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Casual?

Not a chance

By Judey Kalchik Published about a year ago 1 min read
https://pixabay.com/users/paulbr75-2938186/

There is an irony in describing

someone shot

as a 'casualty'.

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There is nothing 'casual' in the act

of bringing a gun into a school,

loading it

and then

hunting down children and

shooting them until they die.

screenshot

It is a deliberate act.

A knowing plan.

A hateful and hurtful decision and utter

disregard for life.

screenshot

There is no casual in casualties.

Simply a reporter

that balks and shies away from

naming the truth.

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When the Governor doesn't call

for gun safety but instead

asks us to pray: what the

Hell do you think we've BEEN doing

while our children are slain?

When school isn't a safe place and

we panic along with our children

at a balloon pop in Disney

because they've been

trained on active shooter drills?

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Why?

Why do we understand and sympathize when

there is 'active panic' when a 'false shooter rumor' occurs

but 'thoughts and prayers' when our

children and slain in their classrooms?

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There is no time left to be casual

about casualties.

So stop saying it that way.

Stop clicking past the sad parents

from Sandy Hook when their messages

interrupt your viewing of the

latest Golden Buzzer clip on Facebook.

Don't look away from their pain.

Don't take it casually.

Stand up for them: our dead children.

Vote.

Educate.

Secure the guns.

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What about the 'dignity' and 'rights' of our children

to go to school

and come home alive

instead of being shot dead at school?

~

Red Flag Laws

(Extreme Risk Laws)

Know them. Vote.

You can pray while you do that.

OK?

~~~~~

I am heartsick.

Free Verseheartbreakperformance poetry

About the Creator

Judey Kalchik

It's my time to find and use my voice.

Poetry, short stories, memories, and a lot of things I think and wish I'd known a long time ago.

You can also find me on Medium

And please follow me on Threads, too!

Reader insights

Nice work

Very well written. Keep up the good work!

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Comments (8)

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  • Testabout a year ago

    I'm with you Judey, this makes me Bothe heartsick and sick to my stomach! 💚

  • Grz Colmabout a year ago

    😔 Very apt and impactful piece, Judey.

  • Mariann Carrollabout a year ago

    The sad part of it all, children hurting children. Four died . In foreign countries, everyone are checked by security guards before they can enter a school grounds.

  • Hope Martinabout a year ago

    Sandy Hook. How vividly I remember that. I cried for weeks. I was young then, not even a parent. I live in a place where that is not likely to happen.... but so did a lot of the schools you mentioned. So my oldest is homeschooled. And after Kindergarten ends for the other two they will also be homeschooled. Because it could happen anywhere. At anytime. And as a parent.... it's my worst fear.

  • Mark Grahamabout a year ago

    Fear seems to be steady in all facets of our living life today. No where is safe really if you think about it. Good work. A lot to think about.

  • JBazabout a year ago

    Unfortunetly I so not see an end in sight for the near future, or any Future in America. I do not understand this at all.

  • Cathy holmesabout a year ago

    Perfectly said. Sad that so many don't want to hear it.

  • Caroline Janeabout a year ago

    Superb. ❤️

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