First my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the victims families as well as all those directly and indirectly affected by the Sandy Hook elementary shooting.The unbearable and unexplained loss of innocent lives just short of the Christmas holidays has put our nation into a somber grief-stricken mood. Every mother, father and guardian at this time feels violated and at a loss for what to do or say. We are scared to send our children to schools now. We feel they are better protected by our constant side than anywhere else. This is the society we live in now and choose to bare and raise children in. It is time to change whatever is necessary to better protect the lives of the innocent, especially our young children. It is our responsibility and duty to make these changes.
Most people have an opinion about what changes can and should be made in which most stir up political debate. Lax Parenting, Progressive Schooling, Repressive School Culture, Violent Video Games, Antidepressant Drugs, Rock 'n' Roll, Gun Control laws, Gun Ownership, Mental Health, Bullying and Security are a few namely. What I don't hear anyone discussing is Accountability and Responsibility. A society without consequences will face the terrible events like Sandy Hook, Aurora theater,Virginia Tech and Columbine more often than we think as the inconceivable Evil that lurks around uncontrolled grows.
Our Nation and Government may not be able to stop all occurrences but many can be prevented.
No parent in America knows immediately if their children will become violent. There are some signs that go unnoticed or written off as rebellion but in most cases there are no visible signs, no neon arrows to point to the bad seeds. Most parents are very involved in their kids lives, in what they do with their extracurricular time, in their education and so on. Lax parenting can be a contributing factor but is not the cause. There is no way to regulate every parent in making sure they are vigilant in their children's lives. Even if there were these instances can't be predicted in all cases.
Progressive schooling like our current No Child Left Behind Act is good and well for the education of our children however it will not stop our children and or teenagers from choosing to do an evil act. No matter how much information or tools we have to educate a juvenile in right from wrong it boils down to choice and as long as we have that freedom God willing, preventing acts of violence with it is useless.
Repressive school environments work to a small extent on helping not to end but to curb bullying and aggression. They do not affect the mindsets of all the students. The mental state of each student is different and not always understood. Sometimes they even have the opposite affect. Therefore this tool can be helpful but is not the answer to preventing mass shootings.
The mental state is sometimes a factor but not always. Irregardless, our country does not take care of the mentally ill to the best of our ability. Time and time again there are parents of children who are mentally ill who are dangerous to themselves and others with nowhere to turn for help. Many of our mentally challenged are locked away and forgotten. Just speaking about it seems taboo. In some states we have to take a test to be permitted to carry a gun, a lot of jobs require a mental stability test but this is not enough. I'm not saying we should lock up every mentally challenged person, that is inhumane to say the least. However, there is so much more we could do by administering further tests and more safeguards.
Antidepressants and other drugs may contribute as well but are not the sole cause for these shootings. Every drug offered in the world natural or man-made has a side effect and differs from person to person. Normally I would try to be funny here and lighten the mood however I see this entire post and can't help but wonder what is our Nation not understanding or missing. This is serious subject matter, lives depend upon these conversations that turn into action. Common Sense is what we seem to be lacking most of all in our society, could this be the missing factor.
If violent video games, rock n roll, dancing or rap lyrics were the cause almost every child in America nowadays would be a murderer or commit violent acts. Blaming the arts and or technology is not the answer either. Again we fall back on being given a choice and what we do with it.
This brings us to gun control laws and gun ownership. I happen to whole heartily agree with the second Amendment. I do not wish to take that right away from anyone. However, I do feel that all owners of guns should be held accountable and responsible for what happens with their guns. Whether or not you pull the trigger if the gun is owned by you and someone was shot, you should be held responsible.
This is no different than our pet owner laws. If your pet gets loose and bites somebody your pet will be put down and you will be heavily fined and or jailed. Pet owners are responsible for locking up their pets and or keeping them on a leash at all times in public. If this were the case with gun laws and gun owners we would not have the problem of children or the mentally unstable getting their hands on these weapons. Not to mention if these gun owners were charged with Negligent Homicide or as being an Accomplice. Some or all would in most cases take better precautions in securing their guns so that they do not fall into the wrong persons hands.
I personally own guns and have teenagers and children living with me. I also have friends and family who visit with different mental disabilities ranging from Anxiety Disorder, Dementia, ADHD, OCD and Autism. None of them could get their hands on them whether I was here to stop them or not. It's not an expensive or outlandish solution either. If you can afford that $800 pistol or that $1500 automatic you can afford to spend a couple more hundred on a quality safeguard for those guns you want in your home. Besides having trigger locks on all my guns I have two safes. One key operated for the guns themselves and the other a digital entry for the key to the gun safe. No code to be found in the house nor a key laying in the bottom of a drawer haphazardly waiting to be found. These are just some ideas and suggestions that could help prevent many of the mass shootings.
Bullying and Security may also contribute to the cause of some shootings but not all. If we took more of a preventive approach rather than a reactive approach this would be a minuscule if at all factor. Zero tolerance in some instances seems to be just words on paper. Actually cracking down on all these instances may prevent the aforementioned from continuing to happen.
We've all lived through and by at one time or another in some fashion the 3 strike rule, the Golden rule, the Platinum rule, Practice makes Perfect and the current Zero tolerance policy in which we have all faced some sort of consequence for either our actions or inaction. Today few and far between are facing these consequences. Maybe our society throwing out those traditional values for a new modern time are facing those consequences by the instances happening around us. The Politically Correct thinking has stunted our youth in moral codes of conduct and our youth becoming adults in today's society are proving the statement true. You win some and you lose some, no longer seem to exist in today's society where everyone's a winner.
I know that this is my opinion and it will most assuredly spark debate and conflict with others opinions. Just getting people to talk about change will eventually lead to change, some good and some bad. I came across an article a friend recommended on Policeone.com that I believe is imperative for parents, teachers, school district employees, police officers, government officials and the like to read. You can find it here Active Shooters in Schools: The Enemy is Denial. I would like to end with you here with this one question. I ask you this, when 20 precious, innocent 6 and 7 year old children are shot to death in their kindergarten class by a strange and scary man who wins?
Looking for ways to do something for the small towns of Sandy Hook and Newtown, Conn., the victims and their families. Here are a few ways to help:
- Sign an Online National Sympathy Card
- Sandy Hook School Support Fund c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main St., Newtown, Conn. 06470
- Sandy Hook Elementary Victims Relief Fund Newtown Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 596, Botsford, Conn. 06404
- Dawn Hochsprung Memorial Fund - Donations: Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung Memorial Fund, CT Teachers Credit Union, P.O. Box 2121, Waterbury, Conn. 06722
- Friends Of The Engel Family Fund
- Emilie Parker Fund
- Noah's Ark of Hope Fund
- Dylan Hockley Memorial Fund or Donate via PayPal
- Friends of Allison Wyatt have created the Allison Wyatt Memorial Fund and another private fund for Allison's sister, Lauren. Checks should be made to Allison Wyatt Memorial Fund or for the private family fund to Ben Wyatt as custodian. All checks can be sent to Steve DeMartino, c/o TransAct Technologies Inc., One Hamden Center, 2319 Whitney Ave., Suite 3B, Hamden, Conn. 06518.
- Those who wish to volunteer in Newtown as it recovers from the shootings can call (800) 203-1234, according to the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
