The American media and how we view gun violence

The American media and how we view gun violence

To The Editor: 1/28/2014
Keith Kent
Templeton

To The Editor:

Why is it that we have become a nation of people that just take what they hear on the evening news as informational holy gospel, and do not take the time to check the validity of statistics, records, and available empirical data? The answer is simply, it is easier to lackadaisically absorb what you hear, rather than burn a few mental calories and do even just a small amount of research to become a better informed citizen.

How many citizens believe that “school shootings are a newer phenomenon?” If you do, you are sadly a much uninformed citizen. These cowardly and disgusting acts recorded on our very soil date back all the way to 1760’s when an attack using muskets became the first recorded event turning firearms on innocent children on our soil. 

The list of these unthinkable acts is at your fingertips if you simply go to the information giant Wikipedia on the internet and in your search type “list of school shootings.” If you have the courage to simply read, you will find that in some way, shape, or from these events have happened here through the passage of centuries.


In this past year of 2013, the State of Colorado passed sweeping new gun laws. Just like the National Assault Weapons Ban that existed as legislation from September 13, 1994 through 09/13/2004, it accomplished absolutely nothing, but the taking away of rights of the law abiding citizen.

The proof is right there in front of you if you’re willing to exercise your mind and look for it. The tragedy of Columbine H.S. in Colorado took place on April 20, 1999. The Assault Weapons Ban accomplished nothing.  Now with the recent passage of sweeping laws in that same state, you just had the horrific school shooting at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colorado.

This time, the assailant who was just 12 years old, used a shotgun. Under the new laws in Colorado, all magazines that held over ten rounds effectively became illegal, stripping yet more rights from the law abiding citizens. This time, the child used a shotgun.

This raises the question. What do we do next, outlaw shotguns? Some of our agenda driven politicians and media mogul's would practically dive at the chance if given. However tragic as they are, these events no matter how sad and horrific in nature continue to prove one thing, “you cannot legislate the evil or mentally insane.”

Let us move the discussion to a more local area in New England. We are all aware of the nightmare of circumstances that took place at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. The legislator’s answers, outlaw the sale of all new assault weapons, and ban magazines over ten rounds. Did this even stop school gun violence in CT, I think not.

Where was our agenda driven media when a 14 year old boy was shot in New Haven, CT at the Hillhouse High School Athletic Facility this past January 13 of this year? Sadly, this event was given very little media coverage as politicians in CT did not want to have to explain that their new sweeping laws had no effect on yet another criminal act, other than once again stripping the rights of the law abiding citizen.  

Now here in Massachusetts, there are 61 articles of gun legislation up for voting soon this year of which if one takes the time to read, 58 take away rights from the law abiding citizen. Once again, this involves taking the time to read.

Our great nation has suffered a complete breakdown of the family unit, frowned upon the peaceful teachings of religion like they are an intellectual abomination, and fostered an informational society of agenda driven propaganda. Our fellow citizens need to start relying on personal research, and not the half- truths they receive on evening television.

While some who read this will hate the message, they should look at the person in the mirror and ask themselves, “Why do I take their words on television as gospel, and not research it for myself?”

In closing I find it sad how all these Hollywood types claim to be anti-gun and for children when the first movie they released after the Sandy Hood Tragedy was titled, “Bullet to the Head” with Sylvester Stallone. The information is right there at your fingertips, but first you have to be willing to burn a few calories from the neck up and commit yourself to due diligence. A society of educated free thinkers is what made our nation great. Let us not become a one of mindless automatons.

Are you up for the challenge of doing your own research that is available to you, or has the truth about the break down of the family unit and our national mental health care system become to frightening to contemplate?  

Keith Kent
Templeton