others … but in the end, all politics are local. The Uvalde community is torn apart by pain, sadness, laziness, ignorance, and lack of local leadership.
Priority #1 Should be Protect Children: Since the invention of procreation, the most fit living species were the ones who invested the most in protecting the offspring. Those who didn’t … vanished from the earth. Even rabbits with their proclivity for reproduction teach their children to run/hide from danger. Every time a child is killed at school, it’s a stark reminder of the impotence of politicians and government leadership to protect the next generation of human potential.
UPON REFLECTION ...
What is painful to believe is that no one is willing to take responsibility for this tragedy. No politician, no law enforcement, no school officials … everyone just pointing to someone else. Root cause analysis starts with roles and responsibilities.
So, who’s getting paid to protect the children? All the above. So when a tragedy happens, who’s responsible? All the above. But where is the head to this snake? There ain’t one and there will never be one … democracy and government are designed that way. It’s imperfect, messy, and wildly inefficient … and sometimes WIDELY ineffective as we saw on May 24, 2022.
To my personal way of thinking … there is only true power and hope in local folks taking care of local folks. Anything short of that ends up being a blame game with no real change.
BUT, if the voters, elected officials, school officials, law enforcement/Fire/EMS professionals, community service organizations, life-long bureaucrats, faith-based organizations, and neighbors all get together … change and progress can happen the betterment of all citizens.
So what are the barriers to community engagement?
TOP 3 OBSERVATIONS
There are no easy answers … or surely someone would have offered them up. But sometimes it’s helpful to look at some of the drivers of issues in our nation, states, and local communities.
#1. Tribalism and the Internet – let’s be honest, most of us go towards pleasure and away from pain. I don’t have a single Facebook friend that is hard core Jesse Helms lover. Gone too are all my Facebook friends who think we shouldn’t eat Chic-Fil-A. Most of us basically watch/listen/post with folks we agree with. Somehow … we need to shift the “tribe” up to the community level.
#2. No Drive, Focus, Commitment, nor Time - think about all the pressure on local government on a day-to-day basis and over the long-term. It’s amazing half the stuff gets done at all with the constant leadership turnover. I love term limits, but it cuts both ways. A community must have the drive to commit to focused priorities … over time. It ain’t easy.
#3. Fear – "We are afraid" is what’s at the core of community dis-engagement. Folks fear they are not heard. People fear they will lose status, stature, or security in what has always been. Police fear that kids will die if they rush in … police fear that kids will die if they don’t rush in … police fear that no one is in charge. People fear the police. The only thing that can reduce fear is trust and a community must build trust through predictable actions/behaviors.
TOP 3 RECOMMENDATIONS
First, raise the limit of purchasing firearms from 18 to 21 for assault weapons. You can’t drink until 21 … because we know it’s safer for the community at large. We MUST compel the NRA Tribe to be better through facts and collaboration. MADD playbook might be a place to start. This is a simple ask and historical research/data supports it.
Second, require a safety test to purchase an assault firearm/military weapon like a boating licence, like a drivers license, like a pilot’s license. If you can hurt someone with a boat, car, or plane … you damn sure can bring harm to others with a war/assault weapon. The test should be full of questions requiring a knowledge of gun safety and accident prevention. While folks can get emotional about this … we require tests to prove applicants will be safe to themselves and others.
Third, empower the community to provide support to young men who show signs of distress and/or mental health issues. 95.7% of school shooters are male. That ain’t bias … it’s math. As a community and school district, we MUST know who is struggling and in need of help. It’s the job. Most, if not all, the mass shooters are on someone’s radar. The plea for help is there … but the community can’t hear it, forgets about it, or just don’t respond. This is important work that requires people, processes, and technology.
These are reasonable, practical, and tactical recommendations that thinking people with caring hearts can implement. Together, we must push through the greed, corruption, and selfishness that corrupts American politics and enact common sense responsible gun ownership public policies.
Tony McLean Brown
A Western NC hillbilly through and through, Tony McLean Brown was born in the small town of Enka-Candler outside of Asheville. His parents re-named him when he was 3 years old to Tony (a nickname provided by his grandfather) McLean (middle name of his Uncle Michael) while retaining his legal surname Brown.
Throughout his career, Tony McLean Brown worked as a farmer, computer programmer, and management consultant – in his adventurous years – author, song-writer, bass player, poet, pilot, mountaineer, certified scuba diver, and competitor in professional bull riding, NASCAR late model racing, Toughman boxing, Crossfit Open, Ironman, pole vaulting, marathon and ultra-marathon running, as well as parenting.
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I agree with you on all points. If there us concrete action that I can take to support this effort, I will. If you have suggestions please share them.