At 9:30 AM (ET) Friday, Dec 14th 2012, the Newton Police Department received a 911 call informing them that there was an incident going on at the local elementary school, Sandy Hook.
Quickly, the news broke nation-wide in the U.S., and world-wide not long after that.
What we know is this:
Adam Lanza, aged 20, shot his mother (a teacher at Sandy Hook) in her home before proceeding to the elementary school where he fired over a hundred rounds, randomly shooting twenty-seven people in two classrooms in one section of the school.
Eighteen children, between ages five and ten, died on-site. Two more children in the same age group died from their injuries in the hospital. Six adults, including the principal (who had run to the classrooms presumably to help the kids) and (unconfirmed) the school psychologist, were also killed on-site. Another, reportedly female employee, is still in hospital, but in stable condition.
The gunman perished either by his own hand or by police fire, it is unclear, as is the motive of Lanza.
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| Obama fights back tears as he addresses the nation. |
President Obama was briefed and later gave this speech, stating so rightly that "our hearts are broken", and "As a country we have been through this too many times".:
Now, what does this unspeakable tragedy mean? Should we now, after having for so long ignored it, open the discussion on stricter gun control laws, especially in the U.S.? I believe so.
On Twitter, the debate raged on almost immediately:
@The_Regionrat: "We can't limit the psychos in the world, but we can limit what they have access to."
@Cath J "After the #Aurora shooting, it wasn't the time or place to have #guncontrol discussions... How about now? Or do more innocents have to die? #ct"
@Cath J "#GunControlNow It is obviously time for a change. The right to live is bigger than the *privilege* to bear arms. #ctschoolshooting"
@Cath J "The tipping point has come and gone in this #guncontrol debate. People need to wake up and realize that more guns does not = better! #pnpcbc"
“Hours after (CT) kindergarten shooting, Michigan GOP calls for allowing guns in schoolshttp://thkpr.gs/UYhj2o ” And the NRA featured (briefly) this picture on their Facebook page after the shooting.
@MissKellyO: "Its disgusting that ppl even have access to guns at all! #GunLaws should be stricter! In this day & age things like this should not happen!"
Two tweets seemed to sum everything up:
@DamianKindler: "Just completely devastated. Gun control. Now. For the love of humanity."
@oliviawilde: "It is possible to grieve and take action on the same day. Remove the selfishness from anger and you're left with determination."
There were also some online essays about gun control.
Now, how can we talk about this? One must be aware of certain facts when thinking about opting for stricter gun control laws, keeping in mind the multiple deadliest shootings in U.S. history: And you should perhaps contact your representative and tell them that this is enough!
There is also a Facebook page for the young victims.
Catherine Pelletier, Catherine's Encyclopaedia.
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