17

           1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17  !!!

And these Floridians are but the most recent ones.  They all had names and futures (many 'bright' ones) , and they all had families who loved them and they all had the right to live.  And none of them should have their passing sullied by the rancorous, vile, hateful words that are passing for discourse in the aftermath.

It has often been said that "violence is as American as  apple pie", harkening to the 'Wild West' and 'the right to bear arms'.  Do military Drill Instructors still demand of their trainees as was done in 1962 when I was in Basic Training: "What's the spirit of the bayonet?"  To which we were dutifully to chant: "To kill!" Okay, that was military training but I think the same question can be posed for AK-14's.  They are for killing and as is often pointed out, they are not for hunting wildlife.  Rather restricts the potential 'targets'.  

Which brings me back to Florida and the many other tragedies  in recent years.  Every time the same mantras, the same platitudes ('thoughts and prayers') get spouted: 'it's not a gun issue; it's a societal matter'; it's a mental health issue; guns don't kill people ...people kill people.'  On it goes.  I do not disparage 'thoughts and prayers' 
         . . . but something else is lacking.

    In the meantime,  17  !

        Satchel