A reader emailed me from Australia the other day. Here is much of what she had to say:
“I noted the comment from your British reader. I’m a New Zealander living in Australia, we have strict gun laws down here too. We’re getting news and commentary here on the gun control debate that has started again in the US, and a staggering statistic mentioned this morning is that: in the US there are 9 guns for every 10 people – interesting too that gun related deaths are 5x higher (per capita) in the US than in Australia – coincidence? I don’t think so.
Many of the social conditions here are the same – violent movies and video games freely available for example – and every country has it’s share of ‘misfits’ and people with mental illness. The big difference is that we don’t have guns all over the place – and especially not military style weapons. Gun ownership here is very rare and semi and automatic weapons are banned. Anyone wishing to buy a gun must have a Permit to do so. These are issued by the Police who do background checks which can include checks as to mental health.
All health professionals are required to advise police of any concerns they have regarding patients they believe may be at risk of harming themselves or others if they are aware they have access to firearms. Of course there are people who express concern about these controls from a civil liberties viewpoint, but the rights of individuals have to be balanced against the rights of the community to be protected from gun crime.
Getting this balance right isn’t always easy and it’s impossible to protect every person in every circumstance at all times from being harmed by others. But I do hope that sanity will prevail and that these terribly destructive weapons will be taken out of the community in the US sooner rather than later.
I’ll add a little postscript to it here that I didn’t mention in the comment though. To me it goes to the heart of the ‘gun culture’ that is perceived by us on the outside as being totally out of control in the US.
The tragedy that occurred last week has really put a damper on my zest for Christmas decorating. So much so, that last weekend I just couldn’t look at it anymore. I took it all down and put it away. I’m sure you will think this is going overboard. And if I’d had children around, I wouldn’t have done it. But once all the glittery decor was gone, the bright Christmas pretties and baubles, I somehow felt better. For me personally, it depressed me rather than delighted me.
So that’s how we’re looked at, my American friends: “To me it goes to the heart of the ‘gun culture’ that is perceived by us on the outside as being totally out of control in the US.”
This saddens me. Today I do not feel proud to be an American.
I’m sorry, Brenda. As a Canadian, I value you, our neighbour to the south. And I concur with the thinking of your Australian commentator. Balancing rights is a tricky business.
I hope that you will find joy in this Christmas season, and hope in the celebration of the coming of Christ to a world filled with darkness. We certainly need heavenly light.
Thank you for commenting as a Canadian. But 20 dead children and 6 devoted adults, in my opinion, should shift that balance dramatically.
Brenda
Yes, I agree gun control is an issue, but let’s face it, guns are here to stay. Our society has bigger problems. Mental illness, single parent homes, latch key kids, unemployement. People say, ‘why did God let this happen.” God didn’t let anything happen. This goes back to the Garden of Eden and the first sin. There will always be a battle between God and Satan. God has given us “free will” to make our own choices.
Morals are all but gone. What happened to common human decency. Why do parents make excuses for their kids. It is their responsibility to raise them to be decent and productive human beings. What happened to family time? Take away the video games, computers, social networking, television from children. They are too young! These things are not their parents!. If you see something going on with your child that isn’t normal behavior, GET HELP IMMEDIATELY! Don’t wait until we have another twenty innocent children murdered.
I agree with you. When I see families out in public, many times I want to tell them to get off their cell phones and actually be with their children. Yes, they are too young to be exposed to such violence, that obviously they are too young to conceptualize the ramifications of. The stigma of mental illness is so great, that many parents fear having their child “labeled.” Now this young man, instead of being considered merely troubled, will just be labeled another mass murderer.
Brenda
I’m sorry you don’t feel like decorating this year, but I totally understand. I hate the gun culture of this country as well. There is no need for the amount of guns people have. Someone is perpetuating the belief that people need all these guns, I think it’s ridiculous. I guess we need to protect ourselves from each other because we have so many guns?
I haven’t put up a Christmas tree myself this year. Not because of the incident, but because I’m in a sad mood due to the mental illness that has manifested in my daughter this year. It has been a very tough battle and she refuses to see a doctor. As an adult she has a right to do that. But this summer she became psychotic with delusions. Even then, I had to call police and mental health teams several times before she was able to get hospitalized involuntarily. Since then, it’s only a little better and she still won’t get medication. She’s not a danger to herself or others, so they can’t force her to treatment.
Mental health is very much part of the debate regarding the shootings. Having a diagnosis of mentally ill doesn’t mean people will be violent, but it certainly isolates the individual when social interaction is very important. I don’t want people to further shun the mentally ill and assume they will be violent killers. Most of all, I agree that guns should not be readily available as they are now.
As long as people have all these guns, incidents like this will probably continue. Maybe if we put all the money spent on guns into mental illness treatment and research, we’d have a safer country.
I’m so sorry about your daughter, and I understand your inner struggle. It must be immensely frustrating. The only way, as I’m sure you learned, to involuntarily hospitalize an individual is if they are in imminent danger to themselves or others. Yet they are delusional and do not understand in their state of mind that they need help. It is most definitely isolating. We most assuredly should allocate more funding to the mentally ill. They have been sorely let down.
Brenda
Hugs to you Brenda! And peace and healing to all of us.
Yes, it will take time for us all to heal. Not to mention those families. May you have peace and happiness during the holidays.
Brenda
Just another comment.. people are always saying ‘there is help out there’. I have tried for over a decade to find help for my daughter. Mental health professionals can be horrible, the system is broken or doesn’t exist. One doctor, a psychiatrist, would no longer treat my daughter because she yelled at his receptionist. Now tell me, where is the help?
Oh, I’m so glad you brought this up! I can’t tell you how long it took me to find a psychiatrist. Some won’t take insurance. And this country is vastly under staffed when it comes to psychiatrists. The help is NOT there. Not easily anyway. And it is expensive. And many insurance companies won’t cover it. And many employers will not allow that to be part of their plan. What a sad, sad state of affairs. We need to see that help is there! How can we expect people to get the help they need if there is so much red tape they become frustrated and give up?
Brenda
There are so many opinions right now. My daughter, a school counselor says we need to focus on mental health. We need more funding. As a Mom to a child that suffered from mental illness from abuse as a young child, (we adopted him at age 5) you just can’t call someone and say I think we have a problem. The child has to say he will kill himself or someone or they won’t even admit them to a hospital. And even then, he is evaluated, medicated and released in THREE days. Are you kidding……..three days and you have a diagnosis. Thank the Lord that our son is so much better now as an adult. But for those people that have no idea……..it isn’t an easy things to fix.
My son, a school teacher, says it’s the movies and the video games. I so agree. I hate them. The Power Rangers at age 10 is what started my son off in a terrible state of mind.
My husband, a father and a grandfather, says that principals need to have a gun to protect the school and training on how to use that gun. Just charging them only gets you killed. Wow, I hope it doesn’t come to that.
Our son, an ATF Officer (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) says if we had better gun control he would have an easier job.
Four different people, four different opinions. These are all educated parents.
My husband used to have guns in the house……but we got rid of them because of our son.
I have no answers but we need to do alot to get this to stop. The President is adressing this on the news right now.
Pray for our country and don’t give up.
Yes, so many opinions. All of them valid and thought-provoking. There most definitely is a huge gap in the overseeing in this country of the mentally ill. In my lifetime, I remember institutions. Where did they go? You’re right: now they’re treated a few days and let go. Or if they’ve committed a crime, tossed into jail. This will not and does not properly address this problem. Too many guns, not enough mental health facilities and funding to help those who seek help. I am listening to the President as well at this very moment.
Brenda
This is the key here Debby…you got RID of the guns BECAUSE of your son. Bravo. You did the only possible thing given your troubled situation. Good on you.
I had to stomp my feet to get my husband to remove them.
This killer’s mom had no business with any kind of guns in her home. I was hoping that they would find out they weren’t hers. And to think she took him to the shooting range. What was she thinking.
Thank you for posting this – We are all in mourning. I do hope that change is coming to help prevent these type of horrific events from happening. By sharing this post, you are helping.
