At 9:30 a.m., many joined together in a moment of silence in tribute to victims of the Newtown, CT shooting. Over the past week, I’ve collected a series of tweets, quotes and my own commentary on the tragic shooting and the gun control debate that has ensued:
One week ago today, as @KattWillliams tweeted: "18 kids went to school this morning probably happy it's Friday and excited for Christmas and they didn't even make it to lunch. smh."
The shooting in Newtown hit me hard. I have a soft spot in my heart for children. Christmas is one of my favorite celebrations of the year. Hearing about the shooting in Newtown, ripped in a new place my already fragile heart still healing from additional less than pleasant realities.
Thankfully, I learned of the news while in an unintentionally created bubble (which has served as a positive protective layer and negativity buffer over the past few days). Still, although not personally connected to Newtown, I progressed through some version of the stages of grief (i.e. denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance). [SIDE NOTE: I couldn't believe God would let something like this happen to children so close to the celebration of His son's birth (and then I remembered John 3:16 and the sacrifice God made of His son so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life).That perspective shift gave me peace and moved me closer to acceptance.]
I was irked by how quickly the shooting was politicized. The total number of human lives lost hadn't even been confirmed before politicians & policy wonks began calling for stricter gun control laws. Now, do NOT misunderstand me: I support the concept of stricter gun control laws. BUT, the world is fooling itself it if believes that is the magic bullet.
Reducing the likelihood that another Newtown doesn't happen again will take a multi-faceted approach. Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) made a great point on Twitter when he discussed how the debate should be framed: “[i]t is not enough to talk about access to guns. We also have to address a popular culture that treats graphic violence as routine.” President Obama agrees: "[i]t's a complex problem that requires more than one solution," White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday. "It calls for not only re-examining our gun laws and how well we enforce them, but also for engaging mental health professionals, law enforcement officials, educators, parents and communities to find those solutions."
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) made a good point on CBS's Face the Nation regarding how our severely partisan politicians should think about gun control laws: "[w]e need a new paradigm because both sides are in the corner and they could come to the middle. Those of who are pro-gun control have to admit that there is a Second Amendment right to bear arms... once we establish that there is a constitutional right to bear arms we should have the right admit, and maybe they'll be more willing to admit, that no amendment is absolute after all."
Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) astutely inquired semi-rhetorically on Twitter on the constitutional right to bear arms: "Am I wrong that it's genuinely unclear whether an assault weapons ban would pass constitutional muster post Heller?"
[SIDE NOTE: This tweet caught my eye because BUT FOR Professor Dawson’s Con Law class this past semester, I wouldn’t even know what DC v. Heller was and why this case is significant to the gun control debate. In case you are not familiar with Heller, here is a brief synopsis:
I have a new appreciation for the law-making process and judicial review of legislative actions after taking Con Law this semester. I am so thankful for the opportunity to learn about the law and pray that I can do my part to help my community with the unique skillset I am developing.]
Gun control debate aside, as funerals for the 26 slain occur and Christmas draws near, I support Iyanla Vanzant (@IyanlaVanzant) suggestion: “…pray for someone you DON'T like or have treated poorly; pray for a child who is hurting; then pray for yourself to be and do better.”
For anyone suffering a loss this season, remember:
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
***POST PUBLISHING
UPDATE***
It is hard to put in
words the bizarre and sickening spectacle that was the NRA presser at 11a. But
some did try:
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The moral obtuseness
on display here is jaw-dropping.
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This NRA presser is
not train wreck. It's an asteroid impact. Media profs will be teaching it for
years as epic 'how not to' do crisis comms
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I'm literally
waiting for someone to yell "JUST KIDDING" & for the real @NRA presser to begin. I refuse to
believe this is their real plan. |
LaPierre's apparent
lack of compassion came off as cold-hearted as he articulated the NRA's
[RIDICULOUS] plan:
STEP 1:
Enter an alternative reality
I'm quite sure these words
were uttered in front of a mirror as an affirmation:
[SIDE NOTE: Also, up is down; right is left; and pigs can fly.]
STEP 2:
Blame the media/entertainment/society
[SIDE NOTE: Although I agree with this plank of the
plan, I am OUTRAGED the NRA didn't discuss how their policy positions play a
roll in gun-related tragedies NOR the issue of assault weapons control!!!!!]
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Lapierre is right on
culture; fundamentally dishonest in raising it. We need 2 act on all: weapons
of war; violent culture. Mental health.
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STEP 3:
Blame the government
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NRA: We leave kids
utterly defenseless. And the monsters and predators of the world know it.
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RT @LukeRussert: Wow. LaPierre says
that "Gun Free Signs" at schools tell killers that schools are easy
targets. |
STEP 4:
Articulate that having more guns is the solution
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"The only thing
that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." -- Wayne
LaPierre
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Good guys w/ guns vs
bad guys w/ guns is, ironically, the moral cosmology of a small child.
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Lapierre's
suggestion that more guns is the appropriate response is disgustingly
misguided.
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LaPierre: It's all
about the children. We need more guns for the children. We need assault
weapons & hi-capacity clips for the children.
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STEP 5: Ask
for congressional appropriations for armed guards
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NRA: Calls on
Congress to appropriate $$$ to put armed police officers in every school in
nation after the holidays.
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[SIDE NOTE: This seems like a big government action
to me. I thought conservatives were against big government.]
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There are 98,817
public schools in America. NRA saying today they should all be protected by
armed guards.
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Former Rep. Asa
Hutchinson will lead @NRA's push for
more armed security in schools. |
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LaPierre says NRA
has 11,000 police training instructors ready to help train security personnel
for school security nationwide.
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STEP 6:
Create a database of the mentally ill
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NRA: Calls for a
national database of the criminally mentally ill.
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[SIDE NOTE: AGAIN, this seems like a big government
action to me. I thought conservatives were against big government.]
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So tracking private
gun sales is an unconscionable assault on liberty but we can have a national
database of the mentally ill.
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STEP 7:
REFUSE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS (even AFTER you were heckled twice)!!!!
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BOLD!!! “ @TheFix: Guy holding up an "NRA
killing our kids" sign in front of cameras.” |
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Another protester
with sign. "NRA has blood on its hands."
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SHAME!!! “ @CapehartJ: LaPierre asked for his
reaction to the protests. He ignores and keeps going” |
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It's amazing how
much damage LaPierre is doing to the NRA without even allowing questions.
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A week after the
Newton tragedy, LaPierre is still a coward unwilling to face tough questions.
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Mr. LaPierre, we
will tax gun sales to pay for these police officers? Oh, I forgot again,
you're not taking questions. #Newtown |
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LaPierre, so why do
we need semiautomatic weapons with high-capacity clips? Oh, I forgot, you're
not taking questions. #Newtown |
