Dear Neighbors,
The tragedy that occurred in Texas is horrifying and has brought tremendous pain and suffering for those directly impacted as well as our nation.
I am saddened that evil continues to target innocent lives. We mourn as a country, state, and community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends who lost loved ones.
As I speak with folks around our area, I continue to hear that we need to focus on the contributing factors influencing these murderous individuals. Notable among these factors is our society's devaluing of life and a strong sense of hopelessness felt by many.
My belief is that we need to secure our schools with a single secured entrance and have armed, retired military personnel or law enforcement at each school. When I served on my local school board, we voted to hire an armed resource (police) officer in our public school. His presence had a positive effect on order, safety, and discipline in the school. Children are our most precious blessings and deserve our best protection.
In addition, we must enforce current gun laws and stop the damaging cycle of arrest and release.
We should also revisit our laws regarding the institutionalization of those who are severely mentally ill. The vast majority of mass shooters have left evidence of mental illness on social media before committing these murderous crimes. We need to support law enforcement who will investigate and act on their findings.
Confiscating guns from law abiding citizens is not the solution and neither is defunding the police. Murder rates are skyrocketing across our country and decisive action by law enforcement must be supported. We also need to address the saturation of graphic murders and excessive violence in video games and movies—many of which are targeted at our young people.
There is a sickness in our culture and as humans with spheres of influence in our own lives, we should focus efforts on cultivating respect and value for others. This is the path for us to become stronger, better, and to prevent future tragedies.
Remember the words of our founding father John Adams: Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. Let us persevere and return our country to the traditional values of unalienable God Given rights and build a better future for ourselves and our children. By God’s grace and with His help I believe it is possible.
With love, prayers, and respect for all,
Glenn