Stand By Poem by Casey Lindbald

A child died today.
A parent died today.
A spouse died today.
A sibling died today.
A friend died today.
A human died today.

I stood by today.
I told myself that
Gun laws don't do anything.
That's not true.
They lower suicides
And second degree murders.
They make it harder
For criminals to get
Their grubby hands on guns.

I stood by today.
I argued that we needed a way
To protect ourselves
Until authorities came
If we were in danger.
Well, there's tasers and stun guns.
Neither one can kill nearly as easily.

I stood by today.
For the sake of the Second Amendment.
But by prioritizing guns over human lives?
What are we really doing?
Standing by, that's what.