Terror finally strikes close to home
When my phone rang, showing my middle son’s number, it seemed strange because he had already called me earlier during his lunch break; he was going to be working late and would not get a chance to call later.
After my “Hello”, Jason’s words initially seemed innocuous:
Jason: “Dad, are you watching TV?”
Me: “No. Why?”
Jason: “Don’t be upset or worry. Kyle (my youngest) is O.K.”
Me: “What?”
Jason: “There has been a shooting and the whole campus is on lock-down.”
Me: “What?”
Jason: “I called him and got through the second time. He is on the second floor of the Student Union building, sheltering-in-place, and calling friends to see if they are safe. He has already talked to Mom, so you’ll be able to get hold of him if you call.”
By now I am watching live TV coverage of another mass shooting, in the making, this time at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I assume the daily onslaught of such tragedies will inoculate me from the horror; not this time.
I call Kyle, he answers and assures me he is safe. I ask if he heard any gun fire, but thankfully he says “No”. My voice begins to quiver and rasp as we talk and I tell him it is just a side-effect of the recent bout of antibiotic therapy I underwent; he muses at what a terrible liar I am. I ask him to please stop by, when he can finally leave campus, because the Easter Bunny dropped off some Cadbury Eggs for him at my place. We chat a bit more and then say our goodbyes. I hope it will not be our last.
As I watch students walk single file with arms raised, I begin to cry uncontrollably. The caption under the news anchors reads:
2 KILLED AND 4 INJURED IN SHOOTING UNC CHARLOTTE
Further commentary indicates that two three of the four survivors have ‘life threatening’ injuries, so maybe the death toll will go higher. Of course, compared to Las Vegas or Orlando or Christ Church, I find myself thinking “Well, this isn’t too bad”.
BULL SHIT.
By nature, I am a very non-violent person: While watching this latest tragedy unfold, I didn’t think “If only I had been there with a gun.” rather I think “If only the shooter didn’t have a gun.”
Unfortunately, as these insane scenarios happen time and time again, however, I find myself fantasizing about posthumously taking Charlton Heston up on his offer and prying his gun from his “cold, dead hands” and from every other sanctimonious gun wack job that imagines they are the only thing standing between freedom and tyranny.
NEWS FLASH: If you think your ‘pop gun collection’ will do anything to stop a modern army, you are delusional beyond all belief and have watched way, way too many YouTube videos and read way, way too much B.S. on 4Chan. The reality is, the only thing that can stop what you claim to fear so much is an open, fairly elected, democratic government.
And make no mistake, the Orange Cheeto-in-Chief (whom you seem to think is your savior) would not hesitate to vaporize you at the first sign of trouble:
Secretary of Defense: “Mr. President, a group in Montana claiming to be ‘true patriots’ have seized control of the state.”
Trump: “So?”
Secretary of Defense: “Uh, they think a woman’s place is ‘bare foot, pregnant, and in the kitchen’.”
Trump: “So?”
Secretary of Defense: “Well, they feel Ivanka has too much influence over you and should be removed from the White House.”
Trump: “How many Electoral Votes?”
Secretary of Defense: “Uh, three, I believe.”
Trump: “Nuke’em!”
And you thought Obama was coming for your guns: SURPRISE!!!!!
P.S. Kyle made it home safe and sound.
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 · 4:08:37 PM +00:00
·
Swamp Fox
N.B. This diary was not meant to say there should be no gun ownership by private citizens in the U.S. My intent was to reinforce the premise that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has been twisted and perverted from its original intent by flag waving, nefarious, and greedy individuals. These individuals, far from being concerned with liberty and freedom, are simply interested in self enrichment and their need for power and control at any cost, regardless of the suffering they cause.
The job of The Daily Kos, its members, and its readers is to make certain that the progressive cause is a shining light during these dark times and that it serves to direct us toward a better, truly free, democratic nation.