#writephoto — Serenity In the Midst of Madness

Fandango

4217516E-452E-4D41-9B94-1FA7922107B2Michael sat on the wooden bench by the side of the calm stream, hoping to find that, in what is arguably the most bountiful nation on the planet, there was yet a trace of humanity left.

He had been under a tremendous amount of stress since last night, when yet another mass shooting in America took place. It’s not as if there were no warning signs that such a tragedy would occur. This latest one, in Thousand Oaks, California, was the thirteenth mass shooting — where four or more people were shot — in the United States in the twelve days since (and including) the attack at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27th. Thirteen mass shootings in twelve days.

How many more interviews would Michael, an investigator for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, (aka, the ATF), have to conduct with the survivors of these shootings and of the next of kin of those whose lives had been tragically cut short?

Michael sat on the bench by the stream, tears in his eyes and a profound sadness in his heart, wondering if he could ever find any serenity in the midst of all the madness.

Written for Sue Vincent’s Thursday Photo Prompt. Also for these one-word prompts: Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (trace), Daily Addictions (bountiful), Scotts Daily Prompt (warning), and Word of the Day Challenge (kin).

23 thoughts on “#writephoto — Serenity In the Midst of Madness”

  2. James Pyles November 8, 2018 / 5:46 pm

    I belong to a veterans group on Facebook (thanks to my son who served in the Marines), and a fellow commented that he served in the Corps with the shooter. The man he knew was kind, considerate, and a good friend, but something inside him snapped. No, it doesn’t excuse what he did, but this again highlights how much help vets need, and if they don’t get it. especially someone who was trained in the Corp, they can become extraordinarily dangerous.

    My son went through a lot of dark times after he was discharged (though obviously not this bad) and it took years of the right kind of help, plus us supporting him as a family, to see him through.

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    • Sight11 November 8, 2018 / 7:24 pm

      I agree with you James, it’s only right to support them after they are discharged..

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    • Fandango November 8, 2018 / 9:43 pm

      I haven’t kept up with what they’ve determined, if anything, to be the shooter’s motivation. I’m curious about what drove him to commit this act.

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      • James Pyles November 9, 2018 / 4:57 am

        We may never know for sure what internal demons he brought back with him from combat.

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  5. Marleen November 9, 2018 / 6:19 am

    I don’t think they’ve come up with a motivation. I’ve heard the parents were concerned that he was unstable. And I think either the government or some organization knew too (as he was called to be checked up on, which sounds more like a nuisance than like help).

    A young man was interviewed, by Anderson Cooper, who was at the venue a couple nights ago and made it out when this shooting happened. He was a past friend — before the shooter served — with the shooter. That young man was also at the Las Vegas shooting.

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  6. newepicauthor November 9, 2018 / 9:01 am

    That is so tragic, but your statistics are a bit off as I read 12 people were killed and about 15 others were wounded.

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    • Fandango November 9, 2018 / 10:52 am

      I actually didn’t cite any statistics for the Thousand Oaks shooting. The stats I did vote were these: “…the thirteenth mass shooting — where four or more people were shot — in the United States in the twelve days since (and including) the attack at a synagogue in Pittsburgh on October 27th. Thirteen mass shootings in twelve days.”

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