On the tragedy in Newtown

Guns.  We have a society which virtually worships them.   Violent video games, violent, sorry, "action-packed", movies.   Defend ourselves at all costs....

A troubled, by some accounts, developmentally disabled, young man was able to get guns, assault weapons, and kill, not only his mother, but a number of small children.   How have we gone wrong?

Responsible gun owners are not the problem,   I grew up with a grandfather who hunted, and know people who hunt, who respect guns, who respect nature.   The problem is twofold.

We have the NRA which is, unfortunately, not advocating for responsible gun ownership, but is advocating for the gun manufacturers.  MORE GUNS.   MORE PROFIT.  

How a developmentally disabled young man got a gun?  We need tighter laws.   Stronger controls.   They will not stop responsible gun owners, but will prevent needless tragedy.    It could have prevented Columbine, possibly.   If, say, an application for a permit required a psychological examination, and a letter, maybe even references from responsible gun owners.

People will say, "Well the crazy will make fertilizer bombs, or use a knife"...   People have a chance against a knife...  guns kill from a distance.  And after certain events involving fertilizer controls were placed to monitor the sale of large amounts of fertilizer...  why can't we do the same with guns?

We also have no place for the developmentally disabled/troubled folks.   I'm not advocating that they should be all locked away...   but there are many developmentally disabled people who are being cared for by family, parents, siblings, with no chance for an independent life.  The following is just theory, but for all we know the young man in question was angry at his mother, saw the class as rivals, who knows?  

It is heartbreaking, but I am tired of shootings.  I am tired of the glorification of guns.   Lets start cleaning up the gun culture.   Identify all movies/tv shows/etc with guns as R.  Stop giving toy guns that look like guns to children.   You can protect your home without a gun.   Get a dog.   Or two.    Keep a baseball bat on hand.  

Other countries do it.   Why can't we?

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2012/12/after-the-newtown-shooting-americas-gun-shame.html