Calls for Greater Gun Control After Mass Shooting at Connecticut Elementary School
Guns have been around for a long time as we all know. When we were in grade school and high school, what happened today, was virtually unheard of. Why? What's changed? Have guns changed, or have people changed? - de523, Yahoo!According to ABC News, Adam Lanza, the alleged shooter, has been labeled as having “mental illness” and a “personality disorder.” These are precisely the words typically heard in a person who is being “treated” with mind-altering psychiatric drugs. The Columbine High School shooters were, of course, on psychiatric drugs at the time they shot their classmates in 1999. Suicidal tendencies and violent, destructive thoughts are some of the admitted behavioral side effects of mind-altering prescription medications. No gun can, by itself, shoot anyone. It must be triggered by a person who makes a decision to use it. And while people like NY Mayor Bloomberg are predictably trying to exploit the deaths of these children to call for guns to be stripped from all law abiding citizens who have done nothing wrong whatsoever, nobody calls for medication control. [Source]
Calls for greater gun control after mass shooting at school
December 15, 2012The Lookout - The horrific shooting at the Newtown, Conn., elementary school that left multiple people dead, including, it's believed, 20 children, has re-ignited the gun control debate.
Public figures immediately jumped in to offer condolences, while others called for new restrictions. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was "shocked and saddened" by the tragic shooting. He said society should "unify" to "crack down on the guns." And New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said "immediate action" was needed.
Mark Kelly, husband of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was gravely injured by a gunman in Tucson in 2011, wrote on Facebook:
"The children of Sandy Hook Elementary School and all victims of gun violence deserve leaders who have the courage to participate in a meaningful discussion about our gun laws—and how they can be reformed and better enforced to prevent gun violence and death in America."House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) tweeted,
"No words can console the parents of the children murdered at Sandy Hook. We share our prayers and our grief over these horrifying events."U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey of New York added to the call for gun limits, saying in a statement,
"Our expressions of sympathy must be matched with concrete actions to stop gun violence."Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, whose state experienced both the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 and the shooting at the Aurora, Colo., movie theater in 2012, offered his support in a statement:
"The shooting in Connecticut is absolutely horrific and heartbreaking. We know too well what impact this kind of violence has on a community and our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are immediately with the families of those killed. We can offer comfort, but we all know the pain will stay forever."The debate in social media was fast and furious. Trending topics on Twitter included "2nd Amendment," "NRA" and "Columbine."
Ross McCall (@maccageezer) wrote, "Senseless. The 2nd Amendment is NOT what it was originally set up to be. HAS to be more gun control."
Daniel Stewart (@dnstewart67) tweeted, "Any American who would prefer to see this on their TV rather than lose the 2nd amendment have no humanity. Sheer horror."
Comedian Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) wrote, "Band-Aids-on-Band-Aids @NRA people want MORE access to guns to combat all the people w access to guns."
Mediaite
tweeted about MSNBC host's Andrea Mitchell's editorializing on air, who
said, "When we talk about gun violence in this country, we're not
talking about Second Amendment rights." She also called gun violence an
"epidemic."
Filmmaker Michael Moore (@MMFlint), who made a documentary about the Columbine school shooting, "Bowling for Columbine," tweeted, "Too soon to speak out about a gun-crazy nation? No, too late. At least THIRTY-ONE school shootings since Columbine."
Assif Manvi (@aasif) of "The
Daily Show," posted, "The #NRA politicians will now tell us that this
tragedy could have been prevented if children carried guns!
#WAKEUPAMERICA."
Plenty of people also defended
gun rights. SamEwinks (@SamEwinks), for instance, wrote, "The only gun
reform we need is to allow people the ability to defend themselves, not
provide nut jobs with easy targets #nra."
josefsmith2011 (@josefsmith2011)
posted, "Guns don't kill people people do! Practice the 2nd
amendment—keep your gun loaded with you at all times—the younger you are
the better."
And Cutty (@LilCutty) tweeted, "Changing the 2nd Amendment wont stop ppl from doin foolishness."
December 15, 2012
The Ticket - An
emotional President Barack Obama vowed on Friday to "take meaningful
action, regardless of the politics," to prevent future tragedies like
the shooting massacre Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown,
Conn.
"Our hearts are broken today," Obama said in a brief statement at the White House briefing room, frequently pausing to wipe tears from his eyes. "The majority of those who died today were children, beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them: birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams."Obama expressed sorrow for the victims' loved ones and sympathy for the parents of the children who survived but who know that "their children's innocence has been torn away from them too early."
"As a country we have been through this too many times," Obama said, listing a series of mass shootings over the past few years in places like Aurora, Colo.Earlier, White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters that "today's not the day" to talk about possible new gun control steps meant to prevent such tragedies in the future.
"These neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics," he stressed.
Obama ordered flags over government facilities to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Dec. 18. Shortly after he spoke, Connecticut State Police said the death toll included 20 children, six adults and the shooter.
Obama learned of the rampage at 10:30 a.m. from Homeland Security adviser John Brennan. He later discussed it by telephone with FBI Director Robert Mueller and Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy.
Obama's reference to acting "regardless of the politics" seemed likely to be a reference to deep opposition in Congress to new gun control legislation.
"Today's not ... a day to engage in the usual Washington policy debates," Carney told reporters. "That day will come, but today's not that day." Carney said renewing a federal assault weapons ban "does remain a commitment" of the president.The ban expired in 2004, and Obama has taken no serious steps to renew it on Capitol Hill.
Carney declined to answer repeated questions on when would be an appropriate time for lawmakers in Washington to discuss possible actions to prevent future tragedies.
"Our minds and our focus need to be on what's happening there and providing assistance where we can to those who need it," he said, urging "enormous sympathy for the families that are affected."
One reporter pointed to Obama's
remarks in July just days after a shooting spree that left 12 dead and
about 60 injured at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo.
Obama has made similar comments before, including at a January 2011 memorial for the victims of a mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., in which then-Rep. Gabby Giffords was grievously wounded."I hope that over the next several days, next several weeks and next several months, we all reflect on how we can do something about some of the senseless violence that ends up marring this country," Obama said at the time.
Republican House Speaker John Boehner likewise ordered the Stars and Stripes lowered over the Capitol."We have to examine all the facts behind this tragedy. We cannot and will not be passive in the face of such violence. We should be willing to challenge old assumptions in order to lessen the prospects of such violence in the future," Obama said. "But what we cannot do is use this tragedy as one more occasion to turn on each other. That we cannot do."
"The horror of this day seems so unbearable, but we will lock arms and unite as citizens, for that is how Americans rise above unspeakable evil," Boehner said in a written statement. "Let us all come together in God's grace to pray for the families of the victims, that they may find some comfort and peace amid such suffering.
"Let us give thanks for all those who helped get people to safety, and take heart from their example. The House of Representatives—like every American—stands ready to assist the people of Newtown, Connecticut," Boehner said.
December 15, 2012
Bloomberg, a longtime gun control advocate, released a statement through Mayors Against Illegal Guns, an advocacy group he co-founded with Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.
"President Obama rightly sent his heartfelt condolences to the families in Newtown. But the country needs him to send a bill to Congress to fix this problem," Bloomberg said. "Calling for 'meaningful action' is not enough. We need immediate action. We have heard all the rhetoric before. What we have not seen is leadership—not from the White House and not from Congress."
Bloomberg endorsed Obama shortly before the president was re-elected last month, saying he believed Obama would push for initiatives to curb climate change.
The mayor had been critical of both Obama and Republican Mitt Romney
for much of the campaign, saying they were failing to candidly address
serious problems facing the country.
