Bad family news on two fronts

So, I’m the youngest of seven, so I have family all over the place. There have been two recent incidents that I guess I need to talk about and see what you all think.

My 2nd oldest sister lives in Georgia. She is in her mid 60’s and is gay and has lived with her partner in northern Georgia for over 25 years. Shortly after the mid term election, somebody entered their house while they weren’t there (I can’t say they broke in, because they never used to lock their doors). Nothing was taken, but two dog collars were left. One in the kitchen, and one in the next room, but whoever left them could have thrown the second one from just inside the door. My sister and her life mate are very low key; they aren’t grand mastering the local gay rights parade by any means. They have a friend who is retired GBI. He told them that this was a lynching threat. Needless to say, my sister is completely distraught, and asked me if I thought she should get a big dog, a gun, or both.

Meanwhile, closer to home here in CT, my 4th oldest sister’s husband has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery (skiing accident). He is early 60’s. He has been walking a lot, and was down near a secluded lake. He was approached by three men, who didn’t say anything, but just started to punch and kick him once he fell to the ground. He thinks they were Hispanic, but couldn’t make a clear ID on any of them. No broken bones, but definitely a change in attitude. I won’t be surprised if he goes and gets a gun too.

For my sister, I feel very bad and think that it is a direct result of Trump stirring up the hate base. For my brother in law, you need to know where you are and who is around you, but I can see him becoming more xenophobic.

Really don’t know what to say to either of them.