Why Stop At Arming Teachers?

As I start to write this I do want to say, this is not meant to make light of the terrible tragedy that occurred in Newtown, it is to point out the complete stupidity of the NRA and the gun toting members of our society. We are trying to protect our children from weapons by placing more weapons in their reach. There is a mad rush to arm teachers and have them take a course on gun safety, an oxymoron, and in the interim make us feel like we are doing something positive. Are we going to grade our schools and teachers by how they qualify on the rifle range?

Here is my take. Why stop at arming the teachers? Why not make sure everyone is armed. The ridiculous idea that the only thing that stops a, "bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun" should be taken to the extreme that the gun manufacturers want. Arm everyone.

Why not the janitors? We could empty the supply closest of all of the unnecessary items, such as mops and floor cleaner and stock it with the latest automatic assault rifles. the shelves could be filled with multiple clips of ammunition, so they would be prepared for any contingencies. Those closets are even large enough to house an RPG (rocket propelled grenade). Now we are talking some nice profits for gun and ammunition makers.

How about the lunch ladies. Instead of pots hanging down from the ceiling, they could have a supply of Bushmasters within arms reach. The mash potatoes would be a handy place to keep a fully loaded Glock. An armed intruder would never expect, Granny to reach into that mushy pile and draw down on them. It might even improve the taste of the lunches. Spaghetti with .30 caliber ammunition, anyone?

Let's not forget the school nurse and the office workers. They could get their concealed weapons permit and be packing through out the day. Better yet we could get them armed with M16A3's. This is the type of weapon used by the Navy Seals. Fully automatic and the good guys with a gun would be prepared.

Lastly what about the kids themselves? They already have amour plated backpacks. Now we can pack their lunches and the latest assault rifle, when we send them off to school each day. Then when that deranged, psychopath charges into the local school, they will be met with a hail of bullets. That is the ultimate, "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun."

The NRA is thinking way to small. We could go from 300 million guns in America to 500 million in a heartbeat. The weapons manufacturers would be swimming in money, and isn't that what this is really about. It is not about protecting our children it is about profits for the real killers in America, the weapons industry, who will then funnel more money into the pockets of the NRA's leadership. Is anyone concerned about collateral damage. One of the points that I never hear is, with everyone shooting a weapon, how do you know which one is really the bad guy. Just start shooting and when the smoke is cleared, we can start the body count. I can hear the defense lawyers at the trails, "My client though the principle was the bad guy, she(he) had a gun!"

Yeah, this is the way to solve the problem. Arm everyone and let the shooting begin. So what if innocent lives are lost. We get the bad guy, hopefully. I don't know, but it does strike me that the real lunatics  are the people that are preaching the theory of arming more people.

20 Dead 6 and 7 Year Old Children! No More!!!

First I am not dismissing the deaths of the brave teachers and administrators at Sandy Hook on Friday. I will speak of them in another post. I want everyone to remember the numbers 20, 6 and 7, just as they remember 9-11. This represents the twenty, six and seven year old babies, who were brutally killed. We must remember and fight to save other children in America.

There is no easy solutions to this problem of violence that has escalated in our country. It will take many different approaches to stop the senseless murders that occur in mass or individually everyday in America. We must start with common sense and easiest point. Eliminate assault type weapons and multiple load clips. The second amendment is not absolute. It gives citizens the right to bear arms. It does not give them the right to have weapons of mass destruction and that is what these are. People that say we are infringing on their rights to target practice or hunt, need to take a hard look at exactly what these weapons do. My Grandfather was a hunter. He never carried an assault weapon. The idea was to bring down a deer and have the meat, not destroy it beyond recognition. Assault weapons and multiple magazine bans would not violate the second amendment rights and would be a beginning step in the process to cutting back on violence in our society.

Education is always a starting point. Education in safety of guns and ammunition will help. Education so people can get better jobs and feel good about themselves will help. Education on the way we treat and react to each other in society will help. Education on appropriate video games for children and society as a whole will help. Education on the fact that needless and wanton killings and maiming in movies will help. Lastly education on how to help and treat people with mental illnesses will help. It is a process. One without easy and quick fixes, but one that will move us in the right direction.

Funding for programs to treat and help the people among us that need and seek help for mental illness is essential. We have reduced the money that is there to give treatments to those in need. We spend enormous sums of money on wars and violence, now it is time to spend that money on healing. Funding for education, not just weapon safety but general education to allow our intellect to grow to the point when we reject violence as a way of life.

We need to look at the movie and gaming industry. The proliferation of violence DOES have a effect by desensitizing us to violence, murder and mayhem. What does not effect me does effect others that are sensitive and  vulnerable to these images. I know theses industries make a lot of money off of the violence in this media, but we must be aware that it is affecting us as a country and look to tone it down.  I admit to watching many of these types of movies over the years, but can I live without them. Absolutely.

Lastly gun control laws and enforcement of the current laws. We have to close loop holes and strengthen our laws. We must make gun owners responsible, even if their weapons are stolen and used by someone else. We must make gun and ammunitions manufacturers responsible to destruction their products do on our nation's people. They have to share in the blame if they make products that destroy. Currently they are not. They would join in the effort to make guns less available and less destructive, if they had a stake in the process, beyond making money off of the deaths of human beings.

I heard a quote by Abraham Lincoln this morning on "Morning Joe". Joe Scarborough, gave a wonderful opinion on this issues and used a longer quote from Lincoln. I am just going to use the end of it. Said Lincoln, " If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher." If we do not take the mantle of responsibility onto ourselves and change the violent direction of America we all are to blame for her demise.

I Can't Look Away!!!!

 I have to admit I could not pull myself away from the coverage on the killing of our children. I know today they will announce the names and probably show pictures of the innocent children that have been ripped from the arms of their parents, way to early. I watched the emotions of our President, but the most touching picture I saw last night was the one of a group of children holding hands and trying to close their eyes as they were lead from Sandy Hook school. The look of fright on their small faces, made me realize that they are and will continue to be victims for years to come. How do they erase the images and sounds from their young minds? I can only imagine how those parents felt as they heard the news, that a madman was firing shots at the elementary school. The thoughts that screamed through their minds as they approached the school and had to wait, to hopefully be united with their children. Lastly the realization that must have presented itself to the parents that anxiously awaited as each child was brought out and united with their parents, but theirs was not brought to them. The despair as they were lead into a separate area to receive the devastating news that their child would not be going home with them yesterday afternoon. My prayers and thoughts are with those parents now and I must find a way to support them, not just today, but going forward, to ensure this does not continue to happen. The hurt they must be feeling today! The utter senselessness of what happened and what they will feel, we cannot know, but only embrace them as best we, as a nation, can. We must stand with them and grieve with them and give them strength. We must also and most importantly join them in the fight, to come, to stop the slaughter of our children. Close your eyes and picture a child. It can be your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or even a child you know in your community. Picture this child. Picture smiling faces. Picture the innocence, that only children can possess. Listen to their laughter and how it makes you smile. Picture them as they smile, many at this age, are missing their front teeth. Picture them running and playing freely, with screams of delight. Picture them as they enjoy the Christmas presents that will be coming in the next couple of weeks. Picture them as they grow up, each year accomplishing more in school and in life. Picture them graduating, first from high school, and then college. Picture them as they find someone, fall in love, get married and then have children of their own. Now picture all of that being snatched away from, you and  them, in a few moments of terror and death. That is what happened yesterday.

The scenario that occurred yesterday also happens each and every day on the streets and in homes throughout America. EACH DAY, THIRTY  PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY, ARE KILLED BY GUNS. THAT IS EACH DAY. OVER TEN THOUSAND A YEAR. This is a national disgrace and the time has come to stop the killing of our children and people. Name me one other thing, in which we have control, that takes that many lives each and every year. We do have the power to control this epidemic. We need to stand up for those beautiful little children that were taken from their families yesterday. We need to make our political leaders stand for them and start a real and meaningful control on weapons.  When the feeling of outrage starts to slip from your conscience, close your eyes again and picture the children that means so much to you.  Renew that anger. This is a fight we must win, to protect our children. I never want to be one of the parents, that has to rush to a school in fear and I don't want to be one of those parents that has to learn , their child is gone forever. I want the same for you and all parents everywhere. When we band together this can be accomplished. The fight from the gun industry and the NRA is coming. They have too much money involved.  Be ready for it and let's all stand together, united as one and fight for our children.

How Many More Children Have to Die For The NRA?

Yeah, I know that I am going to be accused of reacting too quickly to the latest shooting in America. So what! The idiots that run around shouting, "You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead hands, need to shut up and understand that gun proliferation has gone way beyond the breaking point. As I write this the death toll continues to rise, but even if it is one child, or one person the price is too high. We will hear the nonsensical phrase, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." I understand that the people pull the trigger, but the guns are placed into the hands of criminals and lunatics, by everyone that supports the NRA and weapons businesses in America.

We need controls on the number of guns in this country. We need controls on who gets these weapons in their hands. We need controls on people that display violent behavior. We need to quit pandering to the gun interest and start placing the welfare and safety of people ahead of profits and their idea of Constitutional rights. What about the rights of a small child to just attend school, safely? What about the rights of people to go to the movies or the mall without fearing for their lives. When do we start to look at the Preamble to the Constitution, where it states, "insure DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY, provide for the COMMON DEFENSE, promote the general WELFARE," and say this is the cornerstone of life for citizens in America.

Everyday across America our people, young and old alike are gunned down in a hail of bullets. There are individual shootings like the recent one here in Florida where a man opened fire into a van with several teenagers in it, because they would not turn down their music. Drive by shootings happen on our streets daily. Hand guns and assault weapons are readily available and used. We all stand by and allow it to happen. As long as the killings happen in poorer neighborhoods, we look the other way. It is time to stop looking around and feeling safe where we live, because it is right next door. This is an Elementary School, today. They are talking about seventeen to twenty children, dead. These are innocent 5-11 year old children. Can you please, explain to me, why you have to have that weapon in your hand? To do what? Babies are dying and yet the gun industry, the NRA and our politicians stand around and claim, impotence. 

Everyone of us that supports gun rights. Everyone of us that works in the industry, making, selling or buying guns. Everyone of the millions of members of the NRA. Everyone of us that stands and spouts nonsense about the right to bear arms. Lastly everyone of us that remains silent. We all have the blood of our small children on our hands. Look at yours. The stain is there. Try to wash it away, but it will remain. Try to convince others of the importance of keeping guns in the hands of criminals and again look at the blood on your hands. IT IS THERE! IT WILL REMAIN THERE!
 We need to finally be able to wash the blood of our children from our hands, if they will come clean.

Welcome To The People Of Myanmar.

Over the last week I have seen a wonderful and fulfilling trend, the people of Myanmar have joined in to read America's Voice. To my other readers, that may not know, indulge me for a moment while I fill you in on the country of Myanmar. Some may know it as its former name of Burma, but many years ago it was officially changed to Myanmar. It is located in Southeast Asia, near India. A few weeks ago President Obama visited there and was very warmly welcomed by the citizens. Unfortunately they have a history of military rule and severe human rights violations. They are slowly working on reforms and in their most recent elections, that were monitored for the first time, Democracy groups made great inroads into elected office. Democracy advocate, Auug San Suu Kyi, an outstanding civil rights leader,  was released from house arrest and confinement a couple of years ago and she has been out front and instrumental in these gains. She was honored by the President on his visit and I hope that the reforms continue to take place as this country moves forward to civil rights and dignity for all of their citizens.

To my point of bringing this into play. It is humbling to know that people there, are taking the time to read my writings and learn more as they strife to become a free society. In America we take the freedoms that are given to us by the Constitution for granted. We need to stop and realize that something we wake up to everyday. freedom, is something that many people around the globe are fighting and dying for every day. Here we argue over paying a fair tax on our income. We have companies, through greed, denying people a fair and living wage. We have many benefits but have stopped fighting to improve life for the poor, elderly and children, because we want to protect what we have. In countries like Myanmar they are fighting and dying just to have basic human rights.

My next hope is that the people that have read my words will spread this to others around their country and more importantly share their thoughts and stories about their struggles with my readers. I know that I want to hear and know more about your country. Education leads to understanding. Understanding leads to solutions.  I sincerely invite you to write back and comment to all of us here. You have a long history that started, much like the United States,  and were a colony of Great Brittan. We have a common beginning, and most importantly a common goal. The goal of freedom and rights for all citizens of the world. Please, if you can share with all of us.   

