The Federal Government is Guilty Accomplice in School Shooting in Newtown Connecticut

...“We must stop blinding ourselves to the obvious: Most of these mass killings are happening at schools where self-defense is prohibited,” said Carla Howell, executive director of the Libertarian Party. “Gun prohibition sets the stage for the slaughter of innocent children. We must repeal these anti-self-defense laws now to minimize the likelihood they will occur in the future and to the limit the damage done when they do.”
The party noted that at this month’s mall shooting in Portland, Ore., the gunman took his own life minutes after being confronted by a shopper carrying a concealed weapon.
A 2012 church shooting in Aurora, Colo., was stopped by a member of the congregation carrying a gun. A 2009 workplace shooting in Houston was halted by two co-workers who carried concealed handguns. And on and on.
Libertarians also note the post-9/11 prohibition on pilots carrying guns in the cockpit, a ban recently lifted when Congress acknowledged that the pilots would be better able to stop hijackers if armed.
“You can’t depend on somebody else to take care of your own life for you,” Wrights said. “It’s too precious to put it into the hands of somebody else, particularly when the seconds count.”...

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/12/1...al-law-designating-schools-as-gun-free-zones/

 

Here are some quotes from our founders on the Second Amendment, which surely has more meaning than modern day major media outlets.

Quotes on the Second Amendment
The Founding Fathers on the Second Amendment
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Co-author of the Second Amendment
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves …"
Richard Henry Lee
writing in Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republic, Letter XVIII, May, 1788.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full posession of them."
Zachariah Johnson
Elliot's Debates, vol. 3 "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"… the people are confirmed by the next article in their right to keep and bear their private arms"
Philadelphia Federal Gazette
June 18, 1789, Pg. 2, Col. 2
Article on the Bill of Rights


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; …"
Samuel Adams
quoted in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, August 20, 1789, "Propositions submitted to the Convention of this State"


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Founding Fathers on Arms
"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
George Washington
First President of the United States


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."
Thomas Paine


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
Richard Henry Lee
American Statesman, 1788


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The great object is that every man be armed." and "Everyone who is able may have a gun."
Patrick Henry
American Patriot


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"
Patrick Henry
American Patriot


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that … it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; … "
Thomas Jefferson
letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. ME 16:45.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
Alexander Hamilton
The Federalist Papers at 184-8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Founding Fathers on Maintaining Freedom
"The greatest danger to American freedom is a government that ignores the Constitution."
Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. "
Noah Webster
American Lexicographer


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion."
Edmund Burke
British Statesman, 1784


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms."
Thomas Jefferson
to James Madison


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Ben Franklin
American Statesman


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later Quotes on Gun Control

"The ruling class doesn't care about public safety. Having made it very difficult for States and localities to police themselves, having left ordinary citizens with no choice but to protect themselves as best they can, they now try to take our guns away. In fact they blame us and our guns for crime. This is so wrong that it cannot be an honest mistake."
Malcolm Wallop
former U.S. Sen. (R-WY)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"An armed man is a citizen. A disarmed man is a subject."
Anon.
Seen on a bumper sticker


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pro Gun Control
"Our main agenda is to have all guns banned. We must use whatever means possible. It doesn't matter if you have to distort the facts or even lie. Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would resist us have been totally disarmed."
Sara Brady
Chairman, Handgun Control Inc, to Senator Howard Metzenbaum
The National Educator, January 1994, Page 3.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"If you wish the sympathy of the broad masses, you must tell them the crudest and most stupid things."

"This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future!"
Adolph Hitler
Chancellor, Germany, 1933


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.

 

Recently Defeated Connecticut Mental Health Bill May Have Stopped Friday's Shooter

A troubling revelation has broken regarding a mental health bill recently defeated in Connecticut during this calendar year. Had it passed, that bill could have possibly taken Adam Lanza off the streets so he would not have been free to commit his heinous act on December 14.

In February 2012, Connecticut Senate Bill 452 (SB452) was put forward to remedy the fact that Connecticut was one of less than ten states in the U.S. to lack an "assisted outpatient treatment" (AOT) law.

But the bill was passed to Connecticut's Joint Committee on Judiciary in March, where it quietly faded away because of opposition by those who viewed it as "egregious" and "outrageously discriminatory."

Had this law passed, it may have forced Adam Lanza to be treated for his alleged mental illness instead of allowing him to roam free, and ultimately to kill 26 persons and himself in a vindictive rage on Friday.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Govern...Health-Bill-May-Have-Stopped-Friday-s-Shooter

 

Rev. Mitchell you have just touched on the discussion this country SHOULD be having: the state of mental health care in this country.

While there were abuses when the system allowed for involuntary treatment of mental illnesses, there has to be a better way than allowing potentially dangerous people to walk the streets untreated. We have better treatments now (than when I was a kid and my untreated and mentally ill mother was threatening my life) that are less intrusive and can allow a mentally ill person to lead a close to normal life. I see no reason why we can't pass laws that help families (who are often the first line of defense) in getting their mentally ill family members treatment without overly infringing on the patient's civil rights. The system now is bulky, expensive, slow and allows to many like this young man to slip through the cracks, only forcing treatment/incarceration after they inflict harm on themselves or another. It's too late then. They need treatment to prevent violent acts, not punishment for acts they may have no control over. (my mother controlled herself just fine when she was on her meds. Off them or high on prescriptions drugs she substituted for the meds she said had to many side effects, and some did, she could be a nightmare to deal with. My life wasn't the only one she threatened.)

 

I believe this issue supports the concern in the op with regard to government interference and cause and effect mixed with some undeniable facts.

 

Since retiring I have worked in an adult day care. You have a very good perspective. I think the balance between their rights and protection is a very difficult line to follow sometimes, and it has to be drawn by someone who actually cares about these folks. This would make a good thread.

 

We as a family have chosen not to bear arms, but I do not believe it is wrong to. This passage comes to mind often.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

We are not to fear Bush, Obama, Nero or anyone else. Our kingdom is not on this earth... yet.

 

This morning, I heard the first news service mention that better mental health care might have helped prevent this tragedy: Sanjay Gupta on HLN. I wanted to applaud even though his expression was such that he didn't think anyone was listening.

 

We can always find folks who are complicit after a tragedy. Perhaps the Body should be concerned with what WE are not doing instead of what the government is not doing.

Has the Church done anything to help families who are dealing with family members who have mental issues? Or are we again sitting around and defaulting for the government to do it?

What the young man did at the school, he or anyone else could have just as easily done as a school bus went down the road in a zone where folks could carry guns.

Crazy is not predictable. Again you may slow it down or cause it to stumble, but you will not stop it. There will always be another way until Jesus puts n end to it.