What do you get when you mix Rush, FoxNews, NRA & GOP? Record gun sales & lots of dead innocent victims. The solution is obvious folks.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) December 14, 2012
Just finished a piece for TPV on today’s events. Here’s a bit of it:
What societal good is served by unfettered access to guns of all types? None, as far as I can see. Among gun rights advocates, the 2nd Amendment has become a totem with no meaning, a dead letter. They focus on half of the bill, ignoring that bearing arms was a conditional right, written into the Constitution for a republic that did not plan on having a large standing army, where militia units would make up a large part of its armed strength during any war, and thus citizens had to have the means to participate.
I had a co-worker many years ago who proudly said that he amassed his arsenal of weaponry in the event that he’d have to go to war against the government. I’m not saying this is the majority view of gun rights advocates; but it is a view held by many. Of course, the fact is that the 21st century United States is not the 18th century version; it now has the world’s most powerful military, and anyone who thinks they have to stockpile weapons in anticipation of the coming revolution would likely meet a quick end if it were to ever occur. But even though the revolutionists are the extreme of the gun lobby, they feed off of the same idea that gun ownership is an absolute right, not tied to any obligation.
As you know, LL, all those 2nd Amendment ‘constitutionalists’ conveniently forget the “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state …”
Nothing, absolutely, nothing about the current status of weapons possession by citizens in the United States of America comes even close to ‘well regulated’ and as for ‘militia being necessary for the security of the state’ – well, we spend more than the next 10 Nations combined on defense.
We know the situation is grotesquely absurd. We also know how to remedy it. It’s not a mystery by any stretch.
I make that point in the piece that the gun advocates forget that the right to bear arms was tied to an obligation of armed service to the state. As far as I’m concerned, the 2nd Amendment is a dead letter.
Thank you LL. So tired of people misunderstanding the intention of that amendment. As I have always seen it, it pertains to “the military”, which we have at large.
I can't take this any more! .@BarackObama .@davidaxelrod – do something about guns. Guns DO kill people and in large numbers. I beg you.— RitaC (@rchakras) December 14, 2012
.@BarackObama I'll personally help you implement stricter GUN policy. Please do it NOW. This cannot wait any more. We have had ENOUGH!— RitaC (@rchakras) December 14, 2012
I am heartsick. I can’t take this any more. It is time NOW…
I recommend contacting specific REPUBLICAN members of congress who are heavily lobbied by the NRA. That is one way we can help @BarackObama to do something about guns.
Actually it is YOU and other voters that needs to do something. Obama cannot do ANYTHING with the current congress. Not even stuff that used to be routine like raising the debt ceiling. You think he is going to accomplish anything by trying to go after gun control and giving all the wingnut conspiracy theorists more ammo so to speak.
Forget it. Not gonna happen. You expect far too much of Obama. He is not a dictator and does not own a magic wand.
That’s the most defeatist attitude ever. I am making things happen by speaking out, but making my voice heard and if you don’t have the strength to do that, I have no words for you. And nobody said he’s a dictator. But he does have a bully pulpit which needs to be put to use now.
I’m afraid, Fred is right. If Obama had spoken out for gun control before election, he would have risked to loose. But he always takes on tough fights. He will make his point clear. However I wouldn’t expect too much. There are other issues on his priority list, I guess.
CNN reporting that 18 children dead, nine adults. I am beyond sick about this. There needs to be some kind of meaningful response to this unimaginable horror, beyond expressing sympathy for the families.
Something has to be done. This is now becoming an everyday experience and it is horrific. These are innocent lives and my heart breaks for them. I never thought there would be another mass shooting worse than Columbine but this shooting in Newtown, CT is shaping up to be the deadliest mass school shooting in our history. No one should feel afraid to go into the public space. No one. My thoughts and prayers go to the families of the victims.
Call, write, email, tweet, YOUR REPUBLICAN members of Congress. PBO needs our support. He cannot wave a magic wand and get this done. (If he could, surely he would have done it by now…. ) WE HAVE TO HAVE HIS BACK.
27 people killed? Mostly children? I am just weeping my eyes out. What is this nation becoming for goodness sake?
Perhaps, we should have everyone carry a gun? Is that what NRA wants? Who would protect the little ones? This is fatuously beyond wickedness, cruelty and madness. We are slowly making a mockery of who we are. Guns are man made. These children had and have a right NOT to be shot or harmed or scared for the rest of their rights.
Yes, Nena; I’m afraid that the ##!@!! NRA WOULD like everyone to carry guns. And they’ll give you that absurd argument that “People kill people; not guns.” It would have been impossible for someone with a knife – or even a dozen knives – to kill 27 people without being apprehended. The other thing that is so rarely mentioned about gun murders is that the killer doesn’t even have to get close to his/her victim, and look the victim in the eyes. Holding a gun distances the killer from the victim… The humanity is gone before the trigger is pulled.
I live in Danbury, one of the towns that adjoins Newtown, so this is very close to home. There was supposed to be a performance of The Messiah tonight, and it’s been cancelled – the whole area is in lockdown. So an evening of celebration and worship has been cancelled because of the actions of one – or possibly two – maniac(s) with multiple firearms.
In my opinion, the easy and undocumented availability of firearms makes it far too “easy” for the disturbed among us to act like crazed animals and cause untold havoc and heartbreak…
Once again, we are truly sickened by this insanity of gone violence in this country. I cannot bear these atrocities. I cannot fathom the grief of the families. OMG, please make this stop.
The public needs to respond—–demand that lawmakers take on the NRA and address gun control in this country. If the response is only “prayers and sympathy to the families”—-again—–I will scream. We need organized action.
3. Someone in the shooter’s family or community says the shooter “was troubled” …
4. We find out where the guns and/or rifles were legally purchased …
5. The lawmakers blame everybody but themselves …
6. The NRA puts out a statement which does not point back to the guns and/or rifles …
7. The sun sets and the sun rises; the media continue to cover the tragedy as if it’s just their latest shiny object; the public is engaged but feeling hopeless, until the next time it happens …
The fact is, whether we like it or not, very few people on the national stage, including up to this point, PBO, have been willing to actually address doing something about this. It is time for that to change. PBO has always been very good, and I respect him for this, of being what we have called “Mourner in Chief.” It is time for him to move beyond that. And yes, I am saying what I would like to see him do. A national discussion has to be begun…not some time when emotions have cooled down…but NOW. And I truly hope he will start it.
There are a lot of things on his plate, and I would never want to be in his shoes, but the slaughter of our citizens by others who are citizens, is, IMO, more important than anything else. Oh, others will talk about it, but national attention will only really be focused on it, if he takes the reins and at least starts the discussion.
I will always be supportive of him, but if he doesn’t step up on this I will be disappointed.
It’s not only about Pres. Obama. You want something done? Call your congressional representatives and demand that they write legislation that comprehensively addresses guns, the use of them, and the ownership of them. Congress has a major role to play in this. A major role.
Amen, UT. The president is not a dictator. Every single person who is sickened by endless tragedy needs to INSIST that their reps in Congress and in their state houses do something about it. No one can do this but ourselves. And I don’t want to hear one more word from any gun owner about hunters. This has nothing to do with hunting and everything to do with the insanity of demented people owning guns and using them on innocent victims.
CT, I agree that PBO has to “Take the Lead” on this, he can’t write laws, He can sign bills into law. Congress has to write the bills to get to his desk. You probably already this, but sometimes we forget. If Congress is uselees, then PBO has nothing to sign.
I agree. I cannot imagine the horror for these innocent young children—- and their parents. One mom is telling of the wrenching emotional scene of waiting parents learning their child had been killed. If this unimaginable tragedy does not provoke some kind of meaningful response, I will not understand it—-at all.
Japa, I respect your opinion on this matter, and I agree that more needs to be done in terms of Gun control than just the usual “thoughts and prayers to the families” etc. Having said that, we need to consider a few things.
Many of these victims’ families are extremely grateful for the personal comfort that is provided to them by the President (or anyone else) at this time, and they are not thinking about politics or policy when they are grappling with deep grief. That has shown to be a significant part of the healing process in past events, and we cannot claim to know what these people want or need in the days immediately following such tragedies.
