December 14, 2012

On December 14, 2012, my faith in humanity was shaken. I watched with shock and sadness as I listened to the news about a gunman who went into an Elementary School and shot and killed 20 first graders, between the ages 6-7, and 6 teachers/staff. I cannot imagine what those parents are going through. Those children had their whole lives in front of them. And for those children that survived, they will live with this tragedy forever, no matter how much therapy they receive, they will forever have the memories of that day seared in their brain. On December 14th, they lost their innocence.

My heart has been broken, and I feel guilty for having a "normal" life and the ability to feel joy when so many families have suffered their worst nightmare with Christmas next week.

The shooter, 20-year old Adam Lanza, had a history of Asperger's 
 (which I don't believe contributed to the shooting) and another mental problem. He went to gun stores in the days before but was turned down. So he got a hold of his mother's guns...and shot her in the face. He went to the school armed with a Bushmaster with a 30 bullet capacity, a glock 10mm caliber, a 9 mm sig sauer, and enough ammunition to kill everyone in the school and the first responders. And he broke in. God, I can't even imagine how scared those children must have been.

There are many questions. Mr. Lanza had the forethought to destroy his computer. But there is also the question of gun control and help for the mentally ill.

I AM NOT AGAINST THE 2nd AMENDMENT! But I do believe there is no reason why we have to have military assault weapons or the ammunition that goes with it. We do not need these type of weapons to protect ourselves or hunt. We need laws that make it MANDATORY that everyone purchasing a gun should go through an extensive background check, possibly a psychological exam before being able to get the gun. And the gun needs to be registered. I believe that if someone wants to get rid of their guns and sell them, they take them to a designated place where they are compensated, and the guns could be resold legally. There should be no gun shows...that is one of the major sources for illegal weapons. And those restrictions should be for online sales as well.

Does this mean that people aren't going to illegally acquire illegal weapons and ammunition? No, I realize that it won't stop mass shootings. Criminals are going to do what they do. And there probably isn't a law in this country that hasn't been broken. But this could make it harder to get a gun. If ONE life is saved because of laws for gun control being passed, then it is worth the trouble.

I just know that it shouldn't be harder to register to vote than it is to purchase a gun. 40% of guns purchased legally don't require background checks or registration. Yet you have to register to get a decongestant at the pharmacy so they know that you're not using it for a meth. lab. It's ridiculous.

AND PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT PEOPLE WANT IS GUN CONTROL, NOT BANNING GUNS. It NEEDS to happen. We should not have to go through these weekly or monthly mass murders. We need to do something before it becomes so common that it doesn't bother people that it's happening.

Ciao,
Carrie