I’m just tired of sad stories
In the Light
This is a true story.
And my opinion.
Seventeen people were shot to death at a high school in Parkland, Fla., by, what everyone seems to agree on, a mentally disturbed individual.
Seventeen.
Shot.
To.
Death.
Imagine the loss of 17 students and teachers at a school — any school — in Anderson County by that kind of violence.
You can’t.
You shouldn’t have to.
Because the slaughter of civilians (and lately those civilians seem to be children) is … The cost of doing business.
Aaron Feis and Peter Wong paid the price for the cost of doing business at Stoneman Douglas High School.
They put their bodies in the line of fire to protect others.
Shanthi Viswanath “saved a lot of kids” Feb. 14 at Stoneman Douglas High School.
And I don’t think she’s of Norwegian heritage.
But she followed procedure, hid her students and didn’t open her classroom door until a S.W.A.T team had to break in.
I hate kicking a dog while it’s down, but I don’t think she would have stood outside the school posturing.
Too far flung for you?
How about Zaevion Dobson.
Shot and killed in Knoxville while shielding friends from a “street shooting.”
What the hell is a street shooting?
The street wasn’t shot dead.
A kid was.
Trying to save others.
That’s just damned sad.
This is a true story.
I have an uncle I have never met.
His name was John Leinart (not sure of there is a Jr. or an “II” after his name).
I’m not even sure at what age he died.
The story I have always heard is that he was riding his tricycle in the backyard of my grandparents’ backyard in Fountain City — before it was bastardized as a part of Knoxville.
The 1940s maybe, 1950s at the latest.
He’s riding his tricycle when a .22 caliber bullet struck and killed him.
Two boys target shooting with a .22 caliber handgun were firing at tin can.
The light caliber bullet ricocheted.
But that’s the cost of doing business.
Sometimes it’s just damned sad.
This is a true story.
Actually, it’s more of my opinion.
You want a gun? Let’s start with being at least 21-years of age. Let’s start with your intentions. You want to hunt? Good. You are allowed to buy a gun used for hunting.
Game ... You don’t use semi-automatic guns for hunting game.
You use those kind of weapons for killing. For murder.
You want a handgun? Good. But take a class, learn how to use it. Please.
Learn how to take care of it. Learn how to protect yourself. Seriously. Do it.
But do it right.
And if you want to argue against ANY kind of gun control, then do that, too.
That’s your right.
Exercise it.
But get your facts straight because at this time in history you don’t want a 16-year-old making you look like a total fool.
I’m just tired of damned sad stories.