We are once again in shock after yet another massacre in America. The despair we feel isn’t because we were surprised, but because we weren’t. The children who were killed in Uvalde were the same age as our grandson, and they are just the latest blood sacrifice to the gods of violent extremism and greed.

Lawmakers who’ve blocked attempts to enact lifesaving federal gun regulation are experts at Gaslighting. It’s obvious that the only common factor in all the gun violence in America is guns, but they blame mental illness, minority groups, immigrants, “evil” individuals, video games. Those with the least power to cause great harm are always the scapegoats for the crimes and deficiencies of those who hold the most power.

Right-wing mouthpieces call gun violence “the price of freedom.” How free are the victims and survivors of the 250 mass shootings (75 deaths) we’ve already suffered this year? How free are any of us, when private ownership of weapons of war is more important to them than living, breathing human beings?

Profiteers promote the fantasy that the only way to stop gun violence is to sell more guns. Gun ownership is at a record high, so where were the “good guys” last week, last month, last year? Profiteers know how cynical this fairy tale is. But there’s money and power at stake, so lobbyists buy politicians, and politicians protect the arms merchants and their own jobs by refusing to protect everyday Americans. The money and power keep flowing while our neighbors die.

But despair isn’t an option when lives are at stake, and I was given reasons for hope as I listened to our Nashua Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday evening. Each member who spoke about the school shooting supported regulations like universal background checks for licenses, raising age limits for buying guns, and restrictions on the sale of high-powered, high-capacity guns. They called for every elected official to summon the courage to speak up for regulations that will save lives.

I couldn’t agree more. The worst lie is, “Now isn’t the time to talk about it.” Now is exactly the time. It’s too late for the victims of Uvalde and all the other school shootings; the shoppers, the worshippers, the concert-goers; all who have sacrificed their lives to protect easy access to weapons of war. Even now, Free Staters in our state legislature are trying to block our right to protect our children and grandchildren and feel safe in our own neighborhoods.

This isn’t a partisan issue: Democrats share culpability for deadly inaction. But right now, it’s the Republican Party that is active thwarting the will of the people–over two-thirds of us–who want gun reforms. Let’s honor those who have sacrificed by showing the compassionate courage our Aldermen called for. We can’t stop all gun violence, but we can save lives by using our voices and our votes to make sure we have policy-makers who will put lives before power and profit.