Practically everyone is talking about the senseless violence in Las Vegas. There is a lot of talk. Not much in the way of solutions.

People feel powerless. Even worse, anger and frustration produce debate. Do you ever feel like you are hearing the exact same words after each new tragedy? Does it feel like nothing is changing, nothing productive is being done?

An answer exists, and it is very simple and non-controversial! Stand down from violence. Do not accept violence. All evil things need fertile soil to grow.

Reject violence. Use the Five Percent Rule to take one step back from the worst forms of violence, whether it is in movies, TV, video games, talk radio, at home, on playgrounds. Consider the content of the television shows your family is watching. Is it apocalyptic? Does it show violence often and just for the sake of showing the violence?

I want to protect my family and friends from violence. As much as we wish them, there are no guarantees of personal security. What I can do is make sure my personal space is not a place for violence to take root, especially in the minds of my children.
It feels awesome when you take action to reject violence in our world. Any step is a beginning.

STAND DOWN

Our playlands are no longer safe.
Masked gunmen seek massed innocence.
Walls do not protect.
Weaponry cannot defend
Against high-powered hotel hell.

The violence flares.
Horror is shared on media screens.
Nothing changes.
Paralysis, angry rhetoric guarantee that.
More violence is coming. We all know it.

I have no desire to debate.
Only one wish.
The same wish flowing
Through the breath of every kind soul.
The rejection and reduction of violence.

Stand down!
Take one step back.
Unplug the sniper-kill video game.
Stuff the fist in your pocket.
Ratchet down the rhetoric.

Let’s retreat one at a time.
Until the millions have rejected both walls and violence.
Replace adrenalin laced-fear with love.
Stand down.

Neil Presley Cox

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions about reducing violence or at least the climate of violence? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.