More Than A Gun

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

My heart is shattered today at the news of the pure evil demonstrated last night in Las Vegas.

My prayers and deepest sympathies are with our hurting nation right now, and especially the victims and their loved ones.

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I’ve been hard pressed to peel myself away from the news to write this post.

The level of atrocity and horror that is belching across our television airwaves today is enough to make you want to build a bunker and not come out until the second coming.

There was one thing I was not expecting today though: and that’s what I found when I scanned social media today.

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Honestly, I have been so sickened at the response by much of the public – and much of my Facebook newsfeed.

Instead of calls for prayer and compassion for the victims of the shooting, there is outcry for gun control reform.

Instead of numbers and addresses for blood banks to donate the vital lifeline so desperately needed in Vegas right now, there are email addresses and phone numbers to “flood” our congressmen and women about gun control.

Instead of comforting bible verses or religious images, there are political cartoons, using the pain and tragedy of others to parody and promote their stance on gun violence.

Instead of sorrow, and compassion, and empathy, there’s rage and outcry and defiance.

And it is disgusting.

Now is the time when we need to be uniting, offering compassion, seeking peace and offering prayer and support.

The behavior on display today by much of the public is nothing short of a disgrace.

Almost as bad as our athletes kneeling during the national anthem.


I wonder what those athletes, protesting police brutality, would have to say to the plain clothes, off-duty police officers who stuck around and risked their lives at the concert, directing people to safety, shielding people with their bodies, and willing putting themselves in harm’s way, all for the protection of strangers.

I wonder what they would have to say to those first responders who – in ten minutes – blasted down the hotel door of a known gunman with automatic rifles and went in, coming face to face with almost a certain death, to save others.

I don’t want to get into anything political. Not today. Not ever, really. So I’m going to just let you come to your own conclusions on that.

But in response to the uproar of gun control opportunists, selfishly using this tragedy for their own political agenda, I have just two things to say.

First: shame on you. Have you no heart? Really.

Secondly:

Guns are not the problem.

There, I said it.

It’s not the guns: It’s the person pulling the trigger.

It’s mental illness.

As a survivor of anorexia – a mental illness – I will be the first to tell you, that mental illness is the absolute culprit behind the destruction. – Be it inflicted on others, or in my case, on oneself.

It doesn’t matter if the weapon is a gun, a box cutter, rented trucks, homemade bombs, anthrax, or food– the weapon does not commit the crime: the person does.

Just ask 78 pound, anorexic me. I was using food – or rather, the lack there of — as my weapon to destroy my own life.

It was the mental illness. And I had to go to inpatient treatment to literally kick the demons out of my life.

A man who would calculatedly open fire on a helpless, innocent crowd of people from a perfectly located hotel room, 32 floors up and two football fields away is mentally ill.

And as a result, there are thousands of people who are left in the carnage, both physically and mentally.

And I agree: rapid fire, automatic weapons – like machine guns – should never be in the hands of anyone, other than the members of our armed forces and law enforcement officers.

But it is a pretty naive view to think that gun laws will keep guns out of the hands of bad guys.

It’s a tough issue. And what about other weapons? What do we do about mentally unstable or brainwashed people seeking to acquire fertilizer or other ingredients to make homemade bombs, or renting a truck to drive through a crowd? What are we to do then?

What price are we willing to pay in loss of freedom and privacy to reduce threats at the hands of mentally unfit people?

How far do we go as a society? It is a messy and complicated issue.

But right now, in the wake of this ghastly episode, our focus should be on one another. On the hurting. On the healing. On the hope.

Not on furthering one’s political agenda.

I was going to close in my own prayer for this nation, but I was so moved by President Trump’s remarks today, that I’m going to let his words take us out tonight.

And regardless of your opinion on our brazen leader, I invite you to read his sincere words with an open heart.


“In times such as these, I knew we are searching for some kind of meaning in the chaos, some kind of light in the darkness. The answers do not come easy. But we can take solace knowing that even the darkest space can be brightened by a single light and even the most terrible despair can be illuminated by a single ray of hope.

Melania and I are praying for every American who has been hurt, wounded or lost the ones they loved so dearly in this terrible, terrible attack. We pray for the entire nation to find unity and peace, and we pray for the day when evil is banished and the innocent are safe from hatred and from fear.

May God bless the souls of the lives that are lost, may God give us the grace of healing, and may God provide the grieving families with strength to carry on. Thank you. God bless America.”

