Poetry from Patricia Doyne

GUNSLINGERS*

Virginia Tech was ripped apart one day.

Students and teachers—total, 32—

were shot and killed. Another dozen wounded.

Don’t blame guns. We all should own a few.

At Sandy Hook, a guy killed 20 kids,

age six and seven. Six staff members, too.

He owned assault rifles, shotguns, and pistols.

Don’t blame guns, Gun ownership’s his due.

A Minnesota man was filming ICE.

ICE shot him in the back ten times, it’s true—

but it was all his fault. His crime? A gun.

A legal gun, a gun he never drew.

So don’t blame guns for gun-deaths—unless you

are sure the perp’s a bad guy. Might vote Blue.

* Events cited: 4/16/07 at Virginia Tech U in Blacksburg, VA;

1/14/12 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, CONN;

1/24/26 street protest in Minneapolis MINN.

SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS