School Ties

Another tragedy occurred this week.  A gunman walked into a crowded college classroom and murdered five innocent people at Northern Illinois University.  It’s such a shame, and each time this happens, I ask myself how many lives could have been saved if just one person in that classroom had been armed with a gun.   

In a country where it’s legal to own guns, I don’t understand why our schools and universities are “gun free” zones.  Clearly, this isn’t working.  It hasn’t prevented any deranged person from walking into the campus and killing people.  If law abiding citizens were able to protect themselves while on campus, I wonder how many of these situations might be avoided.  How many lives might be saved?  I think it would be much tougher to slaughter people if they could shoot back and protect themselves. 

Have you ever wondered why these lunatics choose schools and colleges to conduct their acts of terror?  Of course, no one knows for certain.  However, I would suggest that it might have something to do with the fact that students are sitting ducks with absolutely no way to fight back, and these people know it.  They know they can inflict more damage in our educational institutions than in any other place.   

Giving people the right-to-carry arms decreases crime rates.  The statistics tell the story.  Are we ever going to be able to stop unstable people from committing senseless acts of violence?  Probably not.  The problem, however, is not with the gun.  It’s with the individual who is using the gun. 

Let’s stop trying to fix the symptoms and begin to address the real problem. We have created a troubled society that doesn’t value life and is morally deficient.  Plus, there’s not adequate care for those who have mental health problems.  However, that’s probably another topic for another blog.

So, what can you do to help prevent future acts and enable people to protect themselves?  You may want to consider that question when you go to the polls and vote later this year.  Your vote affects the policies and the laws of this country.  So let your voice be heard.