I cannot write another post without honoring, today, the innocent lives in Oregon ended by a mentally ill person with guns.
Mental health counselors, police officers, parents, relatives, friends, all of us bystanders around the world send our condolences, once more, to horrified, grief-stricken families. We’re all grief-stricken.
Prayers do not work on this hideous gun problem.
Candles do not shed light into a sick mind.
What we are NOT doing in the U.S.A. about our gun control crisis—and it is a crisis of monumental proportions—piles slab after slab of darkness on the mountain of pain. Every second.
Aren’t we ashamed?
I am.
On June 22, only a few months ago, this website honored the dead from the hideous Charleston shootings.
I am ashamed of our nation’s gutless lawmakers. I am ashamed of their lack of gumption. I am ashamed they cannot take a lesson from other countries’ stricter gun laws.
Post script added 10-3-15 at 11:38 p.m.
Just in from The New Yorker magazine. I include it because I am also ashamed that our government does not abide by what the constitution makes clear:
“… the only amendment necessary for gun legislation, on the local or national level, is the Second Amendment itself, properly understood, as it was for two hundred years in its plain original sense. This sense can be summed up in a sentence: if the Founders hadn’t wanted guns to be regulated, and thoroughly, they would not have put the phrase ‘well regulated’ in the amendment. (A quick thought experiment: What if those words were not in the preamble to the amendment and a gun-sanity group wanted to insert them? Would the National Rifle Association be for or against this change? It’s obvious, isn’t it?)”
~ The Second Amendment Is a Gun-Control Amendment by Adam Gopnik. The New Yorker. October 2, 2015
I am ashamed of Congress at this moment.
Aren’t you?
Alice
Me too, Charlene.
Mary
What we should be ashamed of is the lack of quality mental health care in this country, in addition to gun control – although I highly doubt that’ll happen in spite of these tragedies. As a mother of a son with mental illness, I can tell you that ought to be our focus. I am appalled and saddened so many people needing help are ignored and swept under the rug, as if they don’t exist until another event strikes. Let’s educate and encourage others to work and/or volunteer in these fields. I am proud of being a part of NAMI (Natl Alliance on Mental Illness), fpr giving me hope and support in what is certainly not a life I wanted for my son. Making the best of it.
Charlene L. Edge
Yes. Thank you, Mary, for sharing your story and making this most important point. My heart goes out to you and your family.
FYI. The complete article:
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-second-amendment-is-a-gun-control-amendment?mbid=nl_151003_Daily&CNDID=29159331&spMailingID=8124846&spUserID=NTc2NDY5MTI1MzIS1&spJobID=780251179&spReportId=NzgwMjUxMTc5S0
Rob Ruff
Most Americans support stricter gun control legislation. But after each horrific killing, most of us feel passionate about it for just a few days. And that lack of follow through is the problem. Until gun control supporters sustain our outrage, the opposing minority will continue to have greater influence over our politicians.
Charlene L. Edge
Appreciate your input, Rob. It’s an uphill battle, isn’t it?
Charlene
I think it is very interesting that Chicago has some of the toughest gun laws in America and there were 2,213 shootings according to the Chicago Tribune data base this year. That is an increase of more than 350 over last year. So with that said with more gun laws then there should be less deaths? Just saying. The right to bear arms is an important part of our constitution to protect it’s citizens. I also think it is interesting that these mentally ill shooters targeted gun free locations. How many lives could have been saved if more citizens were armed? I am proud to be an American. No shame here.
Charlene L. Edge
Hi Charlene,
Thanks for stopping by. I believe there should be firmer barriers (laws) for acquiring guns, better background checks of buyers, and better mental health care in this country.
Like you, I’m proud to be an American. I am a proud American who is ashamed of what my Congress does not do.
Peace,
Charlene L. Edge
Harris
Chicago is not an island! Statewide and nationwide common sense gun laws are needed.
I am proud to be an American and disgusted that we can use good old American ingenuity to solve this problem of mass shooting. Gun control is not a modern-age thing. It existed during the time of our founding fathers, post the second amendment. (Know your history.)
COMMON SENSE gun control is needed! Arming everyone is NOT the answer.
Charlene L. Edge
Glad for your post here, Harris. More guns are NOT the solution, for sure!
Harris
Charlene said: ” I also think it is interesting that these mentally ill shooters targeted gun free locations.”
The UCC campus was not a gun free zone. A 1989 Oregon law forbids any public body except the Legislature from restricting the rights of concealed weapons permit-holders to bring guns wherever they wish. In other words concealed carry was allowed on the campus. It helps to check out the facts before repeating talking points.
Charlene L. Edge
Thanks, Harris, for comments to the other “Charlene” from Chicago who is posting here.
Just so readers don’t get confused, she is not the Charlene who runs this website. I am the Charlene whose site this is, I am in Florida, and I do not think more guns will solve any problems.
Charlene L. Edge
I feel compelled to refer to today’s article in The Washington Post, which includes this hit-the-nail-on-the-head insight:
“It’s politics, as Obama said, that makes the U.S. “the only advanced country on Earth that sees these kinds of mass shootings every few months,” and politics that leads our learned legislators to pass laws barring the government from “even collecting data on how we could potentially reduce gun deaths.”
~ E.J. Doionne, Jr., Opinion piece, “The conservative evasion on guns.” 10-5-15
Janne
Thanks, Charlene, for excellent insight. I would add we need stricter gun laws as well as more mental health assistance and understanding. Why can’t we have both in a civilized, wealthy country?
Charlene L. Edge
Indeed. Why not both? Maybe the Koch brothers would like to contribute $$ to mental health clinics in every city.
Also, as someone pointed out to me today, the fact that the shooter is mentally ill goes without saying. Why? Anyone who randomly shoots people has a serious mental health crisis problem.