Mass Shootings...

Good evening everyone...

We are witness to yet another mass shooting in the United States. As such, we are also witness to yet another round of pontificating from both sides of the political spectrum.

In some manner of attempt to put an end to this mess, the President and the Department of Justice have decided to pursue capital charges in cases of mass shootings. I respectfully, but emphatically, disagree.

I wrote about this some years ago: https://seabeechaplain.blogspot.com/2013/05/understanding-my-own-views-on-death.html. My views have not changed.

With respect to the President, I commend this administration's attempts to put some element of regulation and law to the very deep, personal question of abortion. Bottom line is that with that question, no one will be completely satisfied with any answer. Finding a middle ground is a challenge on a good day.

That being said, those who oppose abortion, the President being among them, call themselves pro-life. Putting aside the fact that we are all pro-life, to be pro-life must mean that you are pro ALL life. Pro-life is not just about cute babies. Pro-life is also about the thug with a police record longer than my arm. If we are to say that we are only pro-life for certain people, then we are also pro-death for others. Sorry folks, but that is quite contradictory.

On the other side, to be anti-death penalty must mean that there should be no law allowing a live birth to die simply because that birth was intended to be an abortion. If one is anti-death, one must be anti-death in all cases. To limit our belief in life to the aforementioned thug but to exclude another living human being is also quite the contradiction.

I have a better idea all the way around. Let's find a way to talk to each other and figure out what the issues are. I do not think that it is the guns, but would love to talk to folks who think it is. I make no promise on being convinced, but I will share a promise to listen openly and politely.

Good night.

R/SCG