The horrifying
event in Connecticut has totally consumed my day. I have strong feelings of
sadness and anger; not sure which one is to the fore. I see the usual comments
on Facebook about Americans’ having a Constitutional given right to bear arms.
They also have to endure massacre after massacre of their young people and
those who try to protect them.
The world
has to watch along with the USA because most news networks are either based in
the USA or have strong links to them. As tragic and mind numbing as these
killings are, we should not forget the needless deaths in other countries, that
occur through war, corruption, pollution and natural (and not so natural) disasters.
Americans
will witness more and more of these events because their society (and that of many
other countries, including NZ---it is a matter of scale) has evolved in a way
that makes them possible. How many can be blamed on the Constitution is open to
debate, but huge questions must be asked about how America sees guns.
For those
who say that ‘mentally disturbed people need help and that such massacres will
occur anyway,’ should think a little more outside their narrow reckonings. Surely
if knives or other weapons were used, the killers could be stopped by the sheer
force of the adults who are there to look after the (our) kids.
Yes, resources
need to go into the management of individuals with mental health issues and we
all know that such resources are incredibly hard to extract money from the tax
paying public.
USA---we mourn
for your dead, but please take a big hard long look at where things have
progressed, simply because you feel that it is your inalienable right to bear
arms.
I need to take a break from the TV and escort Perdy (my Jack Russell) to the Bay for her swim in the water (or mud if the tides out!).
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