Soccer, Assault Weapons, Respect for Life

Jeff, my nephew, asked if I'd come watch him and his team of mostly Chaldean young adults play soccer Thursday night.

My twin sister, Patti, and I decided to honor the request.

While we watched vibrant players zoom here, whack the ball from one head to another, and, eventually witness scoring in the net, current affairs emerged.

Like assault weapons.

Would re-igniting the conversation to ban assault weapons that can trigger multiple bullets to spray away human life work, someone of the adults I stood by with, asked.

Criminals will get what they want, one guy said firmly.

Igniting the conversation would be useless, another asked?

I think so, a third said.

Surprise shocked me that people think that arming ourselves to the teeth, so to speak, is the answer to this senseless out of control gun mess we're mired in now.

And, we're waiting for the next massacre and the usual rite of the U.S. President heading to the scene of the crime, offering comfort, and seeming little hope for bans on arsenals of guns like that carried by James Holmes, the bright doctoral student, who secured much of his supply online in the theatre in Colorado.

How did this happen?

Who checked?  How did he get clearance? Wasn't he under a psychiatrist's care?

Did the system goof again and give him the guns that murdered 12, injuring three times as many?

Japan has few murders each years, reports show.

Their laws forbid citizens to carry guns, it's reported.

The second amendment doesn't allow us to arm ourselves with such horrific weapons of mass destruction. The right to bear arms is subject to interpetation and contextualization like pastors and biblical scholars discern.

People allow citizens to arm themselves.  More and more seem to think that one has to have assualt weapons to defend self in this crazy culture of guns today. 

And, those with common sense, just shake their heads in disbelief at we watch where this nation I love is heading with its National Rifle Association, big money, and business is driving these death machines triggered by so-called human beings in the escalating massacres in this land of the free, and home of the brave.

God help us.

My nephew's team lost the soccer game. I enjoyed watching and conversing, nevertheless.

But, to think that some say guns shouldn't be more restricted?

Go figure.

That's scary.

Especially, in a uniquely crazy U.S. culture where tempers, drugs and alcohol are a toxic mix waiting to explode in the barrel of a gun.  At you.  Or, me!

The next massacre is waiting to be hatched.

And, the rite is repeated, believe me.

It will be until another solution to this maddening gun craze is applied.  The solution has to be different, however, and who is leading, or, at leat stirring the conversation?

I'll join you.

Let's talk with the crafters of legislation now.  In time, at least, before the next horror hits home.