prayers to the children and parents

[strokerlmt]

I am picking my girls up at 300pm and I am going to hug them. They will complain but I will still hug them. The tragedy today made me sick to my stomach. Kindergarten children......such a horrible tragedy. Fuck these crazies.
Bless all the children and the wonderful incredible teachers that perished as well.
LMT

 

[Kframe]

Just woke up from my day-sleep and read the news...

Awful. Disgusting. Sickening. No adequate words to describe this.

The debate will rage on soon enough, today lets just hang our heads and hold each other close.

If your kids are young, give 'em an extra hug.
If they're out of the nest, give 'em a call.

Gonna be an awfully grim holiday for many many families this year.

 

[Sal Paradise]

+1 kframe. You said it.

Yeah, its pretty close to where I live - about 40 minutes away. I was just there 2 weeks ago.

All I can say, I was alone in my office listening to the radio hurting and the other heartless bastards in my office were out there in the main room doing accounting work. Everyone was quiet. After I left work I just went down to the waterfront and looked at the sunset and the city lights over the river. I just sat a while. The water was flowing by. I just had to see something good and peaceful like that. Now having some wine.


Try and find some peace of mind tonight.Tomorrow we gotta change the world. This shit has got to stop.

Peace.

 

[Kirkus51]

I am so sick about things like this. My thoughts are with the parents whose babies aren't home and safe tonight.

This happens way too often in our so called civilized society. I don't know how this will ever get fixed.

 

[B06Tang]

I am so sick about things like this. My thoughts are with the parents whose babies aren't home and safe tonight.

This happens way too often in our so called civilized society. I don't know how this will ever get fixed.

I can't put into the words the rage I am feeling on this right now. It is times like this when I am thankful my boys are in Japan and I am ashamed to say that as I have chosen to wear the uniform that serves my country. We want to honor these children, then we start taking steps to protecting them instead of just blessing them. Enough is enough! How often does this have to go on! :mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2::mad2:

 

[scramjam]

What happens to a person to do such a horrible thing? How can this happen? Why, why, why??????????

 

[JimmyR]

A few years ago at my old high school here in Australia a guy stabbed his (ex)girlfriend to death in their english class. This is the first time something like this has happened in Western Australia. I can only imagine how much worse it could have been if he had access to guns.

Incredibly sad.

 

[Craigore]

Yeah I heard about this at NPR almost brought me to tears

 

[KingOfFleece]

Some of the guys who ride with us at the Triumph Bennington Bash live there.
I stopped in Newtown last year to meet them, have some bike work done, and then head to VT. Fucking unreal sick world we live in.

 

[Cereal KLR]

Condolences to the families, hope you find some kind of peace from this.

 

[wobblygong]

I'm sure I speak on behalf of all concerned Australians when I send my deep heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of those souls killed or injured in this latest shooting in Newtown.
I hear the outrage on local electronic media, social media and the comments of NBR posters.
It's interesting that every comment by the Australian news media is pointed at GUN CONTROL, GUN CONTROL, GUN CONTROL!!!!!

I'm sorry guys, I'm sure that this comment I am about to make will attract some reaction, but I'm going to say it anyway.

What I see here is:
"....the debate will rage on..." ".....this shit has got to stop..." "...tomorrow we've gotta change the world...." "I don't know how this will ever get fixed....." etc, etc, etc!

I even heard a report from an American gun lobby advocate, who said,"If someone at the school was armed, they could have defended the children and teachers." Derrrrr...A kindergarten teacher (or a child maybe??) carrying a firearm at a kiddie's school???

Say it like it really is guys! It's just 2 fucking words......GUN CONTROL!!

SURELY, Americans must at least consider it.....and please don't throw that old chestnut, "the Right to Bear Arms". I'm sure there's more to that section of your Constitution pertaining to something like, "when America is being attacked".
Who gives a shit if it's political suicide for a serving US government to raise gun control. Better a dozen or so politicians fall on their collective swords than one more innocent American child or adult die in a hail of bullets.

That's it, I'm outa here.
Merry Xmas & a Happy, PEACEFUL New Year,
wobbly

 

[B06Tang]

Well said and thank you:beer:

 

[JimmyR]

I was trying to make that point but was too scared to say it out loud like that! I too have noticed that whenever you even hint that maybe every man and his dog having a gun is just a little crazy - pretty much just asking for trouble - you get a ton of guys from the US shouting you down saying "guns don't kill people, people kill people". And while that's true, having so many guns handy to psychos is not really helpful, is it?

Yes we have our share of shootings in Australia but per capita it is nothing compared to the US. So tragic that all those little kids died because some sad loser could get hold of two powerful guns so easily. I think things are possibly too far gone in the US for gun control to ever work. Too much money is at stake and too many froth at the mouth should you want to take their guns away. FWIW I like shooting guns at targets but am completely cool with the gun controls we have here.

I can't imagine what it must feel like to have your children blown away by a madman. You just can't defend such a cowardly, selfish, terrible act. Without the ready availability of guns it couldn't have happened. How can we let this crap happen?

 

[Sal Paradise]

I think its not so much afraid to say it, as not wanting to turn The Ace Cafe into a political forum. I ( and most of us ) remain just gutted by this, just absolutely heartbroken, and it comes in waves. I will be my normal cheerful self and then it will just hit me.

