Tragedy in Minneapolis. Again.

Minnesota wasn't always this way.

Yesterday, two children, ages 8 and 10, were murdered in a shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church. Students, teachers and Annunciation Church parishioners were attending a traditional all-school mass to celebrate the beginning a new school year. 18 other children and adults were injured, some severly. 

I've never seen so many broadcasters struggle to contain their emotions as they report on the shooting and I can't even think about it without feeling the tears well up. This morning, I had that hung-over , post nightmare feeling that follows a restless night caused by a traumatic event. I thought about the parents who were awaking to their first full day without a beloved child to send off to school. I reflected on the family of the shooter, who must today be reliving moments when they might have been able to keep their family member from the terrible murderous path that ended in death, serious injury and probable lifelong consequences for victims.

A few hours ago, I listened to a press conference with executives and trauma personnel from Hennepin Health Care, formerly Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), who detailed yesterday's horrific events from their perspective. They praised first responders, teachers and students themselves who all did the right thing to save children. A 10-year-old boy described how a friend, "Victor", had covered him with his own body and been injured by gunfire in the shooting. A heroic eighbor ran toward the crime scene , with a view to neutralizing further threats and helping the victims

I was most impressed by the description and implementation of incident plans that included the well coordinated roles of everyone from first responders to emergency room providers, nurses, trauma surgeons, and support staff for victims' families. The first ambulance arrived at HCMC within 10 minutes. Within 25 minutes of the shooting, other ambulances transported non-critical patients Children's Hospital (Minneapolis) and North Memorial Hospital (Robbinsdale).

 I've received messages from friends and acquaintances around the world, concerned about my family and me. Fortunately, immediate family members and friends were not directly involved in this incident. However, I feel heartbroken but frighteningly numb as well, not totally surprised but, concurrently, outraged and convinced that we have the tools to manage and mitigate the reality of gun violence.

Local, state, and federal legislators have the power to act. It's up to us, their constituents, to let them know we deserve, demand and expect action.