This seems apropos, a brilliant Twitter thread by Congressman Jack Kimble, from CA's 54th District.
“This morning, I wanted to extend my most devout prayers and deepest thoughts to the victims of the bear maulings at Heritage Village Retirement Community and their friends and loved ones. This was a terrible and senseless tragedy that could not have been avoided.
Predictably, my opponent has tried to bring politics into this time of grieving demanding that we no longer permit live bears to be part of pet days at retirement homes and calling for other radical measures to address a few tragic but isolated incidents.
With the exception of the truly unfortunate events of 2014, over the past decade we have never had more than 8 maulings in a single year. Our country is 250 years old and never has it found it necessary to ban bears from retirement homes.
That’s because our founding fathers knew about a little something called freedom. Yes, every retirement home should have guards with tranquilizer guns and of course they should have drills so residents can protect themselves from runaway bears.
At the same time we can’t allow a small number of isolated bear attacks to take away our freedom. This is not the time for radical liberal solutions that won’t even stop a determined kodiak or grizzly.
We need to look at why these bear attacks keep happening. I hate to say it, but we need to look at ourselves as a society. Why do so many bears seen mmm more violent today? Is it a sign of mental illness or a lack of Christian values in their upbringing.
Now is not the time for doing something about bear attacks. It is time for coming together with thoughts, prayers, and platitudes because I do know one thing, I represent the greatest, most God-fearing district in this whole country.
One thing to think about, if we criminalize taking bears into retirement homes, then only criminals will be able to take bears into retirement homes.”
When I read about the shooting in Tulsa just before going to bed, I felt...numb. That's what the frequent, nearly daily of late, slaughter by gunfire has done to me. I see no end to the shootings in sight.
Because you and a lot of us pay attention notice how the media follows the narrative: "ok, today's shootings, let's focus on response time. We don't need that Uvalde shit here. Plus it goes down easier when they are all adults, so confirm all the victims are over 21."
I hear once again Biden is addressing the nation this evening. I won't be watching. Not that this conflagration is on him. But unless you are enacting an immediate order to confiscate every fucking gun in this shit hole country, I ain't listening. So have an immediate call for action then STFU.
The NRA & the GOP don't care about the carnage caused by guns used by domestic terrorists. They want people upset & to distrust others. There's that separation. They want us numb & alone. Don't fall for it. Don't let them win. Great piece Barry.
It's good that there's a 💔 at the bottom of the blog. I formally request that there be a 🤔 or a 🖕 or a 🤬 or a 🤯 because I didn't know what to short of putting a hands through a wall ora foot through the door. It's not personal but damn you for writing this in the voice of someone who's feeling this event up close - geographically and emotionally.
I read in WaPo this morning the idea that we needed to start including photos. That's an awful ask of the families and relatives and friends and fellow Americans, and the GOP would probably call it "politicizing" the discussion, but how many of them or THEIR families and relatives and friends could choke back their fear or empathy or horror or, perhaps their disgust?
I'm so ripshit and feel powerless and feel like using firearms against those "leaders" who can come together for the betterment of the country, but that'd be hypocritical...hmmm. Fuck them.
I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow. It sure is good those facilities are "hardened" and "secure.". I can't get out of here fast enough.
Hither and yon. Munich, Amalfi, Nice, Dublin. Checking out possible retreats though Munich and Dublin are too chilly for the Mrs. But I'll be checking in with the few sane people I know. Not a big list but you all are on it. Thanks for your eye on America.
PS - when Melissa said "we're moving" did she have any good ideas?
Excellent, as always, Barry. Altho it makes me sick this continues for you to write about. How many lives are the cost for common sense change, I guess we don’t yet know 😔
My best friend retired a year ago and moved to Portugal. I'm gonna start learning Portugese.
I'm only slightly joking.
Great piece, Barry.
I hear Portugal is nice this time of year. Low humidity and almost not mass shooting.
This seems apropos, a brilliant Twitter thread by Congressman Jack Kimble, from CA's 54th District.
“This morning, I wanted to extend my most devout prayers and deepest thoughts to the victims of the bear maulings at Heritage Village Retirement Community and their friends and loved ones. This was a terrible and senseless tragedy that could not have been avoided.
