Gun Control and How We're Missing the Point

This post is going to be a little different than what I usually write on this blog, but I do like keeping up with politics and writing about it so you may see more of it in the future.

The awful shooting at the elementary school in Newton, Connecticut has relight the fire of the gun control debate. The murder of so many people, mostly children, was horrific and naturally generated very emotional reactions. People have been protesting at the White House, media has been reporting on it non-stop, and politicians are struggling to qualm the emotional tide.
One protester's sign really caught my eye, however, especially because he was waving it in front of the NRA [National Rifle Association] vice president while he was speaking in a press conference this morning.



First, I thought of how disrespectful it was for someone to do that, then I realized how ridiculous this whole thing was. The NRA has had some pretty intense backlash from the country because of their, obvious, stance on gun control and weapons. But how someone could actually believe that they were to blame in any way in the Connecticut shooting is beyond me.
Throughout this situation, the NRA has been very respectful and hasn't lashed back at people who blamed them for the shooting. This morning's press conference contained ideas that were logical and level headed. And I think that they addressed what media and politicians should have been debating about this entire time: school protection.
When I heard about the shooting, my thoughts were not "how did he get a gun?" but "how did he get in?" How did someone enter a school during the day with guns and malicious intent?
Wayne LaPierre, the vice president of the NRA, voiced a plan for school protection, calling "on Congress to immediately appropriate money to put armed officiers in every school in America." -USA Today
Personally, I think that it is a good idea, although it is strongly opposed by most of the country. LaPierre asks though, "Why is the use of a gun [good] when it's asked to be used to protect the president or used by the police, but bad when it's used to protect children?"
The problem is that this issue is very emotional and risky. Having guns around children is concerning to many parents, but I do think that it could make schools safer as long as they are in the hands of well trained guards.
The NRA addressed many other links to violent shootings, such as video games and media coverage, which you can read a summary of here.
When we're faced with situations like this, however, I think that the media, the people, and the politicians of this country have a responsibility to react in a less emotional way. The media especially has been fueling this fire and has reported many of the facts wrong. It's frustrating because we all want to have well thought out ideas. Of course this debate is emotional; there have been so many shootings that have taken innocent lives. But the wrong reaction is to jump on the NRA or gun owners. Guns are not responsible for the crimes that evil or sick people commit.

-Meaghan

PS - I would encourage you to read the transcript of the press conference from this morning if you can! There were some really good thoughts expressed, as I mention before. [read here]