NATCHEZ, Miss. —
The funerals are over. The small size of the caskets underscores the huge hurt the nation feels after the Connecticut school shooting.
Life will begin to slowly move back into a more normal pace for the friends and families of the victims.
But our nation runs the risk of allowing time and complacency to prevent us from a real discussion over what, if anything, we can do to reduce the risk of repeating such violence against our schools.
Sadly, both sides seem to scream at one another with their fingers in their ears — adamant that their position is the only viable one.
On one side some Americans believe tighter gun laws are the answer.
On the other side other Americans believe the answer is more guns, not fewer.
The discussion that we need to have should consider all angles.
First, we must be more capable of providing more security to protect our schools from random intruders.
We have more security at the county courthouse than we have protecting our most precious citizens.
Reasonable gun control measures should be discussed as well, though honestly, short of mass confiscation — which we oppose — most gun laws simply limit non-criminal citizens. However, we’re open to a non-political discussion of the matter.
Lastly, we must address the care, treatment and monitoring of the mentally ill.
We’ve made the matter taboo to discuss, and in looking the other way, we are enabling people to slip through the cracks.
This is the most slippery of all slopes because many, many people battle mental illness and never turn to violence, so we must use care not to paint all with a big brush.
But we also must not allow our fear of offending someone to block us from remembering the pain of seeing so many tiny caskets carried away and the commitment that we must end this violence.
Online:
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com
Editorials
Funerals over, complacency may take over gun violence
- Editorials
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Bryant tantrum on education major standards was misguided
By the (McComb) Enterprise-Journal:
That was quite a tantrum Gov. Phil Bryant pitched at the College Board recently, criticizing its members for voicing concerns about his effort to increase standards for education majors. -
Legislature to City Hall not sure move
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Nation’s economy improving, but state’s still lagging
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It’s been a long time coming, but finally there are bright economic signs nationally that seem here to stay a while. -
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Miss. makes news, good news, this time
By The (Columbus) Commercial Dispatch:
Generally, when Mississippi makes national news — especially of late — it is not the sort of notoriety we welcome. ...
So March 3, when Mississippi again made national news, we braced ourselves for the embarrassment that was sure to follow.
Only this time, it wasn’t anything to be embarrassed about.
Imagine that. -
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Expenses continue to rise as the plaintiffs and the state work toward a telephone status conference scheduled for April 25 with U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee. The price tag this year is $1.35 million. -
Ag’s legal expenses top $2.4M for year
An ongoing lawsuit challenging Mississippi’s foster care system has cost the state at least $4.4 million in legal expenses and fees since 2008.
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Higher pay best way to recruit better teachers
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A centerpiece of Gov. Phil Bryant’s proposals to improve education in Mississippi is raising the requirements for college students to major in the education field. - More Editorials Headlines
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