I really don't know what to say

There's nothing anyone can say. There is no sufficient explanation to offer, no solution, no foresight, no understanding. There is only the recognition that 27 people were killed in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14th, 2012. There are only the difficulties that accompany tragedy.

As time passes, the cycle will once again cement itself. Arguments about gun control, arguments about whether it's too soon for gun control arguments, calls for mental screenings of every child five and up to try to detect signs of mental illness, the vilification of media for paying more attention to the shooter than the victims, the media's attempt to create a compelling narrative for the murderer's actions, all eventually evaporating as we become reinvested in our daily lives. We took our pause. We paid our respects. We moved on.

How can this be? Our desensitized attitude and inevitable inaction towards violence is owed to the fact that, according to "Politifact", since 2002, there have been over 9,000 gun deaths in the United States each year leading up to this past Friday. The ones that receive national attention are those that boast the highest casualties. The others have become a part of the daily local news cycle. The National Disaster Center's numbers point to upwards of 40 murders in the U.S. a day, 30 of them being by way of the gun. The deaths resulting from domestic disputes or street corner violence have become regular occurrence. 

But freedom, freedom is our legacy, one that is protected by our inalienable rights, for the people have the right to rise up against a tyrannical government. Yet the Bill of Rights doesn't mention what an onerous task it was to load guns in 1788. The 1700's are incomparable to the twenty first century, whether the comparison be by guns or government. We have so much to debate. The Constitution didn't tell us what to do with the Westboro Baptist Church. They have the right, under the Constitution, to protest funerals for military members or kindergartners because of their belief that their deaths are a result of God's retaliation to homosexuality. The opinion of the minority is protected under the Constitution, no matter how gross a minority it is.

The events at Sandy Hook and the ensuing discussion cannot only be a gun control issue. As is true in any social, theological, economic, or moral dilemma, there is no cut and dry solution, no black or white, only grey. The paramount obligation to the public is to honor the lives of those who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time that day. Ironic, because that day, those lost were participating in a noble American ideal - education for all.

According to the Huffington Post, if one were to add together all the gun deaths in the 23 wealthiest countries, per capita, the U.S. would account for a staggering eighty percent of them. So it is a gun issue. This is not an insensitive topic for the victims of shootings. It is one that coincides with the preservation of their memory. A discussion to save lives is a worthy one, granted, the implementation of tighter gun restrictions will not single handedly amend our violent culture. One can only hope that with the senseless deaths that have occurred, something will change. There have been 31 school shootings since Columbine. There has hardly been an alteration in gun law. This is due largely to the National Rifle Association's lobbying machine.

But our energy cannot be entirely focused against the NRA. Nor can it be entirely focused for the NRA. Our energy cannot be entirely focused on prayer, yet it can not all be focused on action, as this meditative process is therapeutic for all involved.

It is apparent that we cannot focus on only one side of the issue. Yet, our ultimate failure after each horrific event is our lack of focus on any one thing. Our country is a beautiful one. We have better circumstances than most. And we are lucky that our largest problem is our lack of ability to decide upon our largest problem. But make no mistake, our indecision is our number one issue.

Still, in such a confusing, muddied, depressing, and sobering time, it is decidedly unanimous that every American has love and empathy for every victim and family affected by the shooting. We at Valley Regional and people throughout the globe have taken part in thinking, and praying, and crying, and hoping, and reflecting with sincerity on those lives that were lost and never should have been. Let's have that same sentiment for those in combat, whether their battle be with the military, their social condition, powers beyond their control, or themselves.

With respect:

- Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female
- Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male
- Rachel Davino, 7/17/83, female.
- Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female
- Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female
- Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female
- Dylan Hockley, 3/8/06, male
- Dawn Hochsprung, 06/28/65, female
- Madeleine F. Hsu, 7/10/06, female
- Catherine V. Hubbard, 6/08/06, female
- Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male
- Jesse Lewis, 6/30/06, male
- James Mattioli , 3/22/06, male
- Grace McDonnell, 12/04/05, female
- Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60, female
- Emilie Parker, 5/12/06, female
- Jack Pinto, 5/06/06, male
- Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male
- Caroline Previdi, 9/07/06, female
- Jessica Rekos, 5/10/06, female
- Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female
- Lauren Rousseau, 6/1982, female
- Mary Sherlach, 2/11/56, female
- Victoria Soto, 11/04/85, female
- Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male
- Allison N. Wyatt, 7/03/06, female

And, in a separate, recent, incident, Valley's own, 23 year old Steven Grich