Enough Is Way Too Much

As of Thursday, December 27, 2012

Dr. Aaron Spence’s column “A Father and Educator Struggles With Tragedy” (Dec. 21) was underwhelming.

The tactical action he took to review security should be expected. At issue is his statement that we shouldn’t try to blame anyone or anything for the shootings, that what our children need right now is their “daily routine.”

What our children need is for our leaders — educators, politicians, the media, etc. — to have the courage to call for common sense discussions about gun control and violence in our culture. In regard to the former, the NRA had a chance to be part of the solution, but instead they chose to remain part of the problem.

Enough is enough. Sadly, in this case, enough is way too much. It’s time to start talking about the elephant in the room.

Sam Dreher

Vass

More like this story

skylinefirepest 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Sam, what the NRA did was to ask for armed policemen in our schools...something that Slick Willy asked for several years ago. Wasn't thought of as unusual back then and wouldn't be thought of as unusual now except for a liberal media and political correctness.

njc17 4 months, 3 weeks ago

I believe, laPierre should have taken a softer approach, [same message just different direction to make it] But we are in a different political and reactionary atmosphere than we were in under Clinton. Now arming school authorities is not the panacea. Placing police is not the panacea, taking peoples weapons is not the answer. A whole new tact is needed. Why do these murderous nuts go off on these rampages? THAT is the question that needs to be answered. At the same time authorities have to be careful about abusing the rights of privacy, we know the turmoil the FBI files have caused as they are being aired years after the fact. How does one then determine who is a possibility to go off the tracks and who doesn't. You take weapons out of the hands of the populace for personal protection the bad guys still have them. take the little ten year old today missing with a nut with a butcher knife, yep found her dead from stab wounds, Do we then ban all knives? Somebody recently was killed with a box cutter, do we then ban all items with sharp edges as the TSA does? When I was young we had the 'Garrison belt' so we ban all belts? but if i use string to hold up my britches, that could be a garrot, ban all string? maybe that would be the answer, use two hands to hold up our pants and then no hands to get into mischief with. And remember those on prison can make weapons with toothbrushes, hair brushes, combs, explosives with certain soaps. Remember McGuyver?

JimRussell44 4 months, 3 weeks ago

njc17, knives, box cutters, belts and string are all items designed to perform a function other than killing people. On the other hand, semi-automatic weapons with large capacity clips firing bullets designed to inflict maximum damage are products designed to accomplish one task...killing people. When you make this type of product available to everyone, you have got to expect something bad will happen. It's not the products fault it gets used for what it's designed to do. But it is our fault for allowing it to be available to anyone who wants one. Keeping them out of the hands of unstable people is GUN CONTROL, something that the NRA and many gun owners are apposed to. The problem is no more difficult to understand than that. I do not want to ban guns. I want to ban weapons of mass destruction.

DannySteen 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Guns are not legally available to anyone who wants one. They are illegally available to anyone though. No matter what law, ban or confiscation you attempt, criminals will get guns. There is also that pesky southern border that no one wants to close. If they can smuggle drugs and entire families they can surely sneak in a gun or two.

cooldaddy 4 months, 3 weeks ago

You cannot argue with a lost one.. If one believes that outlawing fertilizer (bs) will stop a mass killing of people, then by all means, outlaw it. Wait, you were talking about guns...ok outlaw all of them with your bs.Face the problem, not the weapon of choice. When you give up your vehicle that travels more than 45 mph (The leading cause of deaths in US caused by drunk drivers and speeders) , Then and only then, will you have a voice. Jim, they have slaughtered thousands in third world countries with machete's.. Think. Maybe we should work on the mindset. When you brave people outlaw a particular weapon, you will see that the weapons you outlawed turn up as much or more. Criminals don't buy permits, much to your displeasure.

RmeMP 4 months, 3 weeks ago

let me say this one more time...

we pay armed civilians to guard our money at banks, we pay armed civilians to guard those at sporting events, we pay armed civilians to protect our elected officials, hell - we even pay armed civilians to guard the gates at military installations these days (how many of you knew that?!); but, we WON'T pay armed civilians to protect our children at school?

although i feel like im taxed enough already, i would GLADLY pay a little more in county, or state, tax in order to put trained, armed, civilians in my child's school!

