As someone who lives outside the USA the constant news of yet another mass shooting is heartbreaking, terrifying and leaves me in disbelief it seems a lot of Americans have accepted this as part of life. Mental health issues are not a uniquely American issue yet the United States is the only place mass shooting happen with this regularity the only differing variable is easy access to guns. I now almost weekly ask myself why have Americans decided it’s acceptable to live in fear? And when are they finally going to decided they have had enough and vote for change?
Feeling the feelings with you, dearest. I am beyond sick, and I want to see changes too. My babies and your babies DESERVE protection. All of our babies deserve to live in a safer world, and it's on US to ensure it, even if it makes us feel uncomfortable.
I remember when I was in graduate school and we were discussing a shooting tragedy (who knows which one, sadly), and we agreed that it was a mental health issue. Then our professor said, "But which diagnosis? Who decides who can legally carry and who cannot?" I said, "You HAD to make it sticky, didn't you." But it is complex, and so difficult to work through the intricacies of who can and who cannot carry legally. Assault rifles? I have strong opinions.
What is life giving and what is destructive? We can make changes together.
I remember when that happened to you. Friday, the 13th of September, 2000. I will never forget the ugly crying and the crazy relief I felt after I heard you were okay.
Of course mass shootings are never ok, but there has been alot of shootings stopped by CWP holders that is NEVER on the news! Weapons are like drugs....the bad will always obtain them! No matter if all legal or illegal! And you can hunt with an AR, depends on the upper. We have one. You mention the Bible but it also states if one has no sword to sell his cloak and buy one. Well in today's world, I don't think a sword will help much. I also carry and have a CWP bc it's a crazy world of people attacking women and children as well as angry patients looking to kill healthcare workers which we have seen! And my 9 is faster than calling anyone for help such as the police that also have a 9.
Do I think we could be more strict on buying? Maybe. But the ones on the street are usually always illegal so that doesn't really help. It may help this one Nashville incident or it may not have. The real problem is mental health. I work in it every day and there are hardly any resources for these people. We need more providers in mental health, more counselors, more meetings, more outreach groups. That's how you help. Guns aren't the problem it is the one whose hands it is in.
Weapons are like drugs...but you can't buy heroin at Walmart. But I truly don't want to argue, and in fact I can agree with you on this point for sure – there is a huge mental health issue in our country that always gets brought up by politicians (being fair here, on BOTH sides...bipartisan failures here), but it is hard to see any real action being taken. It comes off as a convenient way to write off the issue. I do hear what you're saying, and I will again mention that I don't blame responsible gun owners. I blame the ease at which weapons are obtained – specifically by those who do NOT need them. Driving a car requires multiple hoops to jump through. The fact is that there is a gigantic, moneymaking industry that benefits from ease of gun obtainment. We will certainly have to agree to disagree on the AR-15 point. I know people who have them and say they are definitely fun to shoot, and I don't doubt it! Shooting guns IS FUN. I always enjoyed it in Waterford, it's a fun hobby and there are benefits to hunting, thinning herds and such. But sacrificing the "fun" of an AR-15 for the safety of fellow Americans feels like a no-brainer to me at least. Let's face it – a pistol would do a lot less damage in a mass shooting situation. And if ARs are tougher to get legally, by default they'd be harder to obtain ILLEGALLY as well. You mentioned the Nashville shooter...she walked into a gun store and obtained multiple high powered weapons despite having massive mental issues. Issues that may or may not have been reported, which also places the onus on mental health professionals to do the right thing.
What if the instances of the word "sword" in the Bible is not referring to weaponry, bu8t instead is another example of using practical examples to prove a point like Jesus did with many parables? A sword is a symbol of strength, power, and dominance. The Bible, the Word of God, is referred to as a "sword," deriving strength and power from the knowledge of what God asks of us. It's about justice and honor, dividing the just from the unjust, protecting those who are devout and giving them the ability to defend themselves against those who wish them harm.
I hate that you have to carry a gun because of how awful things have become. I applaud you and your family for training and knowing the ways to handle a weapon, and taking those steps. I don't fault you or any responsible gun owner for this. I simply think we as a country could benefit from stricter laws. Will it fix it entirely? No. Will it help? Sure couldn't hurt.
