More children and school staff were killed by an armed intruder last week. My deepest sympathy to these parents and families. Will this time be different? Will politicians send their thoughts and prayers, shake their heads and then walk away. If they are not part of the solution, then they are most definitely part of the problem. There is a lot of legislation that can be passed to stop these shootings.
Politicians are too cowardly to pass legislation to stiffen penalties for school shooters. To make a school shooting a federal death penalty crime. To make any shooting death in which an illegal gun is used a life long prison sentence or death penalty for adults. And a life sentence for the seller of any gun used in a homicide. But politicians lack the guts to stand up and take a tough stand regardless of who the shooter is. Instead of sending billions to foreign countries, how about some billions in the US to provide federally funded mandated security for all schools. The US has problems too and school shootings have become a very big problem.
Race, ethnicity, age, gender or identified gender should make no difference when a person kills kids. Political correctness is out of place for anyone who indiscriminately mows down kids and school staff with a gun. No mercy. But Congress can't seem to understand this. Soft on crime, cashless bail, no incarceration, no death penalty is the trend of the justice system. And what has this accomplished? Unprecedented increases in crime all across the nation. No one is safe anywhere in the country at any venue. There are fatalities with shootings, stabbings, car jackings. We have reached all time crime records in many large cities. And take public transit at your own risk of death or assault. Barbarians are living among us because there is no fear of any consequence. The inmates are truly running the asylum.
Justice reform for whom? Not these parents and families. Already, certain groups and the media want to make excuses for this recent shooter because of her choice of gender identity and lifestyle. But that was HER choice. Her choice to turn her bedroom into an armory. She is not the victim here. Three dead children and three dead adults and all their parents and families are. I fear she will long be remembered for the wrong reasons. While these parents and families whose lives are forever changed will soon be forgotten. Left to get through life as best they can. Along with the siblings and all the other children who had to experience this horrific event.
Money spent on foreign countries and illegal migrants should be used here to provide adequate mental health care. We do not have enough psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers for the number of people who need psychiatric services. There are not enough inpatient beds for the chronically psychotic mentally ill persons who pose a danger. There are parts of the country that have no nearby mental health clinics. The process of involuntarily committing a persons who are a danger to themselves and others is so cumbersome and subject to appeal that most psychiatrists don't even try. And if they are successful, there are too few places to put dangerously disturbed people. So dangerous people are discharged in 72 hours. Told to take their meds and return to this or that place for meds and out patient treatment. Which almost none do. They wind up with no care, many times homeless and a risk to themselves and others.
What is Congress doing about the mental health crisis in America? Nothing. We are facing cowardice, corruption and an incompetent, compromised president in the Oval Office. Sending weapons to Ukraine when we need school security throughout the US and mental health and addiction services in our schools and communities. And sending $55 billion to the Middle East and Africa to protect various countries borders and establish health initiatives. We need US border control and need health initiatives in the US too.
Biden's first response at a public event immediately after this latest school shooting was to first make jokes about ice cream. When there were three dead children who will never have an ice cream cone again. There have been 401 Children killed in US school shootings. There have been 467 children killed in the Ukraine war. The US is also fighting a war on it own soil. Biden briefly mentioned the tragic event. Pushed for a ban on assault weapons. Then went back to the ice cream jokes. Having missed the irony of what he was saying about enjoying ice cream. He is not tone deaf. He is significantly cognitively impaired. So, no help there. That leaves Congress and the Supreme Court.
Schools are soft targets because there is no security as in a well armed guard. There are plenty of retired military and law enforcement officers as well as policemen leaving their jobs in droves. With federal money, every school in America could be made safe. I will be calling my Congressman. I suggest you call yours. Maybe it will do some good. Before another school shooting takes place. And, sadly with no changes in security and mental health, it will happen again. One commonality in school shootings is the shooters are copy cats.
I can only leave parents who have lost children by being shot words of comfort I borrowed again from Sister Joyce Rupp of The Sister Servants of Mary from her booklet, "Prayers in Time of Suffering."
"In this time of my grieving carry me on strong wings.
Be my patience day by day when the heartache refuses to leave.
Be my strength when I am exhausted.
Be my hope when I feel overwhelmed.
Be my faith when I do not understand.
Be my trust when I am distraught.
Be my peace when I am filled with tears.
Amen
Isaiah 40: 1
Both children and parents are guaranteed LIFE, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the US. This does not appear to be happening unless you are a criminal.
May God's love, care and mercy be upon those of us who believe in the rule of law.
My love and prayer for your children and that we will see no more murder and grief.
Rosemarie
No comments:
Post a Comment