Toda 4 months, 3 weeks ago

" Even Hitler knew it was easier to control the unarmed citizens then those that have the ability to fight unjust government."

Here we go again ... the operative word here is Constitution! Read it and point out where liberal is mentioned "One time"?

Perhaps the conservatives might want to take up arms before the government gets out of control! Or shut up about government gun control...only residing in a demented mind.

Yukonjohn 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Let's have this discussion. If during it, people decide that the Constitution needs amending, then work towards that end. I honestly do not believe it will happen in my lifetime, and hopefully not in anyone's lifetime. Our framers and founders were very forward thinking in their writings.

Yukonjohn 4 months, 3 weeks ago

The framers might not have had any idea of what America would look like in 250 yrs later, but they knew the nature of man. They knew that their Creator (interpret how you choose) had given them unalienable rights, and they knew that it might come down to having to fight for these rights somewhere down the road. The situation has not changed. Someday we might have to fight for those rights from a govt. that is overreaching. For those of you that have not read the writings of Madison/Jefferson/Hamilton etc. (the list is long) or the Federalist papers, you would see that they felt that citizens being armed was the cornerstone of our republic. This discussion needs to be held at this time....let's put a rest to this argument. If there is a need to amend our Constitution/Bill of Rights, then go for it. Otherwise, those of us who feel we must possess firearms should be left alone.

Thatcher 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Well said Yukon! By the way, if you haven't seen it already, you've got to see "Lincoln." My wife and I saw it today. The attention to detail is amazing, and Daniel Day Lewis should win the Oscar for best actor...ever. The guy IS Lincoln. Cheers!

Yukonjohn 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Thatcher, How are you my Friend? I hope ya'll are all well, and enjoying the end of the year! Did the movie seem to be factual? I have heard it was good from folks that have seen it. Best Wishes from the not so frozen north...we are above zero for the first day in weeks!!

Thatcher 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Yukon! Yes the movie is mostly factual (Hollywood always takes its liberties). Thaddeus Stevens is played by Tommy Lee Jones, and it is spot on. You will think you are in 1865. I believe you would love this film. Cheers!

packwilleat 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Thatcher & Yukon ~ hope you guys had a good Christmas. Kinda nice to kick the feet up for the time being. I don't know if I'll go see Lincoln, Hollywood more than likely sugar coated the fact that he was probably one of the most tyrannical despots of America's history. Lincoln has always been propped up as some kind of a god amongst men. Kinda like Helen Keller was an open socialist or how Christopher Columbus's only desire was to find gold and enslave the natives to do the digging. So much of our history has been re-written to cover up our overly savage past that many get lost in the turmoil of righteousness. Much of the same is apparent today, that the masses think we are fighting the brown man in the middle east to protect our freedom or promote democracy. I could be wrong about the movie Lincoln, but I find it hard to imagine Hollywood roasting him on the big screen. Here are some myths about Lincoln that were never found in our gov't indoctrination camps..........

http://www.lewrockwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo44.html

Thatcher 4 months, 3 weeks ago

packwilleat-- Happy New Year to you and Yukon! Many historians say that Lincoln was "a man of his times," perhaps in an effort to obscure the transgressions to which you refer. The movie actually deals with some of these, and does so quite well. The early and mid 1860s were hell on earth for this country, both in war and in politics. The movie captures this very well. I hope you will see it, and as I said to Yukon, you'll think you are in 1865. Cheers, and my best to you and your family for a great 2013!

packwilleat 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Thatcher ~ and a happy new year to you as well!! Have a look at some of Lincoln's own words.....

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/young8.html

Thatcher 4 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks packwilleat! I am well aware of Lincoln's words, and understand why historians call him "a man of his times." He said some amazing things, and some awful things. Folks did that in the 1860s. And the movie, I think fairly and accurately, addresses these topics. I urge you to see the film because it is anything other than trying to depict Lincoln "as some kind of a god amongst men." Quite the contrary. You will be suprised. And you will be moved. And again, Happy New Years to you and your family! Cheers!

"The liberals idea is to make victims of all the people by taking away our ability to protect ourselves in our homes from criminals

Answer the question! Where is the word liberal mentioned in our Constitution? Ramblings is a word you shouldn't compare to others threads where intelligent questions are asked ... which words would you like to have as an Amendment to the Constitution?

Just answer the questions without fan-fair.