I certainly hope so. I do not mean to put a damper on Christmas for our citizens. I simply say it is time for this discussion, and then action.
Brenda
Sharon said it better than I could. and I would add that guns don’t kill, people do. Much like cars don’t kill, irresponsible drivers and drunk drivers do. The news media doesn’t help, either. As my son said, they are only raising the bar for the next sicko who wants their 15 min. of fame. The politicians can ban guns, but there will still be plenty of guns out there, and, most likely, in the wrong hands. I see absolutely no reason for anyone to have assault guns, but other guns for hunting or for protection…I have no problem with. The problem, as Sharon stated, lies with the people and the fact so many have no respect for human life anymore. I see examples of the lack of respect for people every day. Until we address what’s really wrong with our society, then we will continue to see shootings, stabbings, beatings, and drunken driving taking lives. If everyone would just put God first in their lives as the bible commands us to do, there would be far less problems. JMHO.
You’re right: people kill people. Which is why we don’t need assault weapons readily available in department stores where we buy our food and toys for the kids. They DO NOT belong there, in my opinion.
Brenda
BRAVO !! THAT says it all. That has been my point / thinking. If you want to HUNT DEER in PA, you have to take a hunter’s safety course. If you want to DRIVE here you have to take many steps to be able to do that. If you want to get an ASSAULT RIFLE..and are not old enough, why…your gun loving parent will just go by you one for Xmas ( just witnessed that at work this week one day before the shooting ) It is That Easy.
Well said Cheryl!
There is a lot going through my mind here. In Canada, I know of no one except one hunter who has a gun. If any of our neighbors had a gun we would find them suspicious.Not that gun crimes don;t happen, they do, but guns are really only in the hands of hunters and criminals.
Mental health issues need to be addressed with regards to getting a permit, but there is nothing to stop another family member from owning one in the same house as an ill person. I question the mother in this case for having a gun when she had a clearly mentally ill child. Was she keeping them for her own protection perhaps from him? My solution it to ban semi automatics. A regular gun is bad enough but your rights and constitution won;t allow an all out ban.
I agree. Ban semi automatics. Hunters do not need guns that shoot so many rounds at once. I understand, if this is true or not I’m not yet sure, that the mother took him to the gun range. I got this off CNN. We will be able to sort all this out as time passes. But I think it inconceivable to have any type of guns in a home where a troubled person like this one resides. Inconceivable.
Brenda
I have to weigh in and say, if you think of the millions of guns that are legally owned in the U.S. you would realize that it is a very small percentage of people who commit the kind of heinous violence that we saw last week. There is no doubt the damage done was a horror. But why do I not hear a cry to abolish liquor even though millions are killed by drunk drivers and alcohol intoxicaton? How many are stabbed to death but we don’t confiscate the knives. I don’t see a need for automatic weapons in the hands of the general public, but I see no reason to abolish the constitutional rights of the many many law abiding citizens because a few people do horrible things.
I don’t think it’s about abolishing Constitutional rights. When this Amendment was written, it was a very different world. We are talking about automatic weapons. I am not saying confiscate every weapon. I think if a person wants to own a gun, then they should have that right. But no one needs an automatic weapon unless they are in war.
Brenda
NO ONE needs an assault weapon or a semiautomatic weapon. Period. Only the police or the Armed Forces need these weapons. As for constitutional rights – what about the rights of the rest of us to live a life free from the fear that we might be shot while going to the movies, or going to school, or church, or any one of a number of supposedly safe activities in everyday places? We have rights, too. Who is defending our rights? Certainly not the NRA.
Quite frankly, I’d love to see a world without guns. I don’t believe in hunting, or killing any living thing. So I cannot imagine why in the world anyone would need a gun. When the 2nd amendment was granted, we had no police and no trained army. We used muskets. The world is a very different place now.
With all due respect Claudia, you may not believe in hunting but many people do and many people in certain states depend on hunting to feed their families, yes in the United States. And I am glad I have a gun to defend myself if someone is breaking in to harm me. The police cannot be everywhere at once and usually only arrive to the aftermath. We are all free to voice our opinions in this free United States which is kept free by soldiers bearing arms both abroad and at home.
Yes we are. Thanks for responding with respect, Teresa. I respect your opinion. And I know you respect mine.
Thanks for your words. I couldn’t have said it any better.
very well said ~
Claudia,
(Let me preface by saying that I am not a gun owner at this time)
With all due respect:
1) Our constitutional rights are/were not “granted” to us. We the people are the government and have secured them for ourselves. A subtle but important distinction.
2) Your pronouncement that “NO ONE needs an assault weapon or a semiautomatic weapon” is not an argument against the right to bear arms, merely an opinion and exercise of your 1st amendment right.
3) Your statement, “When the 2nd amendment was granted, we had no police and no trained army” is a non sequitur. The right to bear arms is about being able to protect ourselves from a tyrannical government. When the Constitution was written it would have been assumed that one was “allowed” to protect oneself from wild animals or criminals. What is so special about the amendment and our other founding philosophies is the protection of rights of the individual FROM GOVERNMENT.
We can argue for levels of controls, etc., but we should not miss the core point. We have the right to bear arms against a tyrannical government, and once that right is chiseled away – or eliminated, that same government can then step on all other rights and will have the total power to do so.
Brenda, I’ll always be proud to be an American~~~I just don’t like some of the things that are going on in our country. It always takes something horrific like what happened last Friday and the other mass murders, to get things straightened out~~~”after the horse has left the barn”.
I hope you’ll have some good memories about this Christmas even though you put your decorations away.. We all enjoyed seeing them on your blog..
It’s horrible that all of the precious children and their teachers were killed so close to Christmas~~~It should not have happened any time of the year. This act has dampened the spirits of many all over the world.
I heard that one florist ran short of having enough flowers to complete orders, that were called in to be sent in memory of the ones who lost their lives. So many have done wonderful things to honor the ones who are no longer with their families.
Charlotte
The florist isn’t the only one who has run out of ways to complete orders. People have gone in droves to buy ammunition because they fear they will not be able to purchase as much soon. I am saying I’m not proud right now to be an American for various reasons. We cannot seem to get anything done between the President and Congress. Our congressmen have been extremely bull-headed because they laid down the gauntlet that they would not work with this President. I find that very childish, and we citizens are paying the price. When I was a child, it would have been simply unheard of for there to be a President speaking in front of representatives/Congress, and one of them stand up and yell: “You lie.” I was not proud to be an American on that day. Because there was a time when you respected your elected leader. And that day in which that occurred, a few years ago, was abominable. Even more so because nothing was done to censure that man who stood up and yelled those words.
Brenda
They are buying the Bushmaster Rifle -(an assault weapon) in droves because they thing Assault Weapons will be outlawed. Sales have skyrocketed.
Sorry – ‘think’
I was writing about the kindnesses that are being shown, the compassion, the empathy, the good things that people are doing to show their sympathy. There are some very good, genuinely respectful people in our country, but then there are others.
I was raised to respect my elders (being born in 1941) Life is a whole lot different nowdays than it was when I was growing up in every way, shape and form.
This is a whole new era in which we live and things will never be the same as they were back in the “stone age” as some young folks call it..
Something does need to be done to make mental health care facilities more available and staffed with doctors who aren’t just there for the money. AND, something does need to be done about getting attack rifles and guns, knives, alcohol, etc. etc. off of the shelves of stores and off of the street.
Illegal drugs can be added to the list of things that need to be controlled also.
Absolutely.
Brenda
Charlotte they are called illegal drugs because they are controlled and illegal. It didn’t really help did it? Drugs are running rampant in this country. Again I say it’s the immoral culture in this country that has turned it’s back on God, that’s the root of the problem everything else is just a symptom of that turning away.
Thank goodness for those kindnesses, Charlotte. They give one hope.
I for one am thankful nothing was done to censure that man who voiced his right to free speech. When we start censuring someone for speaking in this country it is on the road to ruin.
Bravo! You are so very right Brenda! Thank you for putting a voice to not only how very spoiled American’s have become but also how disrespectful!
