The headline reads ” Man Shoots infant son, ex-girlfriend in Alabama Church”

Fortunately, the girlfriend and the baby survived due to the quick thinking of the pastor. However, such a criminal act on an innocent baby, let alone his defenseless mother inside of  a church is a vile act. One can even say it is a devilish act.

But then the pastor says that ‘he forgives the shooter”….. really???

What is there to forgive? The shooter planned this attack and sought to kill the innocents and yet we say we forgive. Couple of months ago, a similar shooting in South Carolina where 9 people DID NOT survive. But in that incident – we are also asked to forgive.

I think we are too quick to “forgive”. These “people” or criminals premeditated these acts. They don’t need forgiveness. They need to be seen for what they are… mentally unstable. I guess it is the politically Christian thing to say ” I forgive” when in fact you really want to have vengeance and to beat the living hell out of someone who would harm a baby or anyone else…. in church or any other place.

How long will we as Americans hide our heads in the sand when over and over again- innocents die, are wounded and scarred? It is time to stop being so forgiving. I think for victims to say “I forgive you” helps the victims. HOWEVER, criminals should not hear the words “I FORGIVE YOU”. I think mentally that gives them some relief.  BUT the criminal should NOT feel relief but rather they should feel the full effect and guilt of what they have done without someone saying ” I forgive you”.

Mental illness does not need forgiveness- it needs real solutions- whatever they may be. We as a nation need to address it. It is real and it makes headlines every day in one form or the other. Just let us not cover it up with ” We forgive you” when really we don’t.