Another high school shooting, this time in MD

[sam_gordon]

What's the over/under on # of pages before this thread gets shutdown? I'm going to say 12.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Thoughts & prayers didn’t do anything when my dad was dying of cancer. To each his own, I get that it’s comforting for some. But, it felt like an empty gesture to me when that’s all ppl offered especially ppl who could have done or offered more (not that it really applies here). So, I try to offer things I think would be more meaningful.

Interesting. I was raised Catholic but do not consider myself religious at all. When I lost my parents and many offered thoughts and prayers, I took it as intended — their heartfelt desire to offer comfort. How much I was or wasn’t comforted by it didn’t make it seem empty to me.

Truthfully, there isn’t much most people actually CAN do at a time like that. I don’t see that thoughts and prayers hurt at all, though.

 

[luvsJack]

So sick and tired of this happening over and over. Only in America.

What is an SRO? Not familiar with the term.

School Resource Officer.



What each school needs is a campus police department. With well trained officers on campus at all times that students are there.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

What's the over/under on # of pages before this thread gets shutdown? I'm going to say 12.

What is the point of a post like this, truly? Some of us are having a respectful dialogue.

 

[Hikergirl]

Yep. Actually I do. Thoughts & prayers didn’t do anything when my dad was dying of cancer. To each his own, I get that it’s comforting for some. But, it felt like an empty gesture to me when that’s all ppl offered especially ppl who could have done or offered more (not that it really applies here). So, I try to offer things I think would be more meaningful. Only reason I commented at all though is b/c your “proof” that it was meaningful to some was that the boy thanked God. Personally, thought process always bugs me b/c what does that mean for those who weren’t so lucky?

I never offered it as proof of anything accept that maybe some of those kids do have faith in God and prayer and people sending them some may bring them some comfort.
When someone wishes me thoughts and prayers I know it comes from a good place, and it is their way of showing or saying they care about what I'm going through.
Since at this point all I can do is that, that is what I will do and hope that it does bring comfort to some.
Why in the world anyone would want to disparage people doing that is beyond me.
Do you think arguing and going back and forth about what we think should be done does anything for those kids down there right now? Yet here we are doing that, but for some reason offering thoughts and prayers is what is called out as an empty gesture?

 

[LSUmiss]

Interesting. I was raised Catholic but do not consider myself religious at all. When I lost my parents and many offered thoughts and prayers, I took it as intended — their heartfelt desire to offer comfort. How much I was or wasn’t comforted by it didn’t make it seem empty to me.

Truthfully, there isn’t much most people actually CAN do at a time like that. I don’t see that thoughts and prayers hurt at all, though.

They didn’t hurt. It was just nothing to us. They didn’t even feel heartfelt. It felt like something ppl just do. There were ppl who did other things or who sent condolences that felt more meaningful. Those are the ones I remember & try to extend to others.

 

[luvsJack]

Yep. Actually I do. Thoughts & prayers didn’t do anything when my dad was dying of cancer. To each his own, I get that it’s comforting for some. But, it felt like an empty gesture to me when that’s all ppl offered especially ppl who could have done or offered more (not that it really applies here). So, I try to offer things I think would be more meaningful. Only reason I commented at all though is b/c your “proof” that it was meaningful to some was that the boy thanked God. Personally, thought process always bugs me b/c what does that mean for those who weren’t so lucky?

Maybe your feeling that people should have done more for your dad is coloring your opinion a bit?

Its hard for me to imagine not being comforted by the fact that many people are taking the time and the care to say a prayer for me and mine so can't say "I know how you feel".



Why are some so hell bent on making those that offer prayer feel bad? Because its the "in thing to do now"? Because someone on TV or in the news or on Facebook made some crack about "prayers not helping". People really ought to get over themselves.

 

[Klayfish]

School Resource Officer.



What each school needs is a campus police department. With well trained officers on campus at all times that students are there.

For now, that may be a band aid solution...but even that I don't think would truly stop it. Plus, now we're just brining more guns onto campus.

As I said before, IMO, the answer is no more guns. Not "tighter" controls, no guns period...military and police excepted of course. Yeah, I know it's not very realistic, but we need to start moving in that direction, IMO. Yes, I understand the argument that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". That's true...but American people have proven they can't handle the responsibility of guns, so it's time for them to go (the guns that is, not the American people...LOL).

Take the guns out of morons hands and they instantly become far less dangerous...and far less brave.

 

[Domo]

Thank God so far we've only had one death. Of course, even one is deplorable, even if it's an evil one like the gunman.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

They didn’t hurt. It was just nothing to us. They didn’t even feel heartfelt. It felt like something ppl just do. There were ppl who did other things or who sent condolences that felt more meaningful. Those are the ones I remember & try to extend to others.

Understood — I’m sure some are more heartfelt than others. I am not a fan of accepting help — I’d probably rather have people kindly offer thoughts and prayers than be all over me trying to do more — or to do other things that really wouldn’t help. I think there’s an analogy here with the issue of these shootings. Is it more meaningful to use “#guncontrol” online or spend an hour carrying a sign somewhere, when this doesn’t get to the root of the problem or certainly isn’t long lasting on its own? I’m not sure. In fact, to the extent that it is single-mindedly focused only on a weapon, I think it detracts from a larger, more nuanced, more valuable discussion. My two cents, anyway.

