Twenty-one people, including 19 children, were killed at a school here in Texas yesterday. We are all sick over this news. Many of us are not just heartbroken, but we are mad as hell too.
We all know that this never should have happened. We’ve already started to hear calls for more gun control, less gun control, more mental illness support, more security, and more support from the faith community. That list of reasons, I’m certain, will continue to grow today. It will continue to grow for a while, or at least until we all are numb to it again. It will grow for a while, or at least until we forget about it and do nothing again.
Doing nothing is what we’ve been conditioned to do. Sandy Hook proved that. Unfortunately, the senseless Uvalde shooting will likely produce a similar outcome. Unless our leaders really begin to lead on this subject.
Whatever you think the problem is — dammit, do something about it. Let’s take a multi-pronged approach to a growing problem in this country. If it’s a mental health issue, then do something about it. If it’s a gun issue, then do something about gun safety. If it’s something else, name it, address it and fix it. This is more likely a complex problem that will require complex and thoughtful solutions.
This latest mass shooting, which killed 19 small children, happened in Uvalde, Texas. That’s only a couple of hours away. It could have easily been Seguin, Texas. I’d like to think we’ve done a better job locking down our schools, but Sandy Hook was locked down too, and look what happened there.
Leaders, please lead. Your thoughts and prayers are pointless if they don’t lead to you doing something meaningful. Until then, all I can say is Kyrie eleison.