PRAGMATIC ISSUES

September 10, 2025, Today, two devastating acts of violence have left communities reeling and our nation feeling profoundly wounded.

Evergreen High School, Colorado

In suburban Denver at Evergreen High School, a shooting around 12:24 p.m. left three students critically injured, including the suspected shooter, believed to be a student himself. All were quickly transported to St. Anthony Hospital (now CommonSpirit St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood), where two remain in critical condition and one in stable condition. Authorities confirm there is no ongoing threat, and law enforcement responded within minutes to secure the campus and no officers fired any shots.

Charlie Kirk, Utah

In a separate incident at Utah Valley University in Orem, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a speaking event. The shot struck him in the neck, and he later died from his injuries. Officials have confirmed that a person of interest is in custody, though details on motive remain under investigation.

Our Shared Grief

Today’s violence casts a long shadow, over students, families, friends, and communities. To the injured, the bereaved, and all those shaken by these events, our deepest sympathies are with you. Healing takes time, and we stand beside you in hope, compassion, and solidarity.

I have never understood the need to shoot another individual with the exception of feeling like my life was in danger or if we were at war, I would stand up for our country no questions asked. Even if someone were trying to shoot Donald Trump, our president, I’d jump in the line of fire because you don’t that here. You just don’t.

Kids at school, someone’s children, a young man who was a husband and father of two babies, giving a speech?

It’s senseless.

Completely and utterly senseless.

As a frequent podcaster and writer I would ask that my audience refrain from placing blame. Recent studies are finding that in more and more recent cases these shootings are not politically or hatefully motivated but rather a competitive game.

A growing body of evidence shows that mass shooters are influenced by a competitive dynamic, driving them to seek notoriety and emulate or outdo previous attackers.

It is what researchers describe this as a “social contagion effect,” where the extensive media coverage of mass shootings plays a key role in motivating subsequent incidents. This phenomenon is similar to suicide contagion, where high-profile suicides can lead to a temporary increase in imitative acts.

Which means a lot of these folks pulling the trigger are already unhinged.

Not mentally well.

Recently research is showing a growing number of potential shooters are taking to forums and message boards for idea’s, to brag and to plan out the next more elaborate shooting.

It is a lot like when during the mass protests a few years back, we saw an influx in agitators showing up and causing problems. These agitators really did not have a side they just wanted to watch the world burn as I like to say.

With these shootings it is important to remember that the stone you cast in one yard, may not actually belong in that yard. Some of these shooters are doing to this to gain attention but also to deflect the blame on one side or another if for no other reason other than they can.

So I ask, my beloved readers and listeners, keep love in your hearts and sincere sympathy for all who were affected by today’s events. Whether you liked them or not, agreed with them or not, no one deserves to be gunned down just going about their day. No one.