The ongoing debate over gun violence has fostered polarizing conversations across the nation. Over the past year, news sources have reported the stagnant political disputes about Second Amendment rights (bearing arms) to the U.S. Constitution and stricter background checks for gun buyers, while the current national issue of gun violence continues to trouble many Americans. In 2013, thousands of people marched on the one-year anniversaries of the Trayvon Martin murder in February and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in mid-December to honor the victims.
According to the Children’s Defense Fund, homicide is the leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-old African Americans.
The “No Guns Allowed†grassroots campaign supported by The League of Young Voters and recording artist Snoop Lion champions the push for “common sense†gun legislation and anti-gun violence. The “No Guns Allowed†initiative was inspired by Snoop Lion’s song “No Guns Allowed,†featuring Snoop’s daughter Cori B and Drake, which appeared on his Reincarnated album.
Earlier this year, Snoop released the album and a documentary both titled Reincarnated under his new moniker Snoop Lion. The Reincarnated documentary marked his figurative journey and transition from Dogg to Lion, marking a positive, peaceful change as an artist and a person.
Dr. Robert “Biko†Baker, the Executive Director of the League of Young Voters, wrote an open letter to Snoop Lion to express his appreciation for Snoop’s positive change and stance in the Hip Hop industry to end gun violence and concern for American culture.
“Our culture of violence is leading America toward self-destruction,†Baker said.
Choosing Snoop Lion as the spokesman for the “No Guns Allowed†national effort may seem like a conflicting choice for the League. The multi-platinum artist’s music is synonymous with the “take-no-nonsense aggression of Gangsta Rap.â€
As told to BlackEnterprise.com, Snoop notes that he is glad that his music has inspired a movement of peace.
“I’m glad that we’re still able to do some positive things because of the song and we plan to keep spreading the message of peace.â€
Snoop Lion, formerly known as Snoop Dogg, said, “Yes,†to the League of the Young Voters, because he believes in the work that the League is doing. “I like what the League of Young Voters is all about. They speak the language of today’s youth and they want to educate them about voting and that’s important.â€
The League of Young Voters is a national advocacy group that raises awareness
and activism with young people of color, non-college youth, and low-income youth on political and social issues. Baker and Snoop Lion both advocate for the anti-violence “No Guns Allowed†initiative.“We are for common sense gun legislation and stopping the homicides that are taking place in our communities,†Baker says.
The League, as it is commonly known, is prioritizing contacting local and national policy makers to legislate in favor of the “No Guns Allowed†movement. The League also boasts employing youth such as Brandon T. Jones from their BET panel discussion with Snoop Lion, T.I., Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ryan Coogler and Melvyn Hayward, Jr., in June to speak with his representatives about his experiences with gun violence and the need for stricter gun legislation.
“It’s transforming the way people look at our community,†Baker counters, in response to a question on the importance of incorporating youth in the movement.
Snoop chose to change from Snoop Dogg to his new moniker Snoop Lion after a trip to Jamaica. He describes his journey to Jamaica as a “spiritual transformation.†Snoop’s change has left him optimistic for the new artists in the rap industry. He believes that their music will one day reflect positive images and causes over time.
“Artists evolve at different times depending on what they’ve been through. Give them time and I believe their songs will reflect change and growth,†Snoop notes.
Recently, Snoop lost a 7-year-old player from his Snoop Youth Football League to gun violence, so now he feels the best way to increase the impact of the “No Guns Allowed†message is to continue dialogue on the subject.
“We just gotta keep the conversation going,†says Snoop. “Little kids shouldn’t be dying. They’re looking at us to lead the example, so if we’re fighting and shooting at each other they’re gonna grow up handling their problems with violence. It starts with us.â€
Currently, the League in partnership with Snoop Lion has made a collaborative effort on tackling the “No Guns Allowed†movement on local and national levels. At the local level, the League is working with the National League of Cities’ United, a national partnership to eliminate violence-related death of African-American males, to ensure that young black males are involved with municipal laws on guns. At the national level, the League is working to raise awareness that there is 91% support for universal background checks among voters in a household with a gun, as reported by Quinnipiac University. “We need our generation to really step up on policy,†Baker adds.
Snoop and the League hope to foster more conversations with politicians on the issue of gun violence, similar to the BET panel discussion held in June, and broadcast stories from youth and other victims of gun violence. The duo hope that policy makers and rap artists can work together to create a plan to end gun violence in the community as the next action for the movement.
“Rappers and entertainers really touch the youth, so we got power of influence and the League is working to get people to vote,†Snoop explains. “So we should all be at the table talking about how we can make our society safer so we don’t have to bury any more young people because of gun violence. If I can provide insight to Obama and others in political power, I’m down to bring my influence with the hip-hop community.â€
If you want to join the pledge to end gun violence, text PEACE to 69866 or tweet and share your story including the hashtag #NoGunsAllowed.
–Timothy P. Tukes is a Morehouse College English major and a freelance contributor to Black Enterprise.