Words can not express the tragedy that struck yesterday in Kansas City. This tragedy struck especially close to home because I have family in KC, some of which were at the parade but are thankfully safe, and I attended college there, and visited many times in my lifetime to see family and friends. Kansas City holds a special place in my heart for many reasons and it is heartbreaking to see such a joyous occasion celebrating the Chiefs incredible victory on Sunday turned to one of immense sorrow. It reminds me once again of the fallen world we live in, and even though I know we live in a dark and fallen world, hearing things like this happening and continuing to happen, I still can’t wrap my mind around how someone can take the life of another person. Life is sacred. Life is a gift. Life is precious. Any time life is lost, it affects far more than just the person whose life ended. No matter how distraught or angry you are at someone in particular or just at life in general, there is NEVER a circumstance where it is OK to take the life of another person. You will never gain anything by ending someone’s life. Yesterday’s parade was a celebration that so many families and children attended and it brought hundreds of thousands of people together as a community, and because some people decided it was OK to open fire, a family lost a mother and a sister, 11 children were shot, several more adults were shot, and an entire community was forever altered. I was a small child when the Columbine shooting happened here in Colorado. We went to see the countless memorials that had been set up for those who lost their lives in this incident. It is something that sticks with you for the rest of your life and something that not just those immediately affected will ever forget. The entire community is affected, many sentenced to living in fear of venturing out into public events ever again or sending their children to school or living life the same way they did before. The news of yet another school shooting or mass shooting in a public event or venue has become far too frequent and something that forever changes a community’s life.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims of yesterday’s shooting. Those that were injured. The many that were still there and fearing for their lives. The family of the victim that lost her life. The community as a whole as they try to get past this and move on. The law enforcement that is investigating this crime. Join me in praying for this community of hurting people and those affected by senseless violence around the world
#PRAYFORKC #stopsenselessviolence #heartbroken
Ashley Beach-Author and Storyteller 