A friend told me today that there has been another school shooting in Indiana today. So sad, it's just so sad to constantly hear about shootings in schools across our country. Every time I see or read about one, I see a lot of Facebook posts that show a victim, what they did, and to share that instead of the person who did it. Now, I semi agree with this. I agree with it because the people that gave their lives so selflessly deserve, no demand, to be recognized. They put themselves in harms way to make sure another lived. That is a hero in every and all sense of the word. But on the other side of the coin, I never hear as to WHY the shooter did it. The only reasons I've actually seen or heard is because of bullying in the school and they had a severe mental illness. There may be other reasons why various people are doing this, but these are the only reasons I have personally heard.
Because of these shootings, there has been a HUGE call to take away guns, do more to control guns...all about the guns. Which, to an extent, I agree with. But I also agree with the 2nd Amendment, as well. I don't believe that I should be able to tell the guy next door what kind of guns, if any at all, he should be able to own. In my opinion, guns don't just go around shooting people. There's always a person behind it that's pulling the trigger. I think there should some measures taken, but I don't feel that taking away guns or making them illegal will solve the problem. They made drugs illegal and they're as prominent as before.
I also believe that better background checks should be enforced and that those who have a history, diagnosis, and/or signs of mental illness should either not be allowed to have guns or be checked a bit more thoroughly depending on the severity of the illness. Technically, I have a mental illness.. I have high anxiety, but I am able to function like any person would. I know right from wrong, I am ethical, and I understand my actions have consequences. So I would fully agree to extra measures to ensure that my owning a gun wouldn't cause any problems.
Then there's the issue with bullying being the reason. Bullying has been around for as long as I've been alive, and more. It's an amazingly big problem in our country. The thing that makes me shake my hard the hardest and have a hard trouble comprehending is the fact that grown adults do a lot of bullying too. It's just amazing how many people are still name calling or tearing someone else down because they either don't understand that person or because they need to feel better about themselves. I have not seen it as high as during the election. The amount of personal attacks and name calling and being told you are just as bad as the candidate in question if you voted for him/her was absolutely mind boggling. Whatever happened to decency and being civil. You don't have to like every person you meet. You don't have to agree with whatever they agree with, but you could at least be adult and mature enough to either agree to disagree or leave them be. Why is that SO HARD of a concept for people to understand? You see someone of a different color, leave them be. You see a gay/lesbian/bi/whatever couple walking down the street, leave them be. You hear someone with opinions and thoughts that you don't agree with.... you guessed it! Leave them be!! Unless you know the person or have an actual reason to approach them..... just keep walking. It's not that complicated.
Parents, let's teach our kids that bullying is NOT ok in any way, shape, or form! If my kids get bullied in school, I am giving them my full support to retaliate (obviously not in a very severe way) if the bully wont stop after being told/asked to. I don't care if they get into trouble at school. Your kid bullies my kid, and wont stop after being told to? Well then, my kid will defend/protect themselves with my full backing. Before anyone starts yelling at me, I'm not saying I'm giving my kid the ok to beat the pulp out of someone. But if their lunch money gets stolen, then they have the right to say "no" then defend themselves upon being beat up. If they're getting touched/hit/bumped, whether inappropriately or just to be a dick, and my kid snaps and punches them in the face....you bet I'm going to be behind my kid. After a talk about hitting to hurt vs defending yourself, I'm gonna praise my kid for standing up to the bully...especially if teachers are no help.
I'm also going to make sure none of my kids are the bullies, as well. That causing someone else to feel bad is never ok. It starts at home. If you as the parent are egging the child on and not doing anything to stop it, then congratulations... you're the problem. You are the reason why my kid punched yours in the face. Don't be that parent...
I started taking a personal approach in self love and also teaching my kids that too. But I'm also trying to do more for changing a little bit of all the negativity. I'm tired of seeing it all. While sharing things and just talking about it on Facebook do help promote the awareness for it....we need to actually start doing as well. "Actions speak louder than words" is the best quote I can think of for something like this. Talking is great, but let's have more of the actions. You did something great today? Share it so others will be inspired to do something too!!
So... moral of this story? Instead of just talking about it, let's be the change. Let's build up, don't tear down!
