Today, I have read many official statements released in response to the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado last night. Many of the statements included the word “shocked.”
I was not shocked to hear that a mass shooting occurred. The truth is that mass shootings have been in my realm of consciousness at least since high school. Since middle school, I have been careful about where I go, what I wear and who I talk to, a strategy designed to prevent kidnapping, assault or robbery. My husband and I are prepared in case of a home invasion situation.
It does not shock me that there is violence in this world or that it is of this magnitude, I have been taught that stuff like this happens ever since I was a child. As an adult, I have tried to be prepared for it.
Besides the word “shocked,” I’ve also heard a lot of “thank God that this sort of thing doesn’t happen where I live.” But immoral people performing immoral deeds are everywhere. Period. I have family in Aurora; they’ve been having a hard time dealing with the negative backlash that one man’s actions have had on their community. This is a quote from one of my relatives:
My town is no more dangerous than your town. My town has the same social problems as yours and although we may be a more culturally diverse town than most, we are not beneath you. Bad things happen everywhere and at this time more than ever Aurora does not need your negative criticism.
Clayton Cramer has a book out about his theory regarding mass shootings like these, and the changes in the mental health system.
Little is known about the shooter right now, but from initial reports- his mother heard of the shooting on TV and her first inclination was OMG, that’s my boy, and knew she had to get to Colorado.
Here’s a small article Cramer wrote that echos the theme of his book:
http://www.fed-soc.org/publications/detail/madness-deinstitutionalization-murder
The book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E0LRQE/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title
($One Buck-fifty on kindle!)
The Cramer book is good, and another view is expressed by looking at the massive (over) use of antidepressants and their connection with various killings: http://harqueb.us/?p=2795 – there is an absolutely astonishing and scary list of FSDA-approved/drugged-up killers.
It’s also no more dangerous than your house, unless you have your guns locked up. I’m trying to choose a gun safe, since I realized it’s not acceptable to just keep them hidden in the closet. Which one do you guys think is best? http://www.maximumsecurity.com/safes/pc/Gun-Safes-c7.htm
I wonder if we could get Armed & Safe to run a class for us Rendezvous attendees from CA this year – at least then I could carry in NV…