I got local news that I can never remember hearing growing up. I should start by saying that my daughter, Beth, has gone to more funeral parlors/funerals than her mother and I have. I think that she's gone to funerals for seven schoolmates over the last four years.
And then, around 6:30 last night, I got a call from a friend from church saying that he could not make a church meeting I was chairing. It turns out that late yesterday afternoon, at a pool party across the street, a 17 year old senior boy that Beth knows fairly well shot a senior girl who I had in my Girl Scout troop in the face. She's clinging to life now in critical condition. Details are not available, but the boy has been charged. Talking with my wife last night, I tried to understand why things have changed. Even though I favor gun control, it can't just be the availability of guns. Where I grew up, lots of kids had guns for hunting. I think it may be involved with the fact that most people now have guns for protection instead of hunting. Plus, instead of gun safety almost being a religion, the gun is just bought and put in a drawer for just in case. Back in my day, kids who owned/used guns use to tell stories about how their dads really got upset with them when they violated a gun safety rule. Those stories encapsulated the importance of treating guns with respect. Now, guns are just there, just in case. The area is awash with guns casually bought, and intended for use on humans "just in case." My guess is that this has something to do with the unreality of a gun and its use at pool parties. But, dammit anyways, 18 year olds shouldn't have to go to this many funerals for people they know. They don't have to think about a friend of theirs being a murderer. The big risk at a teenage pool party should not be being shot. Dan M.
