Another shooting in Texas and already the prayers and well-wishes are out, patrolling the streets, making things safe for all the other kids attending schools.
This time it was a student, no bump stocks, gratefully, no assault rife. Still with a simple revolver and shotgun, this 17-year old, who should have had aims on college, or vocational training, instead of his classmates, managed to kill 10 and injure 13 more, even injuring the school resource officer who himself was armed.
Meanwhile, Parkland’s Kids (taking on the same iconic stature in the 21st century as Jerry’s Kids of the 20th century) continue making the case from the highest moral high ground. Ironically, the National Rifle Association has no place for cover — metaphorically speaking.
The Parkland Kids are the real deal and the momentum of the large cruise ship that is the USS U.S.A. is slowly turning about. Just like the acceptance of gay marriage, even those who love to hunt and are responsible gun owners are saying enough is enough. They are realizing that there is no absolute right in the bill of rights.
In time, gun safety will become the gay rights issue that Americans will see as intuitive and natural, and the NRA will once again become to guns what the Automobile Club of America is to cars. I see a time where there will be zero mass shootings in any school for a given year. Then, everyone who has lost a child to this false god of the unfettered right to own a weapon, can finally find meaning in their sacrifice.
There will come a time when another monument is set up in Washington, D.C., for these Parkland Kids. Most likely they will be gray and old, and like all heroes will say what all heroes say: that they were only doing what anyone else in their situation would have done. Would that this were true.
Michael Biegner
Easthampton