Furthermore, by reaching the families in this way, the President can actually get them to be allies in his push for ban on assault weapons – particularly if they were not open that idea in the past. Remember, a lot of these families themselves may own guns and may believe in the right to bear arms without interference from politicians. They may have voted for pro-gun politicians and not really understood the implications.
The President has very few allies in this fight. The media (both left and right), Dems and GOP in congress are too coward to stand up to the NRA lobby. So PBO pretty much needs to reach out to the families to help them, and let them in turn help him get this agenda pushed forward initially. They then can push their local officials to do the right thing at the state levels and enlist the help of other activist/advocacy groups to create a larger movement.
But he cannot get their help and trust by first giving a prime time speech on banning guns while the families are in the throes of grief and making funeral arrangements. He MUST touch them in a personal way, and that entails going the “Mourner-in-Chief” route first and foremost.
I am not saying he shouldn’t erach out to the families. But to be honest, if I was one of those parents, at this point I might well say to him, “Mr. President, thank you for your words, but you have said them before. When is something goign to be done?”
You are speaking from your vantage point, not the parents because we know next to nothing about them. But as I said, some of these families themselves may own guns and may have voted locally for pro-gun officials – regardless of whether or not they supported PBO for president.
So gun laws are not what they’re thinking about and PBO going on TV and making a speech about banning guns may not necessarily get them engaged in the process. I’m just saying we need to keep this in mind, and he can only take his cues from the families, not from us.
all the lives affected by this tragedy today, promising little lives just getting started snatched away because one person couldn’t control himself. One person who had access to guns. I too am fed up, sick beyond sick over this repeated attack on citizens- and this time babies. People can not be trusted with guns, yep I mean that.. if they could then we would have zero shootings in this country. And one lost child today is one too many. WE, the targets of these guns need to take a stand.. and finally demand enough, imo.
I am so sorry for all involved today.. I can’t get over these little lives gone- little persons so innocent of all the politics- who still believed in Santa Claus, just gone. My heart goes out to them, their loved ones.
Carney says Pres Obama has now conferred about the shootings in phone calls with FBI Dir Mueller and CT Gov Dan Malloy.— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 14, 2012
Stricter gun control is only one answer. No one and I mean no one needs semiautomatic weapons to hunt. I know I’m on a rant but glorifying gun violence in movies and video games does lead to desensitzation and life will not seem as valued because all you have to do is restart the game. Also, can someone please do something about mental health in this country. There are people who need medication and they aren’t getting it. Either it is too expensive or they need someone to make sure that it is taken.
Is there a way to find out which Congress Members and Senators are bought by the NRA? I would like to direct my anger directly at them, along with the NRA.
I am so heartsick and angry! This has got to stop! We must start standing up against the NRA. We must make our voices heard! We must take back or RIGHT NOT TO BE SHOT!
9 y/o girl says that "police with big guns" led her classmates out of the building. Asked them to cover their eyes.— Libor Jany (@ljanyNT) December 14, 2012
I would just like to say how much I hate reporters for this. These children have been traumitized enough. They do not need to be put on display. Leave the kids alone and let the parents get them home to decompress and love on them.
I say in this case…..let them tell the stories as they are. No 9yrs old should be put in a position to escort little kids to safety due to a wickedly senseless multiple killings.
I know where you are going…..but in this case, Sanitizing what happened should Not be allowed by the media. If I had a network, I will show the pictures and the ugly despicable horrific scene. That is how USA is to be mobilize to say: ENOUGH.
The whole ugly truth of what happens in these situation is long gone from the days of hiding the horrific massacre.
@piersmorgan Will YOU media have courage to stand up to NRA & GOP in congress and support Obama instead of playing false equiv games?— (@aspirational12) December 14, 2012
Don’t let the MSM stand on the sidelines encouraging the GOP/NRA while pointing fingers at PBO alone. Let’s come down on them HEAVILY for being part of the problem in the first place.
The media stood by and thought it was cute – carrying live rallies of Teaparty folks bringing guns to events, justifying their “anger,” tolerating and even pushing crap from the likes of Sarah Palin with her cross hairs, etc. Now when a lot of children are dead, they assuage their guilt by trying to shift attention to the their favorite scapegoat, President Obama.
As right now as we speak, FOX News is still pushing NRA propaganda. Why doesn’t Piers have the courage to speak out against his sister network and their pro-gun violence propaganda?
Piers Morgan is the most insufferable of them all. His insults and his disdain for pres Obama makes me puke…..seriously. Torre of MSNBC can’t stand this one rusty penny from across the pond.
“The media stood by and thought it was cute – carrying live rallies of Teaparty folks bringing guns to events, justifying their “anger,” tolerating and even pushing crap from the likes of Sarah Palin with her cross hairs, etc”
Boom. There it is. So what’s their spiel now ? Can’t put this on PBO who himself has been threatened and personally shot at, all without support from the beltway. Luckily he nor his family were in residence at the time, but repeatedly no one talks about the enormous danger he is always in from those whose right to bear arms they continually uphold, at any cost. No, the blood is also on the media’s hands. We the people have to have this fight, and I for one am ready.
According to an adviser for the CT Governor on CNN, the President just called the Governor and offered both his condolences and federal help, if needed.
Many Ct. parents work in NY City—–I just can’t imagine it—–learning about the shooting and not knowing the fate of your child—-and trying to get back to Ct.—–which would take time—– with all that intense, immense fear. It would be crippling.
It’s not about the leadership President Obama. It’s about a mega-ton NRA lobby that has bought Congress lock, stock and barrel. The NRA issues grades and the House and the Senate are terrified of them. They couldn’t even muster the courage when one of their own was tragically struck in the course of carrying out her duties. It’s sick and we are powerless to change it unless We the People stand up and demand it in UNITY. The people of this country are NOT united on this issue. So President Obama can beat his chest to a pulp and what exactly will happen? That doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t make a forceful statement about the shame of this horror show. But to expect him to change it is highly unrealistic.
I want to hear from people what we should do. Not what Pres. Obama should do. But us. We are the government. We have to do something!— Pnthrgrlgail (@Mama4Obama1) December 14, 2012
it’s not just about guns, which obviously need more regulation, but it’s about the republican/libertarian mindset that’s been purposely been pumped into the public’s mind over decades. the “me first” generation is why these are happening more and more.
we preach inclusion, tolerance, and we’re all in this together. we want to help those who are sick and are willing to spend money doing it. republicans and “the news” preach “individualism” as the greatest good, to hell with anyone else. the leader of modern republican thought, ayn rand, proudly talked about how she was impressed by william hickman, who gruesomely murdered a child, and how he could do it without emotion.
as long as republicans like paul lyin ryan are allowed to preach their gospel of “me, me, me!!,” these will keep happening more and more. we must stop them once and for all. forward!!!!!
Saddened as once again innocent lives are taken. The most powerful country in the world shackled by some gun nuts.When is it gonna stop?! Hope this Admin can do something about it. I actually heard on the news this morning that some Chinese nut went into a school in China with a knife and I said to myself ‘thank God he didn’t have a gun’ now this.
My one caution to those who have the mega phone and the media savvy skills……..Let Us hold these people accountable. Not reactionary. I mean……I like how many here have shown their anger. But folks like Piers and Ed Schultz need to be pushed to channel their anger where it should rest…..at NRA, Gun Lobbyists, The media, and those who push the Stand Your Ground laws……etc.
Here is a resource for finding the politicians by party, state, legislative body, etc., who received donations from in the NRA in 2012. Chips posted this on Twitter – it is an excellent tool.
A .223-caliber assault rifle, one of the guns reportedly used in the Connecticut shooting http://t.co/57XpteRR— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) December 14, 2012
It is amazing—–on any website where there is news of guns or shooting——NRA members swarm in immediately to defend their damn guns and the 2nd amendment. Talk about terrorists…….they are the sickest element of our society. Even in my little local paper, there was news about a new gun range, and as soon as someone made one negative comment, there were multiple responses by NRA freaks. It’s creepy to the max.
Seriously Dotster, I went away for 30 minutes and when I came back there were five messages in pending from gun freaks, what the **** is wrong with these people?
