Gun violence solves nothing—pride and ego can cost everything

Milwaukee, we have to do better. This madness has to stop. The recent uptick in shootings is despicable. Too many lives are being cut short, too many families are being destroyed, and for what? Some argument that won’t even matter in a week? A bruised ego? A petty grudge?

Using a gun to solve a dispute doesn’t make you stronger, it doesn’t make you right—it only leads to pain, loss, and consequences that can never be undone. Too often, pride and ego push people to make reckless, life-altering decisions. Walking away from a conflict isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. Seeking help isn’t shameful—it’s strength. There are resources, mentors, and people who care about your future. Violence is a dead-end road—choose a different path and keep your options for the future open.

Maybe the people who need to hear this the most aren’t reading it. If you have a knucklehead in your life who needs to hear this, share it with them. If they don’t know how to read, take a moment and read it to them. But don’t stop there—help guide them to the help they need before they destroy their life and others over what usually is something very dumb.

I’d like for that knucklehead to be able to wake up and to grow old like every other human being wishes to do—after a long life of being a productive and contributing member of society. Too many young people are dying or throwing their lives away over things that, in the grand scheme of life, are meaningless.

I alone can’t fix this issue—nor can any other City leader. The Milwaukee Police Department can’t fix this issue. It’s going to take the entire village. If we don’t step up—as friends, family, mentors, and neighbors—then we’ll keep losing more lives, more potential, and more of our future.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.