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BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

498 thoughts on “More Than A Gun”

  4. Thank you, Beauty, for stating the truth once again. I am praying with you and the President and his wife for the families who lost a loved one today or had a love one injured. Gun control is not the answer. The answer is turning one’s life over to Jesus. Thanks again.

    On Mon, Oct 2, 2017 at 6:59 PM, BeautyBeyondBones wrote:

    > beautybeyondbones posted: “My heart is shattered today at the news of the > pure evil demonstrated last night in Las Vegas. My prayers and deepest > sympathies are with our hurting nation right now, and especially the > victims and their loved ones. I’ve been hard pressed to peel mys” >

    Liked by 5 people

  7. Amen to your words written here.

    The difference would be that my friends and family one and all joined together in prayer between ourselves as friends and on Facebook in prayer and thoughtfulness over this horrible tragedy. Maybe it’s because so many of us are joined in the commonality of first having been military dependents and then serving our country that we mostly all realize it’s the person behind the gun and not the gun or any other weapon that makes the difference. My thoughts and prayers are with all involved in this tragedy and their loved ones. My heroes on this day are the first responders on and off duty who worked to reduce the loss where possible. My standalone hero today is that guy captioned as something like “King of…” some sort of chat.. I don’t recall at the moment. The man watched a girl get shot in the head and instead of cowering in fear like the reasonable expectation might be…. he got some injured to care and drove one to the hospital in his van and then drove back to the scene willing to engage the shooter if necessary to save more lives. This man is a hero.

    I know that I’m babbling on way too much… so let me end with this. It does my heart and mind some good to see your reaction to this. It’s folks like you that make what people like my friends do and I use to do, so very worth while. Thank you for seeing things as they are and not as spoon fed. Thank you for appreciating the good folks. .. and I’ll shut up now.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. I completely agree and voicing this is very courageous.
    The scripture that’s been on my mind all day is, “because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold”.
    We’re living in the last days.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Thank you for thoughts well said. Our prayers are being said for the victims their family and the shooter and his family. May love conquer hate! Be blessed.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. You are a beautiful person and I am glad you wrote how you feel. Though I may have some different views I commend you on your courage to stand your ground. Differences should never cause hate. Differences should be embraced and welcomed with open arms. However differences should not cause people to kill. What happened today was a Terrorist attack and that individual does not deserve all the public recognition he is getting in the media. Lets send our hearts to those lost today! Peace and love to all!

    Liked by 3 people

      1. No need to thank me! I say what I mean! Thank you for being part of this wonderful writing family on here! You all mean so much to me! xoxo

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I totally agree with Sara. Difference should be embraced and welcomed with open arms. Even though I am not comfortable with guns rampantly available in the US but you were right to think guns might just be peripheral problem. The problem at the core could be more phycological. Maybe stronger family bond could help individuals to get out of frustration. My prayers are with the one and all

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks for this Aradhana. Family bonds are definitely important. It’s rare that families eat dinner together anymore and that’s so sad. I think it could definitely be a contributing factor to all this craziness. Hugs and love xox

        Liked by 1 person

  14. The treatment for mentally ill patients in this country is appalling the wait times the treatments it all just takes so long hopefully someday we can get that under control and may God the center of our country instead of anger and bitterness

    Liked by 3 people

  16. Just hope and pray the Las Vegas tragedy is not symptomatic of where our country is going…hate, criminal protests substituted for ‘free speech’, tearing down of historically significant statues… But, I pray! And, Pray! ♥

    Liked by 2 people

  19. Stephen Paddock. What happened? How did a heart once pure turn to evil violence? How many times were you rejected, put down, and made to feel hatred for other people? There’s a dark place in all of us and it’s not so very far from Stephen Paddock’s state of mind. What would it take to shift into evil. Most people would say, “Oh,never. Not me. Not ever.” But look deeper…ya..right there! Carl Jung wrote about the shadow side. That guy that cut you off. The woman at the counter who ignored you. The wife that dumped you and ran off. The partner that deceived you. Stephen Paddock was being created, over years and years, by everyone of us and Stephen Paddock is in each of us. That’s the horror. The true horror. Next time you see a stranger, smile. Maybe save a life.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Honestly– and not to be overly spiritual about this– I think this pure evil was instigated by satan himself, or at least one of his demons. Erics Illusions is right– the German soldiers in the Holocaust tapped into an evil psychology. But we have spirits and minds. Is every shooter in these shootings demonically possessed? Maybe. Mental health has much to do with it as well… but the Holocaust was of satan, and I believe satan can use the pride and mental illness in a person to do something sinister. Just my thoughts.