We’re all just sick with sadness. I’ve never owned a gun nor have I wanted to. However, the guns are just the tip of the iceberg of our problems. I’m very experienced working with people with mental illness. Honestly I’m a bit surprised things like this doesn’t happen more often. Do I think all people with mental illness are capable of committing such awful acts? No absolutely not. The problem is we can never be certain. If a person has hallucinations no one can predict what can happen. It’s a heartbreaking tragic situation. There really isn’t one quick fix for this. EVERYTHING in our society has to change not only guns. A person intend on killing will kill. These are crimes that are planned by intelligent people. People complain about guns but think watching violent movies and TV shows are entertainment. Also yes there are horrific crimes taking place now. It cannot be a coincidence that after state mental hospital closed this all started on a downward cycle. One side said it wasn’t fair that people had the right to live on the streets if they wanted to. Hmm that’s on the best interest of the person and society? Seems pretty cruel to have people take care of themselves when they aren’t able. The other side said hey this will save us money. Well, it certainly hasn’t saved money and it hasn’t been fair to anyone. 14 yrs ago a school psychologist said to me ~in 10 years the only person on the classroom that will have rights are the disabled students.~ I’m sad to say he was right. And I work with disabled people that I love but its true. I’m sorry to go on about this but this is such a huge issue that just saying no guns will not change anything. To be honest I wish I didn’t know what I know then I would go around thinking the way I used to. I now understand ignorance is bliss.
I agree with you. You’re right: when they close state mental hospitals, they limit the resources of where we can put people who do not need to be put on the street. It is not in the best interest of this person or society to have them living on the street. It serves no one. Saving money? You’re right. Saving money at a cost of losing our precious children and their teachers, psychologist and principal? That price is much, much to high a price to pay. I don’t think the word “fair” is a word these parents will want to hear for a very long time. But we have to begin conquering this problem some place. Let’s begin by getting assault weapons out of retail stores and out of the hands of criminals or the mentally ill. Parents need to address what activities their children engage in and watch. There are many things that need to be done. But let’s attempt to put these military-type weapons in a proper perspective.
Brenda
Brenda
I just read an article yesterday where a young man stabbed his grandmother to death with a fork; another boy stole a gun from his friend and killed several people w/it. We will never rid this country of guns, and the police departments can ask us to turn them in, buy them back from us, but there will be those that refuse to participate. There is no need for automatic weapons unless you’re on the SWAT teams of one of our many law enforcements. In Connecticut it was too late for the SWAT teams, as the suspect had already done his damage. I personally think we are going to have to step up and place more security in schools and work places, and I could go on w/this. My husband is a retired LAPD Detective in robbery/homicide, when I see these mall “security” guards it makes me cringe, as they look like they’d probably faint if they ran into an incident. I don’t mean to offend anybody if they have a friend/relative working “security” but we have to beef up our security teams.
My daughter recently sought counseling within our medical group, had to go through the screening to determine what her concerns were and who was appropriate for her. She had three visits and quit. She said on the third visit the dr talked to her like she was another person, nothing she asked her related to my daughter. She never said, see you next week as she usually did when it was over. She never addressed the real need and concerns my daughter had with her sick father, not once. She cried on the way home saying to me: “Mom, all I wanted was someone to listen to me.” Yes, our mental health needs to be revamped and we need to pay attention to our children and relatives.
Absolutely, Annette. These doctors are allocated so many minutes to spend with these patients. I know because I am one of those patients myself. It’s all about money and insurance companies telling doctors what to do and how to take care of their patients. And there needs to be what I call “empathy classes” in our medical schools, if there isn’t something similar. These doctors become immune, at times, to the feelings of others. They miss warning signs because they’re in a hurry. It is a shame your daughter didn’t have a better experience. Such a shame. Because now the very thought of seeking help for her will be tainted. I have faced this same battle myself quite a few times in my lifetime. And I just want to throw in the towel. But I cannot do that.
Brenda
Oh and Brenda without Christmas there would be no hope. Christmas was never really about toys and glitter. Without Christmas there would be no Easter and without that we have nothing. We have to focus on one baby that came to change the world. It’s never been perfect nor will it ever be. Jesus knows that. I’m still proud to be an American. Our country is huge our population is incredible. I see kind people working in fields that focus on doing good all the time. It really does a great disservice to those that give everyday to say our country is bad. The good greatly out numbers the bad. You just may not be out there and see it. We’re better than that. The good will never understand evil and the evil will never understand the good. This will be a battle until the end. Throwing in the towel isn’t the answer. Getting involved with volunteer work and working for that change you want to see starts with all of us. We can’t expect “others” to do all the work. Even if it means just working with one person that’s a heck of a lot more than nothing. It changes their world.
I agree with you, Kathy. I have served as a volunteer in my community many times. I’m not saying this country is bad. I’m saying we need to rise up and make change happen. Other countries do this. They wonder why we just stand by and allow it. I know there are many, many good people in the world. Thank goodness. It’s not like I’m cancelling Christmas for a group of people. It will just be me. So it really doesn’t matter. It was a personal choice for one individual. Perhaps Christmas was not supposed to be about toys and glitter. But really, how many children do you think honestly know why they’re celebrating but for the gifts underneath the three? We live in a very materialistic society. Surely that needs no debate.
Brenda
Excellent positive suggestions!
I know you have said that you are concerned how the rest of the world views America. All I feel is sympathy. Yes our cultures are different but we are all humans and it is wrong to pass judgement on a whole nation based on a few individuals.
One thing that I find even more of a contrast between the US and the UK is the health system. Here mental health care is readily available and free.
I understand that guns are considered a right over there and that won’t change but helping people who are ill and need help to me is a right as well.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Xxx
Oh, I absolutely am with you on the idea that mental health should be readily available and free, which it is not. I hear so many people tell me they are seeking help, but are unable to get it. To me, this should be a right for everyone. There is a shortage of psychiatric personnel, a shortage of funds to help people get this help. A real shame.
Brenda
Go over to my post that I ran on Sunday – “Enough” and scroll down until you see Martha’s comment – it is one of the last ones. Read what happened to her beloved Uncle over the weekend.
Guns. Why?
That post your wrote was certainly one of the best, if not the best, post I’d ever read on anything. I read many of the comments, but there were so many, I did not scroll down that far. I just read Martha’s comment. How tragic. And senseless. You and I are on the same page on this.
Brenda
Thanks so much Brenda and Claudia for bringing this discussion to a public forum. We must take action now on these issues. I LOVE both your blogs….they are my favorites which I read, most everyday. Thanks~~~
Dear Brenda, reading all of the above views, I am with all of them, and in agreement about what a terrible fix we all are in… I do hope that attention is brought to the lack of real useful medical intervention where mentally challenged people are concerned, be they adult or child. Having guns is long time habit in your country, but surely that only meant hand guns and not other automatic type guns? It needs to be much stricter, but at the end of it all, its a total mess that someone has to be strong enough to be able to clear it up and give hope to the citizens that they can feel safe again. Like millions of others, I cried when I heard the terrible reports of last friday, but I hope their loss is not in vain and some good come out of their sacrifice. I can understand why you took the tree down, but really Christmas is the beginning of good news and hope that the world can be a better place to live in,so I hope you won’t always try to ignore it in later years..its not about presents, but about love and life and hope for a better future… Hugs from across the pond, Janzi
Thank you for your comment, Jeannine. You said it best. Having guns is a long time habit in our country. But I don’t think the 2nd Amendment has anything to do with assault weapons. They weren’t around when that was even written. It needs to be much stricter. You can’t buy certain over the counter drugs because it is feared you might make meth. But you can walk into certain department stores and purchase one of these weapons that can kill a great number of people in just a few seconds. Preposterous.
Brenda
If I am not proud to be an American at this minute,then I am at least ashamed of Some of its people! including Evil people that may not be mentally responsible, but these people are dead none the less. not limited too some of the people that claim they have our best interest@ heart. HA! Gun laws @ the very least give police some recourse in getting them out of the hands of people who should not have them. Brenda, I feel like you do it is just fine to worship the Lord quietly in your own way. Everyone grieves differently.Thank-You for taking a stand
There are many times when I am quite proud to be an American. When people from all over the country went to Newtown to do what they could to help, including bringing therapy dogs, I was very proud to be an American. The police don’t get these types of weapons, so they are out matched and in grievous danger on the streets they must patrol. If only for them alone, those who are there to serve and protect us, let’s get these guns out of the stores and make it harder to buy them.
