God help us

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Yesterday, September 10, 2025, a political activist named Charlie Kirk was killed at a regular rally he had been running for some time.  Kirk would go to various places along a "tour" of the United States, especially college campuses and debate with students who had opinions about conservatism.  Kirk was shot in the neck in the middle of his presentation in front of students.  His killing is being labeled as "political assassination."  No matter which side of the political spectrum we individually believe in, we should all be in agreement that NO ONE deserves to have their life ended in such a way.

Many years ago, Pope St. John Paul II wrote Evangelium Vitae, a follow-up and more extensive encyclical about the sacredness of human life.  Somehow, we should all be able to agree that only God has the right to take life when a person's time is up on earth.  Even in cases like Kirk's, even the shooter doesn't deserve capital punishment.  People have argued for years on the subject of capital punishment, saying that even Jesus says "an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth."  What a completely misinterpreted statement!  It has nothing to do with revenge.  Would Jesus have said and meant something like that and then recanted his own words when he tells us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors?  Does He tell us "well, I said that in a drunken stupor.  really, we are supposed to love our enemies?"  No he was not drunk.

I would absolutely agree that this was an assassination.  It was likely motivated by political difference of opinion.  But it was, is, and always will be unfathomable and abhorrent.

Why does this continue?  Haven't children been exposed to enough violence and sadness?  Are we not spending more and more money on therapy for children?  Violence in the world, schools, and in homes?  What is it going to take?

I remember a cartoon that made fun of what the world would be like without guns.  It had its time, but then how would humanity adapt.  Guns are more and more available than drugs in the world.  Yet others say, guns don't kill people -- people kill people.  Absolutely true, but then what would be next?  How would someone who is angry be able to kill someone?  Stabbing?  Suffocating?  Literally beating them senselessly until the other lost so much blood?  Those things take a lot of energy and incredible physical strength to accomplish.  Could they still happen?  Yes, as they do each day in the world.  However, the number of those who die by violence other than by guns is miniscule by comparison.

No killing is right.  Grant your people peace, O Lord.

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