Following the mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. last week, People magazine took the unorthodox step of diving headfirst into the gun control debate by publishing the official contact information of all 535 voting members of the U.S. Congress. The House of Representatives, the Senate — everyone.
Jess Cagle, editorial director for People and Entertainment Weekly, used his weekly “Editor’s Letter” to broach the highly partisan topic of guns.
“We all ask ourselves the same questions: How could it happen again? What are we doing about gun violence in America? There are no easy answers, of course. Some argue for stricter gun laws, others say we should focus on mental health issues, some point to a culture that celebrates violence,” wrote Cagle.
Let’s do something about gun violence. Here’s how to contact all 535 members of Congress http://t.co/49wbCUl0w3 https://t.co/7gSWgbOE2l
— People magazine (@people) October 7, 2015
“But this much we know: As a country we clearly aren’t doing enough, and our elected officials’ conversations about solutions usually end in political spin.”
Cagle proceeded to describe what the magazine’s latest issue would entail: a tribute to the nine fatalities in Oregon, the other 22 people who’ve died in mass shootings in the past year, and alerting readers to what they can do about it. For the latter, he and his staff list the office phone numbers, emails and Twitter handles of the entire legislative branch.
The editorial director brought the post to Twitter’s attention Wednesday morning:
Let’s tell Congress to do their jobs and do something about gun violence. Enough spin, enough excuses. http://t.co/FCQfpTXopn via @People
— Jess Cagle (@MrJessCagle) October 7, 2015
Unsurprisingly, the reaction was mixed. Many applauded Cagle’s move:
@MrJessCagle @people Jess this is fantastic thank you for taking the initiative.
— Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) October 8, 2015
@MrJessCagle @people THANK YOU
— rachelsklar (@rachelsklar) October 8, 2015
This is excellent. @people
— roxane gay (@rgay) October 8, 2015
Others decried it:
@MrJessCagle I agree something needs to be done. Mental illness needs to be treated. That is the issue not gun control.
— Roger McCoy (@rogermccoyradio) October 7, 2015
@MrJessCagle @people How about mental illness? Do you want to ignore this issue as well? Just as important if not more.
— Jennifer Watts (@JenniferEWatts) October 7, 2015
@people taking guns away from law abiding citizen doesn’t keep guns out of criminal hands! @p4p4pio
— NikolettAnnalisePio (@Choctaw_BlueEye) October 7, 2015
Check out the clip above, via People magazine.
[h/t Mother Jones]
[Image via screengrab]
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