The news is full of the $25 million settlement reached between the Broward County School District and the parents and family members of the 14 students and three faculty members killed in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, the day before Nicholas Cruz pleaded guilty. That day two security guards and an armed officer had not confronted Cruz.
Since the Columbine massacre in 1999 more than 256,000 children have experienced some form of gun violence, either wounded or killed, or locked in closets terrified they would be the next to die. The last school shooting was June 9, 2021, and then summer arrived.
Addressing gun violence is a serious issue. The Supreme Court faces a case on the so-called Second Amendment rights of people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. But the Justices don’t need to worry – those who have children have them in secure private school settings while our children die in schools and on the streets.
Prayer for the Day
How do we ask pardon, Holy One, when we allow our children to die?
Begging forgiveness, we hide behind specious arguments.
How often we turn our heads because we cannot face the survivors;
Shrugging our shoulders, we claim there is nothing we can do.
Chastise. O God, those who benefit from gun violence, we cry,
Hold them until they experience the pain of loss from guns.
In the name of the One who overturns the tables of violence,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Being in the middle of a war zone is crazy. Some of these children have been through more in their young lives than I’ve been through in my adult life.
Dawne Wilson, teacher in pre-k for 4-year olds, Washington, D.C.
Dad, I hope you are ok. I wish that I could see you but I couldn’t. I hope you are alright. Do you fill alright I’ll give up anything on my body for you.
Note from 8-year old Tyshaun to his father dying from a gunshot wound
With my voice I cry to the Lord; with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.
I pour out my complaints before God; I tell God my trouble.
When my spirit is faint, you know the way.
In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me,
Look on my right hand and see – there is no one who takes notice of me,
No refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.
I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
Give heed to my cry for I am brought very low
Psalm 142: 1-6