Brenda
Well, Brenda, I think you know how I feel about guns. Get them off the streets and out of homes. Invest more in the mental heath of our citizens and less on protecting guns. Every day I read about someone who was “accidentally shot” because of a gun in a home and many times both the shooter and the victim were children. What the H**L do people think is going to happen when they have guns in their home. I am so sorry that this has ruined Christmas for you. It has been a terrible ordeal.
Hugs,
Laura
I recall once as a child I picked up a rifle that was out in plain sight. I pointed that rifle at the window screen, through which was a little boy next door. I shudder to think whether that gun was loaded. I shudder to think, if it was, what if I had pulled the trigger?
Brenda
How dare you.. I will never again look at your blog.
I’m sorry you feel that way. That is your choice.
Brenda
Exactly, because we proudly get to live in America where we have these choices.
I am proud to be an American and was upset with some opinions other people have.
I will continue to be a gun owner and stand up for the amendment that allows us the freedom to do so. I will also stand up for the amendment that gives them the right to voice discontent.
I have nothing against guns in general. Just the proliferation of assault weapons in this country.
Brenda
The Germans never would have never succeeded rounding up and annihilating the Jews had they been armed. Don’t think it could never happen here or any other place in the world again. Every person deserves to have protection. No, this recent scene won’t get much publicity from the liberal news media:
http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2012/12/armed-off-duty-cop-prevents-san-antonio-movie-theater-shooting/
As for me I hope I am never left defenseless.
I read the article. It does not say that he used an assault weapon. I commend him his bravery in protecting the citizens.
Brenda
The officer was a SHE. Weapons will always be available for the lawless crooks, drug pushers, whether they be 22 pistols or assault weapons. They don’t follow the law. We will follow the law and be the underdog in any kind of assault. The evil people who want to kill will find other ways to do it if they want to.
Let’s assume that is true. But could that young man have annihilated 20 children and 6 adults in just a few seconds without an automatic weapon? Could there perhaps have been even a few more survivors?
Brenda
Been reading all these comments, Brenda…whoa! I really agree with you in terms of mental illness treatment, or the lack thereof and gun control laws, particularly your opinion stated here in regards to assault weapons and semi automatics. Really, I’m like Claudia in my opinions on guns and hunting (for sport). Yet, I don’t have answers either…as illegal drugs find there way into the hands of people, so will illegal guns I am sure. Other countries with stricter laws and fewer gun crimes, must be doing something right though. I can understand why you took down your decorations…sometimes I feel guilty looking at mine. I do have a 2 yr old her though
Wishing you Peace + Hope
I know how you feel. I was sick at Thanksgiving, my beautiful grand babies shared their colds. So we didn’t have a Thanksgiving this year. I got well did my Christmas shopping and picked up bad case of the FLU. My heart is broken for the loss of all those babies. Saturday a family friend died at Santa Cruz Island doing what he loved taking photos. I have had to tell myself that God need a photographer to take photos of his new Angels. To get out of bed today. I’m ready to pack up Christmas. The American people make me so sick with the needing to having assault weapons. Wishing you peace.
I too have had a stomach bug for several weeks. Makes you weak and lethargic, doesn’t it? I am so sorry about your friend. Perhaps God did need a photographer to take photos of his new angels. I would like to think that. Wishing you peace also.
Brenda
Posting a link to this on Facebook ( not a blog site / my personal FB ) where unfortunately I have seen more posts worrying about people losing their guns than what people are suffering in newtown
Just keep plugging at it
And I did not get a favorable reaction to my first post about gun control the other day but I don’t care
THOUGH: there was a big discussion at the office about this as well ( and everyone there owns a gun but me. Their thoughts make sense too. IF we outlaw most guns now, what’s in the ‘channel’ since 2004 in regards to assault rifles will still be there. So THEIR view is arm the teachers and principals. Let them have guns too.
Good grief there is simply no easy answer. I think the problem goes back to 2004 when the assault gun ban expired. And I imagine that alot of pockets were padded to let that happen back then but just call me cynical
I hope they bring back that assault gun ban. I know they will certainly try to. And yes, the lobbyists with money in their pockets are rampant. I don’t think you are cynical. I am sitting here watching CNN listening to news about the three funerals today. There is one funeral director in Newtown. He will be extremely busy. So sad. I don’t understand why people don’t see that I am merely very, very sad. And that the 1st Amendment is just as important.
Brenda
I think we’re all mistaken if we believe the government will solve all of our problems–guns, mental health, etc. Evil was at the very core of what happened on Friday. We can’t legislate evil away. We live in a fallen world where Satan seeks to kill & destroy. His days are numbered & one day every knee will bow & every tongue will confess that Christ is Lord.
May all who were affected by this tragedy feel God’s comfort and the peace of Christ.
Amy
I so agree with you that I want them to all find peace in such a time of tragedy.
Brenda
I viewed a video of Australians that were very upset that their gun rights were taken away. Home invasions, murders, and all kinds of crime actually went up when criminals knew the law-abiding citizens couldn’t protect themselves. Yes, it’s a complex issue, but this incident has shocked the nation and the whole world and I’m sure some positive changes will take place.
But as a proud American – it upset me to see you say that you were “were not proud to be an American.” Tsk tsk. I always tell people that complain about America — you are free to move somewhere you’re proud of.
Kind regards, Teresa
I’m sorry, but I heard the opposite. Australians are telling me that crime went down. Who knows what the percentages are. Certainly I don’t. I guess I am surprised that my making one statement under such emotional circumstances would be taken so negatively . I also said that on Sunday I was proud to be an American to see that others were driving to this town to do whatever they could. That made me very proud. But what I am not proud of is the fact that guns are so important in this country. It is so against everything I believe in. It embarrasses me greatly when those from other countries tell me that they view our country as one out of control. And you know, I have to agree with them.
Brenda
You have lost this blog reader, too. How can you say something so hateful as not being pround to be an American. Shame on you.
This is not a debate on patriotism. This is an emotional outcry over an event in which 20 innocent children and 6 adults lost their lives. Please don’t over simply this. The United States is made up of people. We have just lost some of those people. Trying to make a point, not argue over the literal words being used here. I am very proud of how the people have handled this tragic event. I am not proud of how our citizens clutch their firearms to their bosoms so vociferously.
Brenda
From my perspective on this debate…Brenda probably means she was disappointed in American behaviour…she went on to tell of many times she has been proud to be an American. Jenna and Angie, please don’t be so harsh and quick to judge~~~shame on you~
Just a bit of news you may not know… the worst school tragedy actually occurred on May 18, 1927 when a part-time caretaker at a school set off a bomb in a school in Michigan. He killed 45 people, 38 of them being children ranging in age from grades three thru six. 58 other people were wounded. Guns are not the problem, the problem is the loss of the value of human life. Millions of babies have been murdered in our country since abortion was legalized and they continue to be murdered everyday (even as I type they are being murdered) yet there is no cry to put a ban on abortion to save their lives! Talk about helpless and defenseless, there are none more vulnerable. Unfortunately morality cannot be legislated. Also, in the case of mental illness, the person determined to harm someone will find a way to do it whether they use a gun, a knife, or a bomb. We can’t start stripping our citizens of their guaranteed rights in the name of safety, and shame on people who want to use this tragedy to push a political agenda.
So well said, I agree with you. Some of the very same people who vigorously defend the right of the ‘mother’ to kill her unborn baby are the very ones who are calling for gun control to stop the violence. Well in my opinion it is more violent for someone who is supposed to protect their child to be the very one who is instrumental in killing them. If that baby could speak I think he/she would say something like this right before his/her little life is being taken away. “Mommy, someone is hurting me, help me mommy, I think I’m dying mommy, I’m sorry, I wanted to see you so bad, I wanted you to me.” Where is the outcry for these innocent helpless ones? Just because they don’t have a name and you can’t see their picture they are no less dead than the innocents at Sandy Hook. Wake Up People we all are killing our children on a daily basis!!!!
