As a Newtown resident, parent, and law abiding gun owner…

Vanity ^ | Dec. 15, 2012 | DTogo

[combat_boots]

After Beslan, at least one major urban school district I know of decided that lockdown and terrorism threats were to be handled like so: students were to line up, even high schoolers, and proceed quietly 900 yards from the school. Drills were held. Still are.

I will say, too, that it is really, really strange to see one of those ‘gun free’ signs at various places: schools, government buildings, malls. I blow past them now and don’t give them a second thought. But for the life of me, I have always wondered why people think a sign that effectively says, “because I say so,” is going to stop evil intent. Life doesn’t have ‘Ollie Ollie in free’ zones, except a man’s castle, and then, only mostly.

For decades, we here have lived, many of us, with the confidence of a man of the flying trapeze who has never needed a net. Gun free zones feed that naïve notion. It’s naivete to an extreme. We have no guarantee of safety to assume that gun free zones are places where each person will always be unarmed or unwilling to commit harm. Such assumptions cost lives.

An unfinished fairy tale:
We can live in the fanciful, peaceful, Emerald City of Oz no longer. Banning guns puts us in the Witch’s castle as part of her troops of winkies. S/he’s already set her flying monkey media and ‘organizer’ winkies in motion. Will Oz ‘surrender’ Dorothy and her ruby slippers: our power, self-protection and armor?

[combat_boots]

I see the Kindergarten and First grade classrooms are all in a hallway at that school, with WINDOWS along all the classrooms, according to the building design.

We have learned from the state medical examiner that the children were killed with a ‘long gun.’

Were the windows shot out and the children killed FROM THE OUTSIDE?

[DTogo]

There are a lot of conflicting stories out there I’m not paying much attention to. The bottom line is that “gun free” school zones are a farce to parents who want their children defended and not just huddled into corners with nothing but a locked door between them and an armed maniac.

[Lancey Howard]

That’s a good, gutsy post.
Thanks for posting.

FRegards,
LH

[wardaddy]

You have a minor point...I too played combat and cowboys and indians and rebs and yanks etc

But it lacked the very strong graphics we now have as a steady menu...it was imaginary aside from maybe some gear

in video games and film

I recall when the first Peckinpah flicks came out and there was an uproar over the blood...rather tame and amateur by today's view

and yes..many kids are stuck on video games..no question

it is definitely the culture which includes a loss of God in daily American life

when I grew up most folks went to church weekly..now outside the South it's a small number

just less safety latches for bad stuff....you let God out, guess who walks in?

you're younger I'm just guessing if folks grow up and this is all they know it is normal to them

but no question we have become much much more accustomed to violence as entertainment ...and just more coarse in general

not tougher or more resilient...but more attracted to vicarious pleasure we really lack the stomach for in the real world...it's a paradox...beg the government to take away all risk from life and make us "safer" while we please ourselves pretending to do that which appalls us and strikes fear in our heart.

..it's a symptom of a very sick culture which fails to see just how sick it's become because generational arrogance allows it to always make the claim that the time before was so much worse due to all the bigotry and sexism and whatnot ...that claim excuses anything pretty much

we are going to have to collapse totally to build back

[Travis McGee]

The reset process is going to be hell on earth. Literally.

[DTogo]

Thanks. I wouldn't call it "gutsy," but it needs to be said: there are Conservative parents of school-age kids here in Newtown that will strongly oppose new "(anti-)gun laws" or wasted tax dollars on "feel-good" security measures.

The best defense/security will be teachers and parents willing and able to go on armed offense against Evil at a moment's notice.

[DTogo]

we are going to have to collapse totally to build back

The reset process is going to be hell on earth. Literally.

Yep, "reset" will more likely be a complete "reboot."

[BooBoo1000]

To: Dtogo,
I read your post then reread it.I know it must be hard to espouse your ideas in Newtown, especially after the horrible shootings, but yours is the only post that really makes sense.I wonder what God was doing on that Morning, why does he allow such things to take place. What is he trying to teach, and believe me it is all beyond my comprehension. This leaves us with the only choice is do what you outlined. Protect, and pray. God Bless you, and keep you..... a Life Member of the NRA

[DTogo]

I may find out soon enough how hard those ideas might be to espouse here, but I know there are like-minded friends and other parents (whose children were also in “lock down” Friday) who agree with me. We don’t want our children huddled in the corner, we want them vigorously defended. And if that requires a more active role by the Citizenry, myself included, then so be it.

[Travis McGee]

Gonna have to wipe the hard drive and start from scratch.

[CommieCutter]

Thanks for your insight.

[nutmeg]

Excellent post, DTogo... one of the best I've seen on FR in a long time. I totally agree with your common-sense suggestions, FRiend.

Pinging other FRiends here to read your words...

God bless and comfort the families of Newtown, Connecticut...

[Lazamataz]

Can I share your post on Facebook?

[Dead Corpse]

Amen.

Stay strong.

You are NOT alone.

[DTogo]

Thanks Nutmeg. I just felt it had to be said, that some of us here in Newtown want our children pro-actively and immediately defended as they would be at home.

[DTogo]

By all means. It needs to be said that Newtown will not surrender to gun-abusing sociopaths, or gun-banning politicians. Evil must be confronted and defeated.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping nutmeg.

[GOPJ]

It's high time we admit that evil exists, and “feel-good” gun laws restricting the 2nd Amendment Right of law-abiding citizens have NOT, do NOT, and will NOT prevent determined criminals and sociopaths from obtaining guns and using them.

Very nice post, DTogo. Thanks.