The world we live in

Since January 1, 2023, there have been 130 mass shootings. 10,111 lives have been lost to gun violence, including 61 children (age 0 through 11) and 352 teens (age 12 through 17).

Gun-related deaths are tragically common. In the U.S. alone, since 2020, firearms have become the leading cause of death — more deadly than motor-vehicle crashes — among U.S. children aged 1 to 19.

The U.S. also sets itself apart from other countries in terms of gun-related killings as a percentage of all homicides. Sadly, I am not surprised as we are the only country with more civilian-held guns than citizens.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Can anything be done? If we were to look to the lawmakers for answers, I think we pretty much know the playbook by now.

First, offer thoughts and prayers.

“Why don’t we, number one, keep those families in our prayers, and then see if there were things that were missed along the way.” — Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.)

Then declare nothing else can be done.

“I would say we’ve gone about as far as we can go” on guns. — Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.)

Because of course, it’s not the right time, at least according to Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.). It was “premature” to discuss legislation, citing grieving families in Nashville and an ongoing investigation where the facts of the case are still being revealed.

But wait, the culprit is mental health, at least according to Rep. Andrew Ogles (R-Tenn.), who represents the district where the Covenant School shooting took place. This is also the same lawmaker who sent out a Christmas card showing himself, his wife, and their two oldest children holding automatic rifles while posing in front of the Christmas tree.

What will it take?

If this is not the right time, then when is?

If 130 mass shootings this year with 413 kids under the age of 18 losing their lives prematurely isn’t enough, then what is?

What about the survivors who have to live through the trauma of their friends and teachers being gunned down? What about the school-age children, as young as kindergarten, who have to go through active shooter drills and “learn to stay quiet in case bad people show up”? I was horrified when my then 5-year-old came home and told me. And I was even more shaken when I learned of an incident recently where someone threatened to bring a gun to her elementary school.

“Mommy, why is the school not closed today?” My daughter asked, the morning after the incident.

My heart is broken.

My tank is empty.

As a parent, how do you respond? How should you respond?

There is simply no playbook for that.

If children are indeed our future?— and we sing so proudly, why aren’t we treating them as such? Why are we sending our kids and their teachers to the battlefield every day, not knowing if they will return?

This is not acceptable. None of this is acceptable. Our children and our educators deserve better. Our kids need a safe place to learn and socialize. Our teachers need a safe place to teach, without worrying about being gunned down. Instead of arming them with guns and bullets, we should be arming them with books and love.

How much do we truly value human lives — versus our perceived rights but without responsibilities?

This is not about left or right; red or blue. This is about innocent lives lost and?families broken, forever. This is a societal issue —?and a needless and senseless human tragedy.

The country was swift to take action when banks collapsed. Not thoughts and prayers. Not excuses. But concrete actions. Where are they now when our children need help? Where are the lawmakers when kids are dying from gun violence? If we don’t speak up for them, who will?

While politicians are busy banning books, restricting education on reproductive health and history of slavery, and limiting the rights of transgender youth, have they paused for a second and think about their priorities?

As a parent, all I want is for my kids to come home everyday —?alive and in one piece. They will not die from reading a book or learning African American history; but they could lose their lives or be severely injured from a bullet.

Will we ever learn?

'We're not gonna fix it. Criminals are gonna be criminals.” — Tim Burchett (R-TN.)

As to the congressman’s advice on how to keep little kids safe? Homeschool, he said. For us mere mortals where that is simply not an option —?that tells us everything we need to know.

The cries from candlelight vigils are heartbreaking. The silence from those in power is deafening.

The inaction says it all.