As the reports about the school shooting in Newtown, CT grow more and more bleak, some may think it’s insensitive of me to blog about this so soon or at all. But as a writer, a mother, and a human being, I’m turning to this platform to try and work through my feelings.
I don’t think it even needs to be said that first and foremost my thoughts are with the families and communities directly affected by this tragedy. My own community, a mere 25 miles from the school where this terrible thing happened, will certainly be dealing with the emotions of this for a long time.
I have to wonder when we will live in a world where I don’t have to worry about going to the mall or the movie theaters or sending my son to school in a few years. The Columbine massacre happened when I was a junior in high school, and all these years later, we as society are still having to face a world where children die in horrific numbers while in school.
When is the time to have a serious conversation about gun control? I understand crazy people will do crazy things, no matter if they have a gun or not. Terrible things happen in this world and there is no way to prevent every tragedy. But there is a way to prevent so many deaths. Fewer guns, especially the powerful automatic weapons, will mean fewer deaths in situations like these.
It seems like such a simple concept, but there are still people who don’t want to talk about it. Who don’t think it’s an issue. I, right here, am saying it’s problem and something needs to be done about it. No, I don’t have the right solution to offer here and now. I just hope we can finally open up an honest dialogue about gun control. This is an issue that can’t wait.
