Criminal law, Politics, Society

Send God, Guns, and Money: Sandy Hook Shooting Becomes Rallying Point For Political Advocates

praying_hands[1]300px-M4-TransparentThe 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

310 thoughts on “Send God, Guns, and Money: Sandy Hook Shooting Becomes Rallying Point For Political Advocates”

  2. We need a law that prevents any teacher with a son named Adam from buying a firearm or ammunition. I would add Justin, Jason, Jared and Josh to that name ban. If teachers are outlawed only outlaws will have teachers.

  3. Mike –

    I take Heinlein’s statement to an absurd level. It’s like, “Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.” Or, think of the golden rule, if you pack heat, b/c the other guy/gal might be packing also.

    Yeah, I may have overshot ironic to moronic with the rate of fire issue. But being the astute observer of the human condition that you are (truly), you know that any discussion on rate of fire will have both sides arguing just how much is too much…

    “I know enough about hunting to that if you only wound an animal with your first shot, you would want another one or two to finish the job humanely. If you need more shots than that for a kill when hunting, I would advise turning to fly-fishing.” I most certainly agree. And when I caught my first trout, it amortized out to about $650/pound, based on equipment, and other related expenses. Piscene ba$tard…

    Re: Taxes – The BATFE already has a schedule for taxing weapons such as sawed-off shotguns (legal to possess as collector items) and other weapons. Maybe just enough for owners to do a cost benefits analysis upon purchase (have gun sellers post tax rates, like appliance sales show energy cost-benefits – and while we’re at it, get 5 years’ taxes in advance from point of sale. They report the purchase to BATFE, so they can send a check with it.)

    In the same vein as Heinlein, I like Wagner…

    Thanks for your feedback, always a pleasure to know I’m not the biggest “idjit” in any group I travel… “I’M NOT #!, I’M NOT #1!…” 😀 (Although I’ve been called a big “#2” more times than I care to recall.) 😉

    1. junctionshamus,

      Far from being an “idjit” you are one of the newer regulars here whose comments I look forward to. There are too many other who have come on board this past year for me to thank you all without my poor memory hurting someone through thoughtless omission. The only trout fishing I’ve ever done was one afternoon about 52 years ago and I still cherish the memory of the waders, the stream, the woods and the peacefulness. There are some pastimes/sports that I appreciate even though I don’t participate.

      “Or, think of the golden rule, if you pack heat, b/c the other guy/gal might be packing also.”

      this is very true and tangentially very pertinent to the discussion. I really get the fact that people can enjoy guns, rifles, target shooting and hunting, because I can see the pleasure to be derived. however, I think there are many who are into guns because they’ve bought into the “Cowboy Myth”, or because it makes them think they’re tough. One thing I discovered in my youth when I had many fistfights in school, was no matter how tough someone might feel they are there is always someone tougher. Many gun enthusiasts today don’t get that, sometimes in a tragic way. Unless you are committed to having loaded guns placed all around your house, or on your person, it is always possible to be overwhelmed by someone catching you empty handed. In the alternative, if you want to lead a life constantly packing, you’re not leading a worthwhile life.

  4. What Justice Holmes said.

    And what MikeS said in his first comment today.

    A psychologist said when completing a day of interviewing psychologist job seekers, that most of them were sicker than his patients. This was in 1963, maybe better now.

  5. “As noted above, writer Harlan Ellison reportedly thought the Shaver Mystery was nonsense.”

    I did notice this from the Wiki article and I think they are wrong based on my hearing Ellison that night. He wasn’t being tongue in cheek as far as I could tell. They are also wrong about the 500 Apartment building in the US that provided these monsters from below entree. It was two apartment buildings, one in NYC and one in Detroit. you pressed the basement button on the elevator. It took you to the basement. Then you pressed the button twice more and then it took you on a separate track that took you to the cavernous world below the Earth. My teenage years were spent during the “Flying Saucer” mania ad ruefully it had a great influence on me.

  7. “Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) warned against a “knee-jerk” reaction from the federal government on gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting, and expressed support for allowing teachers to carry guns on campus.

