MILWAUKEE — A Michigan man is on a mission to end gun violence a mile at a time. He’s cycling across the Midwest to raise awareness and money for a nationwide hotline to stop people from planning violence with guns.
Scott Hite, 57, attempted this trip about four years ago, but because of some health issues, he wasn’t able to do it. This time around, he’s in good health, good spirits and still asking anyone planning to shoot someone to wait a minute, an hour or even a day — just wait, call, and he’ll answer.
“Wait One is in its infancy. It's existed just for a few months, and something I created. So, it’s only going to grow from here,” Hite said.
Hite started his journey in May after watching a video in which the Colorado movie theater shooter, James Holmes, claimed he called a mental health line before going into the theater, but no one answered. Holmes killed 12 people and injured 70 in 2012.
“May 4, I saw the video. By the 21st, I had the hotline started, I had a website up and I had business cards and I hit the road,” Hite said.
"This isn’t attached to gun advocacy. It’s really to help people, give them an outlet so they can call. They can wait before they act.” —Wait One founder Scott Hite, who is cycling around the Midwest to raise awareness for his nationwide hotline
Hite hopped on his bike pedaling from Michigan, then followed the Missouri River to Bismarck then Fargo to Lake Itasca — following the Mississippi River to Wisconsin. Next, he’ll pass through Chicago before heading home.
"This isn’t attached to gun advocacy. It’s really to help people, give them an outlet so they can call. They can wait before they act,” Hite said.
He has about a week left of cycling and 250 miles to go. At the end of his journey, Hite will have passed through 11 states, speaking with hundreds of people about Wait One.
