I struggled to choose a piece of music to accompany today’s post. I was going to use a Mozart Requiem, or a song that always makes me cry, and there are many pieces that feature children’s voices, but in the end I decided to use one of the most beautiful pieces I know. When I first heard this, I was in my first year of music school and had very little exposure to orchestral music.
But this post is not about the music . . .
In Texas last week, an individual walked into an elementary school and killed two teachers and nineteen children. It is not the first time children have been gunned down where they believe they are safe. It is also not the first time an innocent person have lost their life while shopping, hanging out with friends, or going about their daily life.
Schools are supposed to be a wonderful place, full of learning, friends, and fun. I can’t imagine what children are thinking right now about going to school. No child should not go to school wondering if they will come home.
Any innocent death is devastating, but a child’s death is . . . I don’t have enough words.
Who’s to blame? The perpetrator? That is obvious. Government? They have rules, but are they tough enough? Some will argue, “Hell, no.”
Do people need guns? Need, want, deserve, it’s very subjective.
If/then
If only the police and military were allowed to posess firearms, then we would lose less innocent people.
If firearms manufacturer signed exclusive agreements with the poilice and military, then we would lose less innocent people.
If you were only allowed to posess a firearm in order to hunt for food, then we would lose less innocent people. No civilian needs a semi-automatic weapon to hunt for food.
If you need a firearm for protection, then you should be able to have one, but it should never leave your residence, and we would lose less innocent people.
If you want to fire a semi-automatic weapon for fun, then shooting ranges should be able to offer that service, in conjunction with a federal agency.
No one needs to carry a firearm in any public space.
How much money do firearms companies make, and is that amount worth innocent children’s lives?
Just some thoughts and I’ll post my cartoon here today, rather than wait.
-Leon
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.
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Lines by Leon 
A truly beautiful piece of music and I can see why it felt appropriate for you this week. It has been a favourite of mine ever since I first heard it: I was about 12, and our music teacher put on a record of it during a lesson. You’ve never seen a class of rowdy little boys become so silent while they listened! I think it is pure coincidence but I’m also dipping my toe into the classical waters for one of tomorrow’s tunes. Great minds, etc…
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