    Speaking at a Tea Party event in North Richland Hills, Texas, on Monday night, Perry reflected on the Connecticut elementary school massacre that left 20 first-graders dead, calling it “evil,” according to NBC 5.

    Perry expressed his continued support for gun rights, according to the Dallas Morning News, saying he believed people with concealed-handgun licenses “should be able to carry your handgun anywhere in this state,” and elicited applause when he spoke positively about a Texas school system that allows some staff members to come to school armed.” Glad that I will be the leaving this state this year, Blouise.

  8. “Heinlein and Harlan Ellison were on the same track mentally, though Ellison a bit more delusional.”

    Whoa there, pardner! Ellison can be a cantankerous prima donna pain in the ass, but delusional is going a bit far. He’s also one of the best story story writers ever. In addition, Heinlein – as much as I adore his writing – was practically a fascist. Ellison is anything but a fascist. More of an iconoclastic hedonist with a penchant for pissing people off. :mrgreen:

    1. “Whoa there, pardner! Ellison can be a cantankerous prima donna pain in the ass, but delusional is going a bit far.”

      Gene,

      I wasn’t comparing the politics of Heinlein and Ellison, but their craziness. In my opinion Heinlein was a Fascist, but I love his writing. Now as far as my proof about Ellison being more delusional do you know that he moved from YC to LA because he thought his NYC Apartment building was one of the two staging areas for the invasion of the Deros and Teros. I heard him talk about for three hours on the Long John Nebel all night radio show in NYC in the late 50’s. Also show regulars Pohl and Del Rey, who were friends of his, often made fun of Ellison’s delusions and paranoia. Since I’m a bit older than you I presume you haven’t heard of Deros and Teros. Check them out below:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Sharpe_Shaver 🙂

  9. Please Correct me if I’m Wrong….
    I have Not the Time to read All of Todays Posts, But….
    From memory…
    does “TEXAS” endure such faiths?…
    All Citizens (To my Knowledge) of “TEXAS” can Carry Hand Guns, and because of that, there is of No Such (or Little) Happenings!
    * If Everyone had the Right to Bear Arms… Would Not the SICK MINDED Individuals, Think TWICE, THREE, FOUR (or More)Times before Committing such Hanis Acts ???

  11. http://www.balloon-juice.com/2012/12/17/megan-mcardle-suggests-we-train-children-to-act-as-human-body-shields-seriously/ I think training 5 year olds to rush gunmen is hideous. Why not act on some sensible laws and regulation. I don’t think we are in danger of over reacting as we have under reacted for thirty years. The NRA provides such a strong headwind that it is nearly impossible to get anything done let alone the enactment of over reaching laws.

  12. My point is that they got it wrong and that the framing of the gun control issue as an absolute Constitutinal right is wrong, absurd and destructive. To hear all the talk about this alleged right you would think there are no others with which it conflicts and to which it should give way, that is the right to life.

    Constitutional scholars have a responsibility to keep up the noise on the issue of the SCOTUS rewrite of the Second Amendment and so should Senator Chuck. No American should accept this fraud and go quietly.

    Gun control now! Support it like your life and liberty depends on it because it does!

  13. On the whole, to judge from polls, support for gun control has diminished in recent years. This can be ascribed to any one of a dozen factors: population control through propaganda, gerrymandering, our resistance to increases in shock from catastrophes, “one is a tragedy, many are statistics”, etc.

    However we can be sure that the political effects of gun lobbying are not small. The politicians, who are OUR first responders, have been bought off.

    A small proof of this is the first black Senator since the 1880s has been appointed to succeed DeMint. He is a proven conservative, since youth, and came in on the wave of TeaBag reps a short while ago.
    What hope have we for the responsiveness of a black TeaBagger on an issue of gun control? Or so many humane issues where support for the people is needed.

    Time moves on, the world does too; but our political system does not respond to anything but money. And to our voices. Time to raise them.

  17. GeneH,

    You make me laugh!
    ==================================

    Gene H.1, December 18, 2012 at 4:04 am

    id707,

    You mistake my not wishing to interact with you for something else.