Rod you have no idea how far the gun culture has gone here. For what its worth - I am 47 and have never owned a gun. Its not so much fear of guns that keeps me away as it is my disgust at the whole gun culture...my friends who sit in a bar and brag about their concealed carry permit and their assault rifles. I'm talking about guys who never do anything more dangerous than get pizza late at night..and they buy these insane guns for the weird pleasure they get. And they do talk about weird scenarios where they would use them. Its amazing how they think I just don't understand the issue. Damn, but I hate being right. You can say that legal gun owners are not the problem, but what about the gunman's mother who never committed a crime but purchased all sorts of high powered glocks and assault rifles? WTF was she thinking bringing that into the community? I have banned more than one of my friends on FB because they got just too too crazy with the gun porn. Although I can admit I see the use of target shooting and hunting.

So, thinking of those kids, here goes... this is how I see ( and have always seen) the second amendment -- it allows for active national guard members (and police) to have guns in their home. I would go further on a limb and say the intent was probably to have single shot hunting rifles and single shot shotguns allowed too, for hunting. That is it. Many will disagree but that is literally what the constitution says. Its says " a well regulated militia" which by the way was mandatory for males over 18 years of age. They had mandatory national guard service for everyone. It certainly does not talk about building your arsenal of machine guns. And its a fact that countries that have strict gun laws have far less gun violence. That a fact. Look at Canada.

And look at what just happened.

Rod, you wrote - Who gives a shit if it's political suicide for a serving US government to raise gun control. Better a dozen or so politicians fall on their collective swords than one more innocent American child or adult die in a hail of bullets.

The New Yorker wrote something very similar -
How do we find ourselves asking kindergarteners to be more courageous in the face of a gunman than politicians are in the face of the gun lobby?

Alright peace to all of you and I apologize for getting a little bit political. (Bonafide, delete or edit this post if you feel its over the line) I am not going to debate gun laws here, I will respect that this forum is about motorcycles.

Sal

 

[drlapo]

maybe this will open a meaningful debate about the real probelm; it's not gun control its nut control
Americans are so politically correct that we label the infirm as "special"
guns did not start WWII, airplanes did not bomb Pearl Harbor
evil people need to be identified and isolated
the innocent need to be protected from the preditors

 

[dschief]

Such a horrific crime.

My take is the media needs to stop focusing on the bastards that cause such problems. That's what they want, infamy. That's why they do it. Instead, focus on the victims, humanize them, make people feel the loss. Make anyone else considering such a disspicable act realize they are not going to get their 15 minutes of fame.

I have also vowed to stop taking vacation. Every time something bad happens, I'm on vacation. 9/11, 12/14, Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

 

[strokerlmt]

Thx Wobbly and Sal.......well said......I will not comment about the politics because my intention was to not start a debate here but simply that I was sick over the lose of such little lives. I will say though that since this horrific event I have looked closely at a couple of high school, "special, different" dudes and I will eye ball them regularly. Our principal stands outside as the kids drive to school or get dropped off. A couple years ago this senior showed up at school in a long black coat.....The Prin told him to put the coat in the car or leave....he left....long story short he dropped out and left town. One of the reasons I love this place.
LMT

 

[Sal Paradise]

my middle son, now away studying engineering was kind of a loner and wore a black trench coat in high school. He was the gentlest most empathetic kid ever. Top scoring on the track team, top talent in band, honor roll every year. He took art classes at night in the city. Very artistic. I knew some of the teachers were concerned about his trench coat but I let it be. He is coming home and will be playing and singing Silent Night on his guitar at our church Christmas Eve.

I am sure we are going to hear " zero tolerance" and all this other stuff in the future. I am sure some poor kid will get kicked out for just for saying something stupid.

Clothes and style don't mean much - a few stupid comments or cracking down on the odd ball kids aint going to work. Mass killers have zero connection, zero empathy for other people. Its like they have no heart.

 

[Demar]

Mass killers have zero connection, zero empathy for other people. Its like they have no heart.

They are out there......

http://news.msn.com/us/ind-man-with-47-guns-arrested-after-school-threat

"On Saturday, officers served warrants at Meyer's home and arrested him. The statement said police had learned that Meyer kept many weapons in his older, two-story home and "is a known member of the Invaders Motorcycle Gang."

"Officers searched the home, finding 47 guns and ammunition worth more than $100,000 hidden throughout the home. Many of the weapons were collector's guns."

 

[strokerlmt]

my middle son, now away studying engineering was kind of a loner and wore a black trench coat in high school. He was the gentlest most empathetic kid ever. Top scoring on the track team, top talent in band, honor roll every year. He took art classes at night in the city. Very artistic. I knew some of the teachers were concerned about his trench coat but I let it be. He is coming home and will be playing and singing Silent Night on his guitar at our church Christmas Eve.

I am sure we are going to hear " zero tolerance" and all this other stuff in the future. I am sure some poor kid will get kicked out for just for saying something stupid.

Clothes and style don't mean much - a few stupid comments or cracking down on the odd ball kids aint going to work. Mass killers have zero connection, zero empathy for other people. Its like they have no heart.

Sal I hear you.....but how many more young lives have to be lost. It seems every time we debate this issue "all" on both sides come forward and state their cases. I do not know the answer but bottom line is this shit happens, and happens and happens and little lives are snuffed out and life goes on and nothing changes. My thoughts and prayers to all touched by this horrible incident.
LMT