If we ever felt like the world was an overwhelming and challenging place, it is now. Every day brings more and more awareness that what we once believed was true, is no longer; that the people who were to care for and protect us can no longer be depended upon to do so, and worst of all, that people who may be in our midst have the potential to turn on us and destroy our society.
Although this past week we became aware of the grossest and most disgraceful example of inhumanity by a handful of special unit police, I am focusing on the constant hum of gun violence. If only our forefathers knew that guns would be bigger, more dangerous, more available and used to attack and not simply protect, they may have modified their amendment. I can’t help but consider that although the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms, the Supreme Court in 2008 affirmed that the right belongs to individuals for self-defense. Additionally, the “dicta” states that the right is not unlimited, and that “the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill” is forbidden.
Granted, 2008 is only fifteen years ago, but we seem to be a different people today. A six-year-old brings a gun to school and shoots his teacher, while other adults are made impotent in trying to ameliorate the situation. A man in his 70’s, clearly able to control his need to kill for decades, loses his ability to do so and shoots up his former dance hall, where people he knew were celebrating Lunar New Year; a mushroom farm becomes a death scene. In total, there have been 18 mass shootings in 12 cities across the United States within a recent week.
There is nothing I can say, no words I can find, no way to implore those who identify the Second Amendment as their right beyond all the statistics that abound. We are a society of “my rights are what matter” despite how that lessens the rights of another. That has become the American Way. We can create alternative facts all we want. Sadly, and I say this from the bottom of my toes, this will never change. Assault and automatic weapons are part of the fabric of our nation. I can’t, however, keep from wondering what those who wrote and amended the Constitution would think if they knew the havoc our communities face. We are no longer shooting soldiers in red coats in the name of emancipation…we are shooting our own friends and family!
Unfortunately, you are right, Ellyn.
Ellyn, you beautifully articulated my own frustration with the idiots in Congress who refuse to outlaw assault weapons by citing their misconstrued interpretations of the 2nd amendment.
btw, miss ya!
I echo your frustration Ellyn (& Laura); thank you for so eloquently stating the obvious. Everyday is a gift for the living, it’s become the Wild West again & there is no sheriff.
I echo your frustration Ellyn (& Laura); thank you for so eloquently stating the obvious. Everyday is a gift for the living, it’s become the Wild West again & there is no sheriff.
If I see a person actually carrying a gun in a public setting I would immediately leave the area … now they want open carry in many states including FL. We, as voters, MUST vote these “crazies” out of office.
You said it perfectly! Amendment 2 must be amended It was written for a
different and different circumstances!
Love your post Ellyn.. Wish you would forward it to Congress and the NRA.
If only it would make a difference!
I agree, it is extremely sad that we live in this kind of world now. I personally think that when we elected a man of color as president of the United States, is when the majority of hatred and unkindness began. People with that “Good ol’ White Boy” attitude were very angry when this happened. It affected the small community I live in heavily. Then we had to put up with a horrible president in Trump which made the division even wider and spread more hate throughout our country, It needs to stop!!