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Cub Scouts Kick Boy Out

Most Cub Scouts are given awards for their bravery but instead of a badge, 11-year-old Ames Mayfield was kicked out of his Cub Scout Troop for his courage.

From the Mouth of Babes

Ames Mayfield of Colorado is a member of his local Cub Scout troop. When his state senator, Vicki Marble, came by to talk to the troop, Mayfield took the opportunity to discuss gun control with his lawmaker. He asked many great questions including: Why won’t you support common-sense gun control laws?

It’s a fair line of inquiry. In the wake of the recent Las Vegas shooting, where nearly 500 were injured and 58 people were killed. But how many of us have been brave enough to ask someone who can actually make a difference: a lawmaker?

For his bravery, little Ames Mayfield was kicked out of his troop. This has led to some debate about whether a Cub Scout should bring up this issue at Scout meeting. Why should a child have to ask a question like this in the first place? Keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people and preventing mass shootings should be the responsibility of adults.

Gun owners and non-owners largely agree on some gun control policies, such as preventing people with mental illnesses and individuals on no-fly or watch lists from purchasing guns. However, this common ground has not led to any concrete, long-term solutions to these massacres. To truly achieve change, we’re going to have to stand up and ask each other and ourselves tough questions. It’s not always an easy thing to do—it takes a lot of courage. But if more of us follow the lead of this 11-year-old Cub Scout, maybe we could finally get some answers.

Forward Momentum

After each massacre, millions of Americans demand gun control and protective policies from lawmakers. In fact, since 1990, there has been a shift in stricter gun law support after traumatic mass shooting events, such as Newtown. But this support usually fluctuates and as the weeks pass from a horrific shooting, the outcry grows quieter.

The solution starts with each of us holding our lawmakers accountable. It’s a simple step forward, but too many of us have become indifferent. According to Pew Research, only 15 percent of people contact their public officials about guns and only 16 percent of people give money to organizations that “take positions on the issue.” You can do your part by calling your senator or your house representative or by supporting local gun control organizations.

Statistically, mass shootings are an American problem—between 1966-2012 the United States had the most mass shootings by far (90 shootings) compared to other countries (the Philippines, the country with the second-most shootings, had only 18). We can help fix the problem if we refuse to accept this mass-shooting trend like our Mindful Hero, Ames Mayfield.

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