I Don’t Know What to Say…

 

Today, I had planned to write about my fun visit to Pittsburgh and my most excellent adventure hosting a group on the Bourbon Trail. But at this moment, it’s hard for me to write about these fun things when our country has suffered yet another blow to the most vulnerable members of our society.

Yesterday, 19 children were gunned down, along with two teachers and many more injured by an 18-year-old gunman. This gunman was not carrying the pistol from his family’s bedside table. He had an assault rifle, that murdered these precious children beyond recognition. Tuesday was “Footloose & Fancy Day” for the school as part of the end of the year celebrations. The children were invited to wear fancy clothes and shoes. As 2^nd, 3^rd, & 4^th graders, there is no doubt that they all participated. Now, because of the brutality of the shooting, parents were having to submit DNA records to identify their children.

I have tried hard not to make my blog posts political, and I still don’t want to do it, but today, I have to say some words that may seem political.

Those of you who know me surely know that I don’t like guns. Period. However, it stems from my own fears. I know many responsible gun owners. I know friends that hunt who have guns. I know people that keep a gun for their protection in their homes. I know them and they are safe and take their gun ownership seriously. I have never seen their guns and they do not push their views about guns on me. They respect me and have offered to teach me if I ever want to learn. We’ve laughed and they know, that will not happen.

Let me make one thing clear…I DO NOT WANT YOUR GUNS TAKEN AWAY! You have a right to have a gun and I respect that right. However, I do not think anyone, and I mean anyone, has a need to own an assault rifle of any kind, unless you are in the military or law enforcement.

I also believe that we need to tighten up the laws that are already on the books. You should have a background check AND a waiting period. You should not be able to purchase a gun online or at a gun show, without the background check. Guns should not be prizes at conventions or church picnics. Gun stores and gun manufacturers should  be held responsible for any illegal sales. From what I understand, this gunman purchased the gun, legally after his 18^th birthday. Can we not make this age 21 again?

I’ve spent a lot of time watching the stories and I have to say, many of the politicians are staying away from the gun laws…saying that it’s a mental health issue or a time for love, not political warfare. Other politicians are echoing what I feel…this has to stop and we need to work together. Gun laws are on the books but need to be enforced and maybe changed. Children (and adults) should not have to live in fear of going to school, church, the grocery store, etc…

Now, I agree that anyone who has so much evil in his/her heart that he can murder innocent people, surely has mental issues. However, there was no indication of mental health trouble as an “adult.”  Assault weapons do not belong in anyone’s possession. We are a civilized nation, not the wild West.

When the high speeds were determined to be the cause of lives lost, they were lowered. When drunk drivers were causing accidents, laws were changed, citizens mobilized and soon, DUIs were on the decline. When children are abused, they are removed from their homes and put into safe places. There are laws for many things, often debated and yet, we can’t seem to find the answer to gun violence.

NO ONE is saying that new/enforced laws will stop all gun violence, but we have to start somewhere and if innocent children being murdered isn’t enough to motivate our leadership, what is?

I can’t help but think of my sweet grandsons, who live just a few blocks away from the Synagogue in Pittsburgh that was the site of another shooting just a few years ago. I want them to grow up and to be safe and happy. I want them not to be afraid to go to school. I want them to come bouncing out of the school doors sharing their day with Katie & Anthony.

I am a big believer in preparing for disasters (tornado and fire drills) and sadly the intruder drills. Working at Mt. Notre Dame, I experienced all of those. I was calm with tornado and fire drills but the intruder drills were terrifying and I was in my late 50s and early 60s. I can’t imagine what small children feel like when doing these things.

It’s time for me to sign off…I’m starting to ramble. My head feels like mush, my anti-depressants are not keeping the tears away, and I have used the word hate today, more than I like to admit. So, I’ll leave you to decide what you can do to make this world a safer place for our sweet babies….and all of us.

I love you all!! Gabriel & Adrian, I’m going to do my best to make this a better place for you!!!