Sunday, December 16, 2012

In the wake of tragedy…where do we go from here?


I can safely assume that many people across the nation have one thing on their mind: the Connecticut shootings at Sandy Hook elementary.  Over the past many years, we have seen our fair share of mass shootings, but this particular one hits a little too close to home for many.  The shooter (I refuse to utter his name, for the media glorifies killers too often) targeted children…children.  This unthinkable tragedy is so difficult to articulate; there are no words to express how this tragedy affects us all.  When I first heard of this, I was shocked, appalled and disgusted.  11 days until Christmas, a joyous and highly anticipated holiday for many children, a sick individual takes the lives of children and adults without remorse.  Innocence has been taken, not just the children who lost their lives but also those who were witnesses to this event.  They will never recover from this day; their lives are forever changed. 
When tragedies like this occur, we quickly turn from shock to sorrow and finally, to anger.  We so easily want to point a finger at who to blame: the mother of the shooter for having the guns and taking her son out to practice, the media for glorifying killers, the doctors for not always accurately diagnosing mental illness, the violent video games that children are exposed to, the NRA?  We so badly want to blame someone, because that is how many of us are able to cope with a tragedy of this magnitude.  I have chosen not to blame one thing, but to question our society and how is it possible something like this can happen. 
I am not fond of guns, in fact I hate them; I do however understand the need for some people to feel protected by having a gun in their home.  But in this particular case, should parents allow their children access to guns even though they train them on how to shoot?  Did the mother know that her son had a mental illness, one that would lead him to take her guns and execute a mass shooting?  These questions stir an already ongoing debate about guns in the home and a child’s access to them.  Another question bothers me: did the mother know her son had a mental illness, and if so, why would she teach him how to shoot?  There are so many questions that unfortunately will remain unanswered. 
The question that we need to now focus on is how do we prevent this from happening again.  Repealing the second amendment, in my opinion, is nearly impossible.  America is a gun-loving country, in which the second amendment is highly praised.  The NRA is one of the biggest organizations, and going up against them would be a long, arduous fight that will never reach any sort of conclusion.  I think that discussing gun control is not really the issue in this case, for I believe that the real issue is mental illness.  How do we learn the warning signs of mental illness?  How do we distinguish mental illness from a quirky, eccentric personality?  How do we treat mental illness?  Is medication really the answer for treatment or should parents spend money on therapy?  What do we do to help those that are suffering from a mental illness?  What if parents don’t have the means to financially support the costs it would take to treat mental illness?  What then?  I think these are the questions that we must now address.  We need to put political party affiliations aside and come together to find preventative measures that will effectively work to protect innocent people.  Now, I know that violence and crime will continue, but we are now in a time where action must begin.  We cannot sit by and allow tragedies like this to continue.
Having said that, in order to begin change, the right questions must be addressed.  Fighting amongst each other on issues of gun control will not help our situation.  We must get to the core of what is wrong with our society and begin rebuilding a better society in which our children do not fear attending school, or theaters, or malls or any other public place.  I believe we are not completely free, because our freedom has been caged in fear. So many of us are so fearful of stepping out of our homes.  We take a risk each and every time we leave our homes, but should our fears be so heightened that even going to school—a place that should feel safe for students—cause panic and anxiety for students and parents?
This tragedy has shaken this country and others.  We cannot describe the horror of what unfolded at Sandy Hook.  And as if this horrific crime couldn’t be worse, one of the most hated groups in America--the Westboro Church--will be picketing the school and the funerals of the victims.  Luckily, there is a light at the end of this very dark, grim tunnel—many people have decided to come together to create a human shield of love against the Westboro Church.  For more information regarding this, you may visit their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/450301351697761/.  This page also offers an address in which people can send donations and letters of support for the families that lost a loved one. 
In the wake of this tragedy, I think it is clear that evil does exist and that we must, at this time, put our differences behind us and find a way to prevent these tragedies.  As the days go by and we begin to reflect on this tragedy, how do you think we should approach preventative measures?  Is there any hope that we can eventually stop mass shootings and maybe alleviate some of the fears that now plague us?  Should we attack the NRA and demand stricter policies?  Should people be psychologically evaluated before purchasing a gun?  So many questions will continue to be discussed, I can only hope that for once, we will take action and finally do something. 
Faithfully,
Cristina

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