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.
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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…