It Was Supposed to Be A Celebration. Now It's Something Different.

I’m sure lots of you have heard about the tragedy that happened yesterday at the Kansas City Chief’s Victory Rally.   They are estimating close to a million people had gathered to celebrate back-to-back victories at the super bowl, and at the end of the rally, gunfire broke out in the crowd.

At last update, I think they said 24 injured.   I woman, a wife, mother, and member of our community is dead.  

I am so angry.   I am outraged. And Deep in my heart.....I am just really fucking sad.

The fact that what for an entire city was supposed to be a day of celebration, joy, and fun, turned into this is just so senseless.  

My son was there.   He heard the gunshots and luckily got to his car and was on his way out when the worst happened.    I kept calling him to see if he was out of the city.   I pulled my husband from his business meeting, and we sat in front of the television with Life360 on our phone tracking his every move until he walked in the front door.  

I knew he was okay, and I was still terrified.    I can’t imagine those who didn’t. 

So, I guess what I need to say is this.

Fuck you guy with a gun.   Fuck. You.

I am ANGRY.

I grew up with guns around me.   My family hunted.   Still do.    I shot guns.   People in my community had those gun racks in the back of their trucks.   

I never ONCE worried that someone was going to shoot me.

Fuck you guy with a gun.

I have gone to large events my whole life.   I’ve taken my kids.   Concerts, Rallies, Sporting Events.   I worried more about getting Covid than being shot at.

Fuck YOU guy with a gun.

I moved to Kansas City almost 18 years ago.   I LOVE THIS CITY.    I love the arts.   I love the sports.   I love the people.   I naively thought this wouldn’t happen here.   We have had several of these rallies since I have lived here.   Royals first, then the chiefs after 50 years, then again 2 years later and then this year with back-to-back.   We thought we were safe.   I didn’t question my son driving downtown to spend the day with a million of his Chiefs loving friends.

FUCK YOU GUY WITH A GUN.

Fuck you, because now I’m scared.  

I’ve been angry about gun violence for a long time.   And I will say, I have probably fallen into the category of upset but complacent.    And for that I apologize publicly today.   But no more.

Back in the day when you had beef you threw fists.   You didn’t pull an AK from your backpack and open fire.  

Those guns need to go. Gun laws need to change.  NOW.

Fuck you guy with a gun.  

You just unleashed what I hope will be a city of newly fired up activists who will fight for change.

And we all know......In Kansas City, much like our beloved Chiefs who we were meant to celebrate yesterday....We don’t quit until the job is done.