“No Words for the Unspeakable” Ushers in a New Generation of Change

I am just at a loss. The past few days have been added to the list of “Darkest Days in America” because of the innocence taken from an elementary school Newtown, Connecticut.  It is a moment of “where were you when…” and “what’s next for the nation”…among many other questions.  Never in my life have I seen an American President openly show emotions for an atrocity so horrendous as the one of Friday, December 14, 2012. [I want to say President Clinton did after Columbine, but I honestly don’t remember it as powerful as President Obama’s remarks.] It is because of a lone gunman, who was just twenty years (just five years my junior) took the innocent lives of 20 children ages six and seven. It didn’t stop there though. He further stole the lives of six adults including the principle of the school and a first grade teacher who was just TWO YEARS older than I am. The shooter’s name will not be mentioned at all from me, because, I agree with Anderson Cooper…he had enough coverage and deserves no more time as he did multiple unspeakable acts within a mere ten minutes or more.

I have been trying to figure some things out.  Yesterday, I posted on Facebook that we should hold off on the political commentary and focus on the families and others affected by this tragedy.  I figured a week would be appropriate; however, the time to speak is now.  This is the second shooting within a week. I would like to just discuss some things going through my head as I think it would be the best way to attempt to cope with this tragedy.  While I am not directly affected, and while I have no children of my own, I feel that as a future parent and as someone’s child (not to mention a constitutional right) I have just as much right to talk as the next person.  I am not here to say my thoughts or ideas are the right and only way; but, I am here to offer my thoughts and contribute them to the conversation that will need to take plan sooner rather than later. I am not an advocating for stricter laws or better healthcare or any other political stance.  I am advocating for common sense, respect, and a potential gateway to having a constructive dialogue to help diminish the violence that we are finding more and more within our daily lives. So here it goes…

I do know that the United States Constitution has a second amendment referring to firearms. In fact, I know it well. It says:

“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Now for me, I have to think about this for a while. Please bear in mind that I have only taken one legal class (and it was Legal Environment of Business) and was president of the Pre-Law Club in college. To me, the right to bear arms is clear: citizens can do that. I also know that in order to protect a state, citizens can be in a militia…which I think of as the National Guard of a state. Each state has a national guard (e.g. “The Texas National Guard”, “The North Carolina National Guard”, etc).  One key word that I think people often overlook is the word “regulated”.  I think that this word alone allows policy-makers to regulate the laws and determine which firearms are restricted to solely those protecting the free state and not to the citizens of the state. I understand that many citizens hunt, which is fine.  However, I don’t find a reason why someone would use an AR-15, or another semi-automatic gun, to hunt deer or medium game animals. I have many friends who hunt and I have asked some of them and they say that kind damage done by the ammunition would either destroy or spoil the meat. I honestly don’t know because I don’t hunt, although I have hunted in the past.  Again, I am not advocating for stricter laws, I am merely trying to make sense of all of this and how we can move forward. Guns can be a good thing; but they must be regulated as outlined in the Constitution.

Another thing I would like to mention: why is the shooter being considered as “a mentally-imbalanced person” or “a deranged young man”?  Why not consider him a domestic terrorist? A terrorist by definition is:

“A person, usually a member of a group, who uses or advocates terrorism” or even “a person who terrorizes or frightens others”. (by the way, the part of speech is considered to be a noun)

 Now, some things come to mind.  While we still don’t know the motive, some things could be made: 1) not ideal childhood in school so why should these innocent ones have a better one (selfish); 2) done days after a mall shooting in Oregon (either “copy-cat” or “one up”); 3) done during Hanukkah (religious harm); and 4) wants attention to compensate for said childhood experience.  Clearly I have no answers regarding these observations, but the one thing I can deduce is that this shooter killed innocent lives and has once again instilled fear into not only those families but millions of parents in the United States. To me, that’s a terrorist. I don’t understand the difference is between this shooter and a member of Al-Qaeda.  They both destroy lives and themselves. They commit cowardly acts for those that commit horrendous crimes against humanity…and innocent lives at that.