Predictably, my opponent has tried to bring politics into this time of grieving demanding that we no longer permit live bears to be part of pet days at retirement homes and calling for other radical measures to address a few tragic but isolated incidents.
With the exception of the truly unfortunate events of 2014, over the past decade we have never had more than 8 maulings in a single year. Our country is 250 years old and never has it found it necessary to ban bears from retirement homes.
That’s because our founding fathers knew about a little something called freedom. Yes, every retirement home should have guards with tranquilizer guns and of course they should have drills so residents can protect themselves from runaway bears.
At the same time we can’t allow a small number of isolated bear attacks to take away our freedom. This is not the time for radical liberal solutions that won’t even stop a determined kodiak or grizzly.
We need to look at why these bear attacks keep happening. I hate to say it, but we need to look at ourselves as a society. Why do so many bears seen mmm more violent today? Is it a sign of mental illness or a lack of Christian values in their upbringing.
Now is not the time for doing something about bear attacks. It is time for coming together with thoughts, prayers, and platitudes because I do know one thing, I represent the greatest, most God-fearing district in this whole country.
One thing to think about, if we criminalize taking bears into retirement homes, then only criminals will be able to take bears into retirement homes.”
I should have moved in with my dad and step-mom in 2004. Hell, it's still there. 30 minutes away. Across town, as you might say. In Canada.
This is not what any of us meant when we said we wanted a return to everyday life.
Language can't cover this anymore
When I read about the shooting in Tulsa just before going to bed, I felt...numb. That's what the frequent, nearly daily of late, slaughter by gunfire has done to me. I see no end to the shootings in sight.
The only that prevents me from feeling numb is the certainty that's what the NRA and its allies want me to feel. They want this not to bother me.
Because you and a lot of us pay attention notice how the media follows the narrative: "ok, today's shootings, let's focus on response time. We don't need that Uvalde shit here. Plus it goes down easier when they are all adults, so confirm all the victims are over 21."
I hear once again Biden is addressing the nation this evening. I won't be watching. Not that this conflagration is on him. But unless you are enacting an immediate order to confiscate every fucking gun in this shit hole country, I ain't listening. So have an immediate call for action then STFU.
Confiscate every gun? Oh, sure, it sounds like a good idea
I am ready to go back to Iceland also. I was not ready to return as the moment I got off the plane in New York there was another multiple shooting.
So how DOES one do that -- move there I mean?
Next to impossible
https://visaguide.world/moving-to/iceland/
Thanks for this. I’m driving into it.
The NRA & the GOP don't care about the carnage caused by guns used by domestic terrorists. They want people upset & to distrust others. There's that separation. They want us numb & alone. Don't fall for it. Don't let them win. Great piece Barry.
It's good that there's a 💔 at the bottom of the blog. I formally request that there be a 🤔 or a 🖕 or a 🤬 or a 🤯 because I didn't know what to short of putting a hands through a wall ora foot through the door. It's not personal but damn you for writing this in the voice of someone who's feeling this event up close - geographically and emotionally.
I read in WaPo this morning the idea that we needed to start including photos. That's an awful ask of the families and relatives and friends and fellow Americans, and the GOP would probably call it "politicizing" the discussion, but how many of them or THEIR families and relatives and friends could choke back their fear or empathy or horror or, perhaps their disgust?
I'm so ripshit and feel powerless and feel like using firearms against those "leaders" who can come together for the betterment of the country, but that'd be hypocritical...hmmm. Fuck them.
I'm leaving for Europe tomorrow. It sure is good those facilities are "hardened" and "secure.". I can't get out of here fast enough.
You're leaving for Europe? No one will blame you if you don't come back
Hither and yon. Munich, Amalfi, Nice, Dublin. Checking out possible retreats though Munich and Dublin are too chilly for the Mrs. But I'll be checking in with the few sane people I know. Not a big list but you all are on it. Thanks for your eye on America.
PS - when Melissa said "we're moving" did she have any good ideas?
Excellent, as always, Barry. Altho it makes me sick this continues for you to write about. How many lives are the cost for common sense change, I guess we don’t yet know 😔
There may not be a limit. Someone should ask our senators and congress people about that.
We are doing that, certainly. I guess maybe we should all chip in for a proctologist group discount for the GOP.