Guns

In light of the tragic events that happened in Newtown, CT there have been a lot of people with very strong opinions both pro and anti-guns.  First and foremost, my heart breaks for those families who have suffered such losses.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to have an empty spot at the table,  one less small voice or laughter in the house, one less little face to snug and kiss... as a Momma and one one who is pregnant, it haunts me.  We heard it on the news as it was happening on our visit with our friend and so I didn't really get a chance to process it fully until later.

I think one of the most tragic things is that people are all this and that about 'their rights to bear arms' when there are families grieving.  What about their rights?  What about their right to be able to grieve without having people bitch about the fact that they might get their guns taken away?!

I know people who are all for having guns are "this is my 2nd Amendment right" blah blah blah.  Yes, but I think that we should pause, and think about when the Constitution was written.  It was during times when they had muskets that WERE NOT SEMI-AUTOMATIC weapons.  As a mother I am all for the idea of being able to protect your home, and family, in which I can see people arguing for as a reason to have guns in the home.  But again, this is IN YOUR HOME, not in public, and most certainly not assault weapons.  I can guarantee you when they wrote this it it took time to load, reload their choice of weapon so it wasn't as hazardous... and these are different times here people.  Yes, I believe that the Constitution protects our rights as American citizens, but they shouldn't be taken out of context and twisted for our own selfish ambitions.

I suppose if one wanted to have a hand gun in their home that seems reasonable-ish.  The beautiful thing about living in America is that we have rights to do things, and of course, not everybody is going to believe in them.  Example:  I don't believe in having abortions, but I believe people should have the right, and safety to get them if that's what they choose.  Just because I don't believe in it doesn't mean my opinion is the authority and end all be all.  People are way to self-centered to think that just what THEY want is what SHOULD be.  ::rolling eyes::  Back to the hand gun thing.  I can't see what a civilian would have in mind owning a semi-automatic weapon in their home other than for destruction.  Nobody goes hunting with those!  Nobody does anything with those types of weapons but cause tragedies.  So, fine, you want to own a hand-gun or rifle for hunting or whatever you say its for?  I could see that being fine under the 2nd Amendment... but I, personally, in NO WAY, see the need for the other.

And really, the other problem with this situation is how it's being handled and what people are choosing to focus on.  Yes, this kid was very troubled and he chose to act in such a way that would make him remembered... but, if for a moment instead of remembering this jerk's name we remember one of the children or teachers who were taken instead.  Don't you think that would honor their memory much more instead of somebody who chose to act negatively and is getting more attention?

This is obviously a problem, as it keeps happening, and each time the next loser has to up the one before.  I'm not quite sure how I'm going to chose to handle this, but for right now, I am just going to lift up those families, survivors and not, in prayers and thoughts as they try to move through these series of events.  And for those of us who aren't directly affected by this, we should chose to remember the ones we love and remember that things could be taken away in an instant.  Kiss your loved ones one more time, hug them and tell them that you love them.

JVG