WHAT TO SAY

     More hand wringing. More "thoughts and prayers" and more useless hot air that means nothing. More children dead.
     What is there to say when a lesson of blood and tears is never learned. Why is it that a President who himself is allegedly mentally ill as determined by his behavior can repeat his thoughts and prayers meme, talk of the mentally ill and propose yet another program, one of his many that never seem to take off and it means nothing, less than nothing, worse than nothing. Words. Words that are empty. Words that further abrade the national psyche. Words that not only do not stop the carnage, but in fact, encourage more of it by refusing to face the truth.
     Assault weapons. Semi automatic assault weapons. Yes, needed for military and perhaps policing purposes but why should I or any other person be allowed to enter a gun store and buy one? Why should a semi be so easily adapted to become fully automatic? Why is the ammo so easily available?
     These are questions that have been asked and asked and asked and never have received a valid response. To flaunt the Second Amendment is not the answer. Yes, after thorough vetting and strict elimination of mentally ill candidates, violent offenders, domestic abusers, etc. people should be allowed to buy a handgun IF they qualify. They should not be allowed to buy off line at a gun show or in states with looser rules. A gun is a weapon. Period. It can be used for self defense. A rifle can be used for hunting. But why does any normal citizen need an assault weapon? There is only one answer to that and it is not acceptable. It is to kill. Period!
     Some claim it is fun to shoot. Maybe. I have no clue as I cannot even lift them and have no desire to either. But lift them and shoot them in a target range and leave them there. Why are they on the streets? Why are they so easily available to kill our children, our teachers who gave their lives for these children, to kill bystanders, to kill at all! Why must we see again and again the photos and videos of military looking police storming a building where the future is supposed to be getting educated and instead are getting shot. How many more photos of kids walking out with their hands up so they are distinguishable from the violators, the murderers?
    Are we not tired of this? I am. My heart breaks for the parents and families of these victims. A life has been wiped out. A future has been stolen. And more crocodile tears from the world, from the politicians, from NRA zealots.
     In a civilized world children are sacrosanct. They are the future of mankind. We have not been perfect in our treatment of children but we have made great strides and then this happens. Or we see the armies of stolen children forced into war in Africa and Asian countries at war with themselves. We have seen the young girls stolen and brutally enslaved,  serving as sex slaves in many cases. And here - we simply allow them to be killed.
     And you know, this whole DACA business is simply a sign of the crap that goes around. All proposals defeated, now there is one to basically sell them for $5 billion a year for "security" and they have to register every two years. So for money they can stay? Are they not contributing with their work, their taxes, their businesses? Why can they not become citizens of a country they love - until we force them otherwise with our stupidity.
     What is the matter with us? Why do we ignore the corrupt, the evil, the horrifying and stick to stupid and deadly actions or lack thereof? Why? What is there to say? What to say? Nothing. Nothing at all. Just mourn with the families and  call your representatives. Besiege the NRA with emails, with calls, with letters. Words. Words. What to say.
     May their memories be for a blessing and  may they rest eternally under the sheltering wings of G-d.