        Like

      1. I happen to be reading Jodi Picoults book, The Story Teller. It’s about the Holocaust. If you don’t think most people have that psychology ask 6 million Jews. Somehow German soldiers tapped into that very psychology.

        Like

  21. right on again. I couldn’t have covered it any better. I was also outraged at the people who made a point of not feeling remorse because they were probably Trump supporters. We have a heart problem not a gun problem

    Liked by 4 people

      2. He was two football fields away!!! 32 stories up! No gun in the crowd would have reached him.

        Like

  24. Thank you so much for the post. The acts of violence in Las Vegas are truly a tragedy. I am not a huge political buff and lately just tired of hearing about the stuff on the news regarding these professional athletes protesting about equality and being united together…I totally agree with you in regards to the unity that took place at the time of the attacks with first responders and others willing to help regardless of race or religion. And your comment about “Guns” not being the issue…that is spot on. Thank you again for writing.

    Liked by 2 people

  25. BBB: I could not agree with your post more. You wrote almost exactly what I’ve been thinking all day!!!! You are right. Guns do not kill people. People kill people. Inanimate objects do not kill people. That is not logical thinking. For those who do not agree, simply look at what happened to the Jewish people after they turned their guns over in the name of “gun control” before they were corralled and killed like disease infested cattle.

    Let’s all think about what we can do to show our support to those whose lives have been changed forever. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives last night, the survivors of this brutal attack and those close to them. The community of Las Vegas, NV has shown such strength. Their local law enforcement was nothing short of heroic in the way they handled the situation, they wasted NO time, potentially saving many more lives by quickly getting to the shooter.

    We need to pull together as a nation. We have so much more in common than in any differences we may have. Please, be thoughtful and open-minded.

    Liked by 3 people

  26. A lone wolf, it is said, had ten more rifles in the hotel room; and more ammunition and explosives were found in his home. By history, and it is only a guess, it is that the shooter wanted to avenge his father or his absence.

    Just like drugs, corruption, guns, etc.; have access to evil and not be contaminated, not all succeed, most succumb.

    And the population always solidarity with the victims at these times.

    Like

  27. Yes, yet another tragedy around the world to sober us. When we leave God out of the equation then the natural selfish nature of humans seems to surface in a variety of ways. We are good at pointing the finger at someone else as the cause of this collective distress but when the basic rule of harmony and decency, the 10 commandments, is brushed aside then there is no morality and nothing to keep in check baser nature. Nation after nation has fallen in history when basic goodness has been watered down to a dog eat dog society. Our Western civilization is at a crossroads and its time for us to sit up and notice how much we need a Higher Power to change the way we think as humans and begin to move back to the blueprint which can change our minds into a peaceful, happy and selfless society. This was the original intent in placing us on this planet.

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Caralyn, My comment is not in relation to this post, but I didn’t know how to contact you. I wanted to talk to you about promoting a novena for those suffering from eating disorders. If you have any interest in this, would you please contact me via my blog site? Thank you, Sweetie. You are doing good work.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Any time!! You are blessed and anointed. God is using you in a mighty way to help others. I can only imagine the great things He has planned for you. You are a blessing to those of us that have the pleasure of reading your writings.
        Ben

        Liked by 1 person

  30. I am glad you have this forum of caring for others. The dispassionate, disregard, and dismissal of empathy we have witnessed after this tragedy is a frightening manifestation of a widespread mental illness – ideological, borderline-personality, “racism.”

    Gun control? How about a CDC campaign against prescription hatred addiction and vitriol overdoses.

    Hayley Geftman-Gold, CBS vice president and senior counsel, posted on Facebook: “I’m actually not even sympathetic [because] country music fans often are Republican gun toters,” and, “If they wouldn’t do anything when children were murdered I have no hope that Repugs will ever do the right thing.”

    Here is a scary question: How many “friends” does she have on Facebook? She must have felt safe posting her feelings to them. Who would share, or be sympathetic to, such a souless, sociopathic viewpoint?

