Once again we are faced with a tragedy, a school shooting in Nevada, that left two wounded and two dead, including the shooter.  It seems we cannot look away for long before we are confronted with violence that has no meaning.  Not that violence should ever have a meaning, that’s not what I’m saying at all.  I just don’t understand what provokes a 13 year old child to take a gun and just show up at school, aiming at fellow classmates.  Was he bullied?  According to one eye witness, the young man was questioning others “why you people making fun of me, why you laughing at me?” <source Christian Science Monitor>.  Did the administration screw up? Were they aware of the bullying and ignoring it? A beloved teacher tried to calm the shooter down and the gun was turned on him, killing him.

And I have to ask, where were his parents in all of this?  The obligation, and yes, if you have children you have an obligation, of a parent is to nurture their child, to teach them morals, ethics, boundaries and most importantly self-respect & respect for others.   To keep them safe, including mental health issues if need be.  You cannot ignore a child who is suddenly acting out of the normal and shrug it off as a phase they’re going through.  You don’t have to hover but you do have to observe, and not from behind your iphone or tablet or whatever electronic device the world is attached to today.

As I look back over the past several years, the Boston Marathon bombing, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT 2012, September 11, 2001, Columbine High School 1999, The Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, and so many others in between, I have to stop to think, is this the America I knew…land of the free, home of the brave?  Are we in a place where we are now more vulnerable to attacks in our homes and our schools?  Do you feel safer than ever before?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this…please share them.