The Library
This piece is going to be a bit different than my usual post. As I’ve discussed before, I’m a big supporter of libraries. A library is more than just a place to check out books. A library is a community center where people from all walks can gather to learn and gain knowledge. It’s a place of comfort for me. A library is also a place where you can sit around and read to your heart’s content without the expectation of spending money. A well-run, well-put-together library can be the thriving heart of the community. The main branch of my local library is such a place. May 15 will be their thirtieth anniversary. They had a big celebration planned. There were going to be vendors, music, and a car show. It would be a great time to celebrate a pillar of the local community. I say it was because now the library will probably postpone their celebration. You see, the library is closed until further notice because, on Saturday afternoon, a man pulled out a pistol and shot a total stranger in the head inside the library.
From the reports I’ve read from both the police and online, the man got out of his car and entered the library. He then bought a coffee before causing a disturbance. I don’t know what he was saying, but reports stated that he mentioned that he used to be in the military and was allegedly being loud and obnoxious. That’s when one of the regular library patrons, someone at the library almost every day, stood up and politely asked the man to please keep it down. The man responded by allegedly pulling a loaded pistol from under his jacket and shooting the patron in the head. He then sat down at a table near the coffee shop and drank his coffee as the library exploded into a sea of chaos around him, with everyone fleeing as quickly as possible. He was still waiting there when the police arrived and took him into custody.
Of course, if you read comments on social media, which I don’t recommend, you’ll see all kinds of reactionary bullshit. Some blamed the homeless population, which is hilarious considering the man pulled up in a red sports sedan. He wasn’t homeless. Some react by calling for the library to “take safety seriously” by hiring armed guards and installing metal detectors. The problem is, where will they get the money for all of that? Like most public education entities, I’m sure the library already has a stretched budget. But I get it. People are scared. If this had been a typical Saturday, I might have been there. I can’t imagine how much trauma those people that witnessed it are carrying now.
As I ponder it, it cuts so profoundly because that library is my respite. I can always go there when I’m having a bad day or can’t get my creative juices flowing. I can sit in a quiet room and write or read a book or magazine to my heart’s content. Now, there is a large scar over all of it—a question that will forever hang over my time there.
Am I safe?
Of course, the truth is we are never entirely safe. That doesn’t mean we’re in danger, but every day when we leave the house, a million things could happen to us. We don’t think about it because something rarely happens, but the chance is never zero. Situations like this remind us that life is fleeting and everything can change in the blink of an eye. To me, it’s important to live the life you want and cherish every opportunity. Events like this only emphasize it even more.
All of that notwithstanding, what can we do to feel safer? This is just my opinion, and remember that most facts from this case are not available yet; I’m just going off of the brief story released by the authorities. If this man were indeed a veteran, we need to care for our veterans one hundred percent better. We ask these people to serve in wars, but after their usefulness is over, we bring them back and inject them back into a society that they are not prepared to deal with. Even as an ordinary civilian, I can feel the walls close in sometimes, so I can only imagine what it’s like for someone who served in armed conflicts overseas. We need to make sure all veterans get the therapy and help that they need to transition out of a warzone and back into normal society. Second, if someone has a history of mental instability, it should be more difficult, or even impossible, for them to own a gun. I know talking about gun rights is a red line for people, and I’m not interested in having that conversation. All I’m saying is if someone has anger issues, which this man appears to have had, maybe we owe it to the rest of us to make sure he can’t own a firearm.
Now I know this is all pretty raw. I admit all these feelings were fresh on my mind after I heard about the shooting, and I wanted to write to get it all out of my head. If you’re still reading, I appreciate you. While my fictional stories tend to be violent stuff where the body count is high, that doesn’t mean I want it to happen in real life. Especially in a community and place that I hold so dear. I glance at the news occasionally and see a world where hostilities are at an all-time high and divisions are stoked and inflamed by everyone from social media to talking heads and politicians. Because of this, we need to spend more time trying to find our common interests and concentrating less on our differences. Learning to trust each other and appreciate our differences is the only way we will pull back and ease the pressure that seems to be building around us. So, I will wrap this up by reminding you to cherish every moment of your life and everyone in it because I certainly appreciate all of you.
– Ryan
