I have been in such despair for the past year over the state of our nation. People are at each others throats constantly. People call each other names and it has started to seem like Conservative/Republican vs. Liberal/Democrat has become a battle to the death where only the strong survive. I guess that’s why I was somewhat relieved to learn that Russia has been employing professional trolls and bots to sow seeds of dissent in our country. In particularly as pertains to hot button issues like race and, you guessed it, guns.

Why would I be relieved about Russian interference? Frankly, because that means my fellow countrymen may not be as divided as I thought. And that’s good, because it means maybe we could actually work together to put a stop to mass shootings (or at least make them exponentially more difficult).

I’ve been working on the issue of gun sense legislation since April 2013. I read extensively on the subject and have compiled quite a bit of knowledge on the topic. I have had endless arguments with close friends and family about how to put an end to mass shootings. One of the things I learned through these conversations is that the left and the right are a lot more alike than different. Most people are not solid red or solid blue, most people run the gamut between red and blue on different issues. In fact, about one thing everyone is united – we all want mass shootings to stop. I don’t think anyone actually considers school children to be the price of freedom, at least, not anyone I know.

I know it’s fun to stick it to the other side with a pithy meme or to dismiss people who disagree with you as “snowflakes” or “gun nuts” but when you do that, you’re playing into the Russian’s hands. Don’t be a Russian pawn. Speak respectfully to your fellow American. Think about what you could compromise on. Give a little. Once you’ve figured out what you’d be comfortable with letting the other side have, write your representatives, both red and blue, and let them know. Make your voice heard to the people who actually make the laws. We can save our kids if we work together.