    CBS quickly disowned and fired her. But she and her madness are not gone. I shudder to think that such people are kneeling next to me in church. The harm their hatred does is pernicious, poison in the spiritual air we breathe.

    She needs our prayers too, to heal herself and her “friends.” But not before we pray for the souls of the dead, and the hearts of the living who mourn them.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Don’t know what else to write, except:
    Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. You said you didn’t want to get political, so why did you bring up athletes kneeling during the anthem, whose stance has nothing to do with what happened last night? Those two things are completely unrelated here. What happened last night was disgusting and I’m a little disappointed that you played off your post about it as unpolitical when it clearly was. Unfortunately, these acts of brutality are perfect platforms for starting discussions about what needs to be changed in the US, however much we believe that we should talk about the victims only. So talk about politics, but don’t pretend you aren’t.

    Liked by 2 people

  33. I applaud both your courage and your wisdom. Thank you for what you wrote today and for firmly standing your ground without becoming disagreeable. We must change the culture we’re living in now.
    “Dear Lord, Begin with changing me. Give me insight into any attitude that departs from Your will. Make me eager to embrace the ones who feel left out. Protect us all, Dear Heavenly Father, from evil. Help us to always encourage others.”

    Liked by 1 person

  36. You know this nation needs to get back to making Jesus Christ their King instead of their idols, sex, beauty, themselves, stars, and politics. So much clutter in today’s society! Let us all make the conscious choice to ask God to help us change, and get to know Him more. His body was torn to shreds on the Cross in the Person of Jesus. . .He gave everything! Why can’t we? This is a daily challenge. I think we are told to ”die daily” because it’s not a one time thing. Let us die to ourselves every day, keep our eyes wide open and watch out for the devil. . .and to no matter what seek Jesus’ face. Because when we seek him we find Him.

    And no matter what you are going through, if you have Jesus, your never alone.

    Like

  38. Hi,
    Thanks for sharing your voice on this issue. I agree. It is a cheap, cynical response for people to use human tragedy as a vehicle for their own political agenda.
    Best,
    Robert

    Liked by 1 person

  39. You’ve spoken the same words describing exactly how I felt right now, You’ve expressed a powerful message with your powerful-spiritual voice. I hadn’t wrote anything in a while on my post because I have been down and felt spiritually pained by all of the tragedies that have been recently taking place. From the tragedies of the recent hurricanes taking place to this mass tragedy in Las Vegas, NV; the pain has never ceased… but that’s how much harder and how much more I needed to stay in prayer and call on His Name. Only he can heal a grieving and broken heart and help all of His children, ALL OF US, to heal and stay strong.

    All of their families, friends, and even the spirits that are loss are ALL in my prayers. Stay strong. Always. By the way, your picture is exactly how I felt today after hearing this devastating news reports today on the radio and on the tv screens. Just know that I am with you and I’ll forever be (spiritually) here holding your hand.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. When something like this happens, you can choose to be divisive or try to begin the healing process. Gun control will do about as much good today as sword control did in the Middle Ages. What matters is the heart, which only God can change. The need to identify people with these kinds of issues and helping them over come them will not be aided by gun control.

    Liked by 1 person

  41. Hello Caralyn, very sad about the Las Vagas tragedy here in Australia too, . We are praying for all the victims, their families and America. I understand that guns don’t kill people, I have an analogy here, if I have a mentally unstable family member, I know not to have guns, knives or pills around me because I’m increasing the chances of them being in the wrong hands, especially if they were to snap. Unfortunately,evil prevails when good men do nothing! May God be with you all right now.

    Like

  42. I totally and wholeheartedly agree with you. I see it as appropriate to also mention the athletes and their decision to not honor our country. From the depths of our hearts, we need to see that the lack of empathy for human life demonstrated in Las Vegas and the lack of empathy for our forefathers’ efforts to build our country reflect a deepening lack of respect across variances that we cannot ignore. Powerful post.

    Liked by 1 person

  44. I couldn’t agree with you more, Caralyn! People are politicizing this before the bodies are cold, and that is an atrocity on its own. Foremost because deaths from gun violence have declined overall in the last twenty years, that according to a 12/3/2015 article by The Washington Post. Despite more of these pre-meditated mass shootings happening, overall gun deaths have been in decline for decades – with the INCREASE in gun ownership.

