by Deona Hooper, MSW
Another mass shooting occurred today in Newtown, Connecticut taking the lives of 20 children and 8 adults including the principal, but how many dead will it take before better gun control measures are put in place? Details are still developing, and the identification of the shooter is still sketchy. It is currently being reported that the shooter’s mother worked at the school, and it is currently being reported that the majority of fatalities occurred in her class.
Under our current gun laws, 40% of all guns sales do not require any background checks which can also be purchased online via the internet. Many second amendment defenders argue that guns don’t kill people, and they insist that people kill people. Yet, most victims who are murdered or commit suicide utilize guns as their weapon of choice. As Americans, we need to closely examine the motives of those who oppose reasonable gun control measures. The National Rifle Association (NRA) should not have more power over our elected officials than the will of the American people. It is disheartening to see the pain and aftermath as the types of events unfold on a weekly basis. I fear that mass shooting are becoming normalized in our society. I fear that our society will implement more responsive actions like active school shooter drills and more law enforcement special response teams instead of implementing stricter gun control laws.
My prayers go out to the families, first responders, medical and mental health personnel who are involved with this tragedy. Photo: State police personnel led children from the school following a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, Dec. 14, 2012. (Shannon Hicks/The Newtown Bee)
View the President’s address to the Nation on this horrific tragedy earlier today:
[youtube]http://youtu.be/H3tYW6P3bY8[/youtube]
