OT - No child deserves to die because of a coward.

[Cdnwolf]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/14/us/con...html?hpt=hp_t1

Newtown, Connecticut (CNN) -- Dressed in black fatigues and a military vest, a heavily armed man walked into a Connecticut elementary school Friday and opened fire, shattering the quiet of this southern New England town and leaving the nation reeling at the number of young lives lost.

Within minutes, 26 people were dead at Sandy Hook Elementary School -- 20 of them children. Among the six adults killed were Dawn Hochsprung, the school's beloved principal, and school psychologist Mary Sherlach.

[Rockwolf66]

It's horrible to comprihend. Alas in the media feeding frenzy the victems of the S*** are being forgotten. Plus even before the facts are known certant people are demanding solutions that would not work to prevent such events from happening.


I wish I had the money to send every child there a teddy bear.


I also wish the media would never publicise the names of the s*** and simply say that the s*** is to be burried in a random outhouse and forgotten. Take and sense of perverse fame out of the equasion.

[natehale1971]

this is an editoral essay for a blog that i've been writing today in response to this monsters actions... anyone who wishes to add something to this, please do. there is so much that i feel i am missing and not covering. and some fresh eyes will help.

Twenty-eight lives were lost today… starting with the murder’s own mother. Whose legally registered and owned weapons were used to carry out this atrocity… this brutal and barbaric assault on a group of innocent children, and this monsters actions not only destroyed the lives of the children whom were killed by the bullets, but also the innocence of their childhood by creating memories of terror that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

To all those whom want to say that we need to ban guns in the aftermath of this tragedy in Connecticut... ask the following questions before you start screaming for even more laws that restrict the gun rights of innocent, honest & responsible citizens.

Would you punish all males for those few monsters whom have committed the barbaric and insidious act of rape? Would you punish everyone who drives an automobile because a few misuse their vehicles when they kill someone because they were drinking and driving? So why would you punish those who do not abuse their rights as a free an independent citizen, and take the rights away of those whom abide by the laws and support their community by being responsible citizens.

Why is it that people seem to want to blame the tools for the actions of those whom use them... it's the same thing as blaming a pencil for misspelled words, or a spoon for someone being impossibly overweight, because it is OUR own actions that are either GOOD or EVIL… and not the tools that have been used to commit those actions.

The fact of the matter is that to punish everyone for the acts of the few is very UN-American and is just not how good and responsible laws are meant to created and implemented.

The only person to blame for this horror that happened at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut is Adam Lanza, you know… the person whom actually carried out this barbaric action, and not the weapons or tools that he had used to commit it. To blame them for his actions diminishes the evil that he has committed and turns him into the victim and not the victimizer that he actually is.

The school was a “Gun Free Zone”… so just how did the gunman get in there to do this? Did he not see the sign saying that Guns are not allowed on the premises? These kinds of things happen because we strip responsible citizens of their rights, and thus only the unrighteous who by nature will not abide by laws will have what the honest citizens no longer possess. And they will use this advantage to become instruments of destruction and pain givers. They are the ones who should be punished for abusing their rights, for doing actions that are so horrendous.

It’s time to stop punishing the innocent, and stripping them of their rights as a responsible free citizen because of the few whom wish to do evil.

I've been crying since learning of this horrendous act of senseless brutality and monstrosity that... i can't believe anyone would target children. it's just so out of the scope. I just can't believe anything like this happens. It's something that I just can't understand. It’s completely beyond my understanding… and I can’t say anything else… it’s heartbreaking. And I just want to hold my sons, but can’t…

The fact that acts like this are not so easy to explain or even understand... but is very easy to see them as nothing more than an act of pure Unadulterated Evil. And that we must always see such acts as this as an EVIL action... and that is what happens when someone no longer has love in their hearts. For that is how evil grows, with the demising of love and compassion... that combines with the growth of apathy and basic humanity that allows this kind of evil action to even be conceived in the minds of men and women.

Have we as a people have lost respect for life of each individual? I think that is a possibility, especially with the fact that to many today see abortion as a pro-active means of birth control… that the life growing inside of them is so cheap and disposable, that they just can’t be bothered to take responsibility for their own actions. Is it any wonder why so many people today are willing to resort to violence to solve their problems? Just this past week, we have seen two children killing a woman because she told them to get a job when they asked her for a cigarette.

