I had three, young African-American men murdered in my district just in the week leading up to the Fourth of July holiday.

It is such an emotionally draining and troubling condition for our people for there to be such cowards willing to take the life of another with a gun.

Far too often, this happens because we, the adults in their lives, have not raised them to be men who can resolve conflicts without resorting to violence and to live in peace.

That is why we must do better.

What our community really needs are grown men to help our sons grow into strong persons who can forgive others’ trespasses as we all are enjoined to do.

The killings too often stem from petty insults and disputes that trigger uncontrolled anger that evidences why rage is listed as a deadly sin.

In at least one case, the killing resulted from a neighborhood conflict that has been going on for two years. What began as simmering anger ultimately boiled over into all consuming bitterness and resentment that led to gunfire, murder and eternal brokenness in a new telling of the ancient Cain and Abel story.

For those who died, let us hereby highly resolve to do all we can to prevent these horrific and bloody outcomes that wreak havoc on our families and our neighborhoods.

ELLEN F. ROBERTSON

Richmond

The writer represents the 6th District on Richmond City Council.