Big social changes in America, like women winning the right to vote or breakthrough civil rights legislation, typically come about after years of public protests followed by quiet negotiations with Congressional lawmakers. When it comes to new gun safety laws, we already have experienced a decade of protests, but little legislative progress.
If you ask me, that's because the "quiet negotiations phase" hasn't really happened. This is why I am, once again, urging the next President to make a gun summit at Camp David a top priority in his or her administration. The best way to make this happen is by announcing it during the January 20, 2025 inaugural address.
For those who need a refresher, or for those who are reading about a Camp David gun summit for the first time, here's how it would work: Just like Jimmy Carter did decades ago when he invited old warriors Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel to Camp David, Kamala Harris or Donald Trump needs to invite the leaders of the National Rifle Assn., 2nd Amendment proponents, national law enforcement officials and family members of victims to break bread together and come up with two or three new, common sense proposals they all would be willing to lobby lawmakers to enact.
I'm a realist, so I know how difficult and painful these conversations at Camp David will be, but they need to happen. At times, their talks might even trigger some attendees to threaten to walk out, but let's hope they don't. Remember, Sadat and Begin threatened to leave Camp David but ended up staying. Good thing they did because the peace agreement they forged between their two nations in 1978 still is in effect today.
Virtually every time there is a mass shooting, I wonder what it will take to convene a Camp David gun safety summit? Haven't enough lives been cut short or destroyed by these senseless acts? I'm sure the next time there is a school shooting there will be public protests, but that clearly isn't enough. The next President needs to make this issue a top priority in his or her administration.
-DF
I like the concept in general; the issue is, as you suggest, that it would take a huge number of people's buy-in.
The original Camp David comprised three people, leaders of their respective countries. The modern gun-centered version would require congressional leaders from both houses and both parties (and various fringe coalitions) in addition to representatives of law enforcement (state & federal), sociologists, psychologists, medical and legal experts, etc., to develop a meaningful plan that might actually move the game forward.
It could be done. It would require a president that - like FDR - was willing to talk directly to the American people and apply political and moral force to congress to get any significsnt laws passed.
Clearly, only one of the current candidates has that ability. Whether or not she has the willingness is an open question. Maybe not this term, but the next?