Let The Hand Wringing Begin

Like everyone else in the nation, I am saddened, shocked and angry about the shootings in Connecticut. 

Mostly angry.

Every time something like this occurs (which is way too often), the media goes into a frenzy and we are assaulted with so-called experts on everything from gun control to mental illness, sitting on panels on every news program in the nation telling us their opinions on how we must change things so this doesn't happen again.

Within a week, it is all forgotten for those of us lucky enough to not be personally effected.  The politicians go back to arguing about non-political issues like gay marriage and abortion (I'll save my opinions on that for another blog) and we all go back to pretending we live in a safe environment where bad things like this don't happen.

Every single adult and child  who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary school and their families woke up yesterday morning believing their day would be safe and normal.

There is nothing like a sudden tragedy to change your perspective on life and how it is lived.

Let's talk about guns, shall we?  I own one.  It lives in the drawer of my night stand.  I acquired it after a former friend threatened to kill me.  Seeing as he is now in prison, I'd say my desire to have some level of personal protection was valid. 

Guns were invented for one purpose and one purpose only - to kill things.  People and animals.  Period.  They serve no other purpose.  If someone tells you otherwise, they are lying.  Hunters use them to kill animals.  Non-hunters use them to kill people.

Most will tell you that keeping a gun in the house makes them safer.  That is bullshit.

My gun is in my nightstand underneath my flannel pajamas.  If someone breaks into my house, I have to get out of bed, fumble with the drawer, find the gun under the pajamas, remove it from its case and then, in my sleepy, panicked state, make sure I don't point it at myself and have the presence of mind to confront the intruder.

If said intruder comes in while I'm downstairs in the kitchen, I'm screwed.  I guess I'll resort to hand to hand combat with a steak knife.

But for sake of argument, I guess I can live with the fact that allowing our citizens to own legal weapons for protection makes sense to some degree.

What I can't buy into is the need for a semi-automatic assault weapons and oh, by the way, anyone can buy one regardless of whether they pass a background check or not.

Where is the common sense in that? 

The guns used at the school were legally purchased by one of the victims.  Who "needs" multiple semi automatic handguns and an assault rifle?

The NRA needs to quit bullying us and the weak politicians we have elected.  Common sense needs to prevail.  Unfortunately, there is very little of that in our current political climate.

No offense to my many Facebook friends who are calling for prayer and hugs but prayer and hugs isn't going to fix this.  It will make you feel better as you try to make sense of this.

You can't fix this.  It already happened and the victims families will never, ever be the same.  They will live with this heavy sadness for the rest of their lives.

Don't leave this to prayers and hugs.  Get up and actually DO something.  Make changes.  Quit sitting around lamenting that there are crazy people running around with guns killing people.

Fix the problem.  Quit allowing crazy people to get guns and figure out a way to get crazy people some help so they don't turn into mass killers.

Don't go back to your comfy life and assume you are safe.

You aren't any safer than those 20 innocent babies that were blown away yesterday.

So quit hugging and praying and work on fixing what is wrong.