This is not just something that has happened here in the United States, today… just hours apart, a man with a knife killed 22 at an elementary school in the People’s Republic of China. And that barbaric act in Beijing was just the latest in a series of attacks that have been made on schools and children in China… and they were not committed not with firearms, but knives and axes. This alone would be evidence that we must not blame inanimate objects that are nothing more than tools… that the evil lies in the hearts of men and not lifeless objects.

We as a society must always place value upon each and every human life no matter how great or small, by giving it the respect that it deserves. And when everyone respects the value of life, no sane person would ever again consider ending the life of another human being so needlessly and callously.

But we also must see the way that many whom wish to exploit these kinds of atrocities for their own political gain for what they are… horrible opportunists whom are no better than the monsters whom have commit these barbaric actions. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting in Newtown, MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell was exceptionally quick to bring up gun control, and lamenting that there just doesn’t seem to be enough gun control laws. All this before there were any facts of the shooting known (such as what type of gun was used, the mental state of the shooter or who the shooter actually was)… instead of facts, Mitchell just rattled off the gun control issues talking points that has been championed by the Progressives for oh so long.

These Ghouls deserve the same kind of loathing we hold for those whom do these kinds of acts.

[kato13]

This is something that can be discussed but politics should be left out.

With effort I can, at some level, understand the motivations and actions of brutal dictators, serial killers, the columbine killers, the unibomber etc., but this one totally eludes me. Willfully targeting those who are the most innocent and in no way could even be a speed bump in his plans makes no sense. The closest that i have come is that it was some twisted revenge against his mother, but she was already dead at that point. All I can come up with is he was EVIL beyond what I can comprehend.

[Raellus]

Can we just pause for a while and grieve? It really bothers me that folks on either side of the gun debate jump right in on a horrendous tragedy like this and start dropping their pro OR anti-gun talking points. Let it be.

[natehale1971]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Can we just pause for a while and grieve? It really bothers me that folks on either side of the gun debate jump right in on a horrendous tragedy like this and start dropping their pro OR anti-gun talking points. Let it be.

I've been watching the news non-stop all day. trying to get my head around this... it's why i wrote the essay. it's not just something that happened here, but it's been happening repeatedly in the PRC. In fact one happened today where a manaic with a knife sliced up 22 people before he was stoped. earlier there was a man who took an axe...

this is pure evil, and i don't understand why someone would do this.

He started with his mother and then went to the school where she worked and targeted those little babies. thsoe precious little monkeys so full of life and promise.

someone mentioned that he was jealous of the kids getting more of his mothers attention. but even that does not explain WHY he would do something this evil.

i've been crying for hours about this. doing web searches trying to find more infomration so i can try and understand this... it's how i found out about the string of people attacking cihldren in China this year.

i've been taking with people around the country... and finding out about their own fears, and wondering how to explain this to their children.

so i wrote the essay that i will be sending to a blog, it came from a discussion with a friend whose children are 'special needs' and they had been questioning her about what happened. and how she would explain it all to them. and i tol her that it's an evil act, and evil acts happen with you do not have enough love in your heart to push out all the evil that can go in.

she called me about an hour ago, and said that answer was what allowed her kids to go to sleep tonight.

I want to share this, with hope that others can hear it... and they will find strenght and truth. and get started on their way to healing this fear, this terror.

[natehale1971]

Originally Posted by kato13

This is something that can be discussed but politics should be left out.

With effort I can, at some level, understand the motivations and actions of brutal dictators, serial killers, the columbine killers, the unibomber etc., but this one totally eludes me. Willfully targeting those who are the most innocent and in no way could even be a speed bump in his plans makes no sense. The closest that i have come is that it was some twisted revenge against his mother, but she was already dead at that point. All I can come up with is he was EVIL beyond what I can comprehend.

Evil can only exist in those places Love is not present Kato.

it's something that i've been working on writing about in the journals for my sons... about how our society has becom so detached and apathetic, and we have to start respecting and valuing life once more so that we don't see this anymore. stop being self-centred and only caring about what we can get at the expense of others.

we have to start Loving one another again.

