Another Senseless Killing

You've read the headlines, too . . . 7 Shot Dead at Christmas Gathering; Teenager Held Over Fatal Shooting of Student; Texas Police Shoot Dead 15-Year-Old; Murdered Indian Student's Father: This Should Not Happen Again; Don't Bring Your Guns to Church, Leave Your Guns Home; California Hair Salon Shootings Leave 8 Dead. What is it with Americans and GUNS?!

I know that we are guaranteed the right to bear arms in our constitution, which by the way was crafted while we were in a revolution. And, I've discussed guns and homicide in this forum before, but I was compelled to write about this topic again after a 12-year-old girl was killed by a 13-year-old schoolmate.

When will we tire of hearing about these senseless acts? According to the FBI, in 2010 there were 20,996 murders in the U.S. Eight-thousand of those murders were caused by guns. I know . . . I know . . . Guns don't kill people . . . People kill people. Woohoo. Gun control or crime prevention remains an intensely debated political issue. Have we become so immume to gun violence that one shooting resembles all the others?

I am so tired. I am so saddened by it all.

Today, one set of parents is preparing to bury their child. Another set of parents has to find an attorney for their child, and prepare that child to face the criminal justice system. A community of parents will now have to deal with the reality that their children are not safe even on the very street they live. How sad.

Philadelphia Man Shoots and Kills Teens Who Wanted to Fight His Sons.

Won't it be a grand future for human beings when we can pick up a newspaper or read an online newspaper and it will have headlines like, Teen Researchers and Mentors Find Cure for Cancer, Middle School Students Win National Academic Award, College Students Win International Academic Challenge . . .

A grand future indeed.

100 Days of Thankfulness - Day 10

100 Days of Thankfulness -- Day 10: I am thankful that my husband has a new job lined up. The company he worked for closed its doors after 114 years in business. He spent 34 years at that company. Imagine the emotions he is experiencing. Thank you, Lord for continually blessing us.

100 Days of Thankfulness - Day 9

100 Days of Thankfulness--Day 9: I am thankful for my dad's great driving lessons. Although he put me behind the wheel very early in life, I learned much . . . not only about driving . . . but about state troopers, driver's tests and how to properly maintain the efficiency of the car's turning signal switch.

100 Days of Thankfulness - Day 8

100 Days of Thankfulness -- Day 8: I am thankful for a reasonable portion of good health. And, to increase that portion of good health, I got up (a little late) and walked for 30 minutes. On several occasions during that early morning walk, I jogged. I thank God my lungs and nose were clear and I could breathe easily during the jog. Tomorrow, I'll try to jog a little longer.

100 Days of Thankfulness - Day 7

100 Days of Thankfulness -- Day 7: I am thankful for having a job. In tough economic times such as these, I am especially blessed to still be able to earn a living. I am thankful for the business of communications, public relations, media relations, employee communications and all of the other disciplines in communications. Not only am I thankful for having a job, I am thankful for having an exciting job that continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing business landscape. What more can you ask for in a job? Woohoo.

100 Days of Thankfulness - Day 6

100 Days of Thankfulness: Day 6 -- I am thankful for all of the wonderful advances in technology . . . from the smartphone to the laptop to the tablet computer. As a young and isolated child, I begged my parents to buy me a computer. I longed to be able create, research and write on the devices I saw used on Star Trek. Back then, the computer would have filled up the entire living room or perhaps the entire house. Although my first encounter with a computer wouldn't materialize until college, I was bitten by the technology bug and am so thankful to be able to use so many functional devices for my professional life and personal one.

100 Days of Thankfulness - Day 3

100 Days of Thankfulness -- Day 3: I am thankful for a decent and safe place to live. So many people in this country and in our community are without decent and affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity has been working in the south Hampton Roads community for more than two decades to provide decent affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity uses volunteer labor and donated construction materials to build affordable housing for low to moderate income families. Join the cause.