Jacksonville Response

On August 26th, 2018 there was another mass shooting, this time in Jacksonville, Florida. As I heard the news the thoughts of why aroused, and not again. I reflected upon my thoughts and wondered if I should write about them, but again thought why? The cycles of violence continue to repeat over and over again. Guns, killing are the easy option to try to enforce what is demanded. But what is being demanded? At the heart of gun violence is the cry for social justice, and equality. But why gun violence? It is a form of control, to install fear. But for me, I think of this as the cowards way, there is no nobility in achieving the cry of social justice through the taking of innocent lives. Real peace, equality, justice arrives when we strive to work for this together, with opponents, and those who we disagree with. As I continue to reflect, I pray for the innocent lives that could still have been living, including the shooter who was probably paid to do the act.