All Lives Matter!

By Ettie Rutherford
Contributing Columnist

It has often been said that it is useless worrying about what we cannot change or control. However, I think we need to make a greater effort to change the things that are detrimental to the sanctity of life, no matter how challenging the change might be.

I am thinking particularly, about the increase in deaths by gunfire. In some areas, it is easier to obtain a gun than it is to get a decent-paying job. All over the world, not just in Third World countries as some would have us believe, people are gunned down by others who, in many cases, are shown to be dangerous, but are still left to murder innocents in workplaces, shopping malls and other places, which were once deemed to be safe.

Even elementary school children are now firing guns in schools.

Yet, the silence is deafening!!!

For there to be any meaningful change, I think we all need to remind our elected officials, that as taxpayers, we will not tolerate the lack of a concerted effort, by all levels of government, to counter the proliferation of guns in every community.

It is not enough for elected officials to pass the responsibility onto others because, regardless of party affiliation, every politician must be concerned about the health and safety of constituents, a situation, which supersedes promises about jobs, highways, annual celebrations and other situations that do not threaten human lives.

So where do we go from here?
1. We need to remind all politicians in our area that as TAXPAYERS we demand that they address the increase in gun fatalities.
2.·We need to remember that mass killers are always apprehended unharmed, whereas unarmed Black men are quite often shot to death.
3.·We need to demand that the government allocate the necessary funding and policies to assist people with mental issues.
4. We need to be cognizant of the fact that, as taxpayers, we have power, through the ballot box, that allows us to vote for those who will do something about our concerns, and
5.·We need to remember that the next gunshot victim could be an innocent family member, whom the shooter did not even know.

Every life is precious and should be protected. What do you plan to do about the dastardly gun situation?

In Sisterhood,
Ettie
Award-winning Ettie Rutherford, B.Ed, Dip.Ed, M.Ed, is an educator, life coach, consultant and author of “Why Perch Like A Chick When You Can Soar Like An Eagle?”. An accomplished public speaker, Ettie is the Founder and CEO of Women Are Worthy, which provides step-by-step strategies for women to achieve their goals, with a minimum amount of stress. She can be reached at ettie@womenrworthy.com