Well, today I really did not want to write anything. The tragedy that happened on the campus of Virginia Tech was uncalled for. But, thinking sometimes when one doesn’t wish to do something the something they do, do somehow comes out better then anticipated. I am not looking for pats on the back for writing today or whether or not my opinion is the correct opinion to have but, knowing me as most of you do to not write about that tragedy would be a tragedy. As I feel perhaps not everything I write about hits home with most of you it does cause time to reflect, time to analyze and time to think hey, perhaps we should do something about this…. Good Morning, although not a good, good morning but a morning just the same. A morning in which there will be many morning the deaths, senseless deaths of many college students. My thoughts tend to get my brain traveling at speeds unknown to modern man on how fast I can change gears and switch things around. But, no matter how I try to switch this around it will never bring back those students who were struck down in many ways in their prime. As they will never know a prime any longer. That was taken away from them without their permission. Many will yell and scream for tighter gun laws, where were the guards? Many schools security systems in place do not have provisions for mad gunmen. Many schools do not have contingency plans for anything other then a terrorist attack at which point most have no idea what to do. Camera systems? It all boils down to this. People are going to cry out those who wish for tighter gun laws. No guns that will stop the killing. Ok, perhaps it will, but the no gun laws take the guns more so out of the hands of the law abiding then the none law abiding. Trust me on this if that were the case and we had stiffer gun laws the police and the criminals would be the only handlers of the guns.. I have faith in the police, but, I also know that the police can’t be everywhere at every crime… so let’s let that issue fall.. People will cry out, how could a school of this magnitude let this happen? How could it not!? I mean most college, university’s have way more students then they can afford to keep track of… Marty… what are you saying? I am saying this, the University my two oldest daughters attended had 30,000 students. It was a small university by far compared to the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, UCLA, Florida, my god have you seen the class rooms over filled to the max of some University’s? How the hell can anyone be protected when a viable amount of kids with tape recorders because the instructor (professor) can not reach everyone of them on an individual basis.. It’s not about over crowding, it’s about protecting those who pay huge sums to attend to better their education. It’s about taking responsibility for ones actions… I am going to throw something at you that will honestly make you mad. But, I accept my words for what they are, My beliefs for what they are. Protection our children starts at home right? Now I can’t stand guard over their dorm, their class rooms the office buildings fast food restaurants… so on and so forth but, I can do this. I can teach them right from wrong. I can make sure if you lose, if you lose.. it is not a major set back, it is not the end of the world and it should not be the end of the world for anyone else… Cause and effect… What does my actions cause and the effect of those actions cause? Gun laws make the criminals stronger. Not all good people are good and not all bad people are bad, but one thing we can safely say is this. Responsibilities of your child should not end when they turn 18. As a parent family member guardian aunt, uncle. We as family members need to make sure our family knows cause and effect. Here is a basic, a basic example. If your dog is vicious, you try to keep him contained correct? If he gets out of his containment and bites say 1 person, 2… 32… can’t blame the dog can we? He did not know any better so the law system says lets punish the owner… fine him! Make him pay restitution. The dog surely can’t pay, oh yeah with his life, but that does not bring back little sally’s disfigured face, the neighbor boys limp.. you get the picture the owner is at fault. Now, my kid goes out and bites 1 kid, 2 …32… who’s to blame? Who pays restitution? Parenting is more then the Horizontal mambo…it does not end at 18 years of age… People snap, kids, adults… My heart goes out to the families and the friends, the schools system, all school systems… Is this the correct way to go about finding a cure? No, no it’s not… but, it surely is not working the way it is now… You know when I was in grade school, high school.. the only school shootings I remember were at Kent State over a protest march by government backed troops, national guardsman. Now, little Johnny, little Susie Grand master Edwards are all candidates for having a bad day and taking out their frustration on the meek, the mild the innocent. …It starts at home.. trust me… taking guns away might work… but I think taking pride in what one created and making sure they have pride in themselves will work more so faster and better.. again.. my opinion. Don’t shoot the messenger… Just make sure the shooter, has a camera instead of a 9 mm semi-auto..
I know this will be hard, but try and salvage what is left of this day, this week and have a good day.
A hug and a prayer. And yes a pat, we all need those at times..
Marty