Teresa, how can you even try to bring up your political propaganda on abortion here?! This is not a discussion on abortion…did you even read the post? It was not about abortion.
Kathy, how can you call standing up for the right to live political propaganda?? Did you read my post? I am standing up for the rights of all children to be able to live out their lives as God planned. Now if you don’t like that that’s your problem. Both are killing and the unborn can’t even run away, they are truly helpless. I am assuming you are for gun control so there may be less of these types of tragedies so if that is true how can you not stand up for these helpless babies also, that is what I am asking. Please explain. You say it’s not a discussion on abortion, but it IS a discussion on the culture of death and killing in this country. A country where the last time I looked I still have freedom of speech so don’t try to censor me just because you don’t agree.
It says to speak my mind, so I will. I do not think this is a “we have too many guns.” problem. I believe in the Constitution and our right to bear arms. Take away all the guns and guess what? People will still be murdered in some way or another. More children are killed in cars every year. Should we get rid of cars? This tragedy has started a dialogue, but we had better be very careful about giving away our rights. Australia is not the United States and they may do things differently, but they do not have our Constitution which has stood us well for centuries.
Well said.
so give me one good reason why we should not ban the sale of assault weapons in the US? and i dont think , b/c it takes away my rights to the 2nd amendment, is an excuse. in this debate we are not asking for all guns to be taken away….just the ones that can kill 26 innocent people in less than 2 minutes.
I am proud to be a Amercian and I always will be no matter what. We live in the greatest country in the world. I have 4 sons who proudly service in our great military. One who is in harms way right now. The proablem is not guns its people. It’s the fact is we have turned our backs on God….tell we turn back to God and his ways things will not get better. There is always HOPE in The Lord. We in this house will be celebrating Christmas with Hope, Love, and praying for those families. Reading the Christmas story from the Bible and singing some wonderful songs of Hope!!! Turning to our Savior Jesus Christ is the only turn answer for anything in life!!! Look to him….
Oh Nora you are so correct, there needs to be a turning back to God, I read the other day about the weapon used the most to kill people and you know what that weapon was? A baseball bat. So shall we ban that too? Pretty soon everything will be banned. I am as appalled as the next person about the horrific acts of violence in this country but people are not looking deep enough into the why. It’s a turning away from God and His moral compass.
A touching message in the light of what has happened. Just read this out loud to my husband. We are both teachers and have kids 9 and 13. We are at a loss for how things are going to get better. For now we remember those lost, keep their families in our prayers, and our families close to our hearts. Much peace this holiday season.
Stating you are not proud to be an American degrades the memory of all of the great Americans that came before you and gave you the freedoms you enjoy today. I can think of nothing more degrading that that statement. I guess you think it o.k. to spew such garbage when leaders of our country are also spewing it. Also, if you are not proud to be an American, I am sure there is another country you could move to, but I doubt you would receive all the benefits you have in this great country.
Why is this garbage? Why is expressing an opinion – also a guaranteed right, by the way – that something needs to be done, ‘garbage?’ Why does anyone find this so threatening? Loving your country is not just about saluting the flag or honoring our soldiers, it is also about helping it grow, speaking out to right wrongs, and working for change. Believe it or not, it’s possible to be ashamed of a specific thing about your country and still love it. Just like with people. I really don’t understand this kind of response.
And that is the problem. We can only express OUR opinion as long as it is the same as yours. Really. This blog went past the point of expressing all of our sadness of this unthinkable act of evil, when she took it to a political vein. Say sonthing negative and then act surprised when it gets a negative response. the blogger said plainly the she was not proud to be an American. you can twist it anyway you want, there are too many really good blogs out there is waste my time on this one or yours,
Don’t put words in my mouth. I never said you couldn’t express your opinion. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. As is Brenda. There’s room for all points of view in this country – isn’t that what the First Amendment is all about?
Just asking for a little tolerance on all sides.
Agrred, so why did you verbally attack my right to be offended and go to others blog that everyone would enjoy. The First Admendment works both way.
Oh for heaven’s sake. I give up.
Bye Bye!
Claudia, I do not think, “expressing an opinion – also a guaranteed right, by the way – that something needs to be done, (is)‘garbage?’” “Don’t put words in my mouth”. The garbage I was referring to was, “Today I do not feel proud to be an American.”. I do not feel anyone should say that at anytime unless you are ashamed of your country. What Brenda should not be proud of is being a human. It is humans that cause these problems; humans that have lost the ability to value life and this is not exclusive to Americans. I am glad we all have the right to express our opinions and many great Americans fought with guns to give us that right.
Dear R. That doesn’t even make any sense!
What does not make sense? The part where I was quoting another comment or the part where I say not valuing human life is not exclusive to Americans. Humanity is the cause of these problems; human beings killing other human beings. It matters not your country of origin.
Actually it makes perfect sense Judy.
I am flabbergasted by some of these responses. Just like you sometimes say to your child, “I love you but I don’t always like you” or to your husband, or to a friend: the same goes for this country. You can love your country and not be very proud of it at times. Life is not black and white. It is full of shades of gray. Are we so rigid that any criticism means we are unpatriotic? For goodness sakes, if people hadn’t been ashamed of our country at times, slavery wouldn’t have been abolished, the war in Vietnam wouldn’t have ended, Joseph McCarthy wouldn’t have been stopped from blacklisting. All of this went on in our country. And just like people, the country needs to grow and change and learn from its mistakes.
good job Claudia….some people will always twist words .
Well-said Claudia.
This is a hot button topic and good people have opinions on both sides of the issue. And while there may be too many guns in this country and I agree that semi automatic weapons should have stringent control I keep remembering that Tim McVey didn’t use a gun he used fertilizer, the 911 terrorists didn’t use a gun they used box cutters. When people say if guns were illegal no one would have one and that would solve the problem, to those people I say please tell me more about how nobody can buy drugs. I think its too simplistic to say that guns are the problem. We must look deeper if we are to overcome this senseless random killings. After all many people own guns and use them responsibly so it’s not the gun it’s the person behind the gun. Anything that comes short of examining the depravity of the human condition is only putting a bandaid on the problem.
There will always be violent people in the world , but it took time and planning for the 9/11 terrorists and home-grown terrorist McVeigh to carry out their plans.
Guns unfortunately are so commonplace and available in this country, that domestic disputes, road rage, even cutting in line are more that enough reason to be shot.
And again I say anything that comes short of examining the human condition is only putting a bandaid on the problem.
Brenda, I think you were very brave to share your heartache and make your views on this subject so public.
Guns, unlike cars and alcohol, exist only to kill (please don’t nitpick and mention that target practice is harmless). They are too readily available to the angry, the unstable, and the insecure.
It is a very sad time in our country right now, and understand how continuing on with all the holiday hoopla as if this awful thing is somehow over, is an impossible idea for many of us.
Rosekraft you said ” Guns, unlike cars exist only to kill” yes that is correct and it may be the bad guy that gets the wrong end of that gun.
Hi Brenda…this out rage of so many people… all caring people I assume… are all just trying to make sense of a senseless situation…this should NEVER of happened and these poor little innocent children should still be here with their families looking forward to Christmas and getting excited to see what Santa has brought them…lets all just focus on the right things to do in this life and remember who molded each and every one of us with his own hands…it was the GREAT I AM…we as a people are doing ll this damage and devastation to ourselves…we need to get back to the basics of raising our children in a family oriented home…where the mother stays home and tends to her children where she can be there for them 24/7 and be on top of what is going on in their lives…no one does that anymore and society has made it this way..we have to have both parents working to make it in this world..and who suffers for this?? The children…we need to get these women who are popping out babies every year just to collect on the welfare money not so easily accessible to it…we all need to go to church and pray to God to help us all!!! the world is going to hell and we are all the contributors!!! AMEN. Carol
Interesting to see what other people around the world think of us. We live in a culture of fear and until we address that issue then we have no where else to go. Wishing you peace and comfort during this difficult time. I also am not decorating for the Christmas holiday, just my creche. If you have a chance stop by and read a post by my son, a new daddy.
