Prayers for the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School

[Stranger Wings]

Two points that must be kept in mind in the weeks and months and years ahead, as the US considers new laws on what to do about mass violence:

In 1996 Australia banned assault weapons. In the 18 years prior to the ban, Australia had 13 mass shootings...in the 16 years after....Australia had NONE.

In China this morning, a young mentally-disturbed man walked into a school ready to do violence. Not able to procure a gun, he stabbed 23 people, 22 of them children. All survived. In the United States this morning, a young mentally-disturbed man walked into a school with an automatic assault rifle and killed almost all of his 30 or so victims.

So while we absolutely must do more on mental health, smart gun control can have a profound effect on reducing the scale of violence and death in America.

I pray that we have the courage, as a nation, to push back against the gun lobby.

[WampusCat]

Lali, that article is right in line with my own thoughts. I'm sorry your friend was offended, but maybe she will come to see its wisdom someday. Seeds can sprout at unexpected times.

redgiraffe, I agree with your statements as well. It bothers me to see people fall into opposing camps over gun control vs. help for the mentally ill. Surely both are needed. As for the blame falling on either God or our eviction of God? Spare me. This slaughter is man-made and God-mourned.

[Lalaith]

I like that, Wampus--man-made and God-mourned.



I lost another "friend" over it. Oh well, right?

[anthriel]

Well, sweet Lali, you sure didn't lose me. I agree with what you posted, here and on FB, 100%.

I understand people of faith mourning what seems to be the exclusion of faith from parts of their lives, but I just can't get why those folks are feeling like God isn't in the schools. He sure is in those schools. As if the policy of the school board or whatever could exclude Him.

When I was in school, we had a moment of silence every morning. I used it to pray. I have no idea what others used it for, nor do I care. I said hello to God every morning, and no one can stop me from praying, within myself.

Of course these types of tragedies are going to foment discussion on gun control... perhaps we should have a separate discussion, because I know how passionate people are about that. Especially when so many children, for God's sake, are dead.

And mental health? I'm not even sure how to feel about that one. Clearly Lautner, the man who tried to kill Gabby Gifford and instead killed many other people (including at least one child!) was quite mentally unstable. Stepping in earlier in his life, if only to institutionalize the guy, would have saved lives. There were warnings galore.

However, Adam Lanza, the one who killed these kids, had a relatively mild disorder, not associated with violence, from everything I have read.

It just makes me shudder, and it gives me pause about sending my kids to movie premiers or school. What causes people to DO such things? Can we ever make it make sense to us? Can we ever figure out what would lead a nominally normal human being to look at a room full of children and choose to repeatedly shoot every one of them?

I just. can't. understand.

In my problem solving mode, I just feel like until we understand the triggers for this behaviour, we can't prevent it. And I don't think we'll ever really understand.

Sorry, I really needed to vent. Please everyone know that this is just my opinion. I don't mean to offend anyone.

I TOTALLY understand. You sure didn't offend me. I need to vent, too!

[River]

redgiraffe, I agree with your statements as well. It bothers me to see people fall into opposing camps over gun control vs. help for the mentally ill. Surely both are needed.

Absolutely. I have some other thoughts but probably won't have time to flesh them out.

Lali, I thought your facebook post raised a very salient point that often gets forgotten by those that spew and those that consume the rhetoric at times like these (I certainly forgot that bit about omnipotence, but I stopped believing a long time ago and thus I have an excuse ). Maybe she worded it a little strongly but...sometimes, when people must face themselves in a mirror, they end up rejecting the mirror. Know what I mean? And if they dumped you over that they weren't friends worth having. Of course, having to work with at least one of them is going to make your life a little interesting.

[Lalaith]

Thanks, guys. (The one lady and I worked it out, so I think it's fine.)

Anyway, I didn't mean to hijack this thread with my own, very small issues!

[Stranger Wings]

I think discussions of grief and prayer for victims of mass murder by assault weapons should be inextricably connected to discussions of what our society needs to do about it. It is the separation of the two, and the placement of the policy discussion in a vacuum, that leads to forgetfulness, and finally, inaction. IMO, of course.

[Pearly Di]

Watching the news last night, I saw a face I knew. The broadcaster mentioned a British woman pastor who had been helping with counselling the devastated families of Sandy Hook, and then Ruth Calver's face popped up on the screen. "Ruth!" I said.

I know Ruth and her family, from years ago. Her parents, and her husband's parents, attended the chuch my parents used to go to, back in the 60s and 70s. Ruth and her husband Clive moved to the US at least 15 years ago. She hasn't lost her accent. They are both serving on the staff of Walnut Hill Community Church in the area.

It's been years since I've seen her, but I know Ruth is a motherly, caring woman and a Christian who 'walks the walk'. She spoke with great sensitivity, sadness and compassion. I am glad people like her are there to offer comfort and compassion to families suffering unimaginable and intolerable grief.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

More prayers, this time for San Jose, California, just over the hill from here. When will it end?

[River]

When enough people are willing to abandon their worship of guns. That's when it will start to end.

[elengil]

Gettin' really disheartening to keep having to lower the flag at the office. It's a very physical thing... not like reading the news, it sort of forces you to be involved. Can't quite explain it.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

My heart goes out to the victims of the horrible racially-motivated live-streamed shooting today in Buffalo, NY and their families.

[Alatar]

I'm sure I'm not the first to think this, but I wonder sometimes have mass shootings become a "cooler" method of suicide. I mean, why take your life quietly when you can have the police do it for you while on an adrenaline rush.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

That sometimes can be true, but in this case the shooter calmly surrendered to police (and then confirmed that he was targeting black people).

[Voronwë the Faithful]

And now at least 15 people killed at in elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, near San Antonio, including 14 children. That total does not include the shooter, an 18 year old man, who also reportedly is dead.

[River]

If no one could find the courage to do anything after Sandy Hook they won't this time. No one cares enough about dead kids to pass any laws that would protect them after they're born.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

While I agree with you (or least that certain people don't care enough), that is discussion for a different place than this this thread. But it is a discussion worth having.

[Frelga]

After years and years of prayers and no action, I am beginning to wonder exactly who the conservatives are praying to.

[Sunsilver]

I could answer that, but as Voronwë said, this isn't the place for it.
I'll post my answer in Lasto.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Thank you, Sunny. Please do.