This post is written for Friday Fictioneers.
Enjoy your retirement. Those were his thoughts driving to his new “number one rated” over 55 community. After twenty-eight years working in a big city he looked forward to a little peace and comfort.
Turning on the car radio he heard the announcer matter of fact deliver the “breaking news” (wasn’t everything nowadays breaking news?)…”a gunman opened fire on students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, killing 17 people and injuring 17 others.” Looking up he noticed the highway sign said “Welcome to Florida”.
Oh Danny Boy! 
That’s a sad tale but unfortunately, its’s a reality for many too. Many lives have been lost to gun violence!
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The terrible truth of it. The impossible reality of it. The lives cut short by it. 😦
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You just never know. Thank you for sharing this story.
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Good, sad story. This is the #1 reason why I don’t even want to visit the US any more. This gun obsession even seems to have otherwise reasonable people in ints grasp.
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We are a crazy nation with our gun control (lack thereof) freaks.
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p.s. If anyone is interested, here is the breakdown by state of mass shootings from 1982-present:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/811541/mass-shootings-in-the-us-by-state/
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Looks like we rank number 2 but I bet if you factor population size per shooting I bet we come out #1. It’s one category you don’t want to be number 1.
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Danny, this has the ring of a true story to it. FL has nice weather but its batshit crazy to sane ratio is WAY off. You might consider relocation to GA, MS, or NC.
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It IS true.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoneman_Douglas_High_School_shooting
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😦 And you seeing that sign as you heard the news…. if that isn’t serendipitous I don’t know what is.
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He was looking for some peace. Very sad for him, and a reminder for the reader of the all too often horrible reality of the random gun violence in the US. Heavy sigh. Very well written, Danny.
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Many thanks for the nice comment. You never know when you are going to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Live every day as if is your last.
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Wise words.
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There are lots of good reasons for us to move to the USA, but school shootings are literally the top of my reasons not to. I know other countries aren’t immune, but they do seem to have more than their fair share. Welcome to Florida.
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My state (FL) is gun crazy. Too many people I know carry guns. Most of them would be like Daffy Duck if they were faced with a criminal. Bring more guns to a fight will never result in a positive outcome.
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I had to look up where this school was though I already had the sinking feeling it wsa in Florida. And honestly, I don’t think it matters where he goes for his retirement, there seems to be a shooing every day in all sorts of places. Such a sad state of affairs that is incomprehensible to me.
Well-written, Danny!
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Thanks Dale. It occurs way too often.
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So often, it doesn’t even make the news anymore… and that is awful.
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