Loaded Gun

Every 15 minutes someone in the United States is killed in a drunk driving related accident. A few weeks ago I participated in Every 15 Minutes which is a nation wide program to teach high school students the repercussions of drunk driving through a real-life experience. The simulated crash scene begins the 24-hour emotional roller-costar. While students are isolated for 24-hours they go through heavy exercises and discussions. One exercise requires the students to write a letter to their parents beginning with: “Dear Mom and Dad, E15M someone in the United States dies in an alcohol related accident. Today I died and I wish I had the chance to tell you…” . Tears while the kid reads his letter quoting scripture to the system. To the students in the back row laughing, it’s not funny. It may be a silly simulation to you, but it is SO REAL. There are speakers that talk at the “mock funeral” the next day, and also share with the students during their isolation period. Jason Barber is just an AMAZING speaker, with an incredible life story. He talks about two girls from his home town that were killed by a drunk driver, and then he talks about his own experience as a drunk driver… I don’t want to give away his story though because he is a good one. Wish I had his contact information to share with the world but I don’t and I’m sorry. Anyrate the other speaker (whose name I obviously have forgotten) spoke on texting and driving and falling asleep behind the wheel, and how they are becoming almost the same statistic. The man who spoke compared getting behind the wheel to being handed a loaded gun. Deep. So everyday I am handed a loaded gun and it is a privilege…. Wait what?! How the heck does that make sense? It doesn’t. He related the two in the sense that we put others lives at risk so easily, and yet we do not even realize it. How many people honestly think about that when they get behind the wheel? I don’t that’s for sure. Maybe tomorrow instead of picking up your phone to text while you are behind the wheel let's all try and be a little safer. Please? Because it is more than a vehicle you are operating. Today you are handed a loaded gun.