From one of the Parkland shooting survivors, an inspiring story:
STORY TIME:
Incase you didn’t know I am one of the organizers for #RoadToChange and we are currently traveling through TX organizing youth meetings, rallies and town halls.
These counter protests at our events are incredibly invited because they allow us to clarify our message. https://t.co/ng6bx9sMr0
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
In Dallas the Facebook event for the protest of us had a few hundred people RSVP’d — there were around 20 people standing outside open carrying in protest… When I first walked up I was being harassed by a few protestors.. but one man in a red hat approached me peacefully… pic.twitter.com/ddrbVe21fR
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
The protester asked about David, reiterating NRA talking points and conservative slander of him, but only a few sentences into how he felt about David. @davidhogg111 walks up and joins the conversation… The protester is smiling so big and shakes David’s hand.. convo continues..
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
Protestor: “Mr. Hogg are you anti-gun?”
David: “No, I come from a family of gun owners.”
P: “So why do you want to take my gun.”
D: “Our policy isn’t in disarming law abiding citizens, it’s about due process and preventing gun violence.”
The other protestors see us talking..
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
The protestors approach us with their phones out.
Some of them had guns larger than they were — others had hand guns on their holsters.
We then had a 90 minute conversation with “the most pro-2A group in Texas.”
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
As the conversation with the group began — some of the more angry protestors were aggressive with their disagreement of our policy. Then we broke it down… We explained step by step, reason by reason why this policy would save lives — Most of them agreed.
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
They didn’t believe Trump received 30 million dollars from the NRA (he did.)
They didn’t believe that arming teachers is a bad idea.
They did say there are better moves we can make besides arming teachers to improve safety.
They did agree this issue goes beyond schools.
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
A powerful moment was a woman — probably 5ft tall — with a gun larger than her speaking about her grandkids.
She said she feels more comfortable if she knows they’re being protected by armed guards.
We spoke about Santa Fe having armed guards, a plan and 20 people were shot.
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
We spoke on the false sense of security that adding firearms does for people — Vegas has plenty of people ready to respond… hundreds were shot and killed.
Adding guns is a sales pitch not a safety pitch.
If we really want safety we need these common sense reforms.
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
Red Flag Laws save lives.
Expanding universal background checks saves lives.
Limiting inner-state gun trafficking saves lives.
Digitizing ATF records + better funding to enforce existing laws saves lives.
Safe storage/trigger locks save lives.
We AGREED on ALL of these.
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
The man in the red hat that started the peaceful conversation ended the unofficial town hall with an incredibly powerful moment.
Through his sunglasses we could see tears building up… He gave us hugs and said something I’ll never forget. pic.twitter.com/4KGow2D46M
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018
This armed protestor who thought he would spend his Saturday afternoon disrupting our town hall, learned so much that he ended by saying through tears: “This is the most American thing I’ve ever done… Thank you so much for helping us understand.”
USA baby, let’s save lives. pic.twitter.com/eNLVpSJLsk
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) July 8, 2018