[bobcat]

i hate incidents like this. the scum are on the news for a week, the victims and their families are treated like shit by the media, and worst of all its children being targeted. yes i know some people are just evil its a fact of life no law or policy will change you could disarm everyone there will still be evil you could arm everyone there will still be evil. evil can only be defeated by good and good by its very nature cannot take the steps to prevent evil without becoming it.

[dragoon500ly]

Words cannot begin to express my horror and rage at this senseless slaughter of innocents. There can never be an adequate explanation of why someone would believe that this would make things in their world right. Nothing can ever justify the murder of children.

That this individual had severe mental issues cannot be denied, the question is why these issues were not addressed in time to prevent this will be endlessly debated. But the killer has achieved one goal, he will now be remembered.

There are blogs out on the net right now, talking about how "cool" this killer is for "doing it to the man" and "he should have killed more of the little piggies."

Our society has reached a new low. And I fear for that society.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

Words cannot begin to express my horror and rage at this senseless slaughter of innocents. There can never be an adequate explanation of why someone would believe that this would make things in their world right. Nothing can ever justify the murder of children.

That this individual had severe mental issues cannot be denied, the question is why these issues were not addressed in time to prevent this will be endlessly debated. But the killer has achieved one goal, he will now be remembered.

There are blogs out on the net right now, talking about how "cool" this killer is for "doing it to the man" and "he should have killed more of the little piggies."

Our society has reached a new low. And I fear for that society.

Though I understand that the mentally ill should by and large not be allowed to own firearms, I hope they don't use this incident as a sort of open season against the mentally ill. We are a grossly-misunderstood minority in this country and virtually none of us are dangerous in everyday life.

And I don't think this should be used to pass more anti-firearms legislation. Both anti-gun and gun nuts are going to react in a knee-jerk fashion. We don't really need new legislation -- we need good, tight enforcement of what we have. Enforcement of gun legislation sucks right now in this country. And if you're going to have a firearm, you have to expect that you have a responsibility to handle, care, and store that firearm properly, perhaps more than your responsibility to keep your driving skills and knowledge of driving laws up to par.

People who even point a firearm at a civilian is wrong. No two ways about it. Anyone who is more than a few days into Basic knows that, and classes that teach such gun basics should be a part of every gun license.

You shoot at kids you're not only a fucking coward, you deserve (to turn a phrase) a special place in hell.

[natehale1971]

What gets me, is that i've been reading the articles and watching interviews with the people that were in this kids life... the mother was saying that she felt she was loosing him. His mental AND phyiscal state should be looked at. He couldln't feel pain, nor could he relate to others. So much so that the caregiver (babysitter just doesn't seem to work since he asn't a baby) had been warned by the mother to NEVER turn his back on him.

so it's not JUST one thing that went wrong here... and no one single law would have stopped this from happening.

it's something we as a people need to do... get involved with our communities. stop ignoring each other, start KNOWING each other. to care about someone other than just ourselves. to get past this self-centred selfish nature that has been promoted over the past couple decades. When i was a kid, i remember what it was like to have neighbors who knew me and my family... that if i did something wrong, my parents would know about it by the time i got home.

[Raellus]

Unfortunately, it's about a for-profit healthcare industry. Without getting too political, there's simply no push for additional federal funding of mental health programs and most private insurance companies can't be bothered to cover folks who can't afford to pay hefty premiums/co-pays. This is why a lot of people with serious mental illnesses end up on the streets, and others with maybe less extreme conditions slip through the cracks in other ways.

Until we as a society are willing to accept that basic health care is a human right, and are willing to support this belief with our pocketbooks (i.e. higher taxes), this neglect/underserving of the mentally ill is going to continue to be a factor in some of these mass murders.

[natehale1971]

I hate to say this, but you're wrong.

From what i've read already, this "kid" was getting help... he had parents who were involved in his life. the teachers and advisors said that they watched him constantly to ensure that he wouldn't get picked on. to watch and make sure he didn't hurt himself.

I've had to make do on $110 a month, and during that time i was able to get first rate medical care... hell, they were able to put MY LEGS BACK ON despite the fact they KNEW for a fact I didn't have insurence and couldn't afford the proceedures. But they did it anyway.

