Another School Shooting

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By now, most of us know about the shooting that took place late Tuesday afternoon at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. I had just arrived home from work and the TV was on. I sat down in shock as I watched the news unfold. What do we do now?

I don't usually write about these kinds of things, as I like to keep my articles uplifting, but this has shaken me to my core. I don't think we can just go on with life as usual, but I have felt this way before. There is an eerie silence in my neighborhood as I sit here and write this article. It's 7:35pm and I usually hear children playing outside, but tonight it's quiet. All I hear are the birds. At least 21 people have been killed by a lone gunman, including 19 children, in another horrifying school shooting. 

I try not to react to events like this right away. I usually pause and give thought to a situation, but this one is different. I have an immediate response and that is that I think we should have all public buildings locked with armed guards at the door with metal detectors. I know this sounds drastic, but we are no longer free to roam safely. We must do something that is different than what we are currently doing. We are each other's custodians, and we need to keep each other out of harm's way. We must act right away. 

Citizens of this great nation need to come together to collaborate on an approach to making communities safe places to live, work, and attend school. We will wind up paying for anything that is implemented, but heck, we're already paying a lot for other amenities. Take a moment tonight to discuss real, solid ideas with your family on how we can effectively take part in changing the way we move about that is safer for all of us. Get involved in your local school board. Hold your children close and tell them you love them. Parents, Grandparents, siblings, relatives, neighbors, friends, and co-workers have all been affected by this senseless crime and are scarred for life.  We have an opportunity here to be kinder to each other, to help each other more, and to change the way we function as a society. We owe it to those who have perished, and we owe it to each other.

Thank you to all law enforcement, first responders, and medical personnel who came to the aid of the victims of this tragic massacre. May it never happen again. Ever.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

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I am a columnist with Skylark Live Town News (SLTN) and write short, poetic articles geared to the 60 and beyond population. Topics include human interest, nature, general observations, inspiration, music, and events in and around Bay Shore. I also write about restaurants and stores I've been to in the area. You can also watch my first-Monday-of-the-month vlog, “60 and Beyond with Skylark" on my YouTube Channel, Skylark Live, that features my articles from SLTN. Please subscribe to my free STLN newsletter that gets delivered directly to your email each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. To support SLTN, you can make a recurring monthly donation ($5 Friend or $15 Advocate) or a one-time donation of any amount. It's up to you, and it's easy to do on my feed. You can also advertise your business or event here as well. Please follow me on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin under my brand, Skylark Live. Thank you for your support.

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