Dear Residents –
At the end of a short work week and heading into the long Thanksgiving weekend, my initial thought was to write a simple message of well wishes for a happy and healthy holiday. But, with another mass murder occurring this morning, it just did not seem right to leave it at that.
Sadly, in just 10 days, 18 lives were lost to mass killings in the U.S. Starting early on November 13, 2022, with the brutal murders of college students Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Kaylee Goncalves. Followed up later that same day, with the fatal shootings of college football players Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D’Sean Perry. Next, on November 19, 2022, the shootings of Daniel Aston, Derrick Rump, Kelly Loving, Ashley Paugh, and Raymond Green Vance, patrons or employees at a LGBTQ nightclub. Then, this morning, another six people shot and killed at a Walmart, their names yet to be released.
To the extent available, I named each victim so that we don’t lose sight of them in the conversations that I hope and pray will follow as a result of these incidents. Discussions that are not dominated with politics or blame, but ones that seek solutions and prevention. It is complicated for sure, with issues around reasonable gun control regulations, acknowledging and dealing with an ongoing mental health crisis, and tackling hate crimes head on, just to name a few.
But in those discussions, let us not forget that each one of these victims had goals and aspirations for a future. That each one had loved ones who should be getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving but instead are left grieving an unimaginable loss. We owe it to them and their families to put our differences aside and to work together to try to stop the senseless violence that is plaguing our Country.
Tomorrow, as you sit around the dining room table, I ask you to think of the victims and their families. Allow them to serve as a reminder to all of us to be thankful for every moment that we have with our loved ones.
Happy Thanksgiving and stay safe!
Regards,
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