Three Really Sad Weekend Stories

Election coverage aside last weekend's news headlines were full of needless tragedy and violence. Here's three and a comment afterward.

• A convicted felon (not supposed to possess a gun) shot and killed a 12-year old trick-or-treater on Halloween in Sumter SC. The alleged shooter told authorities he thought he was being robbed when he clicked off 29 rounds with an assault rifle from inside his home. Here's the tragic story from Fox News.
  

• A Cincinnati pastor was shot and killed after arriving at a Northern Kentucky church for a funeral on Saturday. A deacon was also shot and wounded. The man charged with the murder and assault had a court order against him to stay away from the pastor. The two victims were attending the funeral at a sister church. CNN has the story.

• Pro golfer John Daly was taken into police custody in NC over the weekend. According to the AP story, police on the scene said Daly: appeared “extremely intoxicated and uncooperative” when he was found outside a Hooters restaurant early Oct. 27. With no other means of transportation, he was taken to the Forsyth County jail for 24 hours to get sober. Daly's version of the story is the usual cry of denial of the addicted. Golf Channel has his version of the tale here: Golf Channel
  

  The recovery crowd defines insanity as: doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. That said, it appears one of the greatest talents in golf is going mad. Come clean and get help John. Your public road to self-destruction is not fun to watch. You are capable of so much more. We miss that young gun who claimed PGA and British Open titles before he drank away his sponsorships.

Observations/comment:

• We live in tragic times. And people wonder why parents are paranoid?
  
• Sick people do sick things.
• Nothing is sacred anymore: church, funerals, halloween trick or treating, etc.
  
• Restraint applies to alcohol as much as it does firearms. Not every drinker is getting snockered and the majority of legal gun owners take their responsibility very seriously.
  
• Preserve and protect the memories of the victims and their stories---may they motivate our lawmakers, and educators otherwise they died in vain.
• Decency, respect, and character cannot be legislated. These things should be taught in the home long before someone is old enough to pick up a gun in anger, or take a drink.
• Personal responsibility and consequences for actions is a lesson we are failing to teach.
  
• "Revenge is mine," says the Lord.
• Lord Jesus, we still seem to be having serious trouble with your definition of neighbor, loving others as you love us, and loving our enemies.
• Forgiving those who've hurt innocent children is still a great struggle for me in my attempts to live out the words of Jesus.
  
• "Oh God, comfort the police and first responders in situations like this and give them much wisdom. Block the scenes from their minds and give them rest when they lay down."
  
• "Come quickly, Lord Jesus" is becoming my daily prayer.