Though I did reply to comments, I waited until now to initiate any comment on the Newtown, CT killings. Of course, I was shocked and saddened by the tragedy. At the same time, however, I was outraged and appalled that politicians, like Mayor Bloomberg, and a few others, immediately jumped onto the gun control/gun ban bandwagon to exploit their own agenda. How senseless and how insensitive to discuss gun control at the time?
Senseless because there was no way in hell that anything could be done to change any policies before the first of the year, so why bring it up before the families and friends could process the tragedy? Rushing to judgment, especially before the facts are available, generally does more harm than good. It certainly doesn’t help resolve any issue.
Insensitive and downright shameful, because these people didn’t give the families and friends, as well as the whole community, ANYtime to get over the shock, let alone bury their love ones and begin the healing process, before proclaiming “gun control.” The NRA was criticized for not coming out until days after the tragedy. Perhaps they were sensitive to the trauma the community was experiencing.
Before continuing, I would like to say that I am and I have never been a member of the NRA. I have never owned a gun and I’m likely to purchase a gun; however, I do support the 2nd amendment and I believe a ban on any gun, including a semi-automatic rifle, infringes on the right of the citizens to bear arms.
In my opinion, we should be dealing with the ROOT causes of the mass shootings—and guns are not a root cause for the violence in our nation. Mental issues and changes in our society are the two primary root causes for the violence and mass murders in our nation.
Connecticut’s Gun Laws. First, let us discuss the gun laws in Connecticut. Connecticut’s gun laws are among our nation’s strictest in the nation. The shooter’s mother followed Connecticut’s laws and legally purchased her guns. She, however and for one reason or another, shirked her responsibility to prevent her son, who had mental issues, from obtaining the guns he used to kill his own mother and those at Sandy Hook Elementary.
Mental Issues. In the past several years, all but one mass shooter has had some sort of mental issue. Many were recognizable prior to the shootings. Some may have needed to be on medication and had stopped their medications. Others may have been on medication which may have resulted in suicidal tendencies, though these people rarely, if any, would go on a shooting spree before committing suicide. Others may have been despondent over the loss of their job (their identity), their home, or financial stability. Others may have had issues with relationships and are intent to carry out mayhem, such as the shooter in Seal Beach last year.
Social Issues. The WWII generation is considered the greatest generation. Why? Because they sacrificed to give their children a better future. They were respectful to their parents, elders, teachers, and law enforcement agents. They were more focused on the news of the day, rather than pop culture. TV shows and movies lacked extreme violence and sex and they instilled moral values. Even the stars of TV shows, such a Hopalong Cassidy, played an important part in raising children by coming on at the end of the show and asking the children to obey their parents, go to Sunday school, and do well in school. Children were healthier, both physically and mentally, by going outside to play with their friends.
Most importantly, the WWII generation was morally fit. They followed the Ten Commandments. They prayed without regard to where they were. They prayed in school and they prayed along with their president, FDR.
Then came the ‘60s. Three assignations later, the social morality of America began to crumble. Many of today’s generation are more self-serving, less respectful, and morally deficient. They lack commonsense and are far more interested in pop culture than the state of the union. They can rattle off the names of all the top pop stars and they tent to idolize and support those who continue to be arrested, on drugs, in car accidents due to drunk driving, and much more. Teen sex and pregnancy are common place and accepted. In fact, in some cases pregnancy is encouraged because the young mother and baby can get welfare assistance. Yet, if today’s young adults are asked who their representatives are in Congress, they have absolutely no idea. Many do not know the name of the Vice President or the Speaker of the House. Many, including a current Senator, do not know the through branches of government. Yet, they vote.
Young adults and today’s children are raised on violent video games, many which simulate the AR-15 or other semi-automatic weapons. Instead of being healthy, both physically and mentally, by playing outside with their friends, they sit in front of their TV playing violent video games day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year.
Sure, there supposed to be no correlation between playing violent video games and actual violence as well as no desensitization of violence. Yet, if we check the ages of the mass killings from the 1970s to today, the ages of the shooters have dropped. Certainly there are exceptions, yet in general, the ages of the shooters before 2000 are in the 30s and older; and since 2000, the ages of the mass shooters have been in the teens and the 20s. Playing violet video games, has no affect? Oh, BTW, I seem to recall that the 9/11 terrorists practiced their piloting skills with simulation video games.
Stay tune for real solutions.
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