A Simple Prayer - Newtown CT.

[Mark Vollinger]

Folks:

I might ask a favor of us to remember in our prayers the twenty 6 and 7 year old children who had their lives snuffed out in Connecticut.

We might also remember the 6 brave teachers who lost their lives protecting those children.

I'm sure there are a few of us that will remember to hold our children and grand children closer and tell them we love them.

Mark V.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

Mark, For the last several day's I have been trying to understand why any one would do such a thing to innocent children, They were to young, that's not supposed to happen, they are now in the arms of someone who will protect them forever!

[George M. Purtill]

I can tell you that us folks in Connecticut don't feel real great right now.

[Dean Romig]

Where innocent children are the victims, I can assure you that nobody is left untouched. Shocked or stunned pretty well describes how most reasonable people are feeling right now. I don't know anyone who is comfortable with talking about it right now.

[Jerry Harlow]

These things should not happen but after Columbine and Virginia Tech that anyone would believe an unarmed "School Resource Officer" or school administration staff person could do anything to stop an armed nut case is impossible to believe. It is as if we have learned nothing. We are spending billions for the defense of Afghan citizens but can't afford armed police for our schools. One of our local schools said they had a plan in place as they have a resource officer (unarmed) for four schools. Idiots.

Yes we should not have to do it, but anyone knows we are unsafe whether our kids are in school, we are sitting in church, or are shopping at a mall. But it is always the gun's fault.

[Jay Gardner]

These things should not happen but after Columbine and Virginia Tech that anyone would believe an unarmed "School Resource Officer" or school administration staff person could do anything to stop an armed nut case is impossible to believe. It is as if we have learned nothing. We are spending billions for the defense of Afghan citizens but can't afford armed police for our schools. One of our local schools said they had a plan in place as they have a resource officer (unarmed) for four schools. Idiots.

Yes we should not have to do it, but anyone knows we are unsafe whether our kids are in school, we are sitting in church, or are shopping at a mall. But it is always the gun's fault.

With all due respect, this is not the time or place for gun rhetoric. There will be plenty of time and forums for discussions about guns and their roll in this and other shootings when the time is right. Now is certainly not a time for it.

[Chris Travinski]

Things here in Connecticut are pretty quiet. I can't imagine the feeling of those parents having to spend Christmas without their kids. It's never easy to hear of these events, but it's even worse when it happens so close to home. I drove by Hoffman's (a large gun shop outside Hartford) Sunday and there were so many cars they were parked all over the lawn and in rows of three, it's crazy.

[Jim DiSpagno]

This is a very hard time for all who have young children and grandchildren. Please let us stop and pause to reflect on those Great blessings and to pray for those poor families and friends that have suffered and will continue to suffer these losses for eternity. May the Good Lord keep those lost to this horrible act in His loving arms and give peace to all who seek it.

[Jerry Harlow]

With all due respect, this is not the time or place for gun rhetoric. There will be plenty of time and forums for discussions about guns and their roll in this and other shootings when the time is right. Now is certainly not a time for it.

Perhaps this thread belongs in the Off Topic section where only members can see it, but I did not start it; only replied. It would be great to see it moved to that section if an administrator would be kind enough to do so.

I have been very despondent about the slayings since they happened. Such beautiful and innocent little children. I know they are with God now. The killer, I know he is in Hell for eternity. I just made a statement about my grandchildren, all about the same age, sitting in unprotected schools. Apparently you did not hear the politicians Saturday and all day long yesterday. I did. They apparently thought the time was right. The President apparently thought the time was right. They did not even give it a day. Not even enough respect to wait until the children and adults were buried. That made me sick that they would exploit the situation for political gain. "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste" is a policy they invented and follow. I don't need to say any more.

[George Lander]

"These Are The Times That Try Men's Souls" May a merciful God bless those innocent children and brave teachers and may He hold them in the hollow of His hand.

George

[todd allen]

I lost my first son to a crib death, my other son to an auto accident at age 26, so I understand tragedy and loss.
Unplug the televisions for a while, avoid the news.
Read this;
http://www.baysideonline.com/december14/

Then watch this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfwlj0gba_k

[Christopher Piercey]

It's chilling when you realize that one person can take so much away from a community, a family...

[Pete Lester]

I was hesitant to post but as the days go by some things become more clear to me. The best way to remember the slain is really do what we can to stop it from happening again as much as humanly possible. The world I grew up in is gone. Morality and discipline have been removed as influences in the upbringing in several generations behind mine, removed from homes, schools, and media. Too many of the seriously mentally ill walk among us, human upon human predators. They are not going away, they will not be stopped by laws (gun free school zones, don't murder etc). They will always find the tools whether they be guns, bombs, or even simple box cutters. No material substance ban is effective, Prohibition and the Drug war have made that clear. We must accept the predators are at war with us, they are almost always Kamikazee's, the strike us in an ambush and in a military sense they strike "soft" targets. We are at risk whenever we gather in large number. It is pretty much impossible, even for the military to stop all ambushes executed by someone or a group that is both homicidal and suicidal. So how do we avoid being in or sending our loved ones to a soft target? How do we harden the target? This is all we can really do, this is the new reality, it's been around for about 15 years when the first school shooting in the US happened in 1997. The enemy has escalated the attacks since. The mass shootings are not happening at police stations, shooting ranges, gun stores etc. They are happening at schools, theaters and malls. This is not rhetoric, it's just the sad fact of the matter. A politician will come up with one answer, and that answer will be whatever is popular and secure votes and power, it doesn't have to work it just has to be popular and serve a politicians purpose. As a sportsman and an American who has enjoyed freedom and loves our country I think we are in for a rough time. I am afraid when the dust settles and whatever is done we won't be any safer, we will be a little bit less free and it will only be a matter of time before another tragedy where innocent people are slaughtered happens again. I believe this because I don't think collectively we can accept the danger is always there and we believe it will through whatever legislation go away. I wish I had a time machine because that is the only way I can think of to get away from the world that America has become.

[charlie cleveland]

boy pete this is a grim picture but i agree with you a 100 percent.... charlie

[Dean Romig]

I agree Pete. We've done it to ourselves. Remember this old adage... "As ye sow, so shall ye reap."

[Dave Suponski]

Gents, First off I would like to thank Todd for those two links they helped. I have been silent on this topic becuase we here have been going through a pretty nasty range of emotions here in Stratford,CT. Tonight Danny and I attended the wake of my good friend Carlos Soto's daughter Miss Vicki Soto. A true American hero.This senseless violence has hit home. Thats all I can say at this point...

[Mills Morrison]

Words just fail . . . .