    So I suggest you remember the warning you were given about starting shit.

    ====================================

    If you want to avoid interacting with me, it is your prerogative to not answer me. But it is not your prerogative to decide what I will address to you or others here.

    Only that the rule of civility, which is up to the Professor to decide, must be observed. Please note that civility is one thing, and respect is another. Respect may be given from one person to another, from Senator to Senator, but to my knowledge you are no more than a Guest Blogger, with no more powers of decision than I have here.

    As for any warnings that you have given about starting shit, that seems to be something that you have expressed—-at least you think so. I don’t recall any such warning. Was it official, ie anchored in the blog rules.
    If not, you may repeat ad nauseam if you wish, but it will be mine to decide if it is worthy of consideration.

  18. “Something needs to be done, these are not normal guns, that people need. These are guns for an arsenal, and you get lunatics like this guy who goes into a school fully armed and protected to take return fire. We live in a town, not in a war,” – Joel T. Faxon [NYT], Newtown resident, hunter and member of Newtown’s police commission, which had been working to restrict assault weapon shooting in the town prior to the tragedy.

    1. .shano:Lunatics don’t save their soul. That is what is not taught. Don’t teach people to do that loving whoever as themselves will result in what we see. The loser is not who you think. The killer is the loser.

  19. id707,

    You mistake my not wishing to interact with you for something else.

    So I suggest you remember the warning you were given about starting shit.

  20. “Don’t want to politicize this. It is a human problem, should be treated as such, and should come onto the books with a law and an agency strong as the IRS,…” idealist

    Yes, this is interesting. If we had a system with regular testing and education and continuing education and evaluation it may work well. I dont know why we cannot have registered gun owners come in from time to time to show us their expertise with guns, gun safety and storage, etc. They seem to like showing off their prowess with guns anyway, it shouldn’t bother them too much to do it for a licensing board.

    hooo boy, here is the Libertarian argument? This is what Meg McArdle comes up with:

    “I’d also like us to encourage people to gang rush shooters, rather than following their instincts to hide; if we drilled it into young people that the correct thing to do is for everyone to instantly run at the guy with the gun, these sorts of mass shootings would be less deadly, because even a guy with a very powerful weapon can be brought down by 8-12 unarmed bodies piling on him at once.”

    You first, Megan, m’kay?

    Interesting to note she cannot see how any legislative action will help but then decides ‘collective’ action is needed!

    1. “hooo boy, here is the Libertarian argument? This is what Meg McArdle comes up with:

      “I’d also like us to encourage people to gang rush shooters, rather than following their instincts to hide; if we drilled it into young people that the correct thing to do is for everyone to instantly run at the guy with the gun, these sorts of mass shootings would be less deadly, because even a guy with a very powerful weapon can be brought down by 8-12 unarmed bodies piling on him at once.”

      Shano,

      I’m not sure she is so wrong, but of course the devil is in the details. I most instances where people are trapped by someone with a gun the overwhelming odds are that the person is going to shoot. Having the gun freezes people and gives all the power to that person. My assumption would be that if someone is threatening people with a gun, they are going to shoot. There are better odds in not standing still and by attempting to rush the person, that it pleading with the person, running the other way or trying to duck down. This of course take courage and a certainty of bad injury, or death if one doesn’t act. Yet even though counter intuitive would be the best possible action. ow the one time I had a gun pointed at me I was alone and the person pointing the gun was in a gang down a long subway stairs, I backed off ad let them continue the mugging that I would have rushed to prevent.

      I’ve often played.scenarios in my head and have come to the conclusion that by conceding power to a gunman threatening me I have exponentially increased the odds of my being shot and think action is the most hopeful scenario. As an example we often see in crime cases and in movies. If someone with a weapon tries ordering you into a car, you have a better chance of survival resisting, that passively ceding control and obeying. I hope though I ever have to test this theory.

    2. Have people want to save a thing unseen called the soul giving good to get eternal joy people will resist the impulse to do what he did even as Jesus resisted to retaliate against people wanting him dead.

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