Isn’t it something, the stats? And yet gun owners in the States refuse to believe it because they are so concerned with maintaining their rights. There is no reason whatsoever for a civilian to own or need and assault weapon unless they are law enforcement or military.
Your friend wrote a great piece there, thanks for sharing.
Hello Brenda,
I’ve read with sadness the discussion that’s happening here.
I think every country and community has problems because every human being is flawed in some way…that’s sad but true.
Here in Australia, we have the same problems that you have in America.
People are people the whole world over and human nature at its worst is evil, and at its best is something to be proud of.
I have no suggestions to offer.
I pray that God will help each of us to be the best person that we can be and that we help each other with love and kindness.
My heart grieves for the lives lost and the sadness your country is feeling right now.
God Bless..
Barb from Australia
Barb from Australia … great comment. It’s a world-wide problem. It began with Cain and Abel and will not end until the Judgment. I might be disappointed with an American’s actions or the actions of our Government, but I am always proud to be American and proud of my country overall.
God bless you,
LesleyAnn
I think discussing this over a blog is inappropriate.
Brenda, I hope you can not be hurt by the words of haters,they are everywhere, and they are generally self involved and narcissistic. (and just waiting to pounce on someones choice of words). because they think there view is the only right one, and hate everyone that doesn’t agree with them. I see it every single day, They can’t see anything else or soften their hearts even a little because of that. It’s your blog! You are OK just Keep Christmas in your heart,and others can do what they want. p.s. they will be the first to jump all over me,because that is the way it works.
I’m not self involved nor narcissistic. I feel that this is a sensitive topic and if you are going to write on your blogt…then be prepared to hear both sides.
Julie,
A person has the right to write or “discuss” whatever they want to on their blog…it’s their blog, just as you have the right to comment on it how you wish, as you so clearly did.
Brenda, thank you for sharing your feelings. It is a right we all have as citizens of the United States of America. And it actually is OK that we have different ideas and feelings!! Yes, I understand the 2nd Amendment, just wish everyone would remember the 1st. And as others said, I truly doubt that our fore fathers wrote this, (when they were then still loading muskets) with massive assault rifles and magazine clips being available to the citizens of this country in mind. That is ridiculous. Maybe some people think we still live in the wild west. Well, we don’t. We have a trained militia including local police personnel. I guess I understand the owning a rifle to hunt, or a weapon if you live where you need to protect your property in extreme situations. However, the majority of us don’t have that need. I worry constantly about the people with the permits for conceal and carry. Seriously! They are driving down the road, or in a restaurant, or shopping, and can be legally carrying a gun. What in the world have we come to? People feel they need to be armed to go get a hamburger? The problems those people must be dealing with go much deeper than we can even imagine, and they are carrying guns. The rights that the mentally ill also have, to NOT take medicine, and to NOT receive treatment, when they HAVE a diagnosis, put MY rights in danger also. I just want to feel safe to go to a movie, the mall, or to rest easily when my daughter who is an elementary principal, or my husband who is a teacher, go to work. Apparently assuring the 2nd Amendment advocates, and those with mental health issues that they have rights, are more important than the rest of us who just want the truly simple rights in life. And we would like them withOUT arming ourselves every time we take a step outside of our door.
Oh, Brenda…so sorry about all the distress this post caused you. Please don’t stop blogging; I read your blog faithfully (Claudia’s too), but never post a reply.
I know how hateful people can be when they have a different opinion, I’m the only one in my family who advocates gun control and I hear about it all the time. Granted my family members hunt and/or target shoot, while I don’t agree with that, I can accept it. On the issue of semi-automatic weapons, there is no reason to have them except to kill someone, period.
I should explain here that my family lives in the Columbine area, my 3 grown children all graduated from there; we’re also 30 minutes from the Aurora shooting. We relive the horror every time there is another shooting, however I don’t know that I’ll ever get over the needless killing of the Sandy Hook babies – I have grandchildren that age.
It’s time that mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and women in general stood up to the politicians and lobbyists on this issue. We are powerful and we vote.
To those who would reply negatively to my message, don’t waste your time…I’ve already heard it.
I decided today to try to get back to visiting blogs today in hopes to find some antidote to this week of personal and national depression. I visited Brenda’s first because she spent days helping teach me, by phone, how to get my blog up and running, always answering even the most stupid questions with kindness. It was a shock to find what is happening here. Right up front, do I agree with everything she has written about this subject? No. Do I agree with everything Claudia writes? No. Do I agree with everything written on blogs by far right bloggers? No. So what?
What I love about bloggers is their passion for their homes and families, their pets, the chickens on their farms, their grandchildren, decorating, cooking, gardening……
What I care about is that they reached out in empathy to me when I had to hold my little dachshund and feel the life go out of her body last Friday and the light go out of her eyes, on the same day that these sweet innocent Connecticut children died.
I go to Nita at Mod Vintage Life not only because she loves her dachshunds dearly but because she posts the most beautiful decor and yummy colors (colors that would never work in this old farmhouse). I go to Brenda not only for her advise in blogging but because she displays an order in her cozy little house that I need so much in mine. I go to Claudia because her life is as different from mine here in Tennesee as is possible to be and yet she loves her Scout and her and Don’s life in the cottage there in New England and lives valiantly in a struggling financial time. I visit Angie at Parisienne Farmgirl because of the tremendous work ethic she and her husband are teaching those four little kids, and the beautiful ways she decorates her house and to watch her make use of every square inch of her yard for growing vegetables to feed her family–all on a shoestring and talent. And Brenda and Claudia might never give Angie the time of day, or her them, because they are so opposite politically.
Who cares?
And then I go to all the bloggers in between. I go to Laurie at Bargain Hunting with Laurie for her scrumptious tablesettings and because she has a heart of gold and is giving her all right now to her two little granddaughters because her new grandson Dylan Cooper was born 4 months early and today is having a heart valve repaired. (If you be3lieve in prayer, please pray for this tiny infant who is fighting to live.) I go to Mary Ann at Calamaty Acres because she makes me so much want to have chickens of my own, until I read about all the hard work she has to do to keep these babies healthy and happy. I read her every day for her joy in her simple but complicated life. Compicated because she cares about so much and so many.
She led me to Rebecca at You Are Taliking Too Much who posted on Dec. 16 about our need to teach Empathy to our children, and to ourselves. It reminded me of a quote I read about a year ago in a novel called The Architect. The author said that someone once said that evil is the absence of empathy. After reading Rebecca’s post I googled that quote and do you know who said it? Captain G.M. Gilbert who was the Army psychologist at the Nuremberg trials.
Is that enough to make us think? It makes me think. For all our sakes, let’s be respectful that everyone has frayed nerves right now. How can we teach our children and young men to have empathy for one another if we adults cannot?
Brenda, I understand that you are heartbroken. I know that you are also coming from months of working through a horrible divorce, an accident that left you not only struggling physically but financially, and other burdens that I won’t try to cover. Please go on helping struggling bloggers like myself.
Maybe more of you need to come from the old South that I did where we cherished our family members even if they did have some quirks. Boy did they have some quirks. And when we buried them, it was those quirks we smiled about.
Dewene,
Love your comment! This brought tears to my eyes. I’m coming on over to visit your blog!
I admire and respect what you have been writing about. Please don’t get discouraged by the nastiness
out there. Everyone has to be objective about their country and listen to other points of view. Keep
blogging as all reasonable readers appreciate your words of wisdom. I hope there are improved gun
regulations for your country in the near future. It appears that the NRA people are holding your
politicians for ransome.
Oops, minus the e on ransom.
Where are the tears for the billions of babies killed everyday by their own mothers via abortion? I wish the passion and outrage would be there for those innocent ones as well.
And to those who think it’s not the same thing, tell that to the dead babies. Just saying if we are going to examine this issue lets not forget the murders that happen everyday in such a cavalier way. People are so desensitized to killing these unborn babies that they don’t even give it a second thought let alone become morally outraged.
