After thoughts, prayers and inaction, maybe it’s time to give kids flak jackets
Seventeen people were gunned down in a high school last Wednesday.
Seventeen people were gunned down in a high school last Wednesday.
That’s twice as many students and teachers killed in a single day as law-enforcement officers killed in all of last year in Florida.
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Obviously, we must do something. I propose bulletproof windows and doors in every school.
And maybe Kevlar vests and ballistic helmets for every child.
The costs will be exorbitant, the measures tragically extreme.
I actually think there are much better things we could do.
But we don’t do any of it.
Instead, after every slaughter — in a school, nightclub or workplace — politicians offer tweets, thoughts, prayers … and inaction.
I’ve been a church-going man my entire life. If one of my fellow parishioners made a big show of praying to end hunger every week — without ever actually lifting a finger to feed anyone — I wouldn’t put much stock in his prayers.
Or his faith.
So if we won’t try to stop the bullets from flying, at least we can try to stop them from piercing our children’s chests.
I’ve found some lightweight active-shooter body armor available for $200, including plates.
Again, I think there are better solutions — improving mental-health services, our court system and the prevalence of weapons designed to slay as many humans as quickly as possible.
And not just government solutions. Research shows mass murderers rarely act without showing warning signs. We have to be better about speaking up. Authorities must be more vigilant in following up. We should also admit that pop culture that drowns children in violence affects their still-developing brains.
It’s not either/or. The solutions aren’t liberal or conservative. If you are only screaming about half the solutions, you’re not really trying to solve the equation. You’re just engaging in tribalism.
But government is a key part. We must spend more money on mental health. Not just for shootings. In fact, those suffering from mental illness are far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. We must fund this because it’s a societal crisis.
Florida politicians say they agree with me. They say so every time another batch of their constituents gets slaughtered.
But they lie. Or at least they don’t follow through. Last year — after Pulse and with Florida ranking 48th or 49th in mental-health funding — we saw headlines like: “Florida Legislature, agency let $20M in aid for drug, mental health care end” and “Parents, advocates beg lawmakers not to cut mental health funding.”
I didn’t know it was mathematically possible to make cuts when you’re already 49th.
I didn’t think it was morally possible either … especially for people who talk so much about prayer.
Leaders in Congress and Legislature have also done little to stop convicted criminals, terrorists or the mentally ill from getting their hands on high-capacity weapons.
Polls show virtually everyone — Republicans, Democrats, gun owners — believes all gun buyers should first pass a background check.
The 10 percent or so who disagree include terrorists, killers, the NRA and the politicians they own. That’s quite a team.
But Republicans in the Legislature and Congress refuse.
If you are one of the 92 percent of Republicans who believe in universal background checks — and yet support politicians in your party who oppose them, you’re an enabler.
Nearly 80 percent of Americans believe in banning the sales of high-capacity magazines — for the same reason automatic firearms are already banned. These aren’t weapons for hunting or protection. They are made for human slaughter.
But legislative Republicans haven’t even allowed hearings on the issue. Why? Because they know they’re on the wrong side of safety and public sentiment and don’t want to go on the record as such.
Instead, some now want to shift all attention of the FBI. The agency appears to have fallen revoltingly short in the Parkland case. We need answers. But watch for politicians who try to divert all the attention there, ignoring all the other shootings that happen over and over and over.
So maybe we need bulletproof glass in every math class and science lab.
At this point, I want to ask a favor: If you agree we must do something, don’t write me to say so. While I love hearing from readers, I already agree with you. I wrote this.
Direct your energy to elected officials (leg.state.fl.us; House.gov and Senate.gov). Learn about the efforts of national organizations like SandyHookPromise.org and local ones like the Florida League of Women Voters (www.lwvfl.org
And if you disagree with me we and think calls for action and fussing about dead teenagers is shrill reactionism — and that mass murder is just a part of American life we must all accept — just keep doing what you’re doing … nothing.
Just ignore people like the father of 14-year-old Jaime Guttenberg, who told a crowd that his daughter was at school where: “She was supposed to be safe!”
And ignore people like 17-year-old survivor David Hogg, who said he was sick of politicians merely offering “thoughts and prayers.” “What we need more than that is action. Please!” he begged. “We are children. You guys are, like, the adults. Work together, come over your politics, and get something done.”
Amen, David.
But if we are going to ignore him again, let’s at least get him and his fellow students level 3 bullet-resistant doors.
Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com
What I find so truly hypocritical of these gun lovers is their adamant stance that nothing can be done about guns and 17 shot kids is just what must be expected because of the constitution.
And yet these same gun lovers scream bloody murder about abortion. Something clearly protected under the same constitution these gun lovers hold so dear.
Why did Maxwell compare the number of people killed in Parkland with the number of people killed by law enforcement in Florida last year? The two numbers aren’t related. A better number to compare with the Parkland shootings would be the number of murders in FL last year. That number is 1,111.
YAHWEH’S MINISTRY, HILO, HAWAII
We need armed security in our schools and this can be done by training and arming teachers; we can also use retired police officers and retired military personnel.
We can protect our students in school while we are also protecting preborn babies from abortion.
It does not have to one or the other; it can be Both!
We can’t afford teachers. Much less now have to arm them and train them.
That is a BS argument that hold no water.