I don’t know what’s wrong with them. I don’t understand how their brains work, how they can be that devoted to their killing machines. Even this week when the Chgo Trib reported that an appeals ct. had overturned the ban on conceal-carry in Illinois——-there were literally 100′s of celebratory comments from the NRA creeps. You would think in Illinois there would be protests to this news, but the NRA took over that commentary. It is revolting and frightening.
Just 18 hrs ago, Michigan House Republicans rammed through a bill making it LEGAL to carry a gun into a school or a day care center. THIS is the madness we are dealing with at both the state and the federal level. It’s an epidemic of gun worship over morality and it’s SICK.
The NRA controls many of these state legislators as well as much of our Congress. As I check news websites around the country, almost every day there is news of some new easing of gun laws.
Thank your Chips!!!!!!!!!!! And thank you meta!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not a time to be placing blame on POB. We put our minds and hearts into contacting our Senators and Representatives of what we want done. They write the legislations, the Executive Branch makes sure the laws are carried out.
Many of us were in those classrooms with those beautiful precious children, and the first thing we had to do was make sure those children were as safe as possible. So let us put out some goodness in our thoughts for the teachers, and the entire staff at that school who have to face those little faces and their parents and their families when they go home, if they make it there.
Let us stop, and put out thoughts and energies into something that we can control. This is a very difficult time for that entire school and community. I have been there where these teachers and children are today several times. Please. Please. Please. Let us gather our thoughts, and then decided what constructive actions we would like to take and will take to move this along into a better place for the all of our schools. And those teachers, parents, staffers, phychologists, community leaders do need our prayers. I got through many of these because someone came up to me afterwards and hugged me and whispered a prayer for me as I was leaving the campus at the end of the ordeal. So do not stop your carrying and good words going forth for those children, parents, teachers, and staff members.HZ
OMG, HZ, it hurts to know that you may have experienced something like this. Please take good care of yourself today. This is extremely traumatic and we must breathe and keep those families in our thoughts.
It’s exactly that, meta. Gun worship. The possession of guns must be put above everything–family, love, patriotism, common humanity and common sense. When did this country become so insane.
MSNBC reporting some of the firefighters were crying when they came out after seeing the aftermath of the shooting— (@allisonkilkenny) December 14, 2012
Sadly, so many of them probably own firearms and will defend their “right”. I dare say this, but Malcolm X was right when he stated “chickens coming home to roost” as he declared America’s love affair with violence perpetuates this kind of misery.
ONE jackass tries to light his shoe & every American has to take their shoes off at airports. Mass gun violence & there's nothing we can do— Yousef Munayyer (@YousefMunayyer) December 14, 2012
Bobfr, I’m thinking that possibilities to organize about this will be arising.
What are your thoughts about how we proceed? Really, this is just as good
a project as anything else, one of the many. This is NOT the President’s problem.
It’s OUR problem.
RT @RobertDEdwards: BREAKING: NBC's Pete Williams reports a parent of the suspected shooter has been found dead at a home in New Jersey.— (@allisonkilkenny) December 14, 2012
A lot of children are dying so that white men can hold onto the fantasy of being able to shoot dead a minority home invader.— Dante Atkins (@DanteAtkins) December 14, 2012
That’s not all but a definite, sickening part of it, many of ‘em think President Obama is going to invade their homes, or “a Mexican,” and it all needs to be broken down and put out there. I agree we do not need to hold back any of our thoughts.
I don’t think that the impetus for the 2nd amendment was brought about because the founding fathers wanted a sure fire way to deal with a home invasion. Furthermore you can’t single out white men and accuse them wholesale of having some sort of fantasy about killing a minority home invader. I’m almost sure that if that home invader was white, that home owner would not hesitate in pulling the trigger.
Don, itgurl demonstrated only one part of the problem. As for protecting home, the mindset began when same man stole this land from the indigenous and erected a system of divine rights to maintain ownership of the land, which by extension became the “supreme” right to bear arms. This is as I see history.
Here’s a piece of the lead news story on the NRA.org website:
“The National Rifle Association is proud to announce that its hit television show on Outdoor Channel, Friends of NRA, has been nominated for three 2012 Fan Favorite Golden Moose Awards.”
I found this on their “history of the NRA” page:
“Since the establishment of the lifesaving Eddie Eagle® Gun Safety Program in 1988, more than 21 million pre-kindergarten to sixth grade children have learned that if they see a firearm in an unsupervised situation, they should ‘STOP. DON’T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT.’”
A link on their website takes you to a CNN article from Nov. 9, 2012, which carried this as its lead paragraph:
“Gun sales are up in the wake of Barack Obama’s re-election on Tuesday, driven by fears of tighter regulations under a Democratic president, especially for firearms that might be classified as assault weapons.”
Couldn’t find anything on their website about whether or not that awful head of the NRA has children or grandchildren in schools, or whether he’s actually been given permission by President Obama to breed in the first place, since we know the President is fully in charge of and responsible for every facet of American life, including the reproductive habits of Neanderthals.
This is something everyone can do. It’s one step along a very tough road.
You want something done about guns? Call Congress: 202-224-3121. Congress has the power to enact stricter gun control laws.— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) December 14, 2012
I’m going to write letters to Sens. Feinstein and Boxer and Rep. Waters. But right now I can’t do anything. I’m just sitting at my desk shaking my head.
Done. Just called. Said I plan to call and/or write every day. I can multi-task and so can our god damn Representatives. In addition to my frequent badgering them about doing their damn job in raising the rates on the top 2% they can expect to hear frequently from me on stricter gun control laws now. WE THE PEOPLE ARE OUR OWN GOD DAMN BULLY PULPIT. RT’d also. Thanks UT.
An important reminder as to what our President said during the 2nd debate:
QUESTION: President Obama, during the Democratic National Convention in 2008, you stated you wanted to keep AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. What has your administration done or planned to do to limit the availability of assault weapons?
OBAMA: We’re a nation that believes in the Second Amendment, and I believe in the Second Amendment. We’ve got a long tradition of hunting and sportsmen and people who want to make sure they can protect themselves.
But there have been too many instances during the course of my presidency, where I’ve had to comfort families who have lost somebody. Most recently out in Aurora. You know, just a couple of weeks ago, actually, probably about a month, I saw a mother, who I had met at the bedside of her son, who had been shot in that theater.
And her son had been shot through the head. And we spent some time, and we said a prayer and, remarkably, about two months later, this young man and his mom showed up, and he looked unbelievable, good as new.
But there were a lot of families who didn’t have that good fortune and whose sons or daughters or husbands didn’t survive.
So my belief is that, (A), we have to enforce the laws we’ve already got, make sure that we’re keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, those who are mentally ill. We’ve done a much better job in terms of background checks, but we’ve got more to do when it comes to enforcement.
But I also share your belief that weapons that were designed for soldiers in war theaters don’t belong on our streets. And so what I’m trying to do is to get a broader conversation about how do we reduce the violence generally. Part of it is seeing if we can get an assault weapons ban reintroduced. But part of it is also looking at other sources of the violence. Because frankly, in my home town of Chicago, there’s an awful lot of violence and they’re not using AK-47s. They’re using cheap hand guns.
And so what can we do to intervene, to make sure that young people have opportunity; that our schools are working; that if there’s violence on the streets, that working with faith groups and law enforcement, we can catch it before it gets out of control.
And so what I want is a — is a comprehensive strategy. Part of it is seeing if we can get automatic weapons that kill folks in amazing numbers out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. But part of it is also going deeper and seeing if we can get into these communities and making sure we catch violent impulses before they occur.
Beautiful, Bob. But, my rant——”unless you are Jed Clampett, you do not need a gun for ‘hunting and sporting’. This is 2012, and we don’t get our food that way anymore. I call bullshit on this. Rant over.
“I’ve had my shop here for 10 years, I’ve been cutting their hair for years, their first hair cuts, I know them all. I’m just afraid to find out. It’s very surreal,” – Marcey Benitez, hairdresser.
I’m just thinking about the phone call I got from my Ct. daughter yesterday——she left work early and was on her way to her son’s class in an elementary school not too far from the school today to help with the kids making gingerbread houses. What a juxtaposition to the news today. Innocent children working on a fun holiday project——-making gingerbread houses——versus being shot in their classroom today.
