The Colorado State Open Thread is not a continuing listing of all the mass shootings that take place in the state, though it might seem that way at times. Too many times. It is also not intended to be a place to list all the tragedies that occur within the state, though as an Open Thread, that’s fair game if that’s where the comments take it. I prefer to focus on the good, especially during this week leading up to Thanksgiving and what to me will likely be a joyous, special occasion the day after Thanksgiving, but someone named Aldridge, coincidentally the name of the company that’s doing the renovation work on our house right now, has effectively hijacked this diary for his own selfish, evil ends.
Colorado has had an unfortunate number of mass killings that can be remembered by single names, — Columbine, King Soopers, Aurora Theater, Chuck E Cheese, and there are more that don’t necessarily fit the exact definition of the “mass murder” that involves four deaths, but having lived here for about 30 years, I can recall a number where there were two or three people killed in a gruesome, memorable fashion. Colorado has at least taken a few measures to try and restrict unlimited warfare in the streets, but we’re also the home of the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners Association, which uses lawsuits to challenge each and every law passed by the state legislature that might possibly interfere with every person being able to purchase, wield and use guns right up until the point where people are being mowed down in the streets. I’m sure they would challenge those incidents as well if they can figure out a way to claim self-defense or protection of their rights.
I don’t wish to turn this diary into a rant about the 2nd Amendment and the way the Supreme Court has perverted the meaning of requiring people to be well-regulated or as part of a militia, but I sure as hell wish some state would actually just pass a law stating that the only gun owners with the legal right to keep and bear arms must be members of the National Guard units or a law enforcement agency within that state’s boundary. All of these mass shootings has made me angry but also nervous because there’s no way for someone to guarantee they won’t at some point fall victim to someone who chooses to cease being a law-abiding individual (I would argue they would cease being law-abiding when they aren’t a member of an actual well-regulated militia, but I’d be in a small minority of people in this state).
It is to the point where I will be nervous this entire Friday afternoon into evening because I will be playing Santa Claus for the town and I will be riding on a float down the main street of town. I started thinking of this when that gunman in Illinois opened fire just north of Chicago into a July 4th parade, just shooting at people out to celebrate a holiday with family and friends. I will be playing a very obvious character of good will and good cheer and I will be a visible target to someone who is having a very bad day/week/year/life and who has a means and will to make everyone else, especially me, have a very bad time with them. I have mentioned this concern to some others — my dentist volunteered to contribute money to a bullet-proof vest, a few friends have told me the likelihood of something bad happening is vanishingly small, but still, it’s not quite zero. Anyway, if you hear of a problem in a Christmas parade here, I was brave enough to try and bring joy to the hearts of 10-15,000 people and I really do hope that nothing happens.
That’s my thought this Monday, after the shooting in Colorado Springs. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below. It’s nothing we should be thinking about, but there is evil, misery and cruelty out in the world today and our solution is to band together, think good thoughts, bring happiness to all, especially in this holiday season (whether you celebrate it or not), and remember, the floor is always open and ready for you.