Posted on 10/13/2006 2:33:17 PM PDT by NapkinUser
More school shootings, and the inevitable commentary on the evening news: "I didn't think this sort of thing could happen here."
The heartfelt, but naive belief that murderous rampages "don't happen here" begs the question: "Where do you think such things happen?"
Labels exist for the places where shootings occur: urban, inner city.
But one thing urban folks can tell their scared suburban friends right now is that a good part of the horrendous violence in their communities is due to the proliferation of guns.
Sometimes it seems like everyone is packing. Someone disrespects your girl? Shoot 'em. Someone looks at you wrong? Shoot 'em. Someone mouths off to you at a party? Shoot 'em.
So for once, maybe the suburbs and rural America can take a cue from the cities: "Get the guns out of your homes."
Because while much of America lulled itself into believing that these things "do not happen here," they were also stockpiling. Where they live guns are used for hunting, for target practice and for a misplaced sense of security. I get that, my mother's family has those references. Mother's stories about growing up on the Kansas farm often involve guns.
There was the time when grandfather's favorite dog turned up rabid. "Get the gun!" Grandpa shouted from the field, knowing he had to shoot his dog before it bit his family.
There are stories about hunting rabbits and duck for dinner and shooting coyotes so they wouldn't kill the livestock.
But mother gave up fetching food from the woods long ago. She goes to the grocery now. She feels safe with good locks on the house. Grandfather's guns have been passed down as family heirlooms, not loaded weapons.
She has no use for a gun.
More people who live in these "couldn't happen here" communities need to come to the same revelation.
Because for all the recent head scratching about how to prevent more school shootings, studies have made several things clear: School shooters almost always are boys. The shootings are planned attacks, not spur of the moment. And the guns come from the shooters' homes.
We need to quit dancing around these facts, starting with the president. George Bush's recent summit should have been titled "Gun violence in schools."
Apparently that would have been too to-the-point. So it was proclaimed the less accurate but more benevolent, "Conference on School Safety."
The little political commentary about guns in schools has been insane commentary. Wisconsin Rep. Frank Lasee proposes teachers carry guns. Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt made the same suggestion, until smarter heads backed him away from the idea.
Arm the teachers? How about disarm the kids?
The best way to do that would be to address where school shooters get their guns - from their homes. Oh I know, people will talk about their right to bear arms, the need for self-protection, that they like to hunt wild game. All are understandable replies.
But anyone giving these answers should also honestly address two questions: Do you really need a gun in the house, and if so, how secure is it? And, how well do you know your son?
I can hear the refrain now: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." Nice slogan.
Here's the truth: Troubled boys with access to their parents' guns have killed their classmates, their teachers and quite often, themselves.
And yes, it can happen anywhere.
Yep, makes them slow moving targets.
As the most have been school shootings I sort of agree.
ROFL
Regarding break-ins, wasn't the challenge in urban parts of the PRC to call the police, then order a pizza and see who arrives first?
She needs to switch to decaf and un-bunch her panties.
Your not being armed isn't going to stop them. Pacifism will get you killed. Futher, you try and make me as helpless as you insist on being and I'll beat you to death with my bare hands.
Why just the Father?
My wife's job is to cover my six with her Winchester while I'm putting the perp down!!!
At Dunblane it was the nut who had the guns ( couple of Browning 9mms and 200 rounds) and he had killed five (out of a total of 14) 11 year old children as he walked through the school playground in about the first 30 seconds and before anybody could intervene or realise what was happening.
Would have thought it is better to stop the 'nuts' having access to guns.
The author of this piece is Mary Sanchez who is a writer for the Kansas City Star,
her email is msanchez@kcstar.com
Screw this stupid bitch! I don't have any kids in my house, send your guns to me! (No junk, please)
gud point
"Do you really need a gun in the house, and if so, how secure is it? And, how well do you know your son?"
I agree with you. I certainly know my son better than I know the cops, or the politician, or the journalist. Whom shall I trust.... hmmmmmm.
Frankly, I hope she does hear it.
Remember the election of 1994. The gungrabbers were sure they were going to win the elections and they intended to take away the guns. They said so, and were laughing (literally!) about the power they would exercise. They lost the election overall, but they are still out there waiting for their chance.
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