At least we should be grateful that the shooter did not have an AR-15 but only a 9mm pistol, which is deadly enough. And as we come close to the end of the year, there are fewer mass shootings than the year before. But we still need to ask: where does a 15-year old get ahold of such a weapon? As in most cases, the shooter also died, so we do not at this time any idea of a motive.
What we do know is that in spite of the 2022 gun laws passed by Congress, guns are still easily obtainable by persons who should not have them. In such shootings, whether at a Walmart or a school, everyone is a victim, and the trauma will last all their lives.
And the Supreme Court still has before it the ghost gun case, brought by Jennifer VAnDerStok, Michael Andren, & Tactical Machining, makers of kits that are readily made into guns without serial numbers so they are untraceable. .And they can be made on 3-D printers. At least 125 persons are killed every day in America by guns. Who will be next in this Season of Joy?
Prayer for the Day
Here we are again, O Lord, in mourning for the dead and wounded,
As we continue in what is supposed to be a joyous season;
Here we are again, O God, wondering what drives a person,
In this case a 14-year old girl, to kill fellow students and teachers.
Help us, O Holy One, to go beyond the morass of shootings,
And take intelligent action to stop the flow of guns.
In the name of the One who calls us to peace,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The truth is, today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison, but for our entire country, where yet another police chief is doing a news conference to speak about violence in our community.
Shon F. Barnes, Police Chief, Madison, Wisconsin
From Newtown to Uvalde, Parkland to Madison, to so many other shootings that don’t receive attention – it is unacceptable that we are unable to protect our children from this scourge of gun violence. We cannot continue to accept it as normal.
White House statement on shooting at Abundant Life Christian School
And God shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
Isaiah 2: 4