What do you say?

What do you say to a daughter, already dealing with the aftermath of violence against her body and soul, who learns that among the 38 so far identified, 3 were friends?

Really, what do you say?

What do you say to the woman whose son died this year but part of whose legacy lived on in the joy and community at this gathering place where he once worked, now forever linked to a historic mass murder?

What do you say to your wife, spending her last night ever alone in her mother’s house, who has so much else on her mind and now, this?

What do you say to the parents of Sandy Hook and Columbine who must have thought, ‘Surely, now action will be taken?’

What do you say to the parents and friends of the murdered and maimed when the news brings them tidings of hatred from ‘Christians’ spouting Leviticus?

What do you say to your friends among Muslims who are once again painted with an unfair brush? 

Or your friends among Christians who understand that the hateful mob from Westboro et al who don’t represent them will nonetheless be identified as Christians?

And what do you say to the many who believe in their hearts that access to firepower is a crucial right of citizenship?

Seriously…

…what do you say?

As I’ve shared before, the murderous intent is on the perpetrator. But access to obscene levels of firepower – that’s on all of us.

So…what do we say?