Health Highlight: Wed. 29, Mar.

Today's highlight: I wrote a letter to my elected officials asking them to take action against school shootings.

Mar 29, 2023

Today’s Health Highlight is different. Instead of news about interesting medical breakthroughs or press releases about a new drug, I wanted to use this platform to share the letter I wrote to my elected officials. It’s a short letter, but it is only the first one I plan to write. I’ve decided to commit to writing about this topic and advocating for change using this platform. It won’t be daily, but any amount is better than zero. Change starts when you decide to take action. Join me.

Letter 001

Carlos Franco, Washington’s 7th Voting District

March 29, 2023

RE: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STOP SCHOOL SHOOTINGS?

Dear Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell; and Representative Pramila Jayapal,

I’m writing to you because I’m angry. As of this morning, there have been 130 mass shootings in 20231, and I want to know what you are doing about it. I’m not asking about a statement or press release about what happened in Tennessee; I’d like to see how you intend to use your elected position to help end this uniquely American form of violence.

I read recently about Nebraska State Senator Machaela Cavanaugh, and how she has been filibustering for weeks to protest LB574, the “let Them Grow Act,” which would prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender people in her state2. I want to know if you are willing to take this kind of action to create pressure for change.

I don’t think you’re doing enough. I don’t think I’m doing enough. I recently started a Substack blog on health news and topics called Health Highlights. Starting today, with this open letter, I plan to revisit this issue over and over and over again. I plan to make my letters to you public, as well as the responses I receive from any of you.

I hope to see you act courageously. Otherwise, the only support you can expect from me in the future is my thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely, your constituent,

Carlos Franco (WA-7th)

What about you?

I’m sharing this letter in hopes that it might encourage others to take similar steps. If you need to, copy and send my letter, or use it to help create your own. Back in July of last year, I wrote a Medium article about steps that could be taken to reach out to your representatives. I have imported that article to Substact and will link to it here: How To Make Your Voice Heard. I hope you'll use this information to let your elected officials know how you feel about this important issue.

Further Information

How to Contact Your Elected Officials (https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials)
New NCES Data Show Increases in School Shootings and Cyberbullying in K–12 Schools Over the Last Decade (https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/06_28_2022.asp)
Writing your Elected Representatives (https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives)
Government Information Connection: Politics and Elected Officials: U.S. Political Parties and Activist Groups (https://guides.library.unt.edu/c.php?g=69821&p=451176)