Downplaying Violence

A sad and alarming figure

Has popped up in the news;

The more we ignore that number,

The more young people we’ll lose.

 

SEVENTY-FOUR school shootings

Have occurred since Sandy Hook.

One shooting per week on the average--

A horrible thing in my book!

 

But CNN’s downplayed these numbers

By fiddling around with their meaning,

And saying it’s only fifteen.

That has got some people screaming.

They say that some shootings don’t count--

That SEVENTY-FOUR is inflated

And should not include those that are fight-,

Accident-, or gang-related.

 

How shocking and totally absurd

Is that manipulative computing!

Let us face reality:

ANY school shooting’s a shooting!

 

Whatever your interpretation,

Something has got to be done

To keep violent individuals

From getting their hands on a gun.

 

Concerned politicians

Should send gun lobbyists packing.

But for that they need a backbone,

Or something else that they’re lacking.

(6-16-14)