I was gonna make a post tonight about the NHL playoffs and how proud I am of the Lightning sweeping the Panthers last night in the NHL playoffs, but events that occurred today in Texas changed my thought process and have instead decided to change directions…

The United States is the ONLY country in the world where mass shootings occur on a regular basis.  Today, 18 CHILDREN were killed in a school in Uvalde Texas..  EIGHTTEEN!!!  imagine that…  This was an elementary school in which children ranging from 6 – 12 years old go on a daily basis to learn, to be educated, to be engaged, and to look forward to their future.  These kids had no chance… These kids woke up this morning, had their favorite cereal for breakfast, hugged their parents before going to school, neither of which realized that it would be the last time they would embraced each other.  My heart is deeply hurting tonight as I watch the coverage of this tragedy and I do not know what we are doing as a country.

I do not own a firearm, have never wanted a firearm and never even considered purchasing a firearm.  I never felt that I lived in an area where I felt I needed a firearm.  My family is historically conservative, to include my parents, uncles, cousins, etc.… and they DO own firearms, I have seen them, I have held them and yet, I still have never felt that I had the need for one.  I do not begrudge my family members for owning these weapons, and I honor and respect their right to own them, as the constitution protects their right to own them.  I do, however have an issue with ownership of AR-style weapons that have no place in the general public.  There is no logical reason whatsoever to own these weapons other than the act of killing people.  They are not for hunting, they are not for protection (a handgun can provide that protection) nor do they have any practical use in our society.  They are purchased simply because people LIKE them and get a certain “high” from owning them.

I am in favor of a BAN on these weapons and the prevention of the general public from owning these weapons of war.  These weapons have no use other than on a battlefield by military personnel and not by the general public.  The individual responsible for today’s horrific tragedy purchased these weapons as soon as he turned 18 and was legally eligible, per Texas law, to purchase it.  nothing prevented him from getting access, but one has to wonder why an 18-year old would NEED to own such a weapon of mass-destruction.  It boggles the mind.  I don’t get it, I don’t understand it and I am disgusted knowing that it was so freely available to a young man without any checks and balances to look at who he is and if he has a history of mental illness or actions that may have raised a red flag.

My heart is breaking tonight for the families of the dead…

The gun laws in this country are weak… they have failed our children and no matter how many times it happens, our elected officials have refused to change any of it.  They have the power to make change, but the gun lobby of the NRA and other guns-rights groups have put so much money in their pockets they refuse to act.  All of the “thoughts and prayers” in the world wil not bring these children back to their parents.  The time to act has long passed, it is time finally for the Congress and the President to act, and make changes to the law that allows these military grade weapons available to the general public.

Thanks for reading…

I promise to return to sports on my next post…  I have a lot to say.