Friday, July 20, 2012, Nashville, Tennessee, 3:02 p.m., D.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

My heart bursts with grief.  I don't know what to even think anymore; my mind is numb with shock and anger ...

Last night, in Aurora, Colorado, there was a shooting spree at a movie theatre.  At least fifty people were hit, and 13 were killed. Most of the victims seemed to be children or young people, as well as military personnel.  

Thank God the suspect was captured, but it's left me thinking: WHY????

I was terrified when I heard the news: I have a daughter, Lightning, and her family, who live in Colorado Springs.  At first I thought it happened there, but it did not.  It happened in Aurora, which is just east of Denver.  Still, irregardless, a shooting is a shooting; we've had far too many here in America, and it's enough to make me want to lose my appetite.

It's getting to the point to where it isn't safe to even go out and enjoy life.  Church, the movies, going to the park, roller skating, playing basketball, whatever: our country has become a battleground; it's getting more and more dangerous to even live here anymore ...

I have always said that when they took prayer and/or God out of the schools or homes, that's when everything went downhill.  Things today are even worse than ever before; maybe it's because of the media, I don't know, but we are becoming a nation of fearful people.  

We just don't know whom to trust anymore.  Even our neighbors, our own family members could be potential victims (or suspects); one never knows. This is when you have to get involved as a parent (or wife/husband) and see exactly what is going on with your family members (or your friends).

I have tended to plenty of shooting victims during my career as a RN and sometimes the outcome is good; more often than not, it's the other way around.  People can die from shootings, or be left permanently disabled, especially if the damage or trauma done to the body is severe enough; it's nothing to be taken lightly.

 My husband does have a gun, but he keeps it well hidden and under lock and key; none of my children even know where it is located.  I make sure of that.  I don't want any of them accidentally shooting themselves (or someone else).  It would be the worst possible thing to lose a child in this manner!

Guns do scare me, but sometimes protection is necessary.  That is the only reason why Bill got a gun in the first place, as a means of protection, in case our home should get broken into.   

Well, I am going to go back to work; I just wanted to share my feelings in light of this terrible tragedy that's gripped our country.  Just keep the victims' families and friends in your prayers; no, keep our country as a WHOLE in your prayers!  We need God now more than ever before!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Louisiana May.  :(