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We all woke up this morning to the news of yet another unbelievable act of violence against innocent people. This makes two mass shootings in two days. To say gun violence is out of control is an understatement. In fact, there have been [more mass shootings here in the United States than days in 2019](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/there-have-been-more-mass-shootings-than-days-in-2019/), let that sink in for a moment.  

**Will it get worse before it gets better?**

I ask myself a single question nearly every day. As an American, for the first time in my life, I find myself thinking about the very real possibility of myself or a member of my family becoming a random shooting victim at large public gatherings like a State fair, festival, concert, or sporting event. This is one of the many reasons I’ve been seriously considering becoming an Expat for the past few years. Hope has always prevented me from acting upon that consideration. 

Recent headlines will insure that gun control will be a hot campaign issue in the months leading to the 2020 US Presidential election. It’s important to research and understand each candidates’ plans for getting this (and many other) problem(s) under control. Equally as important is drilling down to the root cause of why these heinous acts of violence keep occurring in numbers that dwarf any other country in the developed world. 

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## “Democracy is not simply a license to indulge individual whims and proclivities. It is also holding oneself accountable to some reasonable degree for the conditions of peace and chaos that impact the lives of those who inhabit one’s beloved extended community.” ― Aberjhani, Splendid Literarium: A Treasury of Stories, Aphorisms, Poems, and Essays ##

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At this point we need much more than thoughts and prayers and fits of outrage on social media. We need action. Social media has become a very dangerous safety release valve that allows us to expend our emotional outrage before it becomes fuel to spark any kind of real action. Each American needs to do their due diligence, vote for candidates whose promises align with their values, and then hold those politicians accountable for delivering on their promises. 

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Like everywhere I’ve traveled in the world I still believe a majority of Americans are decent people. If we’re guilty of anything it's this...we’re guilty of allowing ourselves to become distracted, manipulated, and misled. We’ve fallen asleep at the wheel and woken up in a ditch. 2020 presents us with another opportunity to take a different path. We very much need to work to make sure our elected officials reflect the decency of the majority. 

Will it get worse before it gets better? I guess the better question is how much violence, greed, corruption, and lawlessness will it take before Americans are willing to demand and fight for change?  



Peace be with you, 

Eric


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