The good, the bad and the ugly....

The good:  

A historic gun reform law was passed this week. 

 Pulled the basics from this article:  https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/politics/whats-in-senate-gun-reform-agreement/index.html

- Red Flag law development in states that do not have it.  (Red flags keeping guns out of the hands of people that should not have them.) 

- More focus on mental health access.

- Boyfriend loophole (looking at unmarried domestic partners gun access)

- More stringent background checks for those under 21 (especially for automatic rifles... but NOT getting rid of access to AR guns, sadly)

- Additional resources for school security.

Automatic rifles / military-style guns need to be banned.... I don't know how many more massacres (sadly) will need to take place before that law will get passed.  It is ridiculous that they are being sold at all to people on the street! 

The bad:

A historic supreme court ruling was also made this week:  Roe-vs-Wade was overturned.  

We both get infuriated when parents neglect their children and treat children badly.  There are a lot of people out there (already) who are not fit to be parents.  Obviously, the Department of Family / Child Services steps in sometimes.... it is not enough.  The DFCS system is already overrun.  I cannot fathom how much more overrun it will get when more and more people abandon their children because they did not want to start a family.  

Or.... how many more children will be born with birth defects.... because birth mothers cannot get the medical care that they need / are forced to carry a baby.

Or.... how many women will take an extreme or dangerous path to illegally abort an unwanted child because they cannot afford to travel to another state where it is legal / they can get appropriate medical care to terminate their pregnancy.    

I heard a conservative politician say "if they do not want their baby, they can put it up for adoption."  That's true.  Although insanely expensive, we were fortunate that adoption was "within reach" for us.  But, unless adoption is more within reach of the average / mainstream family... this option is not viable for many capable & loving families.

It is a hard thing to talk about ending a life.  I know that many religions ban it - I get that.  But - this law has no compassion for the person who is imperfect and made a mistake... for the person who was date-raped... for the person who may be struggling financially or not have support... for someone who cannot physically or mentally take care of their child. 

There needs to be more empathy in this world.  More understanding.  The ability to choose what is right for your personal situation. 

I saw this message and thought it was a message of unification since so many are divided on this issue:

     To the woman who is pro-life,
     You are loved beyond measure

     To the woman who is pro-choice,
     You are loved beyond measure.

     To the woman who is on the fence,
     You are loved beyond measure.

     To the woman who is heart broken from being told she is unable to have children.
     You are loved and created for a purpose.

     To the woman who is excitingly pregnant with her fifth child even though her family says it’s “irresponsible”
     You are loved and created for a purpose.

     To the woman who found out the child inside of her would cost her her life and chose to abort,
     You are loved and created for a purpose

     To the woman who’s world has been turned upside down when her child’s heart stopped beating inside her womb,
     There is endless unconditioned love for you

     To the woman who is on the bathroom floor looking at two pink lines after running from their abusive partner.
     There is endless unconditional love for you.

     To the woman who has to make an impossible decision when she was told her child was not forming properly and was in extreme pain.
     There is endless unconditional love for you.

     To the woman who’s abortion haunts her everyday,
     There is grace and incredible love for you.

     To the woman who was raped and found out she was pregnant and decided to not carry the child.
     There is grace and incredible love for you.

     To all of the woman who had to make a choice to bring life into the world or to end it and to the ones who were not given a choice. I hope you know that His grace and love is endless for you.
Regardless if people say your choice was “right” or “wrong” and with all the hatefulness on both sides. I hope you know that you are loved by the savior of the world. He understands your pain/grief/worry/doubt/ and every other thing you had to go through. And you are priceless and endlessly loved in his eyes. And mine. (I apologize for those who told you different)
     You are loved beyond measure.

The ugly:

Both the good and the bad are very heavy.  Here is something light-hearted:

The Ugly Dog Contest winner for 2022.

The "Ugly Dog" contest winner that was also posted this week. 

Mr. Happy

Wild Thing was a runner up.