Response to Brian Bilston’s America is a Gun

Response to Brian Bilston’s America is a Gun

“Bystanders killed by bullets not specifically intended for them have long been a very small part of the homicide problem.” Journal of Quantitative Criminology

i.

Bystanders have been a small

part of homicide problem;

how dare they keep jumping in

front of those stray bullets.

ii.

America IS a gun.

Three hundred and twenty one

people are shot ev’ry day,

ninety unintentionally.

America IS a gun.

Some are only bystanders;

fathers, mothers, son, daughters,

grandfathers, and grandmothers.

America IS a gun.

Innocents shot while driving,

sitting, standing, and sleeping;

talking, visiting, and walking.

America IS a gun.

Others are shot while shopping,

at the movies, concerts, and

clubs, or while going to school.

America IS a gun.

We do nothing to fix this,

stymied while the next bullet

flies at the next “untarget.”

iii.

Per one hundred thousand people,

eighteen countries suffer the loss

of half a person to shootings.

Then there's Chile; then there's US.*

*Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation

Author: Edward Dzitko

Photo: Rux Centea on Unsplash

Read Brian Bilston's American is a Gun