Sandy Fork Elementary School, Newton, CT

The criminal act at Sandy Fork Elementary School was a tragic event. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind it was perpetrated by an individual with serious mental health issues. The heartbreak of the surviving families is beyond imagination or comprehension. It has caused many people to question the reasons why it happened, how it happened, could it have been prevented and what do we do now?

There is rarely a simple answer to questions like these. We may never know why. Investigators will most likely uncover how. They will probably also make suggestions on how it could have been prevented. What I want to address is “What do we do now?”

Of course we grieve for the loss of these precious people…the innocent people who suffered at the hand of a mad man. Their families will never get over the pain. It is hoped that they will learn to express their grief and become strong each day. Only time will tell. Those of us who were not directly affected by the loss of a family member can also help. There are no words we can utter that will actually help. It’s just not possible.

But we can be a shoulder for them, offering comfort. That’s probably all we can actually do for the families. It may not seem like much, and should never be forced. We just need to quietly make it known that we are there if they need us. It may be just the thing that helps.  ‘Being there’ may not seem like much to some people, but to those who need a shoulder to literally cry on, it may just be the thing that helps.  Granted, others in the community can help by dropping meals at the homes of the families so those families don’t have to stress about that part, but even that can be a great blessing to a grieving family.

What else can we do now? This is where it can get cloudy, even problematic. Many people will start saying we need to ban all firearms in the country. Others will say we need to require more background checks and waiting periods for purchasing firearms. Some will say we need to pass more laws. The debate will rage in all different directions and configurations.

Most of you, who have seen my posts, have no doubt I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Some of you disagree with this belief. But this is MY blog. Years ago when I started it, I called it “My Life, My Thoughts” because that’s just what is posted…MY THOUGHTS…I’m not going to say I have the final word, but I do get to use this blog to offer my two cents worth…so here it is (and feel free to quote me, post a comment, un-friend me, I don’t give two flyin’ duck farts either way):

“We don’t need more gun laws, we need more gun education!”

It will probably be made known where this assailant obtained those weapons in days to come, but it’s a pretty safe bet that had he been mentally capable of safe firearm use, this tragedy may never have occurred. I said “may”… We cannot second guess past events, but only try to understand parts of them prevent future events. If the person who stored these firearms would have done so in a SAFE manner, this assailant would at the least have had more difficulty getting to them. Perhaps even that could have been just enough of a deterrent to allow time for someone to diffuse the situation as a whole and prevented the loss of ANY life, in this case. Had the firearms been either properly secured in a holster on the hip of a trained, qualified concealed weapons permit holder, or locked safely away, perhaps they wouldn’t have been in this assailant’s hands.

“We don’t need more gun laws, we need more gun education!”

Here something to think about. I copied the following from the Business Insider website:

“Switzerland.

The neutral country has a tradition of a gun in every closet, and ranks amongst the highest levels of gun ownership in the world — with estimate of as many as 4.5 million guns in a country of just 7.9 million people (few countries have more guns per capita — the U.S. and Yemen are two).

However, gun related crime is remarkably low, with only 24 gun murders in 2009 — 0.3 gun homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 2007 figures in the US of 4.2 per 100,000 people, according to Time Magazine. However, attempts to compare the US to Switzerland gloss over the vast differences between the two countries.

For example, the nature of gun ownership in Switzerland is tied to the military. Switzerland has a very small standing army, and citizens are expected to act as militiamen should the country be invaded. Every 18-30 years old Swiss male between has to do three months' military training, and many more regular refresher courses. The majority of guns are army-issued, though rules on private gun ownership are very lax compared to other European countries.”

Dare I suggest every male US Citizen serve time in the military? You’re damn right I do! Too many young men in today’s society grow up without a positive role model. I didn’t say a MALE role model, I said POSITIVE role model. All they know is what they have seen on TV, in movies, and in video games. Those sources do NOT reflect real world situations. IN MY OPINION, this all started when the draft dodgers of the 60’s tore up their draft cards and fled to Canada. (Yes, Canada aided by letting these pansies in)

Then people started banging drums in circles, thumbing their noses at laws that were established to protect everyone, and twisting basic human rights into something THEY decided was best. They wanted to smoke anything that would make them feel good. They wanted to flip over cow patties and eat the mushrooms growing there because it made them feel good. They wanted to gather in a field, play loud, often senseless, music and take their clothes off, sleep in tents and pee in the grass. They wanted to sleep with everyone else’s spouse. They wanted to be free to do as they wish…”Whatever feels good, man…just do it, man.”  

Oh, I’m getting riled up and off track, pardon me.

Back to gun education…

I’m not saying every person who serves will become the perfect citizen. Oh no, far from it. Proof of this is that idiot (again, MY opinion) who killed the soldiers in Fort Hood, TX. Now he wants to file a lawsuit because the Military Court says he has to shave the beard he grew because of his muslim faith! Seriously? You’re still considered “active duty”…sit down and shut the hell up!!! You’re on trial for murder, you friggin dumbass! You have rights, you say? You lost those rights when you took the lives of those soldiers. You were not in imminent danger, or being threatened. You were not acting in self-defense. Shut the hell up.

What I’m saying is he was TAUGHT how to handle firearms. How to clean them, carry them, fire them. He was taught by OUR government. Who knows exactly why or how his head got all twisted. That’s not the point I’m making…HE is an exception. The point is he was taught!

You can’t pick up a Guns & Ammo magazine and learn all you need to know about gun safety. Sure, you can learn a lot…but not enough. You need to be taught! You can’t learn how to drive a car by reading the Driver’s Handbook printed by the state!!! You need to be taught. I was taught to drive by my grandfather, my older cousin and my parents. Well, I was taught pursuit driving by the state of SC, but that’s not my point. Wait, yes it is!! It’s EXACTLY my point!

I WAS ALSO TAUGHT TO SHOOT A GUN!! If I could go back in time, to 1985, I would have passed on the job offer from the State Highway Patrol and pursued a career in the Air Force. I had planned to be an M.P. when the letter from the state came. I have said often, and firmly believe that I should have served. Of course I can’t change that now. But I encourage military service often. I cannot thank those who serve, past AND present, enough!! Those men and women are the reason I have the RIGHT to post this and share it. It’s called the First Amendment of Free Speech. Sure, it give YOU the right to disagree and post anything YOU wish, but my point is THEIR SERVICE is what maintains this freedom!!

GUN EDUCATION

I will in no way, shape or form ever totally agree with stricter gun laws. Revise them? Maybe…but only if you broaden them as well. Not only ALLOW every adult male to own a gun, but REQUIRE IT. Require every male (and allow women who wish to participate) to go thru an extensive class on gun safety. Make this a requirement for gun ownership. Make “Open Carry” legal in every state. Don’t allow those wimpy ass cities to make their own ordinance over-riding these laws. Crimes involving firearms are already illegal. How is another law about the illegal use of a gun going to deter a criminal from committing a gun related crime??

There are laws already that forbid felons and mentally unstable people from buying a gun…FROM A DEALER. Laws SAY it’s illegal to sell a gun without a Firearms License.” So explain to me how all these criminals still get their hands on them!

 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING!!!

Teach, not punish gun owners. Promote Gun Safety.