Prayers for Aurora

I’m at work and I cannot focus. On top of it being a Friday afternoon after a long lunch with some of my team, there was the Colorado Aurora shooting this morning. I’ve always been a deeply sensitive person, so it comes as no surprise that I feel so affected by this happening. It is so sad. Rachel Flatt, Olympic figure skater, posted on her Facebook in a way that rang true to me. Movies are supposed to be a getaway from real life - a safe haven, if you will. The shooting in the “Dark Knight Rises” shattered that illusion and left 12 dead and 71 injured. It’s tragic and it’s scary. There has been an outpouring of support on Facebook for the victims and their families and friends. That in itself is heartwarming, amidst a bunch of chaos. Poor Colorado has been sent through the ringer this summer between the wildfires and this massacre. There have been other major shootings in the state as well over the years, which is discouraging and upsetting. This one was only 13 miles away from Littleton - where Columbine took place.




What irks me about the situation is that the dust hasn’t even settled and it is being flung into the political arena. I know it’s an election year which just exacerbates the problem, but it feels disrespectful to hold up this tragedy for public scrutiny while there are still people in the hospitals fighting for their lives and families struggling to accept that their loved ones are gone. No one expects to say “Have fun at the movies!” as their last words to a friend. These people need privacy and peace and space to cope with the situation before it is jumped all over by political “activists” and news networks. This revives in my my old hatred for the news, but that’s a whole other can of worms.



My stance on guns is summed up well in the way my dad always says it: “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.” Guns are a method for violence, but so is a sharpened pencil or a cup of bleach. You cannot stop evil from happening and you cannot stop people from hurting each other. Taking away guns takes away a weapon, but it also strips away a defense. Handled with care and respect, guns can bring peace of mind to families who would never use it unless absolutely necessary to protect each other. Sure, maybe semi-automatic weapons should not be available, but guns in general shouldn’t be banned. It is part of the constitution and should remain there.



That’s my view, but I don’t believe that both political parties should be jumping into the boxing ring to explain this topic right now. Some people have said “It’s not the time.” Others have said “It’s too late for that conversation.” It sickens me that everything becomes a political statement. I hate that everything can be offensive to someone. I can’t fathom the pain some families and friends are facing right now - the last thing they need is their privacy invaded for a partisan dispute asking for their opinions and statements.

My love and prayers go out to all affected by the shooting. What a tragic event.