Details are still
emerging out of the Las
Vegas tragedy. I can't say for certain who did what, or whether it was a lone
wolf as first reported or part of some larger terror scheme(Update: apparently not).
There is a lot that is unknown and still coming to light, but there are certain
knowables in this situation.
Here is what we do know:
-What I do know is
that people were shot while living their lives, in a place where they should
not have feared gun violence.
-People were killed
with a weapon that was designed to kill people. The video released so far makes
it clear that it was something more sophisticated than a hunting rifle.
-This needless loss
of life, fifty people reported so far, will be explained away by some in an
effort to make us feel helpless. We are not; this is the only country this
happens on a routine basis.
-There are victims we
cannot even fathom. Fifty people who were loved did not see the sun rise today.
Their relations will mourn them. Four hundred are reported injured.
The interruption to their lives is outstanding, what amount
of council ling will victims present and distant need to even begin
to make them whole again.
We should offer our
thoughts and prayers now.
My thoughts are for those
who were there, those who loved someone who was there, those who will fear
going out in public or seeing a concert here in America, where we should be
free from that kind of fear.
My thoughts go to the
needless pain so many people are in right now. The lack of justice they are
experiencing because this person was allowed to have this kind of weapon. Up
to ten or more my some reports.
My prayers are that
things like the lifting of the suppressor ban the NRA is currently weaving
through congress will be defeated. People were alerted to the presence of the
danger because the weapon could be heard by the victims, if we are going to
have these deadly instruments at least reduce their ability to slaughter us
unknowingly.
My prayers are that
we are able to wake up as a country that this kind of violence is not just a
fact of life. That we would be safer without the ability to kill others in this
way, and that those working to put an end to this kind of destruction can
succeed.
I don't know if my
pleas will be heard, but the last thing I do know is that there is no better
way to honor those who have been killed, wounded, or affected is to take
action.
If
anyone tells you it’s too soon, or it just isn’t the right time, or guns aren’t
the real problem. Tell them the truth, they are stalling for time, they are never
going to want to talk about it, and if they won’t address even part of the
problem then they are the problem.
Edit: This post is in reference to an earlier piece found here, explaining the proper way to direct thoughts and prayers in the wake of tragedy, particularly gun violence.
