Over the last ten days or so we have been consumed with stories about the massacre in Uvalde and gun violence. Texas seems so far away from us, but gun violence just doesn’t occur there but closer to us, for sure. Different politicians and leaders are now putting forth all kinds of proposals from national background checks and red flag laws to assault rifle bans. While they diddle about, more people die.
Yesterday’s New York Times noted that with just four laws, 35 mass shootings would ot have occurred: banning the sale of large capacity magazines; expanding red flag laws to remove guns from people in crisis, expanding background checks to private gun sales, and banning assault weapons.
As of yesterday, since May 24, there have been 22 more “mass shootings” – that is a shooting wherein four or more people were killed. What are we waiting for? The Second Coming?
Prayer for the Day
We confess, O Lord, that we are unsettled by violence,
And chafe when we are told to respond to hate with love;
Rejecting as we are rejected, we go through the motions,
Speaking words of reconciliation without meaning.
Forgive us and open us to the new freedom given us,
Help us to live with courage and work for nonviolence.
In the name of the One who points the way,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
Thoughts for the Day
Why ban guns? Let’s give everyone rocket launchers. What could possibly go wrong?
- Oliver Markus Malloy, German-American writer
We are so sure we know what freedom is in America that we cannot possibly imagine a world in which true freedom might come after a sacrifice of personal rights. Freedom is sending your kids to school with confidence that they will come home at the end of the day.
- Taylor Shulman, from When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough
To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me,
For if you are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help,
As I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.
Psalm 28: 1-2