It was an entire kindergarten class that was killed today—–reporter on NBC just broke down reporting this news with Lester Holt. Kindergarten. 5 year olds.
What happened near us in Oregon this week pales in comparison to the mass murder in Connecticut. I will be contacting both Rep Schrader, a Democrat, and Rep Greg Walden, a Republican to ask them to co-sponsor a ban on assault rifles and tighter mental health checks to get a permit.. They both got contributions from the NRA.
Done Judith. Thank you also. I must confess, I will need to take something to calm my nerves now because too many memories of my pass in dealing with this type of awful pain on these children, the school, and the parents are too much for the moment. I will check in later TOD family.HZ
CBS: teachers were tipped to try and make the kids safe when someone tripped the intercom and they heard cursing in the office #Hero— Amy Wood (@TVAmy) December 14, 2012
I have called Corker, Alexander, Duncan and four other TN reps. Took the last four off the NRA website. I told the person I first wanted to make a statement and then I had a question for the representative. “On December 14, 2012 our country is at an intersection. My question is: Which way will Rep/Senator turn? Will he/she turn and continue on the road with the NRA or will he/she turn and do the right thing for our children, our moms and our dads.?” Then, I repeated the question, adding some things depending on the office I was speaking with. I had an ugly experience w/the young man in Stephen Fincher’s office……too long to go into, but believe me when I say it was ugly. I also called the WH……just letting PO know that I am a huge supporter, I worked on his campaign, I respect him and trust him and please……it’s time to have a discussion about gun control in this country.
My Facebook has blown up with this shooting and the whole subject of gun control. I did a post, saying that I had made all these calls and said if EVERY person who is so upset would do what I am doing, we would see change. I said IT HAS TO BE FROM THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My Heart goes out to the Parents and relatives……with Christmas so close…..I can imagine presents have been brought and the little ones were counting down the days………………OMG……….So incredible horrible. Enough.
Now is the time to take down the NRA. My sister is a teacher, she loves her students, kingergarden class. My SO and I have decided we will make phone calls every day from this point on until something is done about assult guns and easy access to guns.
Just 18 hrs ago, those Republicans in the Michigan House rammed thru a bill making it LEGAL to carry a gun into a school or day care center.— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) December 14, 2012
A 24 year old man equipped with 3 guns killed his mother, the teacher of a kindergarten class, and all her students.
What kind of a culture have we evolved into where this is possible?
It is not just the NRA. Violent movies and video games have contributed.
Every poitician with an “I’ve got mine. Screw you” attitude shares the blame.
I think it’s up to every one of us to make calls to Congress to demand change.
We can call our effort Making a Safer Society or something along those lines.
202-224-3121
Paid-off Pols can’t/ won’t do this. It is up to us.
Okay the President had tears talking about this, he is A Human Being with deep compassion.
Any more whining about The President not coming from the Planet Krypton is ridiculous.
Every time something bad happens, People on the left and right blame the President.
As Humans, we usually Blame God!
The President is not God, he has feelings, leave him alone.
Furthermore, gun owners who say that the President is coming to get your Guns, using fear tactics, now, everybody lunatic has a Gun.
And the way DC is, if the President did anything on this, Boner and his allies would twist it and scuttle every bill in congress, until he took back gun control measures. It’s how DC media and the Republicans roll.
So, let’s keep the focus on what we can do, who is to blame, and come together in stopping all this violence.
That is all!
RT @MattVas: President Obama quoted Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) December 14, 2012
I feel sick to my stomach today. I cannot believe kindergarteners were slaughtered today. Babies! Innocent little children. Of course I feel for the adults but I can’t help but think about those kindergarteners. I pray for those lost, the families and friends left behind.
I am going to be fine, and thanks to all who are thinking about my health. I thought of it as well and that is why I left for a few moments. But you know, my dear TOD family, I can see some of the young and very bright young student-teachers who came through my classrooms over the years, and this could have been their beautiful classrooms.
I had some beautiful principals, wonderful school board members, reasonable supintendents, and great parents. When they dropped their precious students off each morning to their schools, then we had the responsibility of teaching, supervising events for their children, and keeping them safe for each of those parents. I took that responsibility very seriously, and I can see some here who are still in the classroom teaching these precious little children all over this country. I commend each of you in doing your daily duties with pride, love, compassion, and grace. Do not stop. But I do recall one younger teacher was so upset that that teacher quit that afternoon after one of the situations where I was teaching.
So what we can do:
Contact our Senators until this school year is over.
Contact our Representatives until this school year is over.
Write them each week, month, day, telling them what we want and need them to do.
Tweet as often as can and keep this subject open and out front for these precious children who lost their lives today, and also for the teachers, the staff members, and the parents and friends.
Write to the White House and ask them what do they want us to do to keep this message to Congress to get something done. Put it in a format that is reliable to carry the message from “The People.” Write Stephanie Cutter and staff and tell them to get us a format and we will jam the phones, the tweeter accounts, and their email boxes.
We do this for as long as it move their heads, hearts, and behinds. We can do this.
I do not want young, bright, brilliant, and loving young teachers who are devoting their college hours right now to head into the teaching profession. We need them. Let us do this for them.
We the people get up and speak, they have to listen. This is how we will move this. Let this be a thought to think about. Do it for those parents, those little children. Have any of you ever taught a little precious 5 year old? They are so precious and so innocent and caring. We just lost some doctors, firemen/firewomen/ attorneys, teachers, medical researchers, computer technicians, journalist(great ones) writers, painters, musicians, composers, and I could go on and on. Let us not continue to let the guns generate our society, but allow the greatestness of our young children going to school daily to learn and lead our society for a greater goodness.
This is my plea today. I am willing to do my part. I have a beautiful great-niece who is a great educator and she loves those students and she puts her life on the line for those things that she studied to hard to get her graduate degree just to do this. I love her, and I know many, if not all of you have some as well.
We elected a great president, so we know we can elect in 2014 strong people who want to work for the people and with this president to make this happen for our nation. Think on these things and let us give great thought to these precious children, and teachers and parents this gift from us. We can’t bring back the beautiful lives and beautiful futures of these beautiful and precious children, but we sure as hell can bring about some change in Washington, DC. “We can be the change that we want.”
I will be fine because I am a fighter and will always be for children. They were my life and they gave me life daily. Joyfulness in my life. Let us give something back to their parents. HZ
Just finished a piece for TPV on today’s events. Here’s a bit of it:
As you know, LL, all those 2nd Amendment ‘constitutionalists’ conveniently forget the “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state …”
Nothing, absolutely, nothing about the current status of weapons possession by citizens in the United States of America comes even close to ‘well regulated’ and as for ‘militia being necessary for the security of the state’ – well, we spend more than the next 10 Nations combined on defense.
We know the situation is grotesquely absurd. We also know how to remedy it. It’s not a mystery by any stretch.
#FORWARD
I make that point in the piece that the gun advocates forget that the right to bear arms was tied to an obligation of armed service to the state. As far as I’m concerned, the 2nd Amendment is a dead letter.
Thank you LL. So tired of people misunderstanding the intention of that amendment. As I have always seen it, it pertains to “the military”, which we have at large.
I am heartsick. I can’t take this any more. It is time NOW…
I recommend contacting specific REPUBLICAN members of congress who are heavily lobbied by the NRA. That is one way we can help @BarackObama to do something about guns.
On it…
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/05/contact-congress-address-phone-twitter.html
Dems cower in fear of the NRA also. This cannot continue. It’s beyond nuts.
Yes that is true.
Actually it is YOU and other voters that needs to do something. Obama cannot do ANYTHING with the current congress. Not even stuff that used to be routine like raising the debt ceiling. You think he is going to accomplish anything by trying to go after gun control and giving all the wingnut conspiracy theorists more ammo so to speak.
Forget it. Not gonna happen. You expect far too much of Obama. He is not a dictator and does not own a magic wand.
That’s the most defeatist attitude ever. I am making things happen by speaking out, but making my voice heard and if you don’t have the strength to do that, I have no words for you. And nobody said he’s a dictator. But he does have a bully pulpit which needs to be put to use now.
