The day after the horrible shooting I feel like I've been able to collect my thoughts a bit more. I still don't have an explanation or have any words to give this meaning but I do have a lot of feelings about the response it's all received. Dave sent me a list of the names of those that were killed and I paused at each to say a quick prayer. I've also marveled at the story I heard about the 27 year old teacher who hid her students in the closet and cabinets telling the gunman that they were at gym when he entered her classroom. He pulled the trigger and killed her but the kids were sparred. I'm not 100% sure the story is true but I hope that it is. Her quick thinking saved the lives of those children.
Anyway, back to how people have responded. This is going to sound strange but every time there is a major tragedy like this, I am always reminded how much goodness people have. After every awful situation, I watch as people rally to help in whatever way they can and that speaks volumes. One of my sister's bridesmaids started a teddy bear drive and it has just exploded. It started with just 47 of us participating and in the last 24 hours 300 more people have joined and given stuffed animals. It's amazing and that's what I want to focus on because aside from remembering the victims, it's so important to help the survivors.
All the talk about gun laws or religion or other crazy ideas about how we can prevent this is exhausting to listen to and read about. I'm sure all of you are tired about it as well and I'm sorry that I'm bringing it up at all but I do want to mention it. I do not believe that banning guns is the answer to this. I don't think that will resolve anything as a ban will not prevent people from getting guns the same way making cocaine or prostitution illegal does little to stop it. I also do not think that arming teachers is the answer either. Both suggestions sound absurd to me. Would I love to eliminate all guns? Of course, but that's completely unrealistic and will never happen. I wouldn't mind there being stricter laws regarding gun ownership but even that will not prevent these situations.
I also do not think that religion is the answer either. That's as absurd as banning or giving everyone guns. Teaching religion in school will not stop the crazy people from blowing others away. This did not happen because church and state are separated and it's obnoxious when I read that reasoning. These tirades on Twitter and Facebook just need to stop. If anything might contribute to future acts is the sensational media attention surrounding a tragedy like this. I'm not saying that it shouldn't be reported--not at all. I just don't think it should be plastered on every news station for hours and hours. I don't think that the gunman should be recognized at all. He should always be referred to as "the gunman" especially if he ends up killing himself. I get that we want to put a name and a face to who did something like this, we want to know why, and we want to rage against that person but making him the focus is not the answer.
Okay, I've got that out and I'm sure plenty of people will adamantly disagree with me and I'm okay with that. I get that my "let's not rehash this over and over" as I'm rehashing it is a bit hypocritical but I don't particularly care. I'm sorry to those reading this who had to deal with my tirade as I rail against other's tirade's but for the most part this journal is personal. If I had the capability to password protect this, I would. Sorry guys.
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