    As you point out, the problem is people who, for whatever reason, do not look to God for comfort and hope. They have not given their burdens to Jesus, and they boil over with grief and rage in their lives. They snap, and we have another Columbine or Las Vegas.

    I’m glad you also mentioned the whole NFL fiasco. I wrote on that last night: To Knee or Not to Knee. Just plain idiocy! What do you suppose those guys would think if they dial 911 and no one came? Or what if they came, but carried no weapons?

    I dusted off and reposted my article on Gun Violence from December 2015 tonight, both to speak to the same things you point to and to share the link to the Washington Post article.

    Well done tonight, Caralyn! Just get away from the media and don’t let this saturate you mind! Check the story once a day. Briefly. Then leave it alone. Otherwise you just start hurting yourself!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Once a day — that’s a really good rule of thumb. i need to adopt that. thanks for this Jeff. what a fascinating statistic on gun violence. wow. and you’re right – if only everyone had Jesus in their hearts, things would be a lot different! Patreon podcast is still trying to upload. I’m having internet issues…but it will be up soon if i have anything to say about it. looking forward to reading your post! thanks for stopping by, Jeff. big hugs to you and Julie! xo

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sorry I didn’t wait for the podcast! Getting tired early tonight. Old people go to bed early, right? *yawn* I’ll give it a listen tomorrow! I’m sure it’ll spark another thought or two! Hugs and God’s blessings to you and all you do!!

        Like

  45. I’m kind of with you, & kind of on the side of using this tragedy to push for mental health reform & gun control. It’s easy to throw stones as I look in from the other side of the world, where our view on gun ownership is so different, but I am appalled that still there are different rules per state. That it’s a right to own such a weapon, with little acknowledgement as to the circumstances of when that amendment was written (when rifles only held one or two bullets & took an age to load).
    Better mental health care seems to be a universal need, sadly.
    Hugs to you.

    Like

  46. There are times when Mental Illness is not an apt description of the cause of things such as the massacre in Las Vegas. To ascribe Mental Illness as the cause or reason is to mitigate the culpability of the perpetrator. Planned, methodical and efficient killing and wounding of so many of our brothers and sisters is nothing less than the embodiment of Evil.
    For those calling for more laws, restrictions, etc. I ask, when someone chooses to not obey God’s Law, what makes you think they will obey yours?
    There is something afoot within our country and around the world. Call it what you will. But pray. Truly pray. Not the ,”our thoughts and prayers are with you”, type of prayer. But, real prayer – “Father, deliver us from Evil, Amen”.

    Like

  47. I lived in Las Vegas from when I was nine years old until I was almost 22. The town has changed to be sure and I don’t really “claim” it as home, but I still have an attachment.

    All that said, what hurts isn’t so much the deaths as how how some people have reacted to it. The person in question has since apologized for saying she has no sympathy for the victims because as country music fans, they were probably “gun totin’ Republicans”, but how does someone express such an insensitive and hateful opinion in the first place?

    Liked by 2 people

  48. I certainly look forward to reading your book. I looked it through, and it is quite good, love the way it’s set up, and how you did it, and the content is quite good. We have our grandkids unexpectedly now everyday, and I work 13 hour days when I am at work, and have to get some outside work done, but will be in your book much sooner than later.

    As to your thoughts here, yes, I hope for the best from the President, and appreciated his words. As to African-Americans, blacks kneeling down, I honestly have no problem with that myself. They have suffered indignities right up to the present time. I live in a northern very Bible-belt area which has no shortage of racism according to sisters and brothers in our Lord. Our nation is supposed to honor that freedom, so people can either stand or sit or kneel during the National Anthem. Many of us won’t agree on that, but that’s my own view for now. And on gun control, the heart needs changed, yes, but there will always be evil present, and we have to talk about how to deal with it. Instead we’re at an impasse as a nation, so that we won’t talk about anything. Concessions have to be made on both sides in keeping with our American tradition, is my own view.

    But I think the church does well to major on the politics of Jesus, the good news of God’s grace and kingdom come in him, and not be known for being either liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican, unlike the religious right and left do. That’s my view. We obscure the gospel when we do so. God is not American, and Jesus’s death can’t be compared to the death of our service men and women, as much as we need to remember and honor their sacrifice, even as we pray and long for peace for all the world.

    But I appreciate your post here, anyhow. You present your view. I present mine. I feel just as strongly, but above all, I want to hold true to the gospel, and God’s will given to us, which includes praying for those in governing authority certainly including our President.

