Enough

Despite interminable hours of media coverage 

and 

millions of rants on Facebook 

and other social media, 

what do we know today that we didn't know yesterday?

There are too many guns available to too many people - 

people with limited self control

and 

untreated mental illness.

The direct result 

of inadequate funding

for mental health intervention

and

elected officials

with no backbone

to take on serious

efforts to curb

the adolescent, testosterone driven
fascination 

with weapons.

However,
for every deluded
guy with a gun,

there are millions of first line responders,

healthcare providers, 

people of good faith

and

loving neighbors

who drop everything

to help someone
when they're

in need.

Millions more
who pray
with a shared sense
of pain
and outrage

We need to keep some perspective - 

our illusions of being 'safe'

are just that - 

illusions.

There aren't enough security guards,
metal detectors,
and
contingency plans
to keep us 'safe' at work,
home
or school.

There has always been cruelty, 

injustice 

and 

uncertainty

in this world.

There has never been any guarantee

about how we will die
and
there is no age group
which
death
and, yes,
evil
cannot reach.

There is also love, 

beauty

and

generosity.

I chose NOT to live my life based on fear.

I also chose to use the energy

I would love to use
ranting about

the insanity gripping our country

and channel it into efforts

to contact every elected official

I can think of,

demanding

they get serious

about facing the 'realities'
we created for ourselves.

Poor choices
we have allowed
to rule us
for far too long.