How many more have to die?

2021.05.27

I saw a tweet yesterday morning from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office regarding an active shooter in San Jose. I didn’t recognize one of the street names but knew it wasn’t close to me. I honestly didn’t think much more about it, which proves how desensitized we have become to gun violence in this country. A few hours later I read the horrible news, that there were multiple casualties at the VTA train yard. I knew right where that was. I’ve driven by it hundreds of times.

My immediate thoughts went to a friend who works for VTA. Even though she’s in Human Resources, and in my mind I knew her office was at a different location, I checked in with her to be sure she was okay, at least physically. Thank goodness she was safe. As were others I know who work for the agency.

A few hours later I read that eight people had been killed before the shooter killed himself. This morning I read that another victim passed overnight. Per NBC Bay Area, “Their jobs included bus and light rail operators, mechanics, linemen and assistant superintendent. One had worked for the transit authority since 1999.” These are people who had been risking their lives throughout the pandemic to get people from point A to point B. It’s unbelievably tragic.

I’ve watched the horror of mass shootings unfold for far too many years to count but I’ve never seen it unfold in the city where I live. The VTA train yard is probably 10 miles from my house and I’ve ridden the light rail for years.

It’s truly unbelievable to me that we don’t have serious gun laws in this country. I honestly can’t wrap my brain around how almost every other country in the world has taken action on this but we can’t get there. I know I’ve written about this before, and there isn’t much more to say. The bottom line is, we have to pass strong gun legislation in this country. Certain types of guns need to be completely banned. Waiting periods and physical & mental health testing must be required. No one is trying to take all the guns away. Seriously. No one has ever said that. I have friends who own guns, friends who hunt, friends on shooting teams, friends who are police officers, friends who have trained and own guns for the sheer purpose of protection. I have no problem with any of this. Most people don’t.

And yes, the Second Amendment. Let’s just go there. The Second Amendment was adopted in 1791 and it states:

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

Do you know what kind of Arms existed in 1791? They weren’t semi-automatic, you can be sure.

I did a little digging on the Second Amendment this morning and it is clear that there is nothing simple about it. (For more information read Second Amendment: Doctrine and Practice.)

It seemed simple enough in 1791 but things are much, much different now and it’s time for real change on a federal level. We can’t have more states like Texas throwing caution to the wind. (See Texas lawmakers send permit-free gun carrying legislation to governor’s desk.) Can President Biden get us better legislation across the country? I honestly don’t know. The Republican Party seems hell-bent on voting against anything that will actually help this country and its people so I don’t have much hope.

I honestly don’t know how many more innocent people have to die. This song by Brendan James always comes to mind after an incident like this. I know I’ve posted it before but it is once again appropriate.

Stay safe, everyone…