This week the world watched in horror as terror unfolded in Las Vegas at the hands of a madman. As we were glued to the news reports wishing there was something we could do to help the only thing that came to my mind was to pray. I have heard the comments on social media about that being the go to for everyone so I ask, "Why not?" The people being shot at, pinned down helplessly, the police officers who ran towards the gunfire, the first repsonders who ran in the line of fire to help those in need, the concert goers who didn't think of themselves as they helped others to safety, they all needed our prayers, the needed something more powerful than that gunman firing down on them.
Over the past few days we have heard a lot of speculation, conspiracy theories and cries for gun reform, which took all of a few hours to get going. What many didn't get was this is the real world and in the real world crimes aren't solved in an hour so an investigation of this magnitude is going to take time and dedication from the agencies involved in piecing all of this together. Tossing out conspiracy theories, speculating what might have been going on in the gunman's head at the time, and getting on the soapbox for gun control isn't helping anyone especially those who are suffering at the hands of this evil person whose name I refuse to use. I don't want to give him anymore credit than the news has already bestowed on him. He has had more than his 15 minutes of undeserved fame.
The fact that someone could do this to any human being let alone a crowd of innocent people out to enjoy a good night of entertainment and family time boils my blood. The remarks made on social media about it being OK with the right because the shooter was white is more than disturbing. Evil comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I don't care what color anyone's skin is if a person can carry out such an evil plan with such accuracy, in my eyes, he is not insane, not mentally ill, but smarter than most would give him credit for. After all there is a thin grey line between the power of good and evil just like there is a thin grey line between the dark and the light and once your cross over that line into the darkness, for many, there is no turning back. This attack was thought out and as the information comes through to us it is becoming more and more clear it is not the only one he could have been planning. I am not a psychologist nor to I pretend to be, I am a concerned citizen and I honestly believe he had an agenda and was in the process of carrying it out as a well thought out plan, not the act of an insane person acting on impulse.
Unfortunately over the past few years we have become very acquainted with the mind of a terrorist and we know they don't act on impulse, domestic or foreign. No one should have to live in fear of going out with their families and enjoying a pleasant night. No one should have to live in fear of attending church and being attacked for your belief. No one should have to live in fear of being attacked for their religious or political belief. In other words, no one should have to live in fear for any reason at all. This is the United States of America and we have allowed the evil to seep in somewhere along the line and those of us who still believe in the American Dream are being silenced because we offend others, hurt their feelings by standing up for ourselves, and make them feel dizzy and out of control of their own lives.
I have read more postings on social media aimed at starting a fight then at thinking of those who were affected by it all. This entire country was touched by what one man did even if we didn't have a person directly involved in the shooting. We cried with the witnesses as they gave an account of what happened as they tried to get to safety. We sat on the edge of our seat as we listened to the recount of how so many were trapped, pinned down, by the gunfire aiming down on them. Cried as we heard the stories of those who have lost their loved ones and yet there are still those out there who want to bait and fight. For what? For gun control laws that may or may not have made a difference because we all know if someone wants to get their hands on a gun, an illegal weapon, they can and there is nothing a gun control law will do to prevent it.
I grew up with guns in my house and guess what, no one went out and about killing anyone they felt like. Yes, it was simpler times but that is a poor excuse. This shooter was older than I am by a couple of years so he grew up in my time and still something triggered him to go off the deep end but no matter what the cause it didn't make it right. There is never a reason to murder someone let alone open fire on a crowd of innocent people you don't even know. You aren't happy with your life don't take it out on others, blame the one person who is responsible, you!
Less than 24 hours after the shooting while parents and families members were still waiting to hear of the fate of their loved ones politicians and the Hollywood elite jumped on the band wagon and started spewing the need for gun control and how the Republicans are against it. This isn't a Democrat or Republican issue this is a Constitutional issue and Congress needs to understand the American people deserve the right to protect themselves. I am not going to get all into this because I will do a blog on the Second Amendment but for now I just want to say this is not the forum for it. Let the people who have suffered a loss, are sitting by the beside of an injured loved one, or home recuperating from this ordeal know we are concerned about them and not politics. Show them your love, support, and unity that American's pull on in times of crisis. Let them know they are not alone that America stands united with each and every one of them.
President Trump spent Wednesday in Vegas visiting those who were injured and social media lite up like a darkness tree spewing hate and insults every which way. Attacking even some of those who were injured and posted their meeting of the President and First Lady on their social media page. I honestly feel this country, our morals, our values, respect for others, love for our country and flag, have been seriously misplaced among the mouthy. Those who love to keep going at the negative and never find a way to instill the positive in any situation. Gnawing and instilling hate where ever they can and then they ask why something like this happens. You are asking for it by holding onto the hate and not letting the goodness into your soul. We don't all have to agree on things because then life would be boring but what about listening to one another on a pleasant note and not calling names, spewing insults and insisting it's your way or no way because you know what is best for all. No one knows what is best for all especially not our government. Congress is having a hard enough time trying to fix the healthcare bill and tax reform piling on gun control is really going to over load them but then again perhaps that is what people want. They want Congress pulled in so many different directions nothing gets accomplished. Again this is not what should be discussed right now.
What should be talked about is the United States of America and it's citizens. We are a nation of mixed nationalities and color. No one person is better than anyone else. The colors of our flag are red, white, and blue. Colors to be proud of, that don't run and hide when trouble comes calling. We have the most amazing military, police, and first responders in the world, of course that's my opinion. We are a nation to be reckoned with on any given day because we don't back down. Suddenly we have become soft and now we have a President who is fighting to get back the strength of this great nation and he is met with anger by those who feel we are too tough, to ready for battle, to willing to protect our own. When something happens like the mass shooting in Vegas we come together as a nation in support of one another and while some talk about a way to fix it, others argue it can't be fixed, while others pray there is a happy medium. Who we are and what we stand for says it in the name of our country UNITED yet there are way too many to who would use a crisis to Divide us and fight to keep the negativity growing. Stop for five minutes and think of those people who have faced death on our soil and are now faced with mourning those they lost or living with the memory of the horrors they saw because of one evil man.
Stop being the armchair detective and putting conspiracy theories out there or mocking those who have their own opinion of what caused all of this. Start standing strong with the victims and their families and showing them the love and support I know this country is capable of. If someone pops on you social media page or you are confronted with a nasty person on someone else page just scroll down, walk away, and move on. Don't take the bait because it will not help anyone heal. When all is said and done the investigation will be revealed to us and we will know what the police know in due time. Let's let them do their job as we stand in support of all the victims and their families.
I want to give thanks to all those who didn't give a second thought to their own safety, to all our off duty police, military, and EMT's who just did what came naturally, to all the police who ran towards the shooting and protected those who were attending the concert, and especially to all those who were in attendance who pitched in helping strangers in need, seeing to it people got to the hospital and helping others get to safety. Each and every one of them, in my eyes, is not only the true meaning of what it is to be a American but they are real American Heroes.
May God Bless America and help the victims of this mass shooting, as well as Vegas, heal.
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