That Topic

There are a few issues in the U.S. that need addressing.

We need to start respectful, serious discussions.

Mass shootings in America has totally gotten out of control. I think we can all agree on that. What we cannot agree on is how to fix it. Or prevent it.

There is always someone who will say loads of people die from drugs, alchohol or car accidents. Should we ban driving? Again with the Prohibition?

Someone actually did say this.

No. But as a nation if we can keep improving why wouldn’t we try?  In many ways we have shown so much progress.

Our children are strapped in secure car seats. Probably saved a few lives. While biking we have our kids wear helmets. I am sure that prevented a head injury or two. We still have cars but almost every American buckles up once they are behind the wheel. Think that kept a body or three protected. Cars are now outfitted with air bags. I can tell you that helped me when I was in a head on collision many years ago.

The age to use/buy alcohol was changed and while young folks can/will still find a way to drink it might just have decreased the rates of alcohol related accidents/deaths and early addiction for some.

So why, when it comes to our children being safe while learning their ABCs or attending a concert, would we not want to look at any/every possible way to keep them secure? Have safety measures in place?

I feel like it’s closing in on us.

Long time followers of this blog will remember that my niece and nephew lived in the next town over from Newtown when that horror took place. Neighboring schools went into lockdown mode. My nephew was under the desk and couldn’t understand why his teacher was yelling. My niece was sent into the cubbie with the teacher pretending it was a game.

That was right before Christmas. Next town over but it effected everyone in the area. My brother and his wife were sick about it. Could hardly talk about it. Who wouldn’t be sick about it? I just can’t imagine the pain of a parent losing their baby like that. The fear those children must have experienced.

Not too long ago there was a terrible shooting in Las Vegas. Wasn’t in a school but during an outdoor concert. A young girl, whose mother worked in the office at my daughter’s California school, was shot in the head that day. A guy who attended high school with my friend Karla was killed.

Something has to be done. A lot has to be done. And maybe both sides of this debate can make the decision to move a bit closer to ensuring the safety of our children.

They can be the future.

If they’re safe.

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Same Old Story

I keep up with the U.S. news even thought I am not living there at the moment. I used to be appalled at the gun violence that seemed to be picking up speed at an alarmingly fast pace. Almost daily.

The mass shootings even more so. Because you don’t hear about every single murder in the U.S. It’s got to be high profile to get the sound bites.

Now, I just feel bad. No more shock.

I sit here with my friends from Canada, Scotland, England, Ireland, Malaysia and many other places around the world and I have no answers as to why my country has turned into a Wild West program with shootouts occurring regularly.

Some guy goes into a clinic and shoots up the place last Friday. No one even bats an eye and the “candidates” and “news” want to blame the type of clinic to curry favor with their followers. I use the terms “candidates” and “news” very, very loosely.

We can now add another place to the list of places to avoid. Churches, temples, movie theaters, post offices, malls, elementary schools, high schools, college campuses and clinics have already been targeted. Did I miss any? Now we have a center for disabled folks.

Lord, have mercy. Anyone have mercy.

We have a gun problem in our country. No doubt about it. Nut cases are walking around with guns. Some legally obtained and some not. But still the damage has been done. And continues. Every day.

This latest case is no different except for possible motive. It wasn’t a “he” loner who was bullied in middle school, played non stop video games in a darkened room with only a blinking screen for light and wanted to lash out at the world while getting instant name recognition. Or maybe he was. How would I know?

But this was a duo that wreaked utter madness at a work place. Sounds like terrorist activity. Okay, I take that back. They’ve all been terrorist activities-just different motives. But all the mass shootings have been committed by those born in the U.S. These latest two poor excuses for humans bought guns legally. Or so says the news.

They weren’t refugees and they didn’t smuggle guns into our country. One born and raised and the other on a spousal visa. They were both already here. The perpetrators and the guns.

We have a database for DNA, child molesters and criminals. Can’t we add a program that goes bing, bing, bing if someone buys just a tad too much ammunition to kill some game? Like more than 6000 rounds? Okay, it’s just an idea.

Yes, there are many radicalized insane mental cases out there. And I just don’t know what the answer to that is.

This couple left a six month baby girl in the care of others while they committed murder. I cannot comprehend any of that. But leaving a baby to be orphaned is absolutely beyond the pale for me. I can’t imagine. I still say to myself, God or whoever, “Please let me live until they are both on their feet.” Nobody. No spouse. No deity. No one is going to make me leave my kids alone in this world. If I have any say in the matter.

So, until something is done about the guns, then I can only say, try and know your neighbors. Be aware. Know your surroundings. If something looks strange or suspicious then notify the appropriate authorities. Don’t be paranoid but be aware.

It’s hard to believe that with all of these incidents in the last decade no one knew there was a problem with these individuals. Not their families. Their neighbors. Weird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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