10/16/2026
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I hopped on this morning for the usual Wonderland Running “check out this race, it’s so beautiful “ post. Instead I was met with yet another grim news flash of gun violence. Yet another American mass shooting data point, but this time right here in this cozy, friendly, beautiful Central Oregon community that we call home.
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I am sad, exhausted, and angry. But that does not come close to what those overwhelmed and shattered people are feeling as they await news about their loved ones in an emergency room, or who will never again hold their child, or hear that special someone say their name.
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I am sure in the coming days we will observe any mention of rational gun regulations swatted away, like bugs at a campfire, while in the same breath vaguely muttering that we need better mental health care. We will watch a significant swath of the political elite offer thoughts and prayers while doing ABSOLUTELY FU***NG NOTHING about either gun violence or mental health.
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Before you jump on me with assumptions, I am a small “I” independent that fully supports responsible gun ownership. I do not want to come to your guns. I am grateful that the Constitution contains the Second Amendment, which by the way literally starts with the words “WELL REGULATED” FFS!
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So yeah, this coming Election Day DO NOT give in to the idea that this is acceptable or inevitable. Pretty pretty please VOTE in this election and every election thereafter like someone’s children’s lives depended on meaningful action.
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VOTE like their lives depended on officially recognizing that gun violence IS a public health crisis; that meaningful common sense regulation of fi****ms saves lives and communities; that mental health care is far too often expensive, inaccessible, or just nonexistent.
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VOTE like these young children’s lives depended on it, and yet the people in power did absolutely fu***ng nothing to stop it. 💔