I’m afraid, Fred is right. If Obama had spoken out for gun control before election, he would have risked to loose. But he always takes on tough fights. He will make his point clear. However I wouldn’t expect too much. There are other issues on his priority list, I guess.
I apologize deeply! He WILL make it a priority
Supposedly “close to 20″ have been killed at the CT school, possibly half children, in the K-4 school. There may be more, of course.
CNN reporting that 18 children dead, nine adults. I am beyond sick about this. There needs to be some kind of meaningful response to this unimaginable horror, beyond expressing sympathy for the families.
Something has to be done. This is now becoming an everyday experience and it is horrific. These are innocent lives and my heart breaks for them. I never thought there would be another mass shooting worse than Columbine but this shooting in Newtown, CT is shaping up to be the deadliest mass school shooting in our history. No one should feel afraid to go into the public space. No one. My thoughts and prayers go to the families of the victims.
Call, write, email, tweet, YOUR REPUBLICAN members of Congress. PBO needs our support. He cannot wave a magic wand and get this done. (If he could, surely he would have done it by now…. ) WE HAVE TO HAVE HIS BACK.
Tell these Senators and Congress people that the blood of those kids are on their hands.
The ones who are scared of the NRA. There are some Democrats too.
No. No. No. No.
27 people killed? Mostly children? I am just weeping my eyes out. What is this nation becoming for goodness sake?
Perhaps, we should have everyone carry a gun? Is that what NRA wants? Who would protect the little ones? This is fatuously beyond wickedness, cruelty and madness. We are slowly making a mockery of who we are. Guns are man made. These children had and have a right NOT to be shot or harmed or scared for the rest of their rights.
Yes, Nena; I’m afraid that the ##!@!! NRA WOULD like everyone to carry guns. And they’ll give you that absurd argument that “People kill people; not guns.” It would have been impossible for someone with a knife – or even a dozen knives – to kill 27 people without being apprehended. The other thing that is so rarely mentioned about gun murders is that the killer doesn’t even have to get close to his/her victim, and look the victim in the eyes. Holding a gun distances the killer from the victim… The humanity is gone before the trigger is pulled.
I live in Danbury, one of the towns that adjoins Newtown, so this is very close to home. There was supposed to be a performance of The Messiah tonight, and it’s been cancelled – the whole area is in lockdown. So an evening of celebration and worship has been cancelled because of the actions of one – or possibly two – maniac(s) with multiple firearms.
In my opinion, the easy and undocumented availability of firearms makes it far too “easy” for the disturbed among us to act like crazed animals and cause untold havoc and heartbreak…
Gato
Once again, we are truly sickened by this insanity of gone violence in this country. I cannot bear these atrocities. I cannot fathom the grief of the families. OMG, please make this stop.
Should read, GUN VIOLENCE. I’m too freaked out to type.
NOT Again indeed. Another freaking senseless killings of people, shorten untimely because of GUNS.
Holy Mary Mother of God……Help Us.
The public needs to respond—–demand that lawmakers take on the NRA and address gun control in this country. If the response is only “prayers and sympathy to the families”—-again—–I will scream. We need organized action.
The usual response from the public:
1. Prayers and sympathy to the families…
2. Barack Obama needs to…
3. Someone in the shooter’s family or community says the shooter “was troubled” …
4. We find out where the guns and/or rifles were legally purchased …
5. The lawmakers blame everybody but themselves …
6. The NRA puts out a statement which does not point back to the guns and/or rifles …
7. The sun sets and the sun rises; the media continue to cover the tragedy as if it’s just their latest shiny object; the public is engaged but feeling hopeless, until the next time it happens …
I agree, this time there needs to be more than words.
I wish I hadn’t had to have written this piece. But it’s here: http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/12/the-right-not-to-be-shot.html
I wish you hadn’t either. Well done.
Bravo LL
The fact is, whether we like it or not, very few people on the national stage, including up to this point, PBO, have been willing to actually address doing something about this. It is time for that to change. PBO has always been very good, and I respect him for this, of being what we have called “Mourner in Chief.” It is time for him to move beyond that. And yes, I am saying what I would like to see him do. A national discussion has to be begun…not some time when emotions have cooled down…but NOW. And I truly hope he will start it.
There are a lot of things on his plate, and I would never want to be in his shoes, but the slaughter of our citizens by others who are citizens, is, IMO, more important than anything else. Oh, others will talk about it, but national attention will only really be focused on it, if he takes the reins and at least starts the discussion.
I will always be supportive of him, but if he doesn’t step up on this I will be disappointed.
It’s not only about Pres. Obama. You want something done? Call your congressional representatives and demand that they write legislation that comprehensively addresses guns, the use of them, and the ownership of them. Congress has a major role to play in this. A major role.
Exactly right, UT.
Amen, UT. The president is not a dictator. Every single person who is sickened by endless tragedy needs to INSIST that their reps in Congress and in their state houses do something about it. No one can do this but ourselves. And I don’t want to hear one more word from any gun owner about hunters. This has nothing to do with hunting and everything to do with the insanity of demented people owning guns and using them on innocent victims.
Could not agree more Japa, time to take this on, enough’s enough, today is just too much.
PBO has got to take the lead on this! Congress is absolutely useless – we need him to fight hard for this! My heart is breaking for the families!
CT, I agree that PBO has to “Take the Lead” on this, he can’t write laws, He can sign bills into law. Congress has to write the bills to get to his desk. You probably already this, but sometimes we forget. If Congress is uselees, then PBO has nothing to sign.
I agree. I cannot imagine the horror for these innocent young children—- and their parents. One mom is telling of the wrenching emotional scene of waiting parents learning their child had been killed. If this unimaginable tragedy does not provoke some kind of meaningful response, I will not understand it—-at all.
Japa, I respect your opinion on this matter, and I agree that more needs to be done in terms of Gun control than just the usual “thoughts and prayers to the families” etc. Having said that, we need to consider a few things.
Many of these victims’ families are extremely grateful for the personal comfort that is provided to them by the President (or anyone else) at this time, and they are not thinking about politics or policy when they are grappling with deep grief. That has shown to be a significant part of the healing process in past events, and we cannot claim to know what these people want or need in the days immediately following such tragedies.
Furthermore, by reaching the families in this way, the President can actually get them to be allies in his push for ban on assault weapons – particularly if they were not open that idea in the past. Remember, a lot of these families themselves may own guns and may believe in the right to bear arms without interference from politicians. They may have voted for pro-gun politicians and not really understood the implications.
The President has very few allies in this fight. The media (both left and right), Dems and GOP in congress are too coward to stand up to the NRA lobby. So PBO pretty much needs to reach out to the families to help them, and let them in turn help him get this agenda pushed forward initially. They then can push their local officials to do the right thing at the state levels and enlist the help of other activist/advocacy groups to create a larger movement.
But he cannot get their help and trust by first giving a prime time speech on banning guns while the families are in the throes of grief and making funeral arrangements. He MUST touch them in a personal way, and that entails going the “Mourner-in-Chief” route first and foremost.
I am not saying he shouldn’t erach out to the families. But to be honest, if I was one of those parents, at this point I might well say to him, “Mr. President, thank you for your words, but you have said them before. When is something goign to be done?”
You are speaking from your vantage point, not the parents because we know next to nothing about them. But as I said, some of these families themselves may own guns and may have voted locally for pro-gun officials – regardless of whether or not they supported PBO for president.
So gun laws are not what they’re thinking about and PBO going on TV and making a speech about banning guns may not necessarily get them engaged in the process. I’m just saying we need to keep this in mind, and he can only take his cues from the families, not from us.
Japa I totally echo what you have said.
all the lives affected by this tragedy today, promising little lives just getting started snatched away because one person couldn’t control himself. One person who had access to guns. I too am fed up, sick beyond sick over this repeated attack on citizens- and this time babies. People can not be trusted with guns, yep I mean that.. if they could then we would have zero shootings in this country. And one lost child today is one too many. WE, the targets of these guns need to take a stand.. and finally demand enough, imo.
I am so sorry for all involved today.. I can’t get over these little lives gone- little persons so innocent of all the politics- who still believed in Santa Claus, just gone. My heart goes out to them, their loved ones.
