Blame Game On Single Parents For Gun Violence

On October 17, 2012 Wendy Fontaine posted a blog in The Blog in The Huffington Post titled, “Why Mitt Can’t Blame Us Single Parents for Gun Violence”.  Her blog is about last night’s presidential debate where presidential candidate, Mitt Romney suggested single parents is the reason for gun violence in the United States when a member of the audience asked the candidates about keeping assault weapons off the streets.  The audience is single parents of America.  

The argument Fontaine tries to address is that single parents are not the problem of gun violence in United States and believes other single parents share the same view as her.  The blame should not be targeted solely on single parents.  As a single parent, Fontaine disagrees with Romney’s theory.  Fontaine states blame can be placed on married parents too as her gives examples such as the assault on Arizona Congresswoman and the shooting in the Colorado movie theater which were taken on from single men with no children.  Another example used was the Columbine High School massacre was taken on by two male students who were raised by their married parents and President Obama was also raised by his single mother which he is now the president.  Fontaine expresses her way of parenting her six year old child and comes off as a wonderful and caring parent as well as her tiresome single parent label, as if it a bad thing.  The only fault I find in Fontaine’s blog is she has only been a parent for six years and in that time frame cannot speak from experience or should not be insulted by Romney’s suggestion.  Overall, Fontaine does a great job bringing facts to the table to stand up for single parents who have raised their children to adulthood without bringing guns to the street.

If I had the chance to address Romney’s generalization face to face, I would let him know I was at one time a single parent raising a daughter without government or public assistance.  I can say I raised one hell of a daughter who was not running the streets while growing up with a gun in her hand or became a teenage pregnancy statistic.  My daughter received a high school diploma, is a certified pharmacy technician, and now back in school to become a pediatrician while employed with a government agency. 

Paid Family Leave in the United States

On October 2, 2012, USA Today published an article “U.S. Needs Paid Family Leave” written by Duncan Black.  In his article, he discusses how the United States should have paid parental leave not only working moms but working fathers as he discovered during a trip to Sweden.

I believe Mr. Black intended audience is targeted at new parents, soon-to-be parents and future parents as he mentions the “gender equity in the workplace and at home”.  As Mr. Black supports the paid parental leave, he believes it affects the parents jobs and paychecks if not in place. As a parent, I disagree with Mr. Black’s opinion because the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act exist for parents.  Employers would not fire an employee based on a birth of a child and the need to care for an infant.  This is why the leave act exist.  I am fortunate to work for the government which has sick and vacation time for me to accrue and use during my absence.  Mr. Black mentions people who choose not have children or unable for whatever reasons but states it part of life and newbie parents should receive a paycheck.  It is a choice to become parents or not, but those people who do not or never will have children will not benefit from this leave.  The government should not adopt the paid leave regardless of who it will benefit.  I would leave it to the employer to make the call of such leave.  Mr. Black does not have children and should not speak of something he has no knowledge of.