Virginia Tech

The Government Responsibility To Provide Support To Victims Of Terrorism And Gun Violence

With the ever widening reality of home grown terrorism of religious and political fanatics of all ideological stripes, we are witnessing more and more victims of terrorism and gun violence, and many of the survivors are left with a lifetime disability, but added onto by unbelievable medical and rehabilitation costs that many cannot handle, and just add to their suffering and emotional turmoil.

The loss of loved ones who have died must also be considered as