In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
This past week I watched a 10-year-old survivor of the horrific massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, recount his experience. At the end of the interview (which was done along with his mother) the little boy said, “I cannot sleep at night…because I think someone is going to shoot me.” Wow! The effects of such senseless and most times avoidable acts of gun violence are immeasurable, adversely affecting lives long after the shooting stops.
I am a father of 5 and all my children went to public schools. I cannot begin to imagine the pain of the parents who lost their children in Uvalde, Texas and other schools like Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut. A grandmother in Texas said to me, “Tomorrow is my grandson’s awards at school, and I don’t want to take him. People don’t want to take their kids to school!” One can only imagine the anxiety of parents who still must send their children to school.
Schools are vital to the education of our children—they gain knowledge, develop personal and social skills, learn how to interact in the public square, and prepare for life. As a former public school teacher, I know firsthand the joy and fulfillment of pouring into the lives of young people. Schools are supposed to be safe places where children create friendships, healthy relationships, and prepare themselves to make a difference in the world. Why are allowing such a dynamic place to become a dangerous place in America? It’s time to make America safe again!
From the massacre at Columbine in 1999 until now, we continue to do little to protect our children. Each time such tragedy occurs, there is an attempt by some to blame this all on mental health. This is inconsiderate, disrespectful, and a disservice to people dealing with mental health challenges and to us all. But let’s assume that all these mass killers had mental health problems. If they didn’t have easy access to assault weapons like the one use in Uvalde, many lives would’ve been saved! America should stop telling the world what to do if she cannot do one of the most sacred things—protect our children. It’s time to make America safe again!
Since the massacre at Uvalde last Tuesday, at least 8 mass shootings took place across America. A mass shooting, defined by the Gun Violence Archive, is an incident in which four or more individuals are shot and either injured or killed, excluding the gunman. This has happened at least 8 times in one week! What we know that’s common to all of these shootings is not mental health; it is firearms.
Are firearms bad? No. Can Americans exercise their 2nd Amendment right and significantly reduce or stop these mass shootings? Yes. The British and other developed nations are doing so, and so should we. These measures would help to make America safe again.
1. Universal background check for those wanting to purchase firearms. Responsible gun ownership is the spirit and intent of the 2nd Amendment.
2. A Wait Period. This provides time for thorough background check, as well as a “cooling off” window for those who may attaching an urgency to their deadly plan. Waiting is not a denial of anyone’s rights. We wait for our passports, social security cards, and many other things to which we are entitled.
3. Raise the Age Limit for gun ownership to 21. You must be 21 years old to purchase tobacco and liquor in America. It should be the same for gun ownership.
4. All schools in America should have an armed Resource Officer. We have armed guards at airports and other buildings, we should have them at the places where our most precious jewels are—in our schools.
5. Security Checks before entering schools. If you are not a student or a staff, you should be checked before entering a school. We go through metal detectors at airports, get frisked and padded down when necessary. We can do the same to protect our children.
6. Vote Out of Office those who put politics, power, and profits before the priority of protecting our children.
It’s past time to make America safe again!
Wisdom for Your Week
Safety helps your confidence to succeed.
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