Friday, December 21, 2012

After Sandy Hook, WHAT?

I know I've been quiet for a while but what can I say that hasn't already been said about the horrific events that occurred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut that hasn't already been captured in print, in video, and on all the social networks.

As I started to read about and listen to the unfolding events via Internet and television, I could not hold back the tears as they just poured down my cheeks.  As a former Connecticut resident, I knew that Newtown was a place where those who live there do so because of its hominess, its friendliness, its aura of safety.  And that vision of the town has been shattered as has the lives of so many of the town's families.

There is no way to make sense of this.  There is no answer to the question, why?  There is just profound sadness.......... and incredible anger.  I cannot bring consolation to those  who lost their precious children or to the families of the brave adults who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect those youngsters they loved.

What I can do is rail against the NRA and those gun owners who continually utter the lie that the government will take away all their guns.  No one is advocating taking away your guns.  BUT, it's now time to regulate what you can have.   The Second Amendment  does not say you have the right to own assault weapons or military-type weapons capable of shooting 30 rounds in less than ten seconds! 

And I can rail against the dearth of help in this country for those who are mentally ill.  Funds have been stripped to the core  from agencies who service those with mental health issues. 

In our Declaration of Independence, we have the right to the unalienable right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those little six and seven year old children never got the chance to pursue happiness because some crazed, mentally ill person had access to guns.

Sane individuals must come together to work out viable solutions without shoving partisan, political and/or religious nonsense down each others throats.  This must not be an 'all or nothing' solution.