Our hearts are broken with the loss of life in Uvalde, Texas last week. The slaughter of 19 children and two teachers leaves us speechless. Unfortunately, we’ve been here before. Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, the recent shooting in Buffalo and so many other heartbreaks. These are terrible tragedies resulting in the loss of innocent life. With four married children of our own and a 12th grandchild on the way, I am beyond saddened with what the families in Texas and our nation is feeling. Simply horrific!
I was listening to a live news report from Uvalde in the car last week. A mob of reporters were demanding answers. The volume of voices grilling law enforcement was vaulting. Every conceivable question was asked but the theme was, “Why? Why? Why?” The media was rife with questions on how this could happen as they tried to put together a timeline and quickly affix blame. The noise was deafening! You could hear the outrage, the pain, the distraught voices. I had to pull the car over to take it all in.
Were there mistakes made by law enforcement in their response? It appears so. But, even if there were errors, can we lay this tragedy at their feet? And then we have the same political voices shouting for the abolition of guns. Really? Will that fix the problem? May be we need to fine tune our gun laws for minors or at-risk young adults, but is it that simple?
One thing I do know. Guns haven’t changed for 50 years! What has changed is our culture. This is not the same country I grew up in 40 years ago. The moral fabric of our country has been dying for decades. I have watched it before my very eyes. We should be asking a whole slew of questions about why this is happening in America and what are the root causes?
Amidst all the agitators, pundits and competing voices, it would be nice to hear an equal amount of outrage and vitriol for a lack of intentional fathers in the home, for the gradual destruction of the nuclear family. What about the toxic influence of social media on our teenagers and young adults? What about what seems to be an environment of over medicated kids, not to mention violent video games and the unfettered availability of porn online?
What about elected district attorneys who look the other way in our most liberal cities and through a no cash bail system are repeatedly letting violent offenders back on our streets? It’s maddening! Who will address why black on black crime is off the charts in our inner cities? It’s like no one wants to talk about it. All we hear is crickets. Chicago has some of the toughest gun laws in the country and yet 47 people were shot and 9 killed over the Memorial Day weekend. Is President Biden making his next visit to the windy city?
Given this unstable culture for kids, parents can be the great stabilizer, but so many reside in dysfunctional families. Unfortunately, many parents are not being intentional with their children. And what about the role of faith in our lives? The gradual decline in church worship over the last couple decades is alarming. We are becoming a godless society without any sense of divine accountability. All of the meaningful social guardrails seem to have broken down. We are a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values, but when was the last time you heard a political leader espouse these virtues? Again, crickets!
We have a problem in America. We have a moral rot in our culture that has been fermenting for a long time. We don’t even engage in open debate any longer. Those asking reasoned questions seemed to get dismissed or cancelled. Lies are peddled as truth and certain factions of the main stream media promulgate them. It’s shameful.
One thing I know is true. Another massacre like the one in Texas last week will not be prevented by signing some sweeping anti-gun law. We’ve got a much deeper cultural problem right here in River City! It’s a generational problem that will take decades to solve. We can change course, but unless we have the courage to start asking the right questions and address our broken culture the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas will not be the last.
Let us pray for the courage to stand up for faith, family and to rid our culture of the poisons our kids are inhaling each day. Every voice matters!
I am just a guy who loves life, my wife, my family, my God and my country. I want to pay it forward and make a positive contribution inspiring others to make great life decisions. Growing McKell Partners, a full service wealth management and financial planning practice, is also my passion.
I love a great game of golf, tennis or chasing the sunset on my Cannondale. An evening convertible ride and a bowl of Haagen Dazs peanut butter chocolate ice cream are my go-to stress relievers.
I am just a guy who loves life, my wife, my family, my God, and my country. I want to pay it forward and make a positive contribution inspiring others to make great life decisions.