When a national tragedy occurs, there are some responses that seem appropriate and others that don’t.
Although most of these reactions seem to follow some sort of moral rational when considering the recent ideas proposed by the National Rifle Association, or N.R.A, it doesn’t appear they feel the same.
In response to the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn., which took the lives of 26 individuals, the N.R.A has suggested armed security guards should be stationed outside every school across the country.
The group believes this would be a sensible approach to ensuring these rampages don’t reoccur in the future.
To validate this stance, N.R.A Vice President Wayne Lapierre said, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
Although this topic can closely be linked to the numerous debates currently focused on gun control laws, after seeing statements such as this, it makes one wonder: is this really the type of message we want delivered to young children?
As unfortunate as it might be, the events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School are horrible reminders of the unpredictable dangers that constantly exist in our world.
Although no one can predict when these random acts of violence might occur, exposing young children to a life where seeing a security guard holding an automatic weapon at recess is a normal routine is a terrible lesson to instill.
Despite what the N.R.A vice president might think, there should be no validation in the belief that violence should be met with more violence.
There should be no validation in instilling the belief that violence should have a place in our everyday lives.
Most importantly, schools never should be seen as unsafe places for the students and faculty who work there.
Teaching young children that guns are an appropriate way to solve problems, as well as something that can be naturally linked to adults in the outside world, establishes a mindset that is both skewed from the truth and a potential danger to their future.
Even more, does the idea of sending our children to a place each day where they believe they might be in danger something they should be exposed to?
Should we teach our children that elementary schools are targets for dangerous situations?
Do we want the first thing they see in the morning when they get to school to be a man holding a gun?
Although there never will be a way to predict when random, tragic, events might take place, instilling the belief that they are occurrences we should readily expect, and constantly need defending from, is not the type of answer we need.
The events that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School forever will be a dark mark on our nation, which will be felt for many years to come.
Hopefully, the way in which we decide to handle it won’t also be.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
