On February 14th, 2018, there was a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.  15 were injured and another 17 were killed by one of their classmates, who all-too-easily purchased an AR-15 assault weapon at a local gun shop.  The video (link) above shows some of the chilling footage caught by students on their cell phones.

In the United States of Terror, there have already been 18 school shootings in the first 51 days of 2018.  And that’s only the SCHOOL mass shootings.

Let’s not forget that there were 427 mass shootings in the year 2017.  Yes, I said 427.

My own daughter texted me one of those dreaded “In case anything happens, I love you” messages when a gunman was on HER college campus a couple of years ago (parents, I hope you never have to experience that kind of horror).  On a separate occasion that same semester, she was inside an apartment when it was robbed, and the masked intruder put a loaded gun right up to her head — my daughter’s head (I can’t even DESCRIBE this particular horror).  So yeah, this has become personal.

America has a gun problem.  And I’m pissed.

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Time for a Farewell to Arms

Just look at that red, white, and blue!
It’s the land of the free, the home of the brave.
We’ve no need to worry and we’ll always be safe.
We’ll protect ourselves with our guns.

Just look at that red, white, and blue!
Stolen from the native and built by the slave —
this land that wasn’t ours, we decided to take
with the cunning use of guns.

Just look at that red, white, and blue!
We police the world, we’re here to save the day.
And you know what makes our country so great?
Well of course, it’s the strength of our guns.

Just look at that red, white, and blue!
These colors don’t run!  And there’s nowhere we can run
because the danger was right here all along —
we’re destroying ourselves with our guns.

Children are being slaughtered, dropping like flies.
It’s so commonplace we’re no longer surprised,
but too many people just want to be right
and fight to keep all the guns.

But everything will be okay — just keep chanting to yourself:
Our guns will keep us safe
Our guns will keep us safe
Our guns will keep us safe
Our guns will keep us safe
Our guns will keep us safe

American life is now like a horror film, and here comes the plot twist…
Hey, babysitter – the murderer is calling you from a phone inside the house.
Hey, trapped cave explorer – you’ve awakened only to realize that your escape was just a dream.
Hey, innocent school kid – you’re about to be gunned down in your seventh period science class.
Hey, countrymen – the terrorist is an American.

Just look at that red, white, and blue.
Land of the frightened, our home a mass grave.
What will you do when the grieving parent is you?
Will you tuck your weapons into bed at night?
Will you kiss and hold your guns?

Will you continue to ignore the rivers of gore
that stain our school yards, churches, and stores?
Everywhere, the blood of the slain –
on hands that take money from the NRA,
but on yours, too, if you don’t cry out for change.

Just look at that – no, don’t turn your head.
Make yourself see it and forget your foolish pride.
This terror has to end, there are too many dead.
It’s time for you to wake up and
just look at all…that…red.

— 2/20/18

Copyright 2018 Jenn Howe