School Shootings

Every time there is a shooting in the United States, especially at a school, we ask, “how could this have happened again?” We loathe seeing images of even more beautiful souls cut down because of hate, because getting a gun that spits out bullets like a popcorn machine spits out popcorn is so incredibly easy, because driving to a store, movie theater, music venue or school is so uncomplicated and the victims readily available. We want to shout and scream, ENOUGH WITH THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!!! We want our children to be safe, we want to be able to drop them off at school and KNOW that they are protected, that we can go to a grocery store, movie theater, and music venue and not have to wonder, how would we safely get out if we saw someone with a gun or heard shots fired?

Schools scared to death.
The truth is, one education under desks,
Stooped low from bullets;
That plunge when we ask
Where our children
Shall live
& how
& if
-Amanda Gorman, Poet

Our grief for these families who are suffering unfathomable loss never ceases, the weight bears down with every new shooting and every time we hear someone say that it is their right to buy whatever gun they want, it feels like a knife wound to our chest. Our collective grief is like a tsunami and lawmakers will have their day of reckoning, because while most of us don’t have the money to create a Super PAC (Political Action Committee), or the time, inclination or war chest to run for office, nor do we have friends in high places, we are far from powerless.

“What are we doing? I’m here on this floor to beg, to literally get down on my hands and knees to beg my colleagues. Find a path forward here. Work with us to find a way to pass laws that make this less likely.” -US Senator Chris Murphy

Our superpower is our ability to vote. We must use our powers for good as often as we can, not just every four years, but for the school board election, local and state elections, runoffs, and yes, for the Presidential election. We must vote for people who want to instill change, not promise change, get elected and toe the party line. Right now there are laws being stalled in Congress that would help curb gun violence just a smidge, it wouldn’t take away guns, nor ban assault rifles, it would simply increase the amount of background checks and stretch out the wait time needed to complete a gun purchase so a proper background check can be carried out.

America Is A Gun

England is a cup of tea.
France, a wheel of ripened brie.
Greece, a short, squat olive tree.
America is a gun.

Brazil is football on the sand.
Argentina, Maradona's hand.
Germany, an oompah band.
America is a gun.

Holland is a wooden shoe.
Hungary, a goulash stew.
Australia, a kangaroo.
America is a gun.

Japan is a thermal spring.
Scotland is a highland fling.
Oh, better to be anything
than America as a gun.”
-Brian Bilston

We are tired y’all, we can only deal with so much, we are still in a pandemic, we are working, parenting, caregiving, trying to fit in time for self care, therapy, doctor's appointments, dentist appointments, orthodontia appointments, swim team, graduations, laundry…. Taking on more grief is just too much sometimes. Explaining to our kids that children their age were murdered at school is too much! Our rage and anger at an unjust world is too much at times.

We continue to believe in a better and brighter tomorrow because the alternative is unbearable. We implore you in our collective grief to:
•Vote, early and often
•Reach out for help if you ever entertain thoughts of hurting yourself or others
•Ask for support when you feel sad and overwhelmed
•Call, write and tag your Representatives and Senators on social media regarding your views on gun control and your anger on yet another mass murder of children and teachers

Here are our final thoughts for this blog, our hearts hurt, we feel overwhelmed and useless against this massive issue, just like you. But we can’t give up! Problems don’t ever just go away on their own. We can’t “hope and pray” them away. Nothing in History has ever been solved that way! Our forefathers and foremothers marched, protested, voted, and called on their Representatives and Senators and that is exactly what we will continue to do. Little steps in the right direction will edge the needle closer to a real solution.

Our collective grief is heavy and palatable, today we grieve, tomorrow and ever afterwards, we act.

As always, thank you dear readers for allowing us to be a part of your life and a part of your journey, we do not take this privilege lightly.

Wishing you all the best,
Team SG