Stricter gun control is only one answer. No one and I mean no one needs semiautomatic weapons to hunt. I know I’m on a rant but glorifying gun violence in movies and video games does lead to desensitzation and life will not seem as valued because all you have to do is restart the game. Also, can someone please do something about mental health in this country. There are people who need medication and they aren’t getting it. Either it is too expensive or they need someone to make sure that it is taken.
Agree!
Is there a way to find out which Congress Members and Senators are bought by the NRA? I would like to direct my anger directly at them, along with the NRA.
Probably the number is close to 535.
Not true….The lady whose husband was killed in NY. There are many Dems who want action, more than half Dems want sensible control.
A well regulated is always forgotten when these discussions are had.
You can count on it , most of the Republicans are bought by the NRA, and alot of Dems too.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2012&id=D000000082
I am so heartsick and angry! This has got to stop! We must start standing up against the NRA. We must make our voices heard! We must take back or RIGHT NOT TO BE SHOT!
Damn right, and if there was ever a mass protest necessary, this is it. All rights are precious but the right to life is utmost.
I would just like to say how much I hate reporters for this. These children have been traumitized enough. They do not need to be put on display. Leave the kids alone and let the parents get them home to decompress and love on them.
I say in this case…..let them tell the stories as they are. No 9yrs old should be put in a position to escort little kids to safety due to a wickedly senseless multiple killings.
I know where you are going…..but in this case, Sanitizing what happened should Not be allowed by the media. If I had a network, I will show the pictures and the ugly despicable horrific scene. That is how USA is to be mobilize to say: ENOUGH.
The whole ugly truth of what happens in these situation is long gone from the days of hiding the horrific massacre.
Don’t let the MSM stand on the sidelines encouraging the GOP/NRA while pointing fingers at PBO alone. Let’s come down on them HEAVILY for being part of the problem in the first place.
The media stood by and thought it was cute – carrying live rallies of Teaparty folks bringing guns to events, justifying their “anger,” tolerating and even pushing crap from the likes of Sarah Palin with her cross hairs, etc. Now when a lot of children are dead, they assuage their guilt by trying to shift attention to the their favorite scapegoat, President Obama.
Not this time.
You are 1001% correct HF2.
They take the money. They pretended that the teabaggers were not carry weapons to the POTUS’s events. The media is failing this nation.
As right now as we speak, FOX News is still pushing NRA propaganda. Why doesn’t Piers have the courage to speak out against his sister network and their pro-gun violence propaganda?
Why should he? Murdoch started him out and he learned his phone hackery cheating bat poop from his Tabloid days in UK.
It’s always got to be about President Obama and how disappointed they are in him.
Never miss an opportunity to be disappointed in the President.
These folks . . . . who changes their diapers for them, really?
Piers Morgan is the most insufferable of them all. His insults and his disdain for pres Obama makes me puke…..seriously. Torre of MSNBC can’t stand this one rusty penny from across the pond.
“The media stood by and thought it was cute – carrying live rallies of Teaparty folks bringing guns to events, justifying their “anger,” tolerating and even pushing crap from the likes of Sarah Palin with her cross hairs, etc”
Boom. There it is. So what’s their spiel now ? Can’t put this on PBO who himself has been threatened and personally shot at, all without support from the beltway. Luckily he nor his family were in residence at the time, but repeatedly no one talks about the enormous danger he is always in from those whose right to bear arms they continually uphold, at any cost. No, the blood is also on the media’s hands. We the people have to have this fight, and I for one am ready.
If the Lord doesn’t watch the city the watchman watch but in vain. This is so sad and I’m praying for the families of the slain and injured.
According to an adviser for the CT Governor on CNN, the President just called the Governor and offered both his condolences and federal help, if needed.
Mostly Repubs, but a fair amount of Dems too. What can we do with this list? What can we do about this? I want action and answers. Anyone have ideas?
Write, call, use your Facebook to organize if you have one.
Neither of my Senators nor Maxine Waters is on that list. I’m still going to write them to let them know that the time for action is long past.
Thanks for posting Chips. This is a fantastic resource.
second.
Many Ct. parents work in NY City—–I just can’t imagine it—–learning about the shooting and not knowing the fate of your child—-and trying to get back to Ct.—–which would take time—– with all that intense, immense fear. It would be crippling.
It’s not about the leadership President Obama. It’s about a mega-ton NRA lobby that has bought Congress lock, stock and barrel. The NRA issues grades and the House and the Senate are terrified of them. They couldn’t even muster the courage when one of their own was tragically struck in the course of carrying out her duties. It’s sick and we are powerless to change it unless We the People stand up and demand it in UNITY. The people of this country are NOT united on this issue. So President Obama can beat his chest to a pulp and what exactly will happen? That doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t make a forceful statement about the shame of this horror show. But to expect him to change it is highly unrealistic.
Exactly right !
it’s not just about guns, which obviously need more regulation, but it’s about the republican/libertarian mindset that’s been purposely been pumped into the public’s mind over decades. the “me first” generation is why these are happening more and more.
we preach inclusion, tolerance, and we’re all in this together. we want to help those who are sick and are willing to spend money doing it. republicans and “the news” preach “individualism” as the greatest good, to hell with anyone else. the leader of modern republican thought, ayn rand, proudly talked about how she was impressed by william hickman, who gruesomely murdered a child, and how he could do it without emotion.
as long as republicans like paul lyin ryan are allowed to preach their gospel of “me, me, me!!,” these will keep happening more and more. we must stop them once and for all. forward!!!!!
“republican/libertarian mindset that’s been purposely been pumped into the public’s mind over decades”
Thank you. That is a HUGE part of the recent increase in shootings, and something that a lot of people seem to be missing.
Saddened as once again innocent lives are taken. The most powerful country in the world shackled by some gun nuts.When is it gonna stop?! Hope this Admin can do something about it. I actually heard on the news this morning that some Chinese nut went into a school in China with a knife and I said to myself ‘thank God he didn’t have a gun’ now this.
My one caution to those who have the mega phone and the media savvy skills……..Let Us hold these people accountable. Not reactionary. I mean……I like how many here have shown their anger. But folks like Piers and Ed Schultz need to be pushed to channel their anger where it should rest…..at NRA, Gun Lobbyists, The media, and those who push the Stand Your Ground laws……etc.
You are so correct. We need to tell the msm it is as much their fault as anyone. They have pushed the NRA’s line as much as anyone!
Here is a resource for finding the politicians by party, state, legislative body, etc., who received donations from in the NRA in 2012. Chips posted this on Twitter – it is an excellent tool.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?id=D000000082&type=P&cycle=2012&sort=A&state=
Thank you, adding the govenor of Michigan to the list.
THIS is what we are dealing with:
That’s a military weapon and it is illegal.
According to AP, this gun is legal.
UT – that was a typo … I was trying to make the point that it was ‘legal’ and am just a tad upset … see my correction already posted, below.
Sorry that was supposed to be – ^^^it is legal^^^ meaning that is how crazy the situation now is. That’s the kind of weapon Special Ops folk use!!!
Special ops folks use M-4 carbine, sig saucer p 239.
Mostly 5.56 mm and 9 mm.
These are illegal, but AR-15 semi automatic weapons you can buy at fucking walmart for goodness sakes.
Hartford Courant reporting that an entire classroom is unaccounted for.
Oh Jesus.
I’m just sad for the families affected. No speech or law will bring their loved one back.
I’m just curious as to who and why?
But new laws would save more children from dying.
Gun-owning ‘freedom’ lovers trying to comment here for the first time today? Go f**k yourselves.
THANK YOU, Chips.
Thank you Chips!!!
Thank you Chips!
Fuck them up their asses. And no, don’t pardon my French.
It is amazing—–on any website where there is news of guns or shooting——NRA members swarm in immediately to defend their damn guns and the 2nd amendment. Talk about terrorists…….they are the sickest element of our society. Even in my little local paper, there was news about a new gun range, and as soon as someone made one negative comment, there were multiple responses by NRA freaks. It’s creepy to the max.
Seriously Dotster, I went away for 30 minutes and when I came back there were five messages in pending from gun freaks, what the **** is wrong with these people?