It's not about 'for-profit healthcare' that his happened. This happened because of ONE person who despite the care being provided decided to do this horrific act.

We just can't stop what someone is thinking or planing in their own mind. The way the law enforcement operates in a free society is to respond only after the fact... If we were to do anything else, that would be the foundations of a complete police state that would have "Thought Crimes" that would be reason enough to detain individuals. And that would see the death of not only liberty, but the human spirit.

A retired FBI profiler has been watching this, and did a good commentary on this case... the link is below. please take the time to read it. reading this has given alot of what i've read and watched on this horrific case

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/...180620270.html

[Chris]

I keep writing, erasing, writing, erasing, and writing this post. Been trying to put my thoughts together for the last three days, but the thoughts keep running in circles with no answer.

Nate, I wish I had some good, easy answers for all of us. I don't. I wish you peace.

Everyone here, I wish you peace. Turn off the idiot box. Walk in the crisp night air. Find some silence; your church, park, friends and family. Be well.

[headquarters]

Originally Posted by Chris

I keep writing, erasing, writing, erasing, and writing this post. Been trying to put my thoughts together for the last three days, but the thoughts keep running in circles with no answer.

Nate, I wish I had some good, easy answers for all of us. I don't. I wish you peace.

Everyone here, I wish you peace. Turn off the idiot box. Walk in the crisp night air. Find some silence; your church, park, friends and family. Be well.

good words.

[Jason Weiser]

Originally Posted by dragoon500ly

Words cannot begin to express my horror and rage at this senseless slaughter of innocents. There can never be an adequate explanation of why someone would believe that this would make things in their world right. Nothing can ever justify the murder of children.

That this individual had severe mental issues cannot be denied, the question is why these issues were not addressed in time to prevent this will be endlessly debated. But the killer has achieved one goal, he will now be remembered.

There are blogs out on the net right now, talking about how "cool" this killer is for "doing it to the man" and "he should have killed more of the little piggies."

Our society has reached a new low. And I fear for that society.

Please god,
Tell me this isn't true. Having dealt with someone who had mental issues. Without turning this into a political discussion on mental health issues in this country? I can say, the mental health delivery system in this nation stinks...hard.

On the other hand? I work for a Second Amendment advocacy group. I believe strongly in the rights for Americans to possess firearms. Do I think the gun control side believe what they believe honestly? Yes. I also disagree with them wholeheartedly. Trouble is? A lot of wrong headed folks on both sides are going to say and do some very dumb things in the coming days.

Meanwhile? 20 kids are dead. And I know a lot of us wish we'd been there to do something, anything to stop this asshole. I know I do, and I am the least trained person here.

[Legbreaker]

From where I sit halfway around the planet, the whole issue seems to be devolving into a gun control fight with virtually no attention on mental health.
Am I surprised? Hell no!
Why? Because it's a LOT cheaper to play around with existing firearms laws, get the police/ATF/etc to come down hard on a few people than it is to make effective changes to mental (in fact all) health systems and make them WORK.
ALL sides of politics are equally unlikely in my view to do what NEEDS to be done because actually dealing with a broken system requires money and political backbone.

So we can all expect more instances similar to this one in the future - at least until a few centuries have passed and there's a half decent mental health system...

And this goes not just for the US, but here in Australia as well.

[Rockwolf66]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

From where I sit halfway around the planet, the whole issue seems to be devolving into a gun control fight with virtually no attention on mental health.
Am I surprised? Hell no!
Why? Because it's a LOT cheaper to play around with existing firearms laws, get the police/ATF/etc to come down hard on a few people than it is to make effective changes to mental (in fact all) health systems and make them WORK.
ALL sides of politics are equally unlikely in my view to do what NEEDS to be done because actually dealing with a broken system requires money and political backbone.

So we can all expect more instances similar to this one in the future - at least until a few centuries have passed and there's a half decent mental health system...

And this goes not just for the US, but here in Australia as well.

I must share this Australian wisdome to Facebook due to it's level of Awesomeness.

[pmulcahy11b]

I'm sort of changing my mind about mental illness getting more attention. Maybe the health care industry (including Medicare, Tricare, and the VA) will have to pay attention to the ugly truth that 72% of of mental health patients receive no care or are undercared for (I'm in that boat).