We need laws that don’t let a 19 year old kid the ability to buy AR15s before he can vote.
Uh . . . people who are 19 years old are old enough to vote, Hilo Jack.
I meant buy a beer
YAHWEH’S MINISTRY, HILO, HAWAII https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3db2714d7cac8d26f06826172170b1fd9952b17eed02373c138fd196fdea3b26.jpg
Perfect example of the brainwashed lunacy that comes from a $hithole republican who also happens to be a $hithole who believes in a $hithole man made up “god”
Stop licking Trumps ball sac.
The biggest threat to democracy and the American way of life is in the form of an orange haired loud mouth fat a$$ed baboon sting in the Oval Office.
PERIOD.
Well along with his equally $hithole supporters.
Demonizing your fellow Americans in the NRA seems . . . counterproductive.
Demonizing a woman’s right of choice not only seems but really is……..counterproductive.
Demonize a choice?
Depends on context.
By the way and excuse me for not digging into this sooner, but I see you too are a Russian paid for Trump ball sucking mindless ignorant troll.
So far on this thread we’ve had one mention of the constitution (by Hilo Jack), and three references to Trump, also by Hilo Jack.
And along comes some boob with not one tie to Hawaii spreading his Russian paid for Trump trolling garbage.
Go eat your caviar and have a shot of vodka Vald JR!
By the way. The orange haired $hithole baboon just directed his big ear “cracker” to ban bump stocks.
I bet that will drive you insane!
By the way. I see no mention of the abortion hating gun loving convicted thief pig piece of pure human feces James G Borden.
Must be a relation.
97% of all Americans favor enhanced background checks for gun purchases.
Even the simple minded cretin $hitholes who think Trump should be allowed to breathe.
So wherein lies the issue?
Beats me. This is a democracy. If 97% of the people are really in favor a thing, it will happen.
The devil is probably in the details. “enhanced background check” is an imprecise term.
Why are you still talking about Trump, Hilo Jack? The same gun laws are in effect now that were in effect when Obama was prez.
The NRA has bought and paid for the do nothing republicans.
Before the orange haired $hithole ran as a republican he was FOR all sorts of gun restrictions.
And your comment about the laws being the same is completely untrue.
The orange haired baboon signed HJ RES 40
Look it up.
Oh, Jack, my dear fellow. HJR 40 overturned an arbitrary ruling by the SSA. Administrative acts are not laws. HJR 40 did not change a law.
Yes it did idiot.
You should know what you are talking about before you talk about it.
I know the Russians pay you to post babble dreamed up to provoke fear, lies, so on and so forth, but you should really understand what HJ RES 40 is.
I know the Ruskies don’t pay you to be educated, but maybe in this case you could learn something instead of cut and pasting your pre-written posts
As for being a democracy we let Russian trolls like you in!
As for this being a democracy remember the orange haired baboon lost the popular vote!
A cheap flak jacket costs about $100.00 each
Times the number of students in every school in every city in every state in all of America!!
What’s a few more billion to the national debt??
Republicans are in charge now baby!!!
Interesting to note. Florida has a State law that can hold local officials liable for fines, arrest and removal from office for trying to establish any form of gun law outside of the states norm of anybody can have as many guns as they want.
Only law worded that way.
And we wonder why nothing can be done. Republican bought and paid for by the NRA.
Y’know, Hilo Jack, I love you like a brother. A misguided brother. I am pretty sure that you are a smart person & loyal American, like me. In time you will come to see the wisdom of my words & regret your opposition to “bump stucks”, whatever they are, and appreciate the fact that the United States, whatever its failings, is a truly great country. I know that if the US was a terrible place run by religious Nazis & with an orange baboon for a figurehead, a loyal American like you would light out for the territories, just like me.
No – I would not light out for the territories like you clearly would.
I will stay and fight
Because America is already run by religious nazis and an orange haired baboon
PS – I don’t love you as a brother nor do I hate you.
But I do support government funded assistance be afforded to you if ever needed.
PSPS Judging by the generally accepted principal of deductive reasoning, I would say you most likely already partake in government assistance programs.
PSPSPS I like the “ignorance” and intentional lack of knowledge as to what a “bump stock” is – very good act of attempted subterfuge!
YAHWEH’S MINISTRY, LINCOLN PARK, HILO, HAWAII
Just for the record:
The U.S. is a constitutional republic, it is not a democracy.
“The deliberations of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were held in strict secrecy. Consequently, anxious citizens gathered outside Independence Hall when the proceedings ended in order to learn what had been produced behind closed doors. The answer was provided immediately. A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.” ”
Unfortunately, the Democratic Party, the Socialists/Communists, Libtards, Fake News Media, New World Order Puppets, RINOS and the Fake News Media DON’T want us to keep it.
That’s why we elected President Donald J. Trump who represents our republic and puts America First, American citizens First and is President of the Untied States of America and doesn’t try to represent the world and be President of the World.
Our Founding Fathers were smart in establishing the electoral college system in electing our president and the Libtards will still cry about losing the 2016 election for the next two-hundred years.
Hillary Clinton lost because she was a failed candidate and the Snowflakes and Buttercups are still whining about their Loser Candidate and try to blame it on Russia.
Russia interfered with the election.
Trump will eventually be linked to some form of collusion and/or other criminal matter.
Every other word you uttered is irrelevant and meaningless