When Is Enough Going To Be Enough?

So many things went wrong today. A fifteen-year-old boy had unsupervised access to a powerful firearm. No parent ensured that the gun was locked away safely. No security detection equipment prevented him from taking the gun onto school property and into a crowded cafeteria. Some combination of influences in the boy's life led him to believe that rejection by a girl should be answered with murder.

An innocent child is dead and four more have been gravely wounded. Their families and friends are devastated. A community mourns. Because a girl said "No" to a boy, and the boy decided to shoot a bunch of people. And because no one prevented a child from gaining access to deadly force.

If you think that firearms protect people, think about those children at the cafeteria table being shot at point blank range. Think about it graphically. Think about their little bodies being pierced by heavy lead slugs speeding toward them at 1,000 miles per hour. How were they protected? What good did that gun do for them?

It's sad that schools and police departments and hospitals have to prepare for this type of tragedy, but I am thankful that they go through the trouble. But it's not enough. It doesn't prevent the angry maniac who's standing near you or sitting across the table from you from ending your life in an instant, all because they couldn't handle a bit of normal, everyday disappointment without giving in to some insane urge to end someone's life.

When is enough finally going to be enough?

Copyright © 2014 Daniel R. South 

All Rights Reserved