Teresa,
It’s not the same thing. Go find something else to do and stop spewing your nonsense here.
Charlaine, you are so right, it is not even close to being the same thing. It is far worse for a mother to murder her own child with whom she has a familial tie. That said, it does not, in anyway, imply that what happened to those precious children and their families was not horrendous, it was. It grieves me deeply that you can say, so flippantly, the two are not comparable; they are! If we can murder millions of unborn children legally, why does it always amaze us when something like this happens because someone has no value for life of any kind. We must change this culture of death that has taken our world by storm. This will only be changed when we, once again, realize that all life is valuable; the unborn in the womb, the children already born and the adults that make these crazy laws!
Thank you R. Schmidt, you’re right we need to change the culture of death and turn back to God otherwise we will continue to see things like this happen to an even greater degree. Many, NOT ALL, of the same people who demand stricter gun laws just shrug at the killing of babies by abortion I will never understand that.
Wow Charlaine, I have been nothing but respectful in my comments on this issue and you speak to me in this manner. Obviously I hit a nerve. What about a child being dead by either a gun or abortion is different? I don’t consider a dead child nonsense. Just because there is not a name and a face makes it no less tragic. I am the first to say what happened to those sweet little children at Sandy Hook was horrendous and my heart is broken for them. My heart is also broken for the millions of babies who are killed on a daily basis. Just because it has been made legal does not mean it is morally right, the child’s life has been ended. I questioned why there is no moral outrage for these children and you call it nonsense and tell me to go on my way. I have as much right to comment as you do unless Brenda tells me not to which she hasn’t. I respect everyone’s opinion on here and I deserve the same respect. If you cannot hear other’s opinions perhaps you should be the one to go find something else to do. I’m sorry Brenda that this topic has seemed to bring out the worse in SOME people, I for one am open to discussing opinions without resorting to personal attacks.
Wow- Brenda and Claudia (have read you all for yrs now) what a web of words here. Your blog was wonderful, right on and needed to be said. For too long we have all walked around the elephant in the room, our incredible appetite for guns in all forms and refused to deal with that elephant and I would guess mental illness is the same. we have to look at other countries who do not have this issue – and when Oh when will we stop killing children in this country. there are many many days I am not proud to be an American- many days in our past and history as well- killing the indians and taking their land is just one among many- arrogance we have in this country.
Keep blogging Brenda, Claudia and Judy- you are a light in this darkness and thanks for risking and providing a road for this vehicle to travel on because one day we will get it right-
I also liked your show of the candlelight too- and how you were trying to be that light in this darkness and unfortunately some like putting out the light in any form or any way they can. keep on
I certainly agree that military style assault weapons should NOT be available to anyone except our soldiers. But I think the true tragedy is how we’ve let our mentally ill citizens slip through the cracks. We need to find ways to make psychiatric care available and accessible to everyone. But please don’t forget the ways our great nation has made us proud and given us countless freedoms. Even peaceful utopian nations such as Norway remind us that tragic events can happen anywhere. I find myself embracing Christmas more fiercely than ever, of course for my 8-year old daughter, but also for the mere fact that I need beauty and tradition around me more than ever in these uneasy times. Peace to all!
Merry Christmas!
Kerry
Christmas on Long Island and in Manhatten is always such a big, glamorous, glitzy, glittery affair…and this year it is quite subdued. Perhaps people are gettting their priorities in order (you never know what you’ll miss until it’s gone – innocence, for starters…), or are feeling sad or even having surviviors’ guilt about enjoying the holiday when so many are in mourning…It’s definitely been different. I hope it’s different for Congress and the NRA also. I hope all the talk of limiting Saturday night specials and assault rifles doesn’t fade with the memory of the Connecticut victims. Someone commented that 4 million NRA members are holding the other 260 million American hostage. That’s not true. There are many NRA members who have advocated for saner gun laws and been drowned out by the staunch individualists who place each person’s right above the good of the whole, calling the opposite “sheeple mentality”. Our parents, for instance. Part of my growing up was on a rural farm in VA. My male relatives were all gun lovers, career military and kept loaded shotguns in the house after retirement to shoot when too many crows descended into the truck patch or the fields. I never heard tell of anyone getting murdered in our little community, and everyone had a gun in the house. A loaded gun. The real difference was that we were just that – a little community where everyone knew what you got on your report card and what your grandmother was cooking for supper. Large communities offer an anonymity – and that’s not so bad for privacy – but also offer a chance to get lost in the shuffle, and that can’t be good. It does NOT take a village to rear a kid, but it helps when everyone knows his or her name and what the kid is up to. If one of us misbehaved, Grandma would hear about it long before we got off the school bus and we’d meet wrath when we walked in the door. People are lost, feel like tiny, unimportant cogs in a wheel, and get angry. I’m a Nurse Therapist with long experience and I promise you they get angry! And without civil inhibitions, they will act it out, especially when both parents are worokingday and night just to keep a roof overhead and meals on the table. Who is the authority to correct the misbehaviour, to help the child see that we are all tiny specks in the universe and that’s OK. It’s hard to grow up balnaced in today’s society. The pressures and sstrains – especially in a large metropolitan area – are daunting and the acting out will be commensurate. Get rid of hand guns, or at least have them locked up in the shooting gallergy locker where a cop has to sign them out and in at target practice. That’s where my sister’s Magnum is. We had rifles from age 12, but had to be able to quote the 10 safety rules any time someone asked. Mom could stick her head into our room at night as we were falling asleep and demand “Number three!” Grandpa could interupt our hopscotch game with “Tell me Number eight!’. And if you couldn’t, the gun went away for months. We learned marksman(woman)ship and respect for the weapon’s (ugliest) potentials at the same time. That’s not possible in today’s society. And mental health issues are getting worse with out frequent crises, overpopulation and the frustrations of tougher living conditions. Get the handguns and assault rifles off the streets, stop their sale and we may stop some of hte murder. Australia has 20 million people total. That’s less than live in NY, NJ and Connecticut comobined. I dearly olved Australia and loved doing my doctoral work there, but they are a far different society. However, they have the right idea. We are a nation based on individual liberty and the right to bear arms. The Second Amendmentwas written before we had a standing army. If the British came over the hill, the local militia had no time to gather arms…each member had to have his own immediately to hand. Guns, hunting dinner in the early days of the colonies, self-defense against hositle troops in wartime all are well-intrenched traditions in the USA. They will not go away, but MUST be modified. We are a different nation thatn we were in 1776, and we will not be going back there, no matter how much some folks might wish it. Spike lee’s wonderfu movie “Do the right thing” is a message to us all. I hope we can. Brenda, I hope you keep greens, candles, holly… It’s OK to celebrate this season of Light out of Darkness. We lit our menorah last week, light our Christmas tree now, and tomorrow will celebrate the Solstice. We need to keep and remember Light especially now. Do remember and celebrate a bit.
And apologies for the typos. I’ve been working all day and getting final exam grades up on nursing students and my arthritis in both hands is making it hard to type tonight as the cold weather moves into Long Island.
I’m a dual citizen (American-Canadian) and just want to say I really enjoy your posts and your blog, and I admire your honesty. I don’t want to add to the arguments that have arisen in your comments section. Just want to say don’t stop blogging, ignore the nasty comments, some people are just looking for an outlet for their anger. Don’t take it personally. I hope you continue to be a deep thinker and to express yourself. It is the thinkers who make positive changes to improve our Countries, and it is unfortunate when people are too narrow-minded to consider other points of view. Keep up your valuable work.
The mother of this shooter made a very bad, and sad, choice of having guns in her home due to her ill son. To take him to a shooting range was obviously another horribly bad choice. This is a situation that could have been quite possibly avoided if guns had not been in his home. However, as with other tragic occurances, we can’t make long-standing decisions and changes without carefully thinking through situations. We can’t make them on one bad chocie one mother made. It can make us look at our freedoms and our laws, and make adjustments that are fair to everyone, while doing the best things that protect our children and loved ones.
