Part One: Lives in disarray
As an author of fiction, I draw on a fairly vivid imagination. Yet never have I conjured what occurred in Newport News, Virginia last Friday; twenty-five-year-old Abby Zwerner was shot by one of her students, a six-year-old boy. This child, whose identity and that of his family/caregivers has been concealed, took a loaded handgun to school and in an altercation he shot his teacher. A six-year-old youngster shot his teacher. I've been mulling over this absurd yet true statement all weekend. I've prayed for all involved, including the rest of those children within Ms. Zwerner's class, who were ordered to flee for safety. I've pondered some rather far-flung scenarios amid this nation's ultra-conservative right wing who claim any infringement on the second amendment is damaging to their rights as gun owners. I've wondered how the newly sworn in members of the House of Representatives responded, especially those that spent all of last week asserting their rights to k...