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The Obvious Elephant in the Room
Unless you live under a rock, you've heard about today's...I don't even have a word for it. Just though I would start a thread in case anyone wanted to talk about it. I know I tend to get worked up about this kind of stuff and it's always nice to have somewhere to let it out. s
I was on lunch break when I found out. I was overhearing a conversation about the concealed weapons law they had just passed in Michigan (the guys talking hadn't heard of CT yet). I work at a church, in Texas, so of course these are all pro-gun guys and they were talking about our security guys and all that bla bla bla. So I went on FB and saw all the updates so I checked the news.
As a parent, it's terrifying. The kiddo is not close to being in school yet and we thankfully don't use daycare, but I just could not even imagine. When people are legitimately afraid to send their kids to school, there is a serious problem. Every time a mass murder or something like this happens, they say "hug your kids extra hard tonight" and life goes on as if we should just accept that we live in a f'ed up world. That is not enough. Not only was this a horrific mass murder, these are little kids. I can not even imagine how terrified they were. It really, truly does not get any worse than this. What sad day for our country.
It looks like it's going to be a fight between gun laws and mental health advocates. Idk, I'm no expert but a bit of each couldn't hurt. I'm not 100% anti-gun, but I do not believe that people really need to own semi-autmoatics and the like. If you are claiming for self defense, great, get a hand gun. Hunting? A rifle for you, sir (or madame). No problem. IMO, I just don't see the need for gun hoarding. The 2nd amendment was written a longass time ago when only muskets were available and the country was in fear of the government, so revamping that thing may not be a horrible idea. People are so dammm caught up in "but it's my right!!!?!?!!!!" Same goes for mental healthcare, "But it's myyyyyyy tax dollars". Seriously. What actual percentage of your taxes do you think goes to this stuff? It's not like you alone are providing rehab for the state of California (hey wow that would be a pretty penny!)...
It's time to step outside of ourselves and realize we are leaving a *** country for the next generation....our kiddos.
Steps off soapbox. Sorry, just had to get it out.
Re: The Obvious Elephant in the Room
Yeah I agree with you. All I can really say is this is so f-cked up. Our principal sent us all an email yesterday informing us of a shooting at an elementary school and reminding us to make sure our safety procedures are being done.I did a double take when I saw the phrase "elementary school" and had to look it up for myself because I could not believe anyone would go after the smallest of school children.
I helped with our elementary school kids yesterday. We took them to a nursing home to play Christmas songs for old people and they all wanted to hug the old people and were ridiculously innocent and cute. How the f-ck can somebody go after kids like that?!
Okay, now I have to vent a little too. My brother-in-law just posted this on FB:
It is taking everything in me not to call him a moron right now. Since I'm going to see him next week I don't feel like starting a fight especially since he thinks stupid sh-t like this all the time and doesn't even argue like an intelligent human being anyway.
Dee, I'm sorry you have to deal with such a moron. What happens when a kid gets a hold of that thing and accidentally shoots. Geez.
Another thought I had was that although we all want to know this...thing's...reason, it's probably best he offed himself so there's no chance of a sympathetic judge or jury/plea of mental illness to get him a cushy sentence or a mistrial. I use the term thing because no human being can do this, and even animals are not that sickening, they kill out of instinct, not malice. This thing was less than an animal.
I feel so sorry for all the people in that community. I was home that day, and watched a lot of the news coverage. It was so sad. Then yesterday a couple other stories came out... like the teacher that hid in a bathroom with all her students. And the one who put all her kids in closets/cabinets, but didn't have room for herself, and was shot. I just couldn't imagine what they were thinking, trying to save those kids. It just breaks my heart.
TTC since March 2012
BFP 3/14/13!!!
U/S 4/15: Identical twins!
Lost my angel boys at 10.5 weeks
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Call me cold but what made me cry the hardest were the deaths of the people that saved lives. Even the ones who saved lives and lived. I cried (still do) when I think about those Hero's. Kids saved kids. Teachers saving kids. A janitor running threw the hall warning all that he could. This should never of happened and should never be allowed to happen to put people in the position of sacrificing their lives for others.
What this country needs is better mental health coverage. It should be provided for every single person no matter what. It really should be easily accessible to all. As for the gun laws, well... We need them to a degree. Making it even more difficult for someone who is responsible and smart with guns to own one is not going to stop Joe Smoe from getting one illegally or "borrowing" from someone they know to shoot people up. Another problem is the media. That's a whole nother can of worms I'm not going to into. I'm on my phone and getting a bit lost on what I'm trying to say a while back.
I pray for all those affected. I can't imagine what it's like to have all those unopened gifts and empty chairs at Christmas. Those poor poor people.
Just when I thought I would stop tearing up, I read this morning about the teacher who was killed whose boyfriend was planning to propose on Christmas Eve and then about an older man who lived down the street from the school who came home that morning to find 6 of the 1st grade students (who were hid by their teacher who told the gunman her kids were in the gym before being shot herself) in his driveway with a school bus driver. He took them into his house, brought them stuffed animals he had around from his grandkids and called their parents using info the bus driver was able to get to let them know their kids were ok. I almost started sobbing on the bus to work!