Again, What Is It Going To Take?

   

REPOST ON 2/22/18
     This topic, GUNS; this is I think, the fourth or fifth time, I've posted this, or another similar, hoping against hope, after yet another tragedy, for 21st Century updated gun rules, laws, and regulations.

     I've never wanted to infringe on somebody's right to own a gun, to keep at home for safety.  

     However, I question the rationale, but I also question the rationale of owning a fast car or a super large house, when you have to work most of the 24/7 to pay for each.  

     Having a gun for personal safety, without training and regular practice... most of us are not Angelina and Brad in Mr. & Mrs. Smith; nor are we Denzel in The Equalizer.  But, if you want a gun at home, fine.  

     Handgun, fine; hunting rifle or shotgun; fine.  Is it too much to ask for one to have a license, and required renewal's every year, complete with physical, mental, eye exam, etc.  As well as one for all, who have access to it?  

     To drive a car, you must go through getting a license, have money to purchase a car as well as insurance; and a car's raison d' etre (reason for existence) is transportation.  

     Why is it such a bother, to ask for sense for an instrument is made for killing?  Killing still is illegal, isn't it?

     As writer/comedian Sara Benincasa wrote in "Dear America: Here's Your Gun Solution-

WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?

from the internet

     Do you know what this is?

     I confess, I had never given it a thought.  And I LOVE JAMES BOND FILMS.  Despite seeing this image, who knows, how many times; I never gave a thought to what it actually was.

    What it is, is the view out of a barrel of a gun.  Whether it's supposed to be a Beretta 418 or a Walther PPK, I do not know.  Kinda pretty.  The view from the other side of the barrel, not as much.

     This post was originally started in October of 2014.  Given the recent shooting at a church in Charleston, SC, and now the shooting in Louisiana, I STILL would like to know, what is it going to take?

We Cannot Just Shrug This Off.

Photo from a CNN article

     As the sole writer of Sadie's Gathering, I try to put up new posts fairly regularly, around 3 a week.
     Last Monday, I posted How Many Rapists/Rape Victims Do You Know?  That post, I had worked on for a while and hopefully understandably was a relief, when I finally finished and posted.  Later that same day, I posted a quick post to bring attention to my newest page, Why You're Probably Here.  Then on Tuesday, I jumped for joy to post a congratulatory post in honor of my favorite hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks for winning the Stanley Cup; again.  YEAH!  I had posts that I had planned to post before week's end, concerning Caitlyn Jenner, Rachel Dolezal, and even the two escaped convicts.
     
     Then Wednesday night, hell broke loose.  
     A 21 year old man, went to church, attended Bible study, then shot and killed 9 innocent church goers, 6 women, 3 men, 2 of which were preachers.  The victims were black.  The shooter was white. 

CHURCH.

Where one goes to pray; commune with God; to share hope and faith; to try to bring grace to all other areas of their life.  To find peace.

Not a place for a gun.

Don't want to discuss the gun factor?

Don't want to discuss the race factor?

Fine, fine, FINE.

     Okay.  Just the same we DO need to talk about it.

     With the rate of violence happening in America's towns, how long will it be before it's our school; our church; our movie theater; our neighbor; our child?

     If I could work my will, I'd make certain that every life that is created is wanted.  By the age of 2 that life would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they were wanted and cherished by their parents, (who are living their happily ever after-so in love, equals in housework, breadwinning, child caring and rearing, dream) but also cherished and nurtured by their neighbors on both sides of the street, (who are raising their own cherished offspring and living in domestic bliss as well) and everyone would love thy neighbor as they love themselves, regardless, of color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or whether they drink Coca Cola or Pepsi.  Despite the fact that both Coca Cola and Pepsi can remove rust from a car's engine.
     When these wanted, cherished, affordable children became adults overnight (their 18th birthday) they would embark upon the world, making rational, compassionate, sensical decisions at every turn.  A few, or heck a lot, so inspired by their nurturing upbringing, will solve the energy crisis; discover cures; end homelessness and hunger; while some will compose and create works of art till that fateful day when they meet the one who was made to balance and complete their life's duet.
     Then, REPEAT.
     This wonderful, omnipresent, nurturing, compassionate mindset of America, would slowly but surely spread the world over.
      
     Finally we would have peace on Earth, and goodwill to all of its creatures.

<Ahhh...>, if only.

     However, that's not the world, country, town, neighborhood, or even family that any of us live in.

And I humbly forthrightly state, that I don't have one, much less all of the answers.

I only ask, 

For the love of God...

When is the violence going to stop?

Yesterday, we saw Inside Out.  I now have a new Pixar favorite.

Without going into the premise of the movie, perhaps it inspires my closing thought.

     I hope that we will not shrug this sadness off.  I hope from this great sadness, many will come together.  And that this sadness will inspire compassion, and through the disgust, anger and fear, some day joy may be found.

Together.








You may also like to read:

Take A Moment; Then Pass It On!