Now, these community names sound pretty harmless, unlike the general public's perception of large urban areas. I am just saying I don't know the details of these communities, but these two locations succumbed to mass shootings.
Saturday night is when friends and families get together to unwind, have a good time, and basically chill and relax after a week of school, work and responsibilities. People having harmless fun in the "land of the free" yet not being "free."
Tuesday night, before Thanksgiving, is a time to get the necessary items for Thanksgiving, which is Thursday. I, myself, was at the local grocery store in the morning, and the store was packed with people buying for Thanksgiving; also because most grocery stores aren't open on Thursday, and those that open will have lines at the checkout line that can go across the store. Yes, I have seen those lines, and they can give anyone a panic attack.
Out at Walmart buying for Thanksgiving, tired from working all day with one more work day ahead, and someone comes in and shoots and kills you or your family and friends. This is not the first time this has happened. Is this the new norm? Back in May of this year, in Buffalo, a gunman entered a grocery store, and yes, another mass shooting. The victims were there to pick up a cake or food items for family get-togethers. Have you ever run into a grocery store to pick up a pastry for a friend? To celebrate an event? I have. I just did not expect to be killed doing that. Mass shootings have happened at job sites, schools, hospitals, traffic, subways, grocery stores, and everywhere. Do you feel safe?
It is unknown the thought process in the killer's mind last night, he is dead, and initial reports say he may have "taken his own life." Club Q is called a hate crime because it was an LGBTQA club, and there will be a slew of chargers.
HATE . A disease that some people carry within them that motivates them to go and kill ( take the life away from another human).
A society with hate is a sick society. It does not matter what their economy is like, how well they are perceived as doing, what the stock market is like, and please, is it really a "first world" when you can't go grocery shopping without fearing being murdered?
We live in a country where politicians comment about the size of each other's hands during a Presidential debate. There is more decorum at a high school debate competition, and there is better behavior at a high school student government meeting than at the United States Congress.
There is pettiness and stubbornness. Government and legislation are being treated like athletic teams.
There was a time in my lifetime when Conservatives and Liberals could work together for the country we all reside in. Perhaps I will be accused of being biased, but my observation is that Republicans are more focused on winning ( for their team, Team Republican) and are forgetting their real purpose.
How long are we going to wake up to mass shootings? Hopefully, they will stop before we find ourselves in the wrong place and are shot and killed. If you are reading this, think about it and what you can do. Are you willing to contact your legislators? Let's look beyond the idea of everyone carrying a gun. If one is shopping, one is focused and on task. The gunman has the upper hand because they have planned and are ready. Also, everyone shooting in an enclosed area will kill more people. Think about it. We have to focus beyond the idea of everyone carrying a gun. This means everyone is ready to kill. That is the core of this problem, killing.
I think we need to explore where the hate is coming from. Is it social, financial, or psychiatric? Whatever it is, let's try and find out. Hatred is a disease that destroys the carrier and those around them. We can do better. We must do better.
