ONE YEAR LATER

And what has changed since the horrific massacre of 17 persons in Parkland, Florida? Since February 14, 2018 – Valentine’s Day, what an irony – 1200 children, ranging from a few months to 17 years old, have died as the result of gun violence in America.

There was the mother who killed her three children before taking her own life; there are the children caught in the crossfire of violence; there are the children shot by an angry father whose wife was trying to escape a life of domestic violence. Every day someone dies as a result of gun violence, every single day.

Some states like New Jersey have tightened gun laws. In Congress Bob Menendez and Rep.Ted Deutsch of Florida have introduced federal legislation that would ban the sale of gun magazines that would hold more than 10 rounds.  The AR-15 market is not happy. Wow, just think, how many fewer children can be killed with ten rounds than 15. Enough is enough, the Parkland survivors cry. Will we respond?

––Pastor Joyce