I don’t know what’s wrong with them. I don’t understand how their brains work, how they can be that devoted to their killing machines. Even this week when the Chgo Trib reported that an appeals ct. had overturned the ban on conceal-carry in Illinois——-there were literally 100′s of celebratory comments from the NRA creeps. You would think in Illinois there would be protests to this news, but the NRA took over that commentary. It is revolting and frightening.
Kick ass, Chips. They’d better not even think about it !!
Just 18 hrs ago, Michigan House Republicans rammed through a bill making it LEGAL to carry a gun into a school or a day care center. THIS is the madness we are dealing with at both the state and the federal level. It’s an epidemic of gun worship over morality and it’s SICK.
When I saw the news about this, my jaw dropped at the stupidity and recklessness of such a law; and now this.
The NRA controls many of these state legislators as well as much of our Congress. As I check news websites around the country, almost every day there is news of some new easing of gun laws.
We really screwed ourselves in 2010.
Thank your Chips!!!!!!!!!!! And thank you meta!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is not a time to be placing blame on POB. We put our minds and hearts into contacting our Senators and Representatives of what we want done. They write the legislations, the Executive Branch makes sure the laws are carried out.
Many of us were in those classrooms with those beautiful precious children, and the first thing we had to do was make sure those children were as safe as possible. So let us put out some goodness in our thoughts for the teachers, and the entire staff at that school who have to face those little faces and their parents and their families when they go home, if they make it there.
Let us stop, and put out thoughts and energies into something that we can control. This is a very difficult time for that entire school and community. I have been there where these teachers and children are today several times. Please. Please. Please. Let us gather our thoughts, and then decided what constructive actions we would like to take and will take to move this along into a better place for the all of our schools. And those teachers, parents, staffers, phychologists, community leaders do need our prayers. I got through many of these because someone came up to me afterwards and hugged me and whispered a prayer for me as I was leaving the campus at the end of the ordeal. So do not stop your carrying and good words going forth for those children, parents, teachers, and staff members.HZ
HZ, bless you and thank you for reminding us once again of the right priorities. People first.
OMG, HZ, it hurts to know that you may have experienced something like this. Please take good care of yourself today. This is extremely traumatic and we must breathe and keep those families in our thoughts.
It’s exactly that, meta. Gun worship. The possession of guns must be put above everything–family, love, patriotism, common humanity and common sense. When did this country become so insane.
” When did this country become so insane.” ?
Probably when it stole the land and put in place mechanisms to keep ownership, at all costs and against all other claims?
Sadly, so many of them probably own firearms and will defend their “right”. I dare say this, but Malcolm X was right when he stated “chickens coming home to roost” as he declared America’s love affair with violence perpetuates this kind of misery.
Worthwhile perspective …
Bobfr, I’m thinking that possibilities to organize about this will be arising.
What are your thoughts about how we proceed? Really, this is just as good
a project as anything else, one of the many. This is NOT the President’s problem.
It’s OUR problem.
P.S. I’m not lookin’ to grieve. I’m looking to get organized.
I’m numb. Just numb. It’s going to be hard getting through the rest of the day. And I have my wife’s holiday party to go to after work. Fuck.
I know how you feel LL, I’m beyond numb. As a parent of a seven year old, I’m sick to my stomach.
Right there with you, LL. I can’t seem to even type accurately let alone deal with the next six hours of non-stop meetings!!!
Why would you post something like that?
Probably because it all relates?
Because it’s the unvarnished truth, that’s why. That’s what gun ownership has always been about in this country.
That’s not all but a definite, sickening part of it, many of ‘em think President Obama is going to invade their homes, or “a Mexican,” and it all needs to be broken down and put out there. I agree we do not need to hold back any of our thoughts.
I don’t think that the impetus for the 2nd amendment was brought about because the founding fathers wanted a sure fire way to deal with a home invasion. Furthermore you can’t single out white men and accuse them wholesale of having some sort of fantasy about killing a minority home invader. I’m almost sure that if that home invader was white, that home owner would not hesitate in pulling the trigger.
Don, itgurl demonstrated only one part of the problem. As for protecting home, the mindset began when same man stole this land from the indigenous and erected a system of divine rights to maintain ownership of the land, which by extension became the “supreme” right to bear arms. This is as I see history.
Here’s a piece of the lead news story on the NRA.org website:
“The National Rifle Association is proud to announce that its hit television show on Outdoor Channel, Friends of NRA, has been nominated for three 2012 Fan Favorite Golden Moose Awards.”
I found this on their “history of the NRA” page:
“Since the establishment of the lifesaving Eddie Eagle® Gun Safety Program in 1988, more than 21 million pre-kindergarten to sixth grade children have learned that if they see a firearm in an unsupervised situation, they should ‘STOP. DON’T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT.’”
A link on their website takes you to a CNN article from Nov. 9, 2012, which carried this as its lead paragraph:
“Gun sales are up in the wake of Barack Obama’s re-election on Tuesday, driven by fears of tighter regulations under a Democratic president, especially for firearms that might be classified as assault weapons.”
Couldn’t find anything on their website about whether or not that awful head of the NRA has children or grandchildren in schools, or whether he’s actually been given permission by President Obama to breed in the first place, since we know the President is fully in charge of and responsible for every facet of American life, including the reproductive habits of Neanderthals.
Here’s a list of politicians who are receiving money from the NRA. Rs and Ds.
http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2012&id=D000000082
Call them, tweet them, email them:
http://www.whatisworking.com/2011/05/contact-congress-address-phone-twitter.html
Gunman killed his father in Hoboken, N.J. and his mom, who was a teacher at the school—–shot up an entire classroom of 18 kids.
Fuck it, I just unfollowed BWD.
What?!?! What happened now?
Obama has to do this that and the other. I’m just in no mood.
Is there a doctor in the house?—had to get that out!
I don’t blame you. I feel your pain.
This is something everyone can do. It’s one step along a very tough road.
I’m going to write letters to Sens. Feinstein and Boxer and Rep. Waters. But right now I can’t do anything. I’m just sitting at my desk shaking my head.
Done. Just called. Said I plan to call and/or write every day. I can multi-task and so can our god damn Representatives. In addition to my frequent badgering them about doing their damn job in raising the rates on the top 2% they can expect to hear frequently from me on stricter gun control laws now. WE THE PEOPLE ARE OUR OWN GOD DAMN BULLY PULPIT. RT’d also. Thanks UT.
NBC reporting the shooter is 24 year old Ryan Lanza. He murdered his father in NJ, drove to Sandyhook Elementary in CT where his mother works, ostensibly with the intent of murdering her and everyone else in the school. http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/State-Police-Responding-to-Shooting-at-School-Police–183498401.html
He shot and killed her and shot and killed every kid in her class. It doesn’t get any sicker.
This is one sick individual.
What a vile sick miscreant. I do hope he rots in hell! Sorry but vermin like that deserve nothing but the deepest contempt.
An important reminder as to what our President said during the 2nd debate:
QUESTION: President Obama, during the Democratic National Convention in 2008, you stated you wanted to keep AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. What has your administration done or planned to do to limit the availability of assault weapons?
OBAMA: We’re a nation that believes in the Second Amendment, and I believe in the Second Amendment. We’ve got a long tradition of hunting and sportsmen and people who want to make sure they can protect themselves.
But there have been too many instances during the course of my presidency, where I’ve had to comfort families who have lost somebody. Most recently out in Aurora. You know, just a couple of weeks ago, actually, probably about a month, I saw a mother, who I had met at the bedside of her son, who had been shot in that theater.
And her son had been shot through the head. And we spent some time, and we said a prayer and, remarkably, about two months later, this young man and his mom showed up, and he looked unbelievable, good as new.
But there were a lot of families who didn’t have that good fortune and whose sons or daughters or husbands didn’t survive.
So my belief is that, (A), we have to enforce the laws we’ve already got, make sure that we’re keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, those who are mentally ill. We’ve done a much better job in terms of background checks, but we’ve got more to do when it comes to enforcement.
