As difficult as it might be to face the Sunday morning attack in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that claimed the lives of three police officers, East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux is trying his best to maintain an optimistic outlook and encourage people to do the same.
"With God's help, we will get through this. To me this is not so much about gun control as it is about what's in men's hearts. And until we come together as a nation, as a people, to heal as a people, if we don't do that and this madness continues, we will surely perish as a people," he told The Guardian.
Police officers Montrell Jackson, Brad Garafola and Matthew Gerald were murdered by former U.S. Marine Gavin Long of Kansas City, who went on a shooting rampage during his 29th birthday.
Before he was killed, Jackson even wrote a heartfelt post on his Facebook page regarding the controversial fatal shooting of two black men—Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on July 5 and Philando Castile in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 6—by police officers.
"I've experienced so much in my short life and the past three days have tested me to the core," he wrote. "I swear to God I love this city but I wonder if this city loves me. In uniform, I get nasty hateful looks and out of uniform some consider me a threat."
"Please don't let hate infect your heart," he continued. "This city MUST and WILL get better. I'm working in these streets so any protesters, officers, friends, family, or whoever, if you see me and need a hug or want to say a prayer I got you."
Sadly, Jackson never got to receive that hug after he was gunned down by Long who was subsequently killed by a SWAT sniper.
Meanwhile, Rev. Franklin Graham agrees with the sentiment shared by Gautreaux. "The Bible says that men's hearts are evil and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and the only answer is the Lord Jesus Christ. Only He can heal our hearts and our land. The fabric of our nation is being pulled apart by this senseless violence. Many officials and the governor of Louisiana also asked for the country's prayers," he wrote on his Facebook page.
