![praying_hands[1]](https://i0.wp.com/jonathanturley.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/praying_hands1.jpg?resize=125%2C150)
The murder of 20 children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary has spawned an array of commentary from calls for new gun controls to greater funding for mental illness in the United States. However, Fox commentator and former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said that the shooting was not surprising after the removal of prayer from public schools. Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Republican from Texas, did one better, he wished God ensured that Principal says Dawn Hochsprung had an M-4 assault rifle at the school before she was killed.
Gohmert told Fox News “I wish to God she had an M-4 in her office locked up so when she heard gunfire she pulls it out and she didn’t have to lunge heroically with nothing in her hands but she takes him out, takes his head off before he can kill those precious kids.” Wouldn’t it be a bit more direct to pray that God had stopped Lanza from going to the school or that he was institutionalized before his mass murder?
If school teachers are now to be armed, wouldn’t the teachers have to carry around their assault rifles at all time since they would not know when an attack would occur? Indeed, given the low likelihood of such an attack, should they also be equipped with ebola-medical kits, rabies treatment packs, floatation devices, and other equipment for more likely threats. The average soldier, after all, carries as much as 135 pounds depending on their unit. Should our teachers carry less to protect our children?
As for prayer, is that what caused Lanza (with a history of mental illness) to kill? Lack of school prayer. His first murder was at home. After shooting his mother in the face, would Lanza have hesitated at the schoolhouse gate because he recalled morning prayers in civics class? By the way, those terrorists we read about daily do a lot of praying. It does not seem to have the same impact on them.
Putting aside the desire to try a tragedy to a favorite cause, there is often a search for meaning in tragedies. The most frightening thought is that such a terrible loss would not have meaning. It was an unspeakable crime committed by an unstable person. We are all emotionally shredded by this tragedy. However, we know that this is likely to happen again. Even with gun controls, people will still have guns, which are constitutionally protected. Some will have multiple guns. We do not have to shrug and do nothing. There is a need to better deal with mental illness in this country. It was not that long ago that another unstable young man committed a massacre at Virginia Tech. However, as with gun controls, it is not clear that much would have changed in this case. Lanza’s mother decided to keep him at home and tried to deal with his instability on her own. If a parent keeps a child at home and addresses such problems privately, it is doubtful that new programs would have had any impact.
Nevertheless, I would prefer to discuss expanded mental health programs over assault weapons in schools as a starting point of any reforms.
Source: Hill
FWIW, I haven’t spoken to concealed carry.
I think it was a bad idea from the get go. Open carry or leave the thing at home, in your car, etc. Concealed weapons are a recipe for trouble. The best way to avoid trouble is not to be there when it starts.
But Gene H, if we wait for a time when the violence cools down some so we can talk about these things, they’re just plain off the table. We’re not gonna become a less violent society any time soon, that’s my guess. In fact, as forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz has pointed out, the kind of coverage this mass shooting has received is just the kind of coverage that lays the groundwork for more of these kinds of incidents (May I be wrong about that).
raff,
Glad you made it home safely.
And if you reread what I’ve been saying, I haven’t once suggested the time to cut is not now. I’m just urging rational tool use to continue the metaphor. Safety first. Especially when cutting on rights and the Constitution.
No, it didn’t stop carjacking, Bruce,
Do a google search on “florida carjackings 2012.”
I’m glad no one else was packing heat in the Aurora theater. There would be even more people dead. That’s if the second shooter had the presence of mind to return fire.
Bron,
How did this genius shooter decide not to attack a “concealed carry theater,” when he was very likely to be killed by police, later? If he was worried about being shot, himself, he wouldn’t do the crime at all, right?
“Concealed carry” as a deterrent to slaughter is a right-wing fantasy. The characters played by John Wayne were fictional. When guns go off, everyone freezes.
Bob K.,
Have I been saying not to talk about it? To wait?
No.
I explicitly said the time for calm reasoned discussion and analysis is always now. And it’s always now no matter what the subject matter might be. Some quarters inability to maintain calm reasoned discussion – on both sides – is impeding making faster progress. I’ve been cautioning against rashness and emotionalism in analysis and decision making.