So the second thing I would like to discuss is the topic of health. No, I’m not going to talk about The Affordable Care Act or it’s other alias. Since the law is not discriminatory, it allows every citizen to the same healthcare benefits as others.  It includes a broad range of things, including Mental Health. In fact, there are at least two different sections in two different titles addressing enhancements in Mental Health.  Of course, there is always more we can do to improve mental health within our country.  One of the things I keep hearing is that there should be more funding for mental health, yet the same people who want states to do more are in deficits.  In fact, mental health needs to be addressed in every state…but as states can’t handle some of these demands, they rely on the federal government for this…and ironically, the federal government has responded.  It is interesting that the only time people need the federal government is when something bad happens and when they can’t rely on their states for ways to help.

It seems that we can come to a common sense approach regarding this issues of guns, violence, and the future of the United States. Yes, citizens are guaranteed the right to own guns in their own homes. Yes, the states have a right to protect themselves…which is why they have national guard unites within their state lines. I do think there is a certain line of balance that needs to be addressed with regards to the second amendment.  I think more of the emphasis needs to be focused on “regulated” and less on the words “right to bear arms”. If we regulate guns and take the appropriate steps, hopefully we can reduce the deadly shootings within the United States each year.  Nobody should live in fear that the next movie they see will be their last; or that new shirt in the mall will never be purchased, or that they will see their child off to school only to find out that they won’t be coming home with homework ever again.

This is one final thing that crosses my mind regarding these tragic events. I would like to address anyone that says that the reason this happened is because of the lack of God in our country or that he has been banned from schools via school prayer: How Dare you! I mean seriously, who the hell do you think you are attempting to tell grieving families that the reason they lost their children is because God isn’t allowed in the school building?  Furthermore, I would love to challenge anyone to prove that God was not in that school building. The fact is we can’t prove or disprove he wasn’t. It is entirely selfish for ANY follower of God to attempt to rationalize any actions they think their God makes. As far as I am concerned and through my teachings and personal studying regarding the subject, God would never harm the innocent and even told his followers to allow the little children see him. Not to mention that it is NOT the time to even attempt to thrust your religious beliefs on those who lost loved ones. I mean, do you plan to tell those same grieving parents that if their children weren’t saved then they were in Hell??? I mean, how screwed up and how selfish do you have to be to bring your own religious beliefs to the conversation.  This is also a violation of those mourning parents’ constitutional right to not be blasted with religious rhetoric. I do happen to believe the United States Constitution has wording that validates the separation of church and state.  Religion, personally speaking, is a private matter and should NEVER be used to try and boost attendance on Sunday services or used as scare tactics. I also firmly think that Mike Huckabee, and others, who claim this event happened because of the lack of God in schools should formally apologize to every single parent who lost an innocent child and should resign from whatever position they are on – if they are on a television network – and return to the pulpit where they belong!

The only solution I can offer is that we stand up.  This has to be the last straw for the American public. I am challenging everyone who reads this, especially those that are a part of my generation, to get involved and let your voice be heard.  I know many in my generation are outraged at the past events of the past six months. We are the 21^st Century “Generation of Change”.  We are at the forefront of many important issues. Regardless of beliefs, I think it is important that those who care about humanity and strive to co-exist will find a way.  Here in the United States, our struggle is with how to enact laws to not violate the constitutional rights of all Americans. 

Again, I am still concerned with the recent events that have taken place in Newtown, Connecticut.  I am not well-versed in gun laws.  I am, however, am a human being who thinks that we need to change some things in order to better society. I don’t want the United States to become the nation as gun deaths rising by 50% each month. What I can promise, though, it to become more engaged in these conversations (after educating myself on all aspects of these tense dialogues). In the meantime, I will continue to send positive thoughts to the families of those affected in Newton; I will continue to support teachers 100%; I will continue to push for common-sense laws to ensure children can’t lose their innocence to vicious cowards; and, I will continue to be an American that has had enough of members of Congress who claim to represent the will of their constituents, yet continue to vote against their interests because they receive funding from groups that want to advance their own interests. I will stand up and I will fight for all Americans…it’s the very least I can do to ensure these unspeakable acts don’t happen to any parent or child again. I am part of the new “Generation of Change” and I am not backing down…and neither should you!