Enough Already

When are elected officials going to decide we have had enough of gun violence in our country? Another deadly massacre at an elementary school and here come the thoughts and prayers. I cannot speak for the feelings of families upon receiving thoughts and prayers from officials for their dead child. As someone indirectly affected by gun violence on a regular basis, I find such gestures from those in a position to actually prevent these heinous crimes completely meaningless without further action.

But we’ve played out this argument a million times before, and probably will again after, this latest slaughter. There are sensible arguments for allowing people to own guns, and there are sensible arguments for curbing abuse by individuals who legitimately threaten the safety of the community. Sensibility is not driving our politics as demonstrated on this and several other fronts, and it’s killing us.

In too many cases the same people who would forsake a woman’s life for an embryo will quickly turn a blind eye to the actual leading cause of death among children in the United States, which is gun violence. If there was a principle to be derived from these blaring inconsistencies, I might have more patience.

My page domain is ’cause to celebrate.life.’ All lives are precious. Even the lives of those who might make what we consider to be a terrible mistake. I wouldn’t support denying medical treatment to people who refuse to get vaccinated and later contract COVID-19. I don’t support the death penalty. I don’t believe women should die from illegal, and therefore unsafe, abortions either. I don’t believe LGBTQ+ people should be driven to suicide as a result of ignorance and/or prejudice. I do not support reliance on lethal force to address criminal behavior. I don’t believe anyone should be dying from lack of access to adequate nutrition and/or healthcare. And I firmly believe that children especially should not be dying in the crosshairs of tedious posturing among politicians who continue to successfully isolate themselves from the consequences of their own decisions with regard to these and many other issues.

We aren’t designed to promote human suffering. We’re designed with amazing capabilities that make it possible to enjoy this incredible world. It’s not a joyful place where you’re expected to be armed in order to stay safe. There is no reason to believe or accept that violence is the inevitable way of life for anyone. Reliance on guns just proves how much we abdicate responsibility for making our world a place where everyone can thrive without succumbing to violence. I pray those in a position to do so will act purposefully in helping us all realize our full human potential.