This time, near where I live, at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward Country, perhaps a forty-fifty minute or so drive, depending on the traffic, from my home.

If you’re curious for more information and are able to stomach yet another tale of tragedy with the full awareness that there are plenty of politicians -sell-outs, in my opinion- beholden to the NRA once again expressing their empty “Hopes and Prayers” for the victims, here’s an article on the matter by Faith Karimi and Emanuella Grinberg and found on CNN:

Shooting suspect “always seemed like the unstable type”, ex-classmates say

I just don’t know what to say about this anymore.

I’m certainly not alone.

As I’ve noted before around these parts, I have absolutely no love for handguns, rifles, etc.  When I was much younger, there were times I participated in target practice with rifles, handguns, and shotguns.  I didn’t do this with any regularity, only when the opportunity was there and I never hunted nor ever, ever used such weapons to “protect” myself.

These few experiences filled me with neither awe nor interest, so after a while and when the “new” experience was no longer so new, I let the whole thing go.

Fast forward many years later.

Who would believe a country as mighty as this one could be in the grip of so many mass shootings?  And what will it take for politicians to finally, finally have the stones to provide proper regulation and -yes, Goddammit- make certain guns illegal to own?

I can understand you wanting to protect yourself with a small caliber handgun.  I can see a hunter wanting to have a rifle.

What  cannot see is the need for anyone to have an AK-47 type assault rifle.  I cannot see the need for anyone to have weapons that are best left in the army and/or used in times of war.

So what’s the solution?

Former Republican lawmaker David Jolly, from Florida, had an idea:

It’s time to vote Republicans out so we can get gun control

The above linked article, found on Huffingtonpost.com and written by Ed Mazza, notes the GOP lawmaker was on TV yesterday following the tragedy and offered that advice.

Yes, the bulk of Republican lawmakers are certainly beholden to the NRA and, yes, this should be one of many litmus tests to boot them out.

But let’s not completely forgive all the Democratic lawmakers.  There are several of them, though not quite as in lock-step as the Republicans are, that are also pro-NRA and pro-gun.

The elections are rapidly approaching and so much seems to be wrong with this country and I hope, I really really hope some of the more obnoxious people within government are finally given the boot.

And I hope I live to see the day when true gun control wins the day instead of us having to hear about another massacre.