As someone who lives outside the USA the constant news of yet another mass shooting is heartbreaking, terrifying and leaves me in disbelief it seems a lot of Americans have accepted this as part of life. Mental health issues are not a uniquely American issue yet the United States is the only place mass shooting happen with this regularity the only differing variable is easy access to guns. I now almost weekly ask myself why have Americans decided it’s acceptable to live in fear? And when are they finally going to decided they have had enough and vote for change?
Feeling the feelings with you, dearest. I am beyond sick, and I want to see changes too. My babies and your babies DESERVE protection. All of our babies deserve to live in a safer world, and it's on US to ensure it, even if it makes us feel uncomfortable.
I remember when I was in graduate school and we were discussing a shooting tragedy (who knows which one, sadly), and we agreed that it was a mental health issue. Then our professor said, "But which diagnosis? Who decides who can legally carry and who cannot?" I said, "You HAD to make it sticky, didn't you." But it is complex, and so difficult to work through the intricacies of who can and who cannot carry legally. Assault rifles? I have strong opinions.
What is life giving and what is destructive? We can make changes together.
I remember when that happened to you. Friday, the 13th of September, 2000. I will never forget the ugly crying and the crazy relief I felt after I heard you were okay.
I love you deeply, and I hear your heart.
Your favorite cousin. ♡
Thank you for this perspective and these words Dana, I love you so much.
Thank you for sharing Adam. I always enjoy these entries.
Of course mass shootings are never ok, but there has been alot of shootings stopped by CWP holders that is NEVER on the news! Weapons are like drugs....the bad will always obtain them! No matter if all legal or illegal! And you can hunt with an AR, depends on the upper. We have one. You mention the Bible but it also states if one has no sword to sell his cloak and buy one. Well in today's world, I don't think a sword will help much. I also carry and have a CWP bc it's a crazy world of people attacking women and children as well as angry patients looking to kill healthcare workers which we have seen! And my 9 is faster than calling anyone for help such as the police that also have a 9.
Do I think we could be more strict on buying? Maybe. But the ones on the street are usually always illegal so that doesn't really help. It may help this one Nashville incident or it may not have. The real problem is mental health. I work in it every day and there are hardly any resources for these people. We need more providers in mental health, more counselors, more meetings, more outreach groups. That's how you help. Guns aren't the problem it is the one whose hands it is in.
Weapons are like drugs...but you can't buy heroin at Walmart. But I truly don't want to argue, and in fact I can agree with you on this point for sure – there is a huge mental health issue in our country that always gets brought up by politicians (being fair here, on BOTH sides...bipartisan failures here), but it is hard to see any real action being taken. It comes off as a convenient way to write off the issue. I do hear what you're saying, and I will again mention that I don't blame responsible gun owners. I blame the ease at which weapons are obtained – specifically by those who do NOT need them. Driving a car requires multiple hoops to jump through. The fact is that there is a gigantic, moneymaking industry that benefits from ease of gun obtainment. We will certainly have to agree to disagree on the AR-15 point. I know people who have them and say they are definitely fun to shoot, and I don't doubt it! Shooting guns IS FUN. I always enjoyed it in Waterford, it's a fun hobby and there are benefits to hunting, thinning herds and such. But sacrificing the "fun" of an AR-15 for the safety of fellow Americans feels like a no-brainer to me at least. Let's face it – a pistol would do a lot less damage in a mass shooting situation. And if ARs are tougher to get legally, by default they'd be harder to obtain ILLEGALLY as well. You mentioned the Nashville shooter...she walked into a gun store and obtained multiple high powered weapons despite having massive mental issues. Issues that may or may not have been reported, which also places the onus on mental health professionals to do the right thing.
What if the instances of the word "sword" in the Bible is not referring to weaponry, bu8t instead is another example of using practical examples to prove a point like Jesus did with many parables? A sword is a symbol of strength, power, and dominance. The Bible, the Word of God, is referred to as a "sword," deriving strength and power from the knowledge of what God asks of us. It's about justice and honor, dividing the just from the unjust, protecting those who are devout and giving them the ability to defend themselves against those who wish them harm.
I hate that you have to carry a gun because of how awful things have become. I applaud you and your family for training and knowing the ways to handle a weapon, and taking those steps. I don't fault you or any responsible gun owner for this. I simply think we as a country could benefit from stricter laws. Will it fix it entirely? No. Will it help? Sure couldn't hurt.