Making Guns Safe

Today in the New York Times there was an article about the many recent children who have recently shot and killed either themselves or a sibling/friend. The article can be found here. In the article they mention three events in particular that children were killed in because of inadequate weapon use or storage. Nowadays weapons are becoming so easily accessible that they can be found nearly anywhere and in some families children are acclimated to gun use at such a young age that the dangers of the weapon may not be apparent to them. As shown in this picture, which is also used in the article, these children start using weapons and playing with them when they are still to little to makes sense of the dangers.

New York Times

Accidental deaths are a growing problem in the United States. Last year there was 851 accidental gun deaths even though, according to the article, nearly half of the accidental deaths are not recorded as they should be. With many groups and organizations trying to ban or lower gun usage it seems like gun usage and accessibility is still on the rise. Groups like the National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) whose beliefs on gun laws clash with those of other groups seem to be winning the battle, but at what cost? If the mass shootings and acts of terrorism which happen much too often in the United States is not enough, then what is? Does it have to come down to innocent children mistakingly killing themselves before changes are made? What are your opinions on gun laws and what should be done to end this problem?

Mass Shootings Becoming the Norm

In the past year there has been a bombing at one of America's largest marathons, and also twenty children along with six adults were killed in a shooting in Connecticut. Today, there was another shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C.  As of right now thirteen people have been pronounced dead but for some reason much of this does not seem overly surprising, it seems like shootings and attacks, such as these, are becoming more and more like water to us. Although it is terrible that thirteen or possibly more  innocent people lost their lives because of the actions of a few individuals, it seems like Americans are becoming accustomed to events like these.

Saul Loeb/ Agence France-Presse

Some friends and I were discussing today's course of events in a group text message and when I notified them all that the death toll had risen to twelve one friend replied saying, "It's horrible how it's not even shocking any more." The murder of innocent people, often for reasons unknown, has become so common some Americans  believe that they do not find it "shocking" when events such as this take place. Many people may even try comparing the Navy Yard attack to the Sandy Hook shooting, which took place last December, by saying the casualties were not nearly as high and at least the vast majority of the victims were not children as they had been at Sandy Hook. Why is it that since more tragic events have taken place prior to this shooting the victims do not gain as much sympathy as previous shooting victims have? Why is it that, in America, events like those of today happen so often that some would say that they are no longer "shocking"? What are your views on how to deal with this growing problem?

9/11: Then and Now

Today marks the twelfth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers. The aftermath of the of what happened on that fateful day affected America immensely. People were scared, people were mourning and lastly people were patriotic. Patriotism filled the air and people supported America and their president more than ever before. Flags flew left and right, and no one wanted to take them down. 

Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv

Twelve years after the event things seem to be different. Leading up to September eleventh this year I heard an onslaught of jokes about the attacks, victims and attackers. And only once did I hear someone reprimanded the joke teller, instead everyone else just laughed along. Some people may think its "Too soon" to joke about it, others would believe that it is fine to make the jokes. I personally believe that the 9/11 attacks are something that should be never be joked about. September 11th, 2001 was one of Americas darkest days and in the months after that no one would have made a joke about it. Yet now, twelve years later, what makes it okay to joke like this?

Every year, I remember having a moment of silence for the remembrance of all the innocent Americans who died that day and all of the heroes that had gone into those burning buildings in an attempt to save people. Today was the first time that the school I was attending did not have a moment of silence, the only time I even heard people mention today was the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks was during history class. As depicted in the picture above, which I found in a New York Times Article, its almost as if September eleventh now is just a blurred remembrance of what actually happened twelve yeas ago.  Is it okay that people have seemed to move on and think lightly of the attacks? Should there still be public recognition for what happened? Why do you think that twelve years afterwards things have suddenly started changing?