As far as not being proud to be an American, I am saddened to read that statement. My children may do something I am not proud of; something that may need to be changed in their behavior or choices in life. But, I will always love them. And, the same goes for my country. There may need to be new decisions; changes made in our laws; changes in our individual choices. But, I will always be proud to be American; always love my country; always willing to defend it and the freedoms it allows us to have. The bloggers from other countries are making biased comments based on what the media has given them. However, they do not have the experience of living here and having many of the freedoms we have. Should we go to their countries, we would perhaps conceive things that should be changed differently than they would as a citizen in their country, and very well likely miss many, many things that are afforded us by living in this wonderful country. It’s very easy to make snap judgements; but, harder to right things once you make changes based on those snap judgements. And, instead of being sad to be an American, be proud that ARE and that you have the freedom to add your vote to make changes that will help better this great land.
Let me preface by stating that I am not currently a gun owner.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion on gun controls. But, we should remember as we form your opinions and arguments that the 2nd amendment (and the 1st and others for that matter) is about a citizen’s right to protection FROM GOVERNMENT.
The right to bear arms is about being able to protect ourselves from a tyrannical government. When the Constitution was written it would have been assumed that one was “allowed” to protect oneself from wild animals or criminals. What is so special about the amendment and our other founding philosophies is the protection of rights of the individual FROM GOVERNMENT.
Remember that all of our rights established in our Constitution overlap and weave a tapestry of protections.
We can argue specific controls, etc., but we should be careful to start with the correct premise.
Having my morning coffee without Brenda’s comments and inspiration would make for
a very lonely morning. You and Claudia always speak to my heart. Brenda, please
keep writing to us!
I have been busy w/Christmas things, so I did not read these comments until now. Since everyone is giving their opinions, here are mine:
Americans have a right to have guns and bullets to protect themselves.
My heart is broken over the deaths in the recent school shootings.
I am concerned that so many Americans think babies are not being killed when they are aborted.
We need more mental help for those who need it.
We should all practice kindness everyday.
Brenda, I know you value your country and I understand your sadness. Do not worry about the comments. Most readers know your heart. People are just having their say, too. It is O.K.
I feel bad that you have felt personally attacked for voicing your opinion. We are all welcome to express our thoughts. I just read The Prayer of St. Francis on Pioneer Woman’s blog. Lovely thoughtful words for all of us to keep in mind. Compassion friends! Love and concern towards one another……
I live in Newtown and have children here. We all here went though an extreemly terifying day last Friday that ended with all of us in complete shock. It was hard to know how to feel when you are so greatfull to hold your children and know they are safe, but then know friends you know won’t get that relief. I hear how people can’t watch the tv anymore which I complely understand, but for us right now the news is our town. It has been very hard here for all. My daughter lost a friend, and friends we know lost their daughter. I cry everyday and do my best to be strong for my children. After not knowing how I felt about anything, I can say that I am proud to be an American and to live in Newtown CT. The support I see coming from the wonderfull teachers and school staff here is just amazing. The support from the police and councelers from everywhere has been amazing and so comforting. The support from people from all over the world has also been so wonderfull and comforting to me. There has been so much love. I heard how this was going to make us stronger and a few days ago could’t figure out how that could be, but today I’m seeing our community slowly becoming one and little by little it is becoming stronger. The unity between all the children and teachers is also growing day by day. We are all helping eachother. I didn’t think Christmas would be very possible either, but the past two days a little at a time I’m starting to try to get back to putting a loving Christmas togeather for my children and family. It’s so needed. There are still threats going on everyday over here, but through it everyone is coming togeather to stand strong. Just thought I would share my thoughts. There’s always going to be something evil somewhere, never in a million years thought it would happen here, but there is also so much good and love around too.
@erica. May God bless you and your family.
Dear Brenda-
I don’t agree entirely with everything you wrote but I am proud that you, in America, have the right to voice and to defend your beliefs. I am distressed only by your comment that you are not proud to be an American. Perhaps if you had grown up knowing that your father had been made to kneel in an American military uniform while savagely beaten by an aggressor who meant to destroy the world as we know it you would cherish your citizenship. Perhaps if you had watched the big brother you never got to know don that uniform and never return from another conflict you would thank God every day of your life for your people, a people willing to struggle to preserve and protect those who would fall prey to tyrants. Perhaps if you thought about the American farmer who feeds the world, the American civilian volunteer around the world whose numbers outpace those of any other nation, the American working man who provides for the education of any child willing to learn and the ordinary Americans who join hands to perform extraordinary deads when faced with disaster or tragedy or need – perhaps if you thought about those things and those people who are our nation you would regret those words. I am an American and I will defend your right to speak your mind, even when I believe you have allowed emotion to overcome reason and right. I am an American and I am proud.
I’m sorry, I’ve read your blog for about a year. I have never left a comment on anything before, but I can’t read anymore. I don’t know you..I am just someone looking in from the outside. It is time for you to open the blinds, open the windows, open the door and get on with it…I am not judging anyone..but I lost a husband at an early age..I picked myself up got a job and he would have been proud…I hate when people say they are ashamed of America..with all of our faults we are the best country in the world, granded we have become lazy, selfish, and have a gimme state of mind…..Our freedom was not free it was paid for in blood…What happened to those poor angles is beyond horrible..but that sick young man also had handguns..You have the right to your opion and I have the right to not read anymore…I wish you all the best..
I’m sorry, I’ve read your blog for about a year. I have never left a comment on anything before, but I can’t read anymore. I don’t know you..I am just someone looking in from the outside. It is time for you to open the blinds, open the windows, open the door and get on with it…I am not judging anyone..but I lost a husband at an early age..I picked myself up got a job and he would have been proud…I hate when people say they are ashamed of America..with all of our faults we are the best country in the world, granded we have become lazy, selfish, and have a gimme state of mind…..Our freedom was not free it was paid for in blood…What happened to those poor angles is beyond horrible..but that sick young man also had handguns..You have the right to your opion and I have the right to not read anymore…I wish you all the best..
Brenda,
Well, I guess I will put my two cents into the mix..
I grew up in a gun free house even though most men in my area are hunters. The first day of deer hunting here is vurtually considered a Holiday and the schools are off from school and employees give vacation time for that first week of deer hunting! My father was a WWII Vet and swore that after the war, he would never handle a gun again. He was also dead set against hunting because he said he never understood how someone could kill defenseless animals for sport. It is mainly for sport because no one here is going to starve if they don’t “get a deer” and have it butchered for the meat.
I grew up with this belief even though I was surrounded by hunters in our neighborhood and schools. I would not date a boy who hunted so therefore, my husband never hunted. He would not be my husband if he did since we never would have even dated. My FIL was a marine in the Korean War and he has a purple heart for being wounded. He never has had guns in the house and does not own a gun either….
I am for banning assault rifles. I feel that there is No One in this world that needs an assault rifle other than Police and military.
When my sons were young, they were not allowed to visit friends homes where I knew that their fathers had guns in the house. NO matter what, children and guns do NOT mix in my book. Most of the kids came to our house because I felt I could provide a much safer environment.
And truthfully, I do feel that America has become a gun toting nation. Look at just the sales of guns on Black Friday. Unbeleivable! I think we, as Americans, should be ashamed of ourselves for this Right to Arms mentality.
And as for the NRA saying that you need to stop a Bad Guy with a gun with a Good Guy with a Gun…. What???? More guns… Are they crazy?????
Hugs,
Deb
Brenda,
One more thing… Your post definitely inspired conversation on this matter. You DO have the right to voice your opinion on YOUR blog. There is not always going to be people who agree with you and that is their right!
BUT I see many have used this forum as grounds to personally attack other people for their beleifs, no matter what they are.. This is NOT right.
Everyone is welcome to their own opinion and everyone has the right to voice it. But that is where the conversation should end. And not continue on as a forum of personal attacks.
I voiced my opinion and now I will let this drop…. I have better things to do…
Like get ready for Christmas because I am celebrating Christmas because I feel that by doing so, I am celebrating Life in all it’s beauty…
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BRENDA!!