Enough is Enough
This is an open letter that I will be sending to my elected officials at the state and federal level. I expect nothing will be done as usual.
In case you missed it, we’ve had yet another shooting in one of our schools. That should sadden and anger you. It should sadden you that a parent dropped off their child to a place that should be the safest place in the world to learn and grow. Only to leave in a body bag. It should make you mad as hell that our health care system was not equipped to handle the mental health needs of the shooter. It should also make you mad as hell to know that someone with mental issues could easily get access to a gun to carry out this crime.
School shootings are on the rise. This is not up for debate, we have the data. The CDC has put out data and the New England Journal of Medicine has put out that the leading cause of death for American Children is Firearm related injury.
Image Source: K-12 School Shooting Database
So I invite you to the funeral of the 6th grader that was gunned down in Perry. Please, tell the parents that they are in your thoughts and prayers. I’m sure they want to know that you care about their child. But don’t forget the last part. Don’t leave off that you are too chicken shit to do anything about it.
OR….
Actually DO something about it. Be the leaders we elected you to be!
If you think this is a firearms issue, great. Pass the common sense legislation that you know that we need.
Don’t want to take on the NRA because it’s a health care issue. Cool. Then fund the hell out of our mental health institutions. Pass legislation that makes mental health free for all. We should have more mental health practices than gas stations in Iowa if this was just a mental health issue.
Whatever solution seems right to you, I urge you to lead. Come together as Iowans and show the country what is right and what is wrong. We should be united on this.
I don’t want to see another casket for a kid that was shot at school and you shouldn’t either.
Enough is enough!