But I also share your belief that weapons that were designed for soldiers in war theaters don’t belong on our streets. And so what I’m trying to do is to get a broader conversation about how do we reduce the violence generally. Part of it is seeing if we can get an assault weapons ban reintroduced. But part of it is also looking at other sources of the violence. Because frankly, in my home town of Chicago, there’s an awful lot of violence and they’re not using AK-47s. They’re using cheap hand guns.
And so what can we do to intervene, to make sure that young people have opportunity; that our schools are working; that if there’s violence on the streets, that working with faith groups and law enforcement, we can catch it before it gets out of control.
And so what I want is a — is a comprehensive strategy. Part of it is seeing if we can get automatic weapons that kill folks in amazing numbers out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. But part of it is also going deeper and seeing if we can get into these communities and making sure we catch violent impulses before they occur.
http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=october-1-2012-the-second-obama-romney-presidential-debate
thank you for posting this Bob.
Beautiful, Bob. But, my rant——”unless you are Jed Clampett, you do not need a gun for ‘hunting and sporting’. This is 2012, and we don’t get our food that way anymore. I call bullshit on this. Rant over.
Gunman walked into the front office, shot everyone, went to the kindergarten class where his mother was teacher, killed her and shot the children.
My heart is aching so much right now, I can’t talk but I can type. I am so thankful for this community!
“I’ve had my shop here for 10 years, I’ve been cutting their hair for years, their first hair cuts, I know them all. I’m just afraid to find out. It’s very surreal,” – Marcey Benitez, hairdresser.
Tears.
I’m just thinking about the phone call I got from my Ct. daughter yesterday——she left work early and was on her way to her son’s class in an elementary school not too far from the school today to help with the kids making gingerbread houses. What a juxtaposition to the news today. Innocent children working on a fun holiday project——-making gingerbread houses——versus being shot in their classroom today.
I’m so happy your family is okay, and understand about the unnerving contrast between the two schools. It’s devastating.
It was an entire kindergarten class that was killed today—–reporter on NBC just broke down reporting this news with Lester Holt. Kindergarten. 5 year olds.
What happened near us in Oregon this week pales in comparison to the mass murder in Connecticut. I will be contacting both Rep Schrader, a Democrat, and Rep Greg Walden, a Republican to ask them to co-sponsor a ban on assault rifles and tighter mental health checks to get a permit.. They both got contributions from the NRA.
Done Judith. Thank you also. I must confess, I will need to take something to calm my nerves now because too many memories of my pass in dealing with this type of awful pain on these children, the school, and the parents are too much for the moment. I will check in later TOD family.HZ
Take it easy HZ. Hang in there and take care of yourself.
prayers and hugs for you hz.
That person really should be called a hero or heroine. Quick thinking, if this proves to be true.
President Obama will speak at 3:15PM ET.
The major networks CBS, ABC, and NBC (and maybe others) are all covering the CT school shootings as Special Reports.
At 3:15 p.m., Eastern, the President is expected to make remarks in the press briefing room.
I have called Corker, Alexander, Duncan and four other TN reps. Took the last four off the NRA website. I told the person I first wanted to make a statement and then I had a question for the representative. “On December 14, 2012 our country is at an intersection. My question is: Which way will Rep/Senator turn? Will he/she turn and continue on the road with the NRA or will he/she turn and do the right thing for our children, our moms and our dads.?” Then, I repeated the question, adding some things depending on the office I was speaking with. I had an ugly experience w/the young man in Stephen Fincher’s office……too long to go into, but believe me when I say it was ugly. I also called the WH……just letting PO know that I am a huge supporter, I worked on his campaign, I respect him and trust him and please……it’s time to have a discussion about gun control in this country.
My Facebook has blown up with this shooting and the whole subject of gun control. I did a post, saying that I had made all these calls and said if EVERY person who is so upset would do what I am doing, we would see change. I said IT HAS TO BE FROM THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well done, tnmtngirl!
My Heart goes out to the Parents and relatives……with Christmas so close…..I can imagine presents have been brought and the little ones were counting down the days………………OMG……….So incredible horrible. Enough.
Now is the time to take down the NRA. My sister is a teacher, she loves her students, kingergarden class. My SO and I have decided we will make phone calls every day from this point on until something is done about assult guns and easy access to guns.
President’s statement at 3:15
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/14/statement-from-the-president-315-et/
A 24 year old man equipped with 3 guns killed his mother, the teacher of a kindergarten class, and all her students.
What kind of a culture have we evolved into where this is possible?
It is not just the NRA. Violent movies and video games have contributed.
Every poitician with an “I’ve got mine. Screw you” attitude shares the blame.
I think it’s up to every one of us to make calls to Congress to demand change.
We can call our effort Making a Safer Society or something along those lines.
202-224-3121
Paid-off Pols can’t/ won’t do this. It is up to us.
Okay the President had tears talking about this, he is A Human Being with deep compassion.
Any more whining about The President not coming from the Planet Krypton is ridiculous.
Every time something bad happens, People on the left and right blame the President.
As Humans, we usually Blame God!
The President is not God, he has feelings, leave him alone.
Furthermore, gun owners who say that the President is coming to get your Guns, using fear tactics, now, everybody lunatic has a Gun.
And the way DC is, if the President did anything on this, Boner and his allies would twist it and scuttle every bill in congress, until he took back gun control measures. It’s how DC media and the Republicans roll.
So, let’s keep the focus on what we can do, who is to blame, and come together in stopping all this violence.
That is all!
I feel sick to my stomach today. I cannot believe kindergarteners were slaughtered today. Babies! Innocent little children. Of course I feel for the adults but I can’t help but think about those kindergarteners. I pray for those lost, the families and friends left behind.
I am going to be fine, and thanks to all who are thinking about my health. I thought of it as well and that is why I left for a few moments. But you know, my dear TOD family, I can see some of the young and very bright young student-teachers who came through my classrooms over the years, and this could have been their beautiful classrooms.
I had some beautiful principals, wonderful school board members, reasonable supintendents, and great parents. When they dropped their precious students off each morning to their schools, then we had the responsibility of teaching, supervising events for their children, and keeping them safe for each of those parents. I took that responsibility very seriously, and I can see some here who are still in the classroom teaching these precious little children all over this country. I commend each of you in doing your daily duties with pride, love, compassion, and grace. Do not stop. But I do recall one younger teacher was so upset that that teacher quit that afternoon after one of the situations where I was teaching.
So what we can do:
Contact our Senators until this school year is over.
Contact our Representatives until this school year is over.
Write them each week, month, day, telling them what we want and need them to do.
Tweet as often as can and keep this subject open and out front for these precious children who lost their lives today, and also for the teachers, the staff members, and the parents and friends.
Write to the White House and ask them what do they want us to do to keep this message to Congress to get something done. Put it in a format that is reliable to carry the message from “The People.” Write Stephanie Cutter and staff and tell them to get us a format and we will jam the phones, the tweeter accounts, and their email boxes.
We do this for as long as it move their heads, hearts, and behinds. We can do this.
I do not want young, bright, brilliant, and loving young teachers who are devoting their college hours right now to head into the teaching profession. We need them. Let us do this for them.
We the people get up and speak, they have to listen. This is how we will move this. Let this be a thought to think about. Do it for those parents, those little children. Have any of you ever taught a little precious 5 year old? They are so precious and so innocent and caring. We just lost some doctors, firemen/firewomen/ attorneys, teachers, medical researchers, computer technicians, journalist(great ones) writers, painters, musicians, composers, and I could go on and on. Let us not continue to let the guns generate our society, but allow the greatestness of our young children going to school daily to learn and lead our society for a greater goodness.
This is my plea today. I am willing to do my part. I have a beautiful great-niece who is a great educator and she loves those students and she puts her life on the line for those things that she studied to hard to get her graduate degree just to do this. I love her, and I know many, if not all of you have some as well.
We elected a great president, so we know we can elect in 2014 strong people who want to work for the people and with this president to make this happen for our nation. Think on these things and let us give great thought to these precious children, and teachers and parents this gift from us. We can’t bring back the beautiful lives and beautiful futures of these beautiful and precious children, but we sure as hell can bring about some change in Washington, DC. “We can be the change that we want.”
I will be fine because I am a fighter and will always be for children. They were my life and they gave me life daily. Joyfulness in my life. Let us give something back to their parents. HZ