As always, I love your writing. To begin, thank you for reminding me of the joy that my son gave me (I feel like I can almost reach back to his happy heart and laughter sometimes) and for putting into words how I feel about mass shootings of kids. As a retired teacher, when we heard reports of shootings my heart would break. Over the years my response changed; learn what could/would happen in order to protect my "kids" if it happened in my school to getting sad (weeping) then angry about the futility and wondering what the hell is going on in people's brains that makes them think there's no need for sane gun control.
Of all the things that enrage me and send me into a spiral of despair, this is at the very top. I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that we refuse to keep our children - and our teachers - safe at school. How sick do you have to be as a society to watch children being shot down at school week after week, month and month, year after year, *for decades* and really not do much of anything at all?? And then you have the very same people who want to deny women bodily autonomy because “abortion is murder” telling you not to even think about touching their guns. The fury I feel, Sharon. And people get upset for a few days and then it fades until the next time. I can’t take it. Our kids deserve so much better and so do we. Thank you for being here. Your words mean so much to me. Not sure how we’d all get through this without the people who feel like home, so believe me, the gratitude goes both ways 🙏🏼❤️🩹
I don't care anymore to know the political affiliation, religion, gender identity, economic status, race, or rationale of any mass shooter. It is meaningless to the dead. It is irrelevant to the survivors. The common denominator is that they are willing to pick up an automatic weapon and murder strangers to address their petty, misinformed grievances.
There are so many things to fix-lack of control, unfettered hate speech and misinformation on social media, spirit-crushing political cruelty...
I feel a bit like Tinker Bell just now, needing some proof that enough of us believe we can come back from this. I hope so.
If we’re going to politicize anything (and it is political), let’s politicize the party responsible for blocking sane gun control legislation every chance they get. Period. We can fight like hell at school boards and at the state and federal level, we can go to protests and donate and believe me when I say I have and will continue to do all of that. But we need to pressure the fuck out of the people who keep throwing themselves in front of measures and bills that would make a difference. I have had it. Another school year and my nervous system is already taxed as I kiss my daughter goodbye in the morning. Smh. Thank you for being here, I appreciate you so much❤️🩹🙏🏼
Wednesday proved without a shadow of a doubt that the Republican Party loves fetuses but hates babies. Celebrates that life begins at conception but have no problem if it ends with a bullet in grade school. The “Right to Life” crowd seems to covet the right to impose death on our children. If the bullets don’t get them the measles will.
It’s madness and I cannot listen to it nor take seriously arguments from people who care about a fetus - but not a living, breathing child. It’s not about the sanctity of life if you can look at this and offer nothing but words. Oh, the rage, Stephani. Thank you for being here, truly. It makes me feel less alone. I know there are millions and millions of us who feel this way, but it is good to connect and rage against this insanity together. It helps❤️🩹🙏🏼
As always, I love your writing. To begin, thank you for reminding me of the joy that my son gave me (I feel like I can almost reach back to his happy heart and laughter sometimes) and for putting into words how I feel about mass shootings of kids. As a retired teacher, when we heard reports of shootings my heart would break. Over the years my response changed; learn what could/would happen in order to protect my "kids" if it happened in my school to getting sad (weeping) then angry about the futility and wondering what the hell is going on in people's brains that makes them think there's no need for sane gun control.
Thank you Ally. Your writing feels like home.
Of all the things that enrage me and send me into a spiral of despair, this is at the very top. I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that we refuse to keep our children - and our teachers - safe at school. How sick do you have to be as a society to watch children being shot down at school week after week, month and month, year after year, *for decades* and really not do much of anything at all?? And then you have the very same people who want to deny women bodily autonomy because “abortion is murder” telling you not to even think about touching their guns. The fury I feel, Sharon. And people get upset for a few days and then it fades until the next time. I can’t take it. Our kids deserve so much better and so do we. Thank you for being here. Your words mean so much to me. Not sure how we’d all get through this without the people who feel like home, so believe me, the gratitude goes both ways 🙏🏼❤️🩹
I don't care anymore to know the political affiliation, religion, gender identity, economic status, race, or rationale of any mass shooter. It is meaningless to the dead. It is irrelevant to the survivors. The common denominator is that they are willing to pick up an automatic weapon and murder strangers to address their petty, misinformed grievances.
There are so many things to fix-lack of control, unfettered hate speech and misinformation on social media, spirit-crushing political cruelty...
I feel a bit like Tinker Bell just now, needing some proof that enough of us believe we can come back from this. I hope so.
As aways, I appreciate your writing🧡
If we’re going to politicize anything (and it is political), let’s politicize the party responsible for blocking sane gun control legislation every chance they get. Period. We can fight like hell at school boards and at the state and federal level, we can go to protests and donate and believe me when I say I have and will continue to do all of that. But we need to pressure the fuck out of the people who keep throwing themselves in front of measures and bills that would make a difference. I have had it. Another school year and my nervous system is already taxed as I kiss my daughter goodbye in the morning. Smh. Thank you for being here, I appreciate you so much❤️🩹🙏🏼
I agree, those politicians need to be kept under constant pressure.
Wednesday proved without a shadow of a doubt that the Republican Party loves fetuses but hates babies. Celebrates that life begins at conception but have no problem if it ends with a bullet in grade school. The “Right to Life” crowd seems to covet the right to impose death on our children. If the bullets don’t get them the measles will.
It’s madness and I cannot listen to it nor take seriously arguments from people who care about a fetus - but not a living, breathing child. It’s not about the sanctity of life if you can look at this and offer nothing but words. Oh, the rage, Stephani. Thank you for being here, truly. It makes me feel less alone. I know there are millions and millions of us who feel this way, but it is good to connect and rage against this insanity together. It helps❤️🩹🙏🏼
This is one of the better pieces I’ve read on this frustratingly pervasive problem:
https://www.readtangle.com/we-are-still-broken-2025-minnesota-shooting/