Is Our Democracy Alive When Our Children Are Dead Too Soon Because a Few People Want Their Freedom to Bear Arms. . .
Dear Team,
On May 24, 2022, our day was shattered when we learned that 19 children and two adults were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It is a brutal truth and it is too painful to take.
We, as a society, are rocked to the core once again and again. This is the 213th mass shooting on day 145 of this year.
How do you tell a mother, a father, a grandparent that their vivacious young one was senselessly gunned down?
Our hearts are bleeding: For the children whose lives are cut short too soon; For their loved ones grieving; For our society that is pained and paralyzed by sadness and seeming helplessness.
We are crying because we have lost control in protecting the innocent in our society who have fallen victims to gun violence.
We ask: is our democracy alive when our children are dead too soon because a few people want their freedom to bear arms?
How is it possible that more than 90% of the population want to protect the innocent from gun violence and yet our elected officials are not able to do so?
This is where it is unbearably sad that the laws fail to represent the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of the population.
What are we to do . . .
Every time senseless and preventable mass shootings happen in our society, we cringe and let out a quiet scream on what we can do because this is too much. Too much to take.
Now, more than ever, we have to strengthen our spirits:
- to take action and elect the right people whose hearts and minds are in the right places and truly promote the safety and health of our society, not those clouded by other selfish motives;
- to pressure our lawmakers to pass laws that will prevent these tragedies such as background checks, licensing process and, as one scientist recommends, to consider this a public health crisis to be analyzed and acted upon accordingly. See note below.
- to lend our voices, our action and support organizations spearheading the collective efforts in stopping mass shootings.
At ForensisGroup, though deeply pained with this incident, we cannot feel helpless. We will support organizations such as https://www.everytown.org/ .
Again, this is part of our company’s mission – to preserve truth and justice and be part of the solution in what ails our society today.
This we cannot fail to do because when we are confronted with death, we are also confronted with life, our own and those of others especially those of our children. We are confronted with our obligation to ourselves and to society to help preserve life and to support each other to live a good, productive, purpose-driven life. This is at the core of our democracy, our humanity.
Let us not rest until we can protect our innocent. Take care of yourself, your loved ones, and our communities.
Sincerely,
Mercy T. Steenwyk
President & CEO
Note: