These events leave me praying and wondering how we as a nation address the mental health crisis that leads to incidents like these. Unfortunately, that is a much deeper issue but one that has to start being addressed. Not just in situations like this but in the hearts and minds of our young people in general.
I have two children in private Christian school, so this hit particularly close to home. And I am genuinely curious how passing legislation banning assault rifles could work, logistically, with the quantity of them already out there. Please understand-- I think it’s worth doing *anything* that makes sense to keep our children safe!
But would we ask everyone who owns one to turn them in? If so, wouldn’t people with bad intentions keep theirs regardless? Wouldn’t there be a black market?
“Production of AR-style guns has soared since the federal ban expired. In 2004, 107,000 were made. In 2015, the number was 1.2 million, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), an industry trade association. The organization does not provide sales data, nor does it have 2016 production estimates, but says that year's activity likely broke all records.”
I don’t have any answers, and I certainly welcome grace-filled, open-minded discussion from both “sides.” This is definitely not a time for us to be divisive, but to come together to keep our babies safe. <3
Me too - our kids are at a private Christian school too. I appreciate your thoughtful response a lot. And you’re right, it is nuanced. I’m not sure what the answer is. I think it would need to be a sweeping change, one that was multi-faceted and addressed assault rifles and gun laws on a variety of levels. I’m hoping our leadership and representatives can come together to make something happen. My heart just aches for those Nashville families.
So here’s my take, we may not be able to solve this quickly but we must try anything and everything to reduce the number of deaths. We need to look at mental health care, support for people in crisis (emotional, mental, physical, financial), we need National waiting periods, a national registry (or linked state registries), an assault weapons ban, mandatory training, insurance, proof of appropriate, secure storage before you’re able to take a gun home, closing gun show loopholes, closing gift and private sale loopholes… just to name a few. There are more and probably better ideas but those are some. We should also pressure gun manufacturers to start working on technology that only allows a gun to be fired by the person whose fingerprint matches it. If we can do it with a phone, surely some smart engineer can figure out how to make it work.
If we keep doing what we’re doing we’ll keep gettin what we’re gettin. And all we’re getting right now is a lot of mass shootings. We have more guns than people in this country and we’re the only country with this epidemic of gun related deaths. There has to be more that we can do.
I hate that we have to have these conversations again 💔 Thank you for providing us with these calls to action and the reminder that Jesus can work in miraculous ways 🙏🏻
You know what I love most about all of this is the AND. Pray but also take action. I keep hearing the thoughts and prayers are with the families and that is wonderful but we must take action, no matter how small to move towards preventing others. And providing a home where your kids and their friends feel safe is so valuable as well. Little things like these truly add up! 💕💕💕
These events leave me praying and wondering how we as a nation address the mental health crisis that leads to incidents like these. Unfortunately, that is a much deeper issue but one that has to start being addressed. Not just in situations like this but in the hearts and minds of our young people in general.
I have two children in private Christian school, so this hit particularly close to home. And I am genuinely curious how passing legislation banning assault rifles could work, logistically, with the quantity of them already out there. Please understand-- I think it’s worth doing *anything* that makes sense to keep our children safe!
But would we ask everyone who owns one to turn them in? If so, wouldn’t people with bad intentions keep theirs regardless? Wouldn’t there be a black market?
From NBCnews.com:
“Production of AR-style guns has soared since the federal ban expired. In 2004, 107,000 were made. In 2015, the number was 1.2 million, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), an industry trade association. The organization does not provide sales data, nor does it have 2016 production estimates, but says that year's activity likely broke all records.”
I don’t have any answers, and I certainly welcome grace-filled, open-minded discussion from both “sides.” This is definitely not a time for us to be divisive, but to come together to keep our babies safe. <3
What can we do?
Me too - our kids are at a private Christian school too. I appreciate your thoughtful response a lot. And you’re right, it is nuanced. I’m not sure what the answer is. I think it would need to be a sweeping change, one that was multi-faceted and addressed assault rifles and gun laws on a variety of levels. I’m hoping our leadership and representatives can come together to make something happen. My heart just aches for those Nashville families.
So here’s my take, we may not be able to solve this quickly but we must try anything and everything to reduce the number of deaths. We need to look at mental health care, support for people in crisis (emotional, mental, physical, financial), we need National waiting periods, a national registry (or linked state registries), an assault weapons ban, mandatory training, insurance, proof of appropriate, secure storage before you’re able to take a gun home, closing gun show loopholes, closing gift and private sale loopholes… just to name a few. There are more and probably better ideas but those are some. We should also pressure gun manufacturers to start working on technology that only allows a gun to be fired by the person whose fingerprint matches it. If we can do it with a phone, surely some smart engineer can figure out how to make it work.
If we keep doing what we’re doing we’ll keep gettin what we’re gettin. And all we’re getting right now is a lot of mass shootings. We have more guns than people in this country and we’re the only country with this epidemic of gun related deaths. There has to be more that we can do.
I hate that we have to have these conversations again 💔 Thank you for providing us with these calls to action and the reminder that Jesus can work in miraculous ways 🙏🏻
Totally agree. My heart just aches.
I’ve already reached out to my representative. He’s cosponsoring the bill. Heartbroken and so frustrated that it keeps happening.
You know what I love most about all of this is the AND. Pray but also take action. I keep hearing the thoughts and prayers are with the families and that is wonderful but we must take action, no matter how small to move towards preventing others. And providing a home where your kids and their friends feel safe is so valuable as well. Little things like these truly add up! 💕💕💕
Absolutely devastating 💔 Being in South Africa, so far away, we feel helpless! All we can do is pray x