Life is for the living

What is this waste of life I keep seeing on the news? Crazed and disturbed children murdering others, madmen on a whim going out on shooting sprees, all of it lacking substance of the full breath and power of life. In the blink f an eye, we lose it all, violently or otherwise. Why would we waste one precious moment?

I've seen loved ones pass due to sickness, old age and other circumstances, but, fortunately, none were lost to violence. This used to be the normalcy expected in America. Now, thanks to the NRA, gutless Congressmen and women and apathetic citizens, this normalcy has ended and a new, bloodier reality has taken its place in the USA. We are to blame for letting this violence and irresponsibility continue. Only we as people concerned about the safety of all of our children, relatives and fellow human beings can stop gun violence anywhere.

I am no model citizen, but I do know that gun "rights" are not guarantees to be cherished over the inalienable rights to LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. None of these exist without the protection of life first. In another sense, what a fall the country has taken in world rankings! The States have become the number 1 place for deaths by gun violence, 7 times over the next OECD countries. So you can go to Canada for better health care coverage AND safer living.

Today is the perfect day to try to remember when "WE'RE #1" made me feel proud of this country I love. There is no problem America can't solve.#CowardlyCongressComplicit pic.twitter.com/E77CPm6CcJ

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) February 15, 2018

Is this what we want? After Sandy Hook Elementary school, we should have toppled the walls of Congress, kicked out NRA lobbists and gutted all of the misinterpreted readings and pseudo-legislation that sanctifies Second Amendment rights. The Supreme Court has yet to be clear as to how to interpret it:

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.

Money pouring into the coffers and pockets of various Congressmen and women seems to be choosing which side our laws protect.

Guns v. people. In Japan, there is little to no gun violence because ordinary citizens understand they don't need to possess guns in order to be free to live and enjoy life. Democracy is not guaranteed by gun ownership. Life is cherished as the precious, fleeting existence it is here. In America, we once had such high value for life as well. What about now?

* * UPDATE * *

Supreme Court leaves in place California's 10-day wait for gun buyers, rejects 2nd Amendment challenge