You really offer some potent and thoughtful points here and our conversations on the subject in the past have already clarified my stance on the subject. I completely agree with the gun buy back program and stricter parameters and training for gun purchases. And I agree that your questions here -
What is causing the recent shootings? I keep saying "recent" because this type of thing just didn't happen back in the day. Are people getting meaner or crazier? People are on more prescription drugs than ever before, do you think that has anything to do with it? What about mainstream media? Do you think that the media glamorizes shootings like this?
are at the heart of the REAL issues behind gun use, these crazy shootings etc...
I'm still learning about this issue and want to continue doing so before taking any kind of stance, but truly appreciate your knowledge, experience, clear intelligent thinking on this subject and your peaceful approach to the subject!
Hi Ruth! First of all I want to apologize for taking so long to reply to your great response. I haven't been feeling very well for several days and Steemit was placed on the back burner unfortunately. I greatly appreciate your open mind and reasonable way of thinking. I believe that we as society could make much more progress if we all thought and acted in this manner instead of being 100% this way or 100% that way.
One of the sheriff's in my state came up with a good idea the other day. The sheriff in Rockingham County is going to try and implement a volunteer program where retired military and law enforcement, honorably discharged military or off duty LE can volunteer their time to go to schools that don't already have a School Resource Officer there and patrol the campus. He's currently working with the Justice Department now to go over qualification requirements and such. I would love to volunteer my time for something like this and think it's a great idea. I would much rather see this happen than the "arming of teachers" idea that I recently read about. Thank you again for your response, it's always a pleasure talking with you!
I'm really sorry you've been under the weather!
I like the idea of retired military and law enforcement volunteering in schools....seems to me that in addition to patrolling (which unfortunately seems to be necessary) they/you might have some good information to share with the kids!
PS. I agree that extremist views are less helpful to the world! When I was in college I went to see Elie Wiesel speak and he said that the most dangerous people in the world are extremists that are convinced that their point of view is the only "right" one. I've thought about it many times over the years and even more over the last few years as people seem to become more polarized in their views.