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Thread-Topic: Results for victims of gun violence, not more noise
From: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
To: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Subject: Results for victims of gun violence, not more noise
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 03:24:58 -0500
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<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Ms.</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Karyn</FIRST>
<MIDDLE></MIDDLE>
<LAST>Vilbig</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION></ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>444 W. 23rd St.</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Baltimore</CITY>
<STATE>MD</STATE>
<ZIP>21211</ZIP>
<EMAIL>karynvilbig@gmail.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H></PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B></PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>GUNS</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>Results for victims of gun violence, not more noise</SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>73.163.148.51</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
Dear Governor Haley,

Congratulations on what seems to be a well received State of the Union response last week. I saw articles commenting on your promising future with the GOP perhaps even as a vice presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. It must be an exciting time for you. 

In your speech, you acknowledged the tragedy in Charleston this summer and your efforts to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Capitol. I remember my excitement upon hearing your call to take down this symbol of persecution. I look forward to the day when I will get to tell my own children about the progress made during my lifetime the same way my parents' generation talks about school desegregation and voting rights. 

As exciting as this progress is, the Confederate flag is just a symbol, and I would hate to "falsely equate noise with results." South Carolina removed one symbol of hatred this summer, but that does not mean that racism will cease to exist in the state. You pointed out flaws in the FBI's background check system - which deserves to be recognized here - but ultimately that is just pointing the finger at someone else. Sounds an awful lot like noise to me.

	There are over 30,000 gun deaths in this country a year, and those victims are disproportionately black. Removing a flag and telling the FBI to do better should not be considered results. South Carolina's black residents and the memories of those murdered at Mother Emanuel Church on June 17th deserve a better response from their governor than this. 

Do not pat yourself on the back at a State of the Union response for a job well done when your work is cut out for you. I am sure this may seem like an intimidating task, but I have faith that you are more capable to take on this challenge than most. After all, you were able to  remove a long held symbol of institutionalized racism, one that I thought I would never see come down in my lifetime. 

One day when I am telling my children about the demise of the Confederate flag, I would like to also tell them about the end of gun violence. Let's not consider our work done before we see results.

Sincerely,
Karyn T. Vilbig

</MSG>

</APP>