It's the morning after one the worse mass murders in our nations history and I'm still left shaking my head. Like millions of others around the world, I'm still trying to make sense out of the senseless. The pictures of children in a line clinging to one another while being led out of the school to safety still get to me.
We're left once again asking the question, "Why?"
Naturally, and not without merit, the immediate reaction is to come down on the weapons that delivered the bullets that killed these completely innocent and helpless victims. "If only they were outlawed", some say, "this wouldn't have happened". "If only we had laws to prevent these kind of horribly tragic events from occurring."
The 2nd Amendment of our Constitution provides the right to bear arms in this country. Groups like the National Rifle Association and thousands of gun enthusiasts and supporters, are always quick to remind us that "guns don't kill people, people do". Somehow, I doubt that is much comfort for the 20 sets of parents who are now planning funerals, especially at this time of year.
Personally, I do support the 2nd Amendment but I also believe we need to put the amendment into some context. I doubt our founding fathers envisioned assault weapons, or handguns capable of spraying dozens of bullets in a matter of seconds. One doesn't need an AK47 to hunt deer. One doesn't need a high powered military style handgun in order to provide basic protection at home.
These police and military style weapons have no place in our society and they serve no purpose other than to cause unthinkable mayhem like what played out in tiny, quiet Newtown, Connecticut yesterday and Tuscon, Portland, Aurora and Columbine before it, or what happens on the streets of our major cities each and every day.
But guns are the easy target. It's what gun control advocates rush to each time there is a tragic shooting. Unfortunately, guns is but one of the culprits.
Our society has changed. Hardly anything shocks us anymore. Too many in our society have little or no value of a human life anymore. The family unit is no where near as strong as it was 50 years ago.
Today, in most households, both parents hold down jobs in order to make ends meet. Children often spend hours alone after school while their parents are working. There is less structure and order. There is less supervision.
Children are drawn to life-like video games, many of which play out events in fantasy similar to what transpired yesterday in real life. They desensitize impressionable children. Our children are angry for a variety of reasons and decide to take that anger out on innocent people. Too many of our children are not taught right from wrong from their parents. Instead of learning from parents or family, today's children "learn" from the wrong people or wind up in gangs.
Another reality of today is far too many people don't have medical insurance and can't afford to seek professional help when they need it and therefore go untreated. Mentally unstable individuals with access to firearms is a recipe for disaster, a recipe that has played out in countless tragedies in recent years.
Our cities budgets are strapped. Many cities are forced to lay off police, the very people we count on to protect our streets and neighborhoods or they don't have the funding to arm our officers the way they need to be in the 21st century. In all too many cases, the criminals out arm the police.
Should we take a much closer look at our gun laws? Yes. Can we outlaw military style and assault weapons and still keep the spirit of the 2nd Amendment? I believe we can and should. But the truth of the matter is, banning weapons is like applying a band-aid on a gaping wound.
We live in a society today where personal responsibility is, too often, non-existent The fact is, until each parent regains control of their family and fully accepts responsibility and accountability for how their children turn out when grown, we will sadly see these kind of events.
We can't blame schools, teachers or administrators while not being actively involved in our child's education.
We can't blame government and at the same time, argue for severe budget cuts that fund our security forces.
We can't blame society while not teaching our children the golden rule and right from wrong.
We can't blame violence while allowing violent video games in our home for our children to play.
We can't just blame guns, while at the same time, not teaching the value and sanctity of each life.
If we're not involved in our children's lives when they are 8, we shouldn't be surprised or wonder what happened when they're 18 and in trouble.
We can't just blame mental illness without taking the responsibility to see to it our children receive the required medical treatment.
What we do matters. What we say to our children matters. How we lead our own lives is the best example to show our children how to grow up.
So, if you believe we need more gun control, by all means write your congressperson, but the REAL solution can be found in the mirror. The sooner we stop pointing our fingers elsewhere, the sooner we will begin to see a safer and better society.
I'm off to find my mirror.
CJ