 

[Hikergirl]

For now, that may be a band aid solution...but even that I don't think would truly stop it. Plus, now we're just brining more guns onto campus.

As I said before, IMO, the answer is no more guns. Not "tighter" controls, no guns period...military and police excepted of course. Yeah, I know it's not very realistic, but we need to start moving in that direction, IMO. Yes, I understand the argument that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". That's true...but American people have proven they can't handle the responsibility of guns, so it's time for them to go (the guns that is, not the American people...LOL).

Take the guns out of morons hands and they instantly become far less dangerous...and far less brave.

Actually that isn't the argument.
And it is SOME Americans have proven they can't handle the responsibility of guns.

 

[luvsJack]

For now, that may be a band aid solution...but even that I don't think would truly stop it. Plus, now we're just brining more guns onto campus.

As I said before, IMO, the answer is no more guns. Not "tighter" controls, no guns period...military and police excepted of course. Yeah, I know it's not very realistic, but we need to start moving in that direction, IMO. Yes, I understand the argument that "guns don't kill people, people kill people". That's true...but American people have proven they can't handle the responsibility of guns, so it's time for them to go (the guns that is, not the American people...LOL).

Take the guns out of morons hands and they instantly become far less dangerous...and far less brave.

But as we discussed before, its not physically possible. You cannot insure that all guns--100% are gone and none come back. I mean we can't do it with drugs, we can't do it with people; what on earth makes you think we can do it with guns?

A police officer with a gun on a school campus is not a danger to the students. A campus police office with an officer in the office and other officers patrolling campus is protection. Its not fool proof but its better than some barely trained guy that's scared to go in the building.

Again, we need to make the kids safe. Will they be safe from bombs and knives and other weapons when we magically get rid of all guns? What then? Make them safe first.

 

[erin1715]

I just want to add in what sending prayers mean from my perspective, if I may.

While I believe in the sentiment of offering thoughts and prayers to help comfort others, even more important than that, it is MY personal belief that the act of prayer moves the hand of God on this earth. For me, prayer is an action.

Some people do flippantly say, "I'm thinking and praying for you." And I believe that if you offer your prayers, you better be sure that you are actually praying for the person. In my opinion, (emphasis on my), prayer offers more than comfort. But I can't expect others to understand who don't believe the same as me.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Student/School Resource Officer — trained, armed personnel onsite.

Thanks for explaining. Clearly we don’t have them around here, because I’ve never heard that acronym used in that way.

What each school needs is a campus police department. With well trained officers on campus at all times that students are there.

I disagree, but not going to debate it.

 

[Klayfish]

Actually that isn't the argument.
And it is SOME Americans have proven they can't handle the responsibility of guns.

That is the argument that I hear pro-gun people make all the time. It's not the guns, it's the people.

I fully agree it's some Americans have proven they can't handle the responsibility. Don't mean to imply that all gun owners are irresponsible. But there are far, far too many who are...and as we are seeing over and over and over and over and over, guns have the power to end lives...many at a time. So, just IMO, until this issue can be resolved, guns need to go away. Gun murder has been a growing epidemic for decades, it's boiling over to the point of being out of control. Time to make it stop...by definition, if you take the guns away, gun murders stop.

 

[kimblebee]

What's the over/under on # of pages before this thread gets shutdown? I'm going to say 12.

I’m just glad that apparently religion and politics are A-ok now. Who knew..

 

[sam_gordon]

What is the point of a post like this, truly? Some of us are having a respectful dialogue.

And some aren't. In my opinion of course.

Of course, all these posts on a message board do just as much good as "thoughts and prayers". I'm all for talking over ideas, but at what point does it become circular? People say "we have to do SOMETHING". "SOMETHING" is what led to the TSA and all the rules over air travel. There is no way everyone is going to be happy.

IMO, what needs to be done NOW is for a group of people to be named (from all sides... those who want all guns destroyed to those who want to focus on mental health to those who want more SROs to those who don't want any gun restrictions and everything in between) who can sit down in a room and have a discussion of what realistically can be done. Everyone should be willing to compromise. They also shouldn't focus on just school shootings... there have been mall shootings and movie theater shootings.

 

[sam_gordon]

I’m just glad that apparently religion and politics are A-ok now. Who knew..

It just means the mods haven't been here yet.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

IMO, what needs to be done NOW is for a group of people to be named (from all sides... those who want all guns destroyed to those who want to focus on mental health to those who want more SROs to those who don't want any gun restrictions and everything in between) who can sit down in a room and have a discussion of what realistically can be done. Everyone should be willing to compromise. They also shouldn't focus on just school shootings... there have been mall shootings and movie theater shootings.

Agreed. No one aspect should suck all the oxygen out of the room — that’s the only way we get to have that conversation.

 

[cabanafrau]

Interesting. I was raised Catholic but do not consider myself religious at all. When I lost my parents and many offered thoughts and prayers, I took it as intended — their heartfelt desire to offer comfort. How much I was or wasn’t comforted by it didn’t make it seem empty to me.

Truthfully, there isn’t much most people actually CAN do at a time like that. I don’t see that thoughts and prayers hurt at all, though.

It's prayer and not intended to be taken like having a genie pop out of a lamp to grant wishes. People of faith of all kinds have utilized it in the face of circumstances larger than themselves for centuries.