    Thanks for bearing with my long comment. Only one thing is certain: the gospel. God have mercy and comfort the broken-hearted, and may all come to faith. And Lord Jesus come!

    Thanks, Caralyn.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh wow thank you Ted! That really means a lot. And thank you for sharing your thoughts and joining the dialogue. Yes there’s a conversation that needs to be had about all of those things. Amen to that: the Gospel is for sure certain. We can place our hope in Him! Thanks again. Hugs and love xox

      Like

  49. The incident in Vegas really hit me hard, and I pray to the Trinity’s help in caring for the victims injured and those that lost loved ones during this mass murder.

    Thanks for your BLOG.

    I’m a responsible gun owner and will never be dissuaded from this fact: “People kill people — not guns.” Bring stricter laws on those that illegally own firearms and stricter laws against the criminals, and I suspect, events like these will take place in the future.

    The dude that ran over those people in Virginia used a Dodge Charger…do Dodge Chargers kill people?

    Malfeasant individuals are the problem — I believe in stricter criminal laws and punishment.

    Call me whatever name you can come up with — I don’t care, and no one will ever dissuade me from supporting my Second Amendment Rights, as a responsible law-abiding gun owner.

    I actively financially support laws that protect my right to bear arms.

    /s/ Alfonso Faustino

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Alfonso. Yeah it was such a tragic event. I’ll join you in that prayer. And I’m so grateful that you shared you position! I’m with you on that: the person behind the gun is responsible. Glad you stopped by. Hope all is well with you! How’s the acting going?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I agree with your well-written, courageous, and reasonable BLOG. I really dig the way you view life and events and make sense out of it all. Thank you for posting it!

        Well, my acting in front of the camera is a bit slow — the film I referred you is going through a re-write — once it’s done, I will send you a text message. My manager has not forgotten about you.

        How’s acting in your end? How’s your mum?

        Always great reading your BLOGs and chatting with you!

        /s/ Alfonso Faustino

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Ah the rewrite process. I totally get it! And thank you again! Yeah – summers can be slow. Here’s to a busy fall!! 🙂 things on my end are actually going well! I’ve been doing a lot of commercial work. Im actually in the bed bath and beyond fall catalogue right now! Haha but yeah, I’m always on the prowl for great projects:) mom’s doing great!! I don’t know if you were able to check out my last post but she had an incredible near-death experience when she was gone during her stroke and she shared it on my podcast. But she’s doing awesome – she’s my hero:) thanks for asking. Alright Alfonso! Great hearing from ya 🙂 have a great afternoon and thanks again for stopping by and joining the dialogue:) Hugs and love xox

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Wow! I didn’t read that about your mum; but, I will search it out and catch up. I had been away traveling and off-line; I will look that one up.

        Congrats on the Bed Bath & Beyond catalog work — you definitely have the looks and talent for commercial and big theatrical projects.

        When you get the catalog, please send it my way. I’d love to see it.

        Let’s keep in touch — chat soon. Your mum is definitely a hero. My father was mine to me.

        /s/ Alfonso Faustino

        Liked by 1 person

  50. Using mental illness as a standard for gun ownership doesn’t work.
    Mental illness is subjective. The definition is a deviation from what the American Psychiatric Association thinks the norm ought to be. Once upon a time, torturing, burning and drowning people was accepted Church behavior. No one to my knowledge has referred to the Inquisition as a form of mental illness. It was what law-abiding church people did. Just like, in the American South, a good Southern Baptist would be a member of the KKK. However, how has said that members of such groups are mentally ill? Conversely, the Soviets used insane asylums as places to bury political dissidents. There’s no objective definition of mental illness, and I’ve read estimates that as many as 80% of Americans suffer from some form of it. Mental illness is about definitions. (For the record, I think Trump is mentally ill.)
    Now, wanting something to change before the next round of killing makes some logical sense. What other factors can we control? Or do we just sit and wait for the next “biggest massacre in US history.”
    Or do we leave? There are upwards of 6 million Americans (not counting government/military and their families) who live permanently in another country, and that number is increasing. Some 2 million live in Yankee enclaves in Mexico, another 2 million in Europe, 1 million in Korea and more scattered elsewhere around the planet. Why? Free education, better jobs, universal and often free healthcare, lower cost of living and a safer environment. Even in Mexico.

    Liked by 1 person

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