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The
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Lives would be saved
That’s My Opinion
By Bob Robinson
“I know it is opinion. I also know that you are perceived to be ‘above
the average’”…
I’ve seen ‘backhanded’ compliments before – perceived? This one was
obvious enough, delivered by an acquaintance as he asked to be removed
from CNO’s Nightly Update.
He didn’t like my “rant” at the time, an opinion piece entitled
‘Obama’s America.’
It surprised me. While I knew that we didn’t always agree – we had
talked many times over the years – I had always thought he was a little
more open-minded to opinions that did not coincide with his… he has
always said he is a ‘numbers’ guy. Most of that column was numbers. I
guess just not the right ones.
While it isn’t unheard of to lose a nightly update subscriber – aside
from email addresses going bad, it’s happened maybe two or three times
in the last year – one thing bothered me about this one.
He suggested I was no longer able to write objectively, “nor in a
manner good for the county.”
If I’m understanding that correctly, it is not good for Darke County to
be subjected to my rhetoric. That’s a scary comment from someone who I
thought supported a free and open society.
On the other hand, if he had taken me on in a public response – as one
of our local commissioners often has – I’d have been happy to publish
it. And, if he was willing, debate it.
Unfortunately, this seems to be a trend that is becoming more and more
evident every year… this is an open society; you are free to express
your opinion as long as, of course, it doesn’t conflict with mine.
That has always been the case for some individuals. It is the human
cross to bear, and most of us learn quickly who we can and cannot have
a debate with. It has also raised its ugly head in how our societies
have been governed. Our forefathers founded this nation because the
ruling monarch of Mother England, King George III, believed in a free
and open society as long as it marched lockstep with his taxes and
edicts to “the colonies.”
Sound familiar? I’m wondering if a similar situation doesn’t currently
exist in Washington.
Free and open discussion also has its drawbacks. Anyone read the
anonymous “blogs” on local websites lately? You can see some pretty
vicious stuff. That’s why CNO will never run one, but I hear a lot of
complaints. They can do what this former CNO reader has done… choose
not to read them.
Another drawback to “free and open” is the insensitivity of people with
agendas in the face of a national tragedy. On Dec. 14 an insane monster
massacred 26 people in a Connecticut elementary school. Two days later,
our president opened a debate that the national media gleefully jumped
on… gun control.
We didn’t have time to mourn before they started “posturing”…
More laws! We have hundreds – thousands – of laws on the books that
aren’t enforced. Why add a hundred more? Besides, if someone is
hell-bent on killing, that person is not likely to pay attention to gun
control laws. The killer who ambushed four New York firefighters
recently, killing two, was a felon. There is already a law against
felons owning guns.
Repeal the Second Amendment! That isn’t an option. It won’t happen; at
least I don’t think it will in my lifetime.
Armed guards and/or bullet-proof windows with bars! I guess we could
convert some of the prisons we are no longer using. Think about it. Do
we want our children to go to school in that kind of environment?
Ban military-style assault weapons! While I agree that citizens have
absolutely no need (or right) to own small arms weapons designed for
military warfare (any more than they do tanks or ballistic missiles),
this opens a “slippery slope.” Who’s to define what’s military and what
isn’t? Besides, once again, is a criminal going to care whether or not
the weapon is legal? Of course not. If it is being manufactured, the
Black Market will supply it.
Increased emphasis on mental health! As long as we have a society that
grows out of single-parent families, reinforces a drug culture, allows
on-demand abortions, removes God and God’s Commandments from our
everyday perspective, glorifies violence in our entertainment – and so
on ad nauseam – we will continue to manufacture nut cases. And I have
absolutely no more faith in today’s approach to dealing with mental
health than I did in the 70s and 80s.
We will never completely stop this from happening. If we bring back
strong, faith-based ethical values, I believe it will have a huge
impact on the number of times it happens. Unfortunately, I’m skeptical
that we can easily reverse a fundamental societal change that has been
decades in the building.
The only thing I’ve heard that makes sense (it almost mirrors my
thoughts) is having someone on campus (like the principal) with access
to a locked-up weapon. Let’s fine-tune that…
Many schools are already locked down during the school day and only
provide access on approval. Some (at least here in Greenville) put you
on camera. That’s a good thing, and I think a reasonable precaution for
all schools.
Every school needs to have two individuals on campus who have been
thoroughly trained in the use of a deadly weapon and would be willing
to use it if necessary. The weapon must be locked up but easily
accessible by that individual. The two should know each other and have
a working plan, but no one else should know who they are except the
principal and maybe the superintendent. Then make sure that this safety
procedure is common knowledge in the community.
Will it prevent something like this from ever happening again? Probably
not. But I believe it will do two things: It will make some nutcases
think twice before trying it, and even if he does, it would level the
playing field.
No longer would a monster know that he can roam freely in an
educational setting shooting defenseless innocents at will. Lives would
be saved.
Was that a good thing to share with our readers in Darke County? I
think so, but you can decide.
That’s my opinion. What’s yours?
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