Sunday was a bad day in Orlando. It was a bad day across the country and it was certainly a bad day at our house. I am thankful we didn’t lose a loved one in the tragic attack, but it didn’t stop me from calling a man whom I consider my brother to tearfully ask him to call me and let me know he was okay. He travels, a lot, and he likes to have fun. Pulse would have been his kind of place. We’re not always great at communicating although I think we have a telepathic thing going much of the time. So my relief was palpable when I heard his voice on the phone, and I sobbed with that relief when we hung up.
I’m a fairly normal, emotionally healthy person, albeit, as many of you know, a little excitable. And I was in a puddle over someone who was fine. Can you imagine what the loved ones of those 49 slaughtered young people are going through? Or the families of those hospitalized? Or the police that were in the fray, for that matter? I can’t.
Let me preface this by saying I try not to be political in this forum. I try really, really hard. I have friends that are way to the extreme on both sides of every issue and I love them all. But I’m having a really hard time with the anger, the vitriol and the plain old lies surrounding the issue of gun control. I am a member of a family of hunters and law enforcement. I have no problem with a reasonable second amendment. I understand if you live in the middle of nowhere and the police or sheriff are too far away to be effective in a timely fashion that you might want to have a weapon. But I don’t think that weapons made for law enforcement or the military should be allowed in the hands of the normal citizenry. If you need an automatic weapon to kill a deer you really should take up another hobby. I also think background checks are a great idea, as well as making sure that anyone on a no-fly list is stopped from purchasing a weapon. And if anyone who is hording weapons and canned goods and waiting for the government to attempt a hostile takeover thinks they have a chance against the 82nd Airborne I wish them luck.
This has gone on too long, and we’ve lost too many who are too young and we’ve chosen to do nothing. Isn’t it time for a reasonable debate about gun control in Congress that isn’t controlled by fear of the NRA?
And another thing; I have LGBT family and friends, some who came out long before it was remotely safe to do so and some bore the consequences. The spiteful language of the religious right has sickened me this week. Somehow, I’m thinking these preachers are not asking, “What would Jesus do?”
We are all part of humankind. Let’s be both.
I’m sending love, light and healing out to the world. I hope you’ll join me.
Agree!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Military weapons in the hands of extremists and those mentally ill seem to be the norm in this nation, and lawmakers – both Republicans and Democrats – are cowards for not saying what you say here: Enough. Enough, enough.
This is a very well expressed piece. You even made my (sad) mouth turn up with your reminder that “If you need an automatic weapon to kill a deer you really should take up another hobby.”
Thank you dear Deb for saying this. You speak what I think and feel what I feel.
Cousin Jeanne
You are so right. What God in any religion would justify this. A sad day for all.
Thanks, Deb, for your thoughtful “soundings”, as ever. I am numb, given the ongoing vitriol from those, especially elected officials, who should have been more responsible– rather than legislating “all guns for everyone” without restrictions that might have saved lives, not only in Orlando but in every city and state.
And don’t get me started on the careless disregard for the safety of children in zoos and Disney, Inc.!