Don’t confuse the two. They are not equivalent.
The fact that some reasonable proposals are already being floated in Congress though is a good sign calm reasoned discussion might happen sooner rather than later. The “let’s not talk about it” tactic of the far right is not having the same effect as it has previously. That should be a step in the direction of soothing your impatience.
They dont shoot because GUN SHOWS demand there be ZERO bullets in the GUN. How could they shoot there with NO BULLETS.
In fact, i am appalled, them trying to restrict my gun, my precious gun, from her bullets. They are just like babies to her, she carries them inside. she will lose her shine, her handle, her lazer may go dim if I cant have my bullets at the gun show. 2nd Amendment right!!! I demand now at every gun show in America! Bullets have rights too!!!!
In Florida one can carry a loaded gun in thier car. It stopped carjacking cold.
Bruce:
did you know there were 6 or 7 other theaters in the area which permitted concealed carry? That nut chose that theater for a reason.
shano:
the school was a gun free zone.
the reason people dont shoot people at gun shows is because they have little chance of doing harm and a good chance of getting shot.
If you were in the theater in Aurora Colorado at the time of the shooting would you rather have a gun to stop this nut from shooting more people or would you rather be trying to hide between the seats to keep from getting killed? your choice
Wonder why they have never had a mass shooting at a gun show, where you can find over a thousand loaded guns at one time.”
You know why?
Because you AREN’T ALLOWED TO BRING LOADED GUNS TO A GUN SHOW!
how many people have died upholding our Constitution?
We should certainly wait to eliminate guns designed for mass murder, until we’ve all become less emotional about it.
By that time, there’ll be another mass slaughter to become emotional about.
See a pattern here?
I believe the original saying was “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Waiting will certainly deny justice to the next set of victims.
There’s another saying, “Strike while the iron is hot.”
Gene,
I am late to this discussion, but I agree with your grandfather to measure twice and it once. However, we have measured over 30 times since Columbine, so it is the right time to cut now.
It s good to be home with wi-fi!
Peace, indeed.
(as a woodworker, as you doze off, I find myself measuring 3, 4, 5 times . . . that’s my discipline to counter impatience, at least in that area.)
Oh, I have ways to achieve those goals, but I don’t think I’m interested in letting you further derail the conversation here, id707. However, my reply to you stands. Worry about your own solutions and I’ll worry about mine.
DonS,
Thanks for the reminding me of the need of patient formulation over the need for brevity and speed. I should have said: ca “I note you don’t feel that I was snarky, and hope you will read my latest reply to GeneH.”
The latter request applies again.
I said that I was going to bed, but a reply from GeneH, requires answering now, because tomorrow no one will read my eventual reply to him.
The charm of Sweden (one) is the summer time long days that last until midnight, and start at one AM. Now and until February it is black from 3 PM until 9 AM.
And then no one gets shot here.
But it is a very good blog here.
Glad you are here.
Now I AM going to bed!
Peace.
GeneH,
“However, in changing laws – especially those relating to fundamental rights – there is an adage in the realm of criminal defense that applies to the realm of legal construction as well. Justice delayed is justice. Or as my grandfather often said, “Measure twice, cut once.””
I would be inclined to agree but I am not a surgeon, who must use the scalpel or let the patient die.
I would not support a constituitional amendment, primarily because the constitution has not protected us from Patriot Acts and its acceptance by Congress only two hours after it was released for viewing.
It has not protected us from Obama’s NDAA. It has not protected us from Sct decisions, such as in Gore vs G, Bush in Fla. Nor their institution of corporate rights equal to persons.
I see the solution must come from the people, who have been fed skit and have given up their rights, for a meal of the pablum we get via cable.
They grab us at birth and the process begins then. As many have proven-
So, let’s not hurl accusations of snarkiness. We need civility, as you reminded me (a good lesson). So put your gun down, please.
id7070, I didn’t say you were, just that that’s what I thought Gene was saying which, it appears is accurate! Weren’t you going to bed? Can’t say I’m not envious of you bedding down in Sweden, though it probably get’s dark around, we’ll I don’t know, pretty damn early.
DonS,
I was not snarky. Don’t use that anymore. See my reply to GeneH.