By Douglas GibsonOAK HILL -- Anytime children are killed, and especially when their lives are taken by a deranged individual using a gun like what happened with the massacre in Connecticut, we feel outrage, we feel the pain and we want this to never happen again. But we know all too well it's going to be repeated again and again like we saw with Columbine and others.
We look to our lawmakers to stop this tragic loss of innocent lives and to prevent future gun violence incidences, but limiting our constitutional rights to bear arms is not going to take guns out of the hands of those who commit heinous crimes. It is not just school shootings.
The recent discussions in Washington by the Obama Administration to ban assault weapons went nowhere because such bans aren't going to matter.
The use of guns to kill has been with us since their invention. Lawmakers can try to stop the events that cause us grief by passing new laws pertaining to the use of certain types of guns, but despite good intyentions, the killing by use of guns will continue to occur.
The use of guns to kill has been with us since their invention. Lawmakers can try to stop the events that cause us grief by passing new laws pertaining to the use of certain types of guns, but despite good intyentions, the killing by use of guns will continue to occur.
Criminals will always have a way to get guns. The same is true with these deranged school shooters. In the case of Newtown, the killer got the weapons that belonged to his mother. Since it was his intention to kill, he, too, could have found a way to acquire them, lawfully or otherwise.
If we look at issues like drinking and driving, we can see that laws do not prevent the loss of innocent lives caused by drunk drivers. Therefore, we cannot expect to see a total stop to gun violence just because a law is passed.
Police officers at our schools will not prevent school shootings from occurring. They will, I believe, reduce the number of lives lost, if they are already stationed there, but even then there are no guarantees.
Another issue background checks that come with lawful gun purchases. Such checks on all gun sales may reduce the number of guns sold, but will not stop the illegal trade of all types of guns sold.
Each of us is part of a solution: Every one of us must be diligent in our daily conversations with individuals who make statements that they want to kill someone or some thing. This may be the first sign of a future tragic event and should be reported to the proper authority. We must be constantly aware of what is going on around us.
Each of us is part of a solution: Every one of us must be diligent in our daily conversations with individuals who make statements that they want to kill someone or some thing. This may be the first sign of a future tragic event and should be reported to the proper authority. We must be constantly aware of what is going on around us.
When it comes to your children being exposed to media coverage of massacres like what occurred at the school in Newtown, Conn, talk to your child about what happened and what it means for them to feel safe. Teach them the importance of being able to come to you if they are upset. If it appears strange, it needs to be discussed.
Headline Surfer is the Award-Winning 24/7 Internet Newspaper Serving Greater Daytona Beach, FL, via Headline Surfer.com (aka NSBNews.net & VolusiaNews.net)