Mushy stuff at the end

The US has had two recent mass shootings.  [If I lived overseas I don't think I would let my kid come to the US.] 

Most people who die of gun violence in the US do not die in mass shootings. 24,000 died by suicide with a gun in 2020. 20,000 more people were shot and killed in 2020 by someone else. Most American kids weren't in school this year and we had a 50% increase in kids shot and killed in 2020. Gun violence is absolutely a women's issue for every reason you assume. 

Will now be any different? Now the NRA has declared bankruptcy. They aren't bankrupt, but they have suffered financially. They had a rough 2020 with hundreds of layoffs and numerous lawsuits. This followed a tough 2019 when many people stopped giving money in reaction to lavish internal spending. 

I don't know that I have hope for universal background checks on gun purchases, but I grant that, with a weakened NRA, it is possible. 

The 75-year-old woman who beat the piss out of her attacker? Her grandson's gofundme raised about $1m now. She is donating it to fight racism against Asian Americans. She is recovering physically and mentally. 

I want to say thank you. It has been a terrible year. When this pandemic began I thought I was going to lose many blip friends. Thank you for being careful and being lucky, since not everything is under your control. [In English, "you" can be singular or plural, so if you are uncomfortable with me writing directly to you, assume I mean this generically. If you need a hug this week, assume I am writing directly to you.] I know it was really hard to be so careful and you gave up a lot. We've lost so many people this year and I'm grateful that I didn't lose you.