I WAS LOOKING FOR A BLOG ABOUT OUR AFRICA MISSION TRIP WHEN I CAME ACROSS THE FOLLOWING. 

IT WAS WRITTEN TWO YEARS AGO,  JUNE 18 2014!

FELT LIKE ANOTHER GOD NUDGE.

"Been lots hopping in my little corner so haven't been blogging but this last gut of gun violence just nudges me again. 

Curiously,  it is sparked by the hope I felt when I saw the comments by an NRA rep saying that the OCT (Open Carry in Texas) had "crossed the line from enthusiasm to downright foolishness," when they carried  high-powered semiautomatic rifles into fast food restaurants.

I am one who clings to the belief that MOST healthy human beings can sit and talk reasonably and come to some consensus.  I am one who believes that if you know I respect you that you will return that respect and, even if we disagree, we can TALK and come to some middle ground. 

 I believe there are people in the NRA who could sit with folks who think as I do on gun control and with respect that then creates trust, some inching forward might just happen.

The above statement just re enforced what I cling to.

And I genuinely felt hope.

But then the next day the following statement was made by the NRA's  chief lobbyist:

"It was a poor word choice in an alert that went out," Cox said. "But again, the underlying point here is: what is the best tactic to win? That's what we're interested in. We're not interested in distractions. We're not interested in arguing with the national news media over this. We're interested in winning."

winning - to gain in or as if in battle or contest

Winning?!?

Who does or doesn't carry a gun is about WINNING?

Winning WHAT?

Now, I admit that I am a lousy competitor.  I am not against competition;   I am just not good at it.   The prize just seldom seems worth the battle to me.

And in this battle, I don't even know what the prize is.

My grandchildren were in 'lock down' in their school recently cause of the fear of an apparently armed bank robber still on the streets.  The world they live in speaks almost daily of gun violence. People can go into a store or a church or ? with a gun.  If I feel threatened by you, I can 'stand my ground' here in  Michigan and shoot you with the gun I bought at Wal-Mart.

Lots of people are being killed by lots of guns.

Because a handful of men almost 250 years ago said I could carry a gun.

The NRA clings to that and, I guess, thinks if they don't cling to it....

...they won't "win".

To me, a 'win' that creates the potential for so much 'loss' is...

...NOT. A. WIN."


PS (June 18, 2016)

If you are moved to do something 'winning', Google 'everytown.org'.