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Stacey Wehrman Feeley from the US recently caught her 3-year-old daughter standing on the toilet in their bathroom. Initially, she was amused, but when she found out what her little girl was actually doing, she was beside herself.

In fact Stacey wrote “She was practicing a lockdown drill at her preschool and what you should do if you are stuck in a bathroom,” in her viral Facebook post, along with a photo of her daughter doing the drill.

Her emotional plea to politicians, other parents, and the public was published on June 15, it been shared more than 6700 times.

I took this picture because initially I thought it was funny. I was going to send it to my husband to show what our mischievous little three-year-old was up to. However, The moment she told me what she was doing I broke down. She was practicing for a lockdown drill at her preschool and what you should do if you are stuck in a bathroom. At that moment all innocence of what I thought my three-year-old possessed was gone.

Politicians – take a look. This is your child, your children, your grandchildren, your great grand children and future generations to come. They will live their lives and grow up in this world based on your decisions. They are barely 3 and they will hide in bathroom stalls standing on top of toilet seats. I do not know what will be harder for them? Trying to remain quiet for an extended amount of time or trying to keep their balance without letting a foot slip below the stall door?

No one thinks gun control will be 100% crime control. But maybe, just maybe, it helps 1% or 2% or 50%? Who knows unless we try? Why on earth are there not universal background checks? Where is a universal registration database? Why are high capacity magazines ever permitted to be sold to anyone other than direct to the military? Is that really necessary to protect yourself or hunt for that matter? What about smart guns, where are they? C’mon techies! The 2nd Amendment is a beast to battle and wiping out the right to bear arms is not on the table. Does anyone really think that will be accomplished? Because it won’t. Amended to some extent? Maybe. But how many decades will that take? Where’s the evolution of our so called “living document” for this subject matter? A document that originally allowed slavery and prevented women from voting? NRA, are you even trying? Let’s talk mental health. Where is the $500 million that the Obama administration put into the budget for approval…did it go through? Is it being implemented or just sitting there? Where is the access to care for those struggling with mental illness? Politicians, I ask you…how can I help?

Banning together, signing petitions, rallying to get your voice heard is good, but is it actually doing anything or just making us feel better about the current situation? We need action. I applaud politicians like Senator Chris Murphy but so many of our elected politicians can’t manage to work together (maybe they shouldn’t be paid for a job they can’t do…just saying) or since they are in bed with all the wrong people, it is up to us if we want change. I want to know what new smart technology is being built for safer guns, advanced security in public places, databases, traveling care for the mentally ill…anything! Entrepreneurs, innovators, are you there? Can I help? Can I help you make a difference? I want to offer support. I cannot give you techie advice, expertise in healthcare, or financial backing, BUT maybe I can point you in the right direction? Maybe I know someone who knows someone who can help? Incubators, investors…if this issue concerns you, do what you do best and help make change. Can I help? Hold funding competitions, provide think tanks for these very things. Hollywood, the PSA’s are good, but not good enough. Eventually they disappear and are forgotten.

I am not pretending to have all the answers or even a shred of them, but unless you want your children standing on top of a toilet, we need to do something! Please share. #dosomething #prayfororlando #wecandobetter Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

Well done to Stacey for taking a stance. Something has to change!

Share your comments below.

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  • What an awesome post.

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  • Nothing is innocent anymore! Any person paying attention to our child is a potential abuser, someone on a train is a potential terrorist, our children are just as at risk at school as they are out on the street – yet if we ‘think’ about these possibilities too much, or plan our lives around the ‘what if’s’ – then we’re not really living are we?? :/ I’m not sure how they explain this to the children without freaking them out, but I guess any precaution is better than none. Go cuddle your babe again, I’m off yo cuddle mine xxx

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  • These are different times then the time we grew up. When we grew up we could walk alone from school to home and play for hours outside. Now we have to warn our even smallest kids that’s dangerous to walk alone, that there are people out there who do wrong things and what they need to do when it happens. It’s sad that kids have to lose their innocence so early these days.

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  • This is so scary to think that a young child has to be taught this to be able to remain safe. I just hope it doesn’t scare her from going to school.

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  • That is devastating. It took me a while to even realise what it all meant. Im glad we don’t have this concern here

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  • The loss of innocence in children is always upsetting, particularly around the issue of gun control. I think the best thing any politician ever did in Australia was John Howard’s gun reforms. One massacre (god rest their souls) and it was addressed. I hope the US amend their silly rights to arms to reflect a more modern day society.

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  • Great article And I really hope this is brought to the attention of the politicians. So sad that kids at this age can just be enjoying being kids in a care free environment.

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  • I loved reading this article. It transmits such an important message. The picture itself is very powerful. Sad that kids have to live in such a confronting world.

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  • What kind of world are we creating when it comes down to this …it brings me to tears.
    America be scared really scared, then stand up and change before you wipe your selves out.

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  • That is indeed very, very sad.

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  • I had goose bumps reading this… a very important lesson, but sad that it needs to be like this.

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  • I was so curious about this photo and thought at first that maybe there was a spider or mouse on the floor. The real reason this girl is on the toilet is confronting. Whilst it’s great that she’s learnt this, the reasons why she has had to are confronting, frightening and sad.

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  • It does look amusing but it is really sad when a three year old is thinking this way. This world is getting scarier and I feel so sorry for the kids of today and tomorrow

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  • Good on Stacey, l hope your voice gets heard!

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  • A good and passionate article and good on this mum for spreading the word and her views on this incredibly sad issue.

    Reply

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