IN DEFENSE OF COMMON SENSE
By Hetty Gray
“Decision Time”
December 21, 2012
Long ago I emulated my mother in her love of history and far away places. Among the cultures of concentration was the Mexico’s Mayan. Their calendar far outstrips anything of its time and was the forerunner of today’s accurate time-keeping. Also of interest is the Mayan artwork, some of which shows images that closely resemble modern depictions of astronauts — including helmets, air packs and vehicles.
Their announcement of today as the beginning of a new age may well be true. Time will tell, as they say. Yet, the prospect of the end of the world or a definitive change in the world as we know it has mesmerized folks for over two decades. Who knows how much money was spent on videos, books and magazines touting the Mayan Prophecy and possible ominous meaning of the year 2012?
However intriguing the whole subject may be, we need to come back down to earth as we know it and figure out how best to manage the environment in which we find ourselves.
My husband and I are supporters of gun rights. The stigma assigned to both us and also to millions of others is unwarranted. Mr. LaPierre’s speech in Washington, D.C. this morning proved spellbinding. For the first time, I heard a major player in a nationwide news conference go after the entrenched media bias against gun owners. Never before have I heard someone of his stature label Hollywood and video game makers for what they are: purveyors of violence.
He also put forth a plea for a national registry of persons with mental illness. However, not every disturbed person has been treated, so that initiative is far more complicated. One ingredient is the societal shame associated with mental illness. It encourages secrecy at the peril of others.
One thought that came to my mind was that it makes no sense for a parent with an obviously disturbed child to have guns available in the home. Sadly, Mrs. Lanza paid for that mistake with her life.
Back to the Hollywood set, here is no way to know how many attacks, rapes, robberies and shootings result from “action” movies and grisly video games, one of which (online for a decade) is “Kindergarten Killers.” Great, huh?
Please note, however, that those who earn millions of dollars from this so- called “entertainment” and scream loudest on gun control also travel with armed security.
Remember, both Columbine and Aurora fell victim to shooters who honed their skills via video games. Moreover the Aurora shooter by-passed several theaters that allowed patrons to carry weapons and chose a “no gun zone” where he knew he would not encounter any resistance. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the most dangerous places are those that ban all guns, because they offer safe haven to criminals.
It’s time that the lobbyists employed by Hollywood and video game makers
— people that dole out millions of dollars are identified for what they are: merchants of death that inspire action so disgusting that it defies any degree of common sense.
American children see more murders by age eighteen than children in war-torn regions of the world considered “high risk”.
Five years ago, NRA’s recommendation that every school have armed security resulted in no action. When you consider how many retired armed service members, National Guard personnel, retired police and fire personnel and responsible, patriotic gun owners would gladly step forward to protect each and every school nationwide, that protection should be put in place by the time our kids go back to school after the Christmas break.
This is not exactly the column I planned for today, but the silence observed since last Friday was accompanied by a seething anger that the school lacked the video camera seen at major big box stores. Had there been such a device, when Adam Lanza climbed out of his vehicle with a rifle and approached the door, he would have been met with armed resistance. This is not to say that someone would not have been killed, but his carnage would never have been what the first responders to Sandy Hook Elementary found upon going into that school.
Bottom line? Responsible gun owners need better press and respect. Unfortunately, we will never be able to guarantee that every parent is a responsible adult and does not knowingly expose children to violence.
For now, we must take heart that communities come together in crisis and the tragedy in Connecticut may ignite a national movement to protect our children so that every school day will be safe and holiday will be peaceful.