John McCain Still Can't Believe He Lost!

    What is up with John McCain these days? I feel that he is still bitter that President Obama beat him and now he had to watch as the President got re-elected. It must have brought back the stinging feelings and it has become too much for McCain.
He has been drumming up a conspiracy theory over the past couple of weeks and yet all he is doing, is looking pathetic. On Wednesday he complained about us needing more information on Benghazi and then he turns around on Thursday and skips a meeting where information was given to members of Congress. When a reporter asked him about missing the meeting he snapped back, "That he was a Senator and did not have to answer questions."
    McCain has called the terrorist attack on the consulate in Benghazi the worst intelligence failure in America's history. Maybe he forgot about the 9-11 attacks and the failures by America's intelligence community then. What about the various attacks on U.S. consulates and embassies starting with Karachi, Pakistan in 2002, when 12 people where killed and 51 injured. More attacks happened in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Where was John McCain and his outrage. After 9-11 the Intel from various agencies around the world suggested there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There were as many other agencies that said there was no evidence of WMD. Many people from the Bush administration were out convincing everyone that the weapons were there. So far none have been found. Ten years trillions of dollars and thousands of lives later still no weapons. Maybe John needs to rethink some of his rhetoric.
    John has called into question Susan Rice and her intelligence and ability to be Secretary of State. Where was he when Condi Rice and Colin Powell were using intelligence information to push us into the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Silence is all he has on that subject. We need to find out what happened in Benghazi. Not to find a scape goat. Not to hang someone out to dry. Not to punish people. We need to find out what happened so we can prevent it from happening again. We need to find out so we can protect our people around the globe, as best we can.
    John McCain wants to find a way to attack our President. That is all this is. The bitter vitriol of an old man that failed to accomplish what he felt was his right, the Presidency of the United States. John, YOU LOST. Get over it. You served America proudly in uniform and as a Senator. It is time to move on. All you are destroying, is your legacy. I feel pity for you, but your time has come, to retire. Go sit on your porch in Arizona and dream what could have been and allow the rest of us to fix problems in America.

Freedom Is In The Eye Of The Beholder!

According to the dictionary, freedom is liberation from slavery or restraint from the power of another.

According to the far right, freedom is what they believe it should be. We each have certain freedoms that we hold more dear then others, but the Republicans are trampling on freedoms and we are just allowing it to happen.

Voting is being restricted in many states, by Republican controlled legislatures. They are using the ruse of voter fraud as the reason when the truth is they are trying to rig the election. They have restricted or put in place new ID laws that are for the purpose of electing more Republicans. The result is they are taking away the rights of millions of legal voters. Imagine if someone introduced a bill, at either state or federal level, that would restrict or take away the rights of millions of gun owners. The level of defiance would be astounding. The screams of, "Only from my cold, dead hands," would be deafening. Yet the right is sheepishly following the directive to take away Constitutional rights, for which there is no problem.

Women's freedom to control their own bodies has been under attack for years and is now reaching a crescendo of attacks. The Republicans, again, are looking to bypass the freedoms of the women and the advise of doctors to achieve their religious driven goals. They scream, religious freedom when the government states, that universities that have women working for them, should have insurance companies pay for birth control. However they conveniently are silent when a women is told that even though she does not want a procedure and her doctors states it is unnecessary, she has to give up her freedom and allow a medical devise to be inserted into her body. All of this is done because the fervent right wants their religious believe of, no abortions, to be implemented.

It has gone so far that we have an idiot, Congressman from Missouri,whos name I will not mention, that wants to have a fight about the degree of rape. The President stated it quite clearly and simple, yesterday, for all to understand. "Rape is Rape." Women's freedoms are really taking hits from Republicans and the far right. We all need to stand against the ideas put forth by the right and not allow women's rights go backwards.

This is just two examples of the freedoms that the right want to take from us. One is guaranteed by the Constitution and the other is guaranteed by the laws including the Supreme Court. The next time some moron from the right screams about gun rights, just ask them where they stand on voter's rights and women's rights. I am quite certain they will try to either change the subject or only talk about the rights they care about. The right to kill someone with a gun.