We're Okay

[catsittingstill]

Just in case people happened to see it in the news:

Our Unitarian Church in Knoxville suffered a violent incident yesterday in which some nutbag brought a shotgun to the morning service and started firing.  2 people are dead and 5 seriously hurt.  Thankfully, none of the kids performing in the program at the time were hit.

Kip and I weren't there--we haven't gone since spring.  But I think we'll go to the candlelight gathering tonight.

Comments

[tigertoy.livejournal.com]

Yipe! I caught there was a church shooting on the radio while driving; it didn't even really penetrate that it was in Knoxville, or that I knew someone from there. So I'm glad you're OK (even though I wasn't paying attention well enough to have worried).

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I mostly posted for the few people who might notice and worry, but it's fine that you didn't connect the dots; I don't expect people generally to know what church I belong to :-)

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Sympathies.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[bedlamhouse]

UUCC-Danville has your congregation in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if there is anything concrete we can do to help.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. If I think of anything the local congregation needs, I'll let you know. People at the service last night seemed to take some comfort from hearing that UUs across the nation and the world were thinking of them.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Thank God you and Kip are safe. Let your lights shine ever brighter.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :-)

[folkmew.livejournal.com]

Wow. That is pretty scary. Glad you are ok! I'll make sure you are in our Joys and Concerns if I go Sunday (and if I don't you'll be in OURS anyway!)

Hugs

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks :-)

[maiac.livejournal.com]

It's a relief that you're safe and none of the children were shot. My condolences to the families and friends of the people who were killed and wounded. What a horrible thing. I read this morning that the shooter was apparently unknown to the church members. Will we even find out why he did it?

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

The latest news is that there was literature in his house preaching that all liberals should be killed. The UU church is probably the easiest place in the bible belt to find liberals, so...

There are also a lot of rumors, but I have no idea which to take seriously.

Thanks for your condolences.

[billroper]

I saw this on Instapundit and was completely baffled as to why someone would do this. I'm sorry.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your sympathy. I think most normal people find this baffling.

[algoroth.livejournal.com]

I'm glad both of you are safe! Please pass along my condolences.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[tradarcher.livejournal.com]

Please send my condolences. I sometimes attend the UU church here in Tacoma.
I heard about this but did not know it was your UU church. I am happy that everyone is safe.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[orawnzva.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear, that's awful! Glad you're okay. *hugs*

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

It was awful for the people who were there, and I feel very sorry for them. Kip and I were nowhere near there (we were actually at home playing Eve Online like mad things, but that's a different story). I feel kind of bad that we weren't there, actually--like if we'd been there, maybe we could have stopped it.

But I realize that isn't very rational. Since we tend to sit in the middle of the pew when we go, we would have been hemmed in by other members of the congregation. Not to mention that while I like to fantasize about reacting bravely and decisively in a crisis, there is no guarantee that I actually *would*.

Anyway, Kip and I are fine, just a bit unhappy and concerned in a no-man-is-an-island kind of way.

[gannet.livejournal.com]

*many hugs*

I've been worried about something like this happening for some time now.

In case you haven't seen it already, I really liked this post about it from Orcinus: http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2008/07/of-madmen-and-martyrs.html

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link. At the end of the month, internet hours are at a premium, but I will try to check it in a few days :-)

[artbeco.livejournal.com]

Good god. Thanks for posting this; I haven't been clued into the news at all lately and wouldn't have heard. Will be sending healing thoughts to the injured ones. It could have been any of the UU churches, or any liberal church. It could have been our local UU church that we were sitting in yesterday...
*hugs*

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. (hugs back)

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you and Kip are both okay. Big hugs. May the candlelight gathering help bring the church together in healing and comfort. My thoughts and prayers will be with you.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The service was really great. I will post about it if I have time.

[mdlbear]

EEEP!

My deep condolences to the victims' families, and to you and all of the congretation.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[braider.livejournal.com]

Gah! I heard about that on the radio, but not where. And for a second, my mind translated your post as being the one of the ones a block from you.

*hug* Glad you guys, at least, are safe.... Sorry that them's that aren't, aren't. *hug*

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks (hug back)

[mrgoodwraith.livejournal.com]

Relieved that you guys are OK; deeply saddened for the dead and wounded and their families. Sending wishes for strength and healing, as well as virtual hugs.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Virtual hugs in return.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Glad you're both ok. Vicky and I heard about the shooting, on the way home from church.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It looks like the shooting made the national news; I actually found out about it from the New York Times blog that evening.

[erin-ruston.livejournal.com]

All because the moron was unemployed and 'hated the liberal movement.' Condolences...

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[trektone.livejournal.com]

I'd only heard in passing in the news. I'm so glad you're both okay. Thanks for posting to let us know.

[patoadam]

Glad you're OK. Like tigertoy, it didn't occur to me to worry about you.

But two people died, and the fact that I don't know them doesn't make their death any less tragic.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

"No one is an island; everyone's death diminishes me." Yes. That's how Kip and I feel too--we didn't know any of the victims personally, but it is distressing to have irrational violence intrude into anyone's life.

[mneme]

Oh, man.

I'm glad you're OK!

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Thanks

[mbumby.livejournal.com]

Oh, good heavens! I've been busy and heard about this first in your post. So glad you and yours are safe.

Condolences to those who knew and loved the victims.

And anger that anyone would do this.

[kittyguitar.livejournal.com]

I'd like to add my condolences to the bunch; I'll be making sure my church remembers yours this Sunday.

I'm glad none of the children were hurt. I wish no one had been....