November 5, 2017
8:55 p.m.

Okay, spoiler alert: This post is likely to piss some people off. If this means you, I'm going to nicely suggest you stuff a sock in it for now, because I, too, am entitled to my free speech rights, and I'm about to do some speaking.

We need gun control. We need reasonable regulations. We need to STOP offering thoughts and prayers in the wake of tragedy and DO something effective to make sure that these senseless killings don't continue.

Deer hunters--I don't want to hear it. This is not about you. I don't honestly think you are out there with assault weapons and handguns looking for a 30 point buck. I don't want anyone to take your .22 or your 30.06.

Of course, if you ARE out there hunting with a machine gun--Pu-Leeze! Why???

This has become personal for me.

Just a few days ago, I was having a basically ordinary day. I turned on my computer and was confronted with a breaking news story about a shooting with multiple people down at a Wal-Mart store in Thornton, Colorado.

My daughter works in that store.

It wasn't time for her shift, but people in my family shop there. I'm in Wyoming at the moment. I immediately called home. "Is everyone there?" I demanded when my son answered the phone.

"What?"

"Is everyone at the house? No one went shopping? Where is everyone?"

"Mom---WHAT is going on?"

Oh, son of mine. Ye of little patience and zero mind-reading capability. I had to explain things to him in order to get a straight answer. Yes, everyone was home or otherwise accounted for. No, my daughter had not gone to work yet.

But--oh! She had a message on her phone. Don't go to work. Please check in.

It absolutely was her place of employment. Three people were dead, shot by a man who just walked in the door and started firing.

There followed several hours of police presence, and an arrest the following morning. If you live in this country and you watch the news. you probably know the whole story by now.

What you don't know is that it took two days for people to get back to work. Wal-Mart will be following up with anyone who might need grief or PTSD counselling, and good for them.

My daughter was a wreck her first day back. Yes, the shooter had been arrested, but--things happened far too close to home, and it's hard not to be nervous walking back into a place where a mass-murder took place.

Last month over fifty people were murdered while attending an outdoor concert in Las Vegas. A concert, for crying out loud.

And now...this morning, a little church in a small Texas community was the scene of slaughter. Twenty-six confirmed dead, at least twenty injured. Some of these dead and injured are children.

In the wake of all this, government officials offer "thoughts and prayers". "Thoughts and prayers"!

That's effective. Right?

If thoughts and prayers actually did any good, these things would not be happening!

I'm over it.

Oh, get off your "I'm offended" bandwagons. I'm not challenging your faith. I'm not challenging the need for solace and comfort for the victims and survivors.

By all means, offer prayer to those injured, to those suffering loss. Certainly. It's comforting to know that people care, that they take the time to ask for peace and understanding and love for all concerned. So pray, spare a thought.

 But for God's sweet sake, offer up some practical solutions while you're at it. Call your representatives and demand some action.

Then pray some more. Why not? If nothing else, it will make you feel better.

This has got to stop.

I don't care how much money the NRA offers to donate to the politicians, enough is enough. There needs to be careful consideration given to regulating the sale and possession of firearms.

And it needs to be done now.

Let the hateful comments begin. I know a lot of you are thinking that you'll give up your guns when they are pried from your cold, dead fingers. That it's your God given right to bear firearms.

I'd like to remind you that the firearms the constitution gave Americans the right to bear were single shot rifles.

You are welcome to keep those forever.
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In other news, Daylight Savings time has ended. It will now be dark by 5:00 p.m. Sooner, as the season passes from Fall to Winter.

Once again, I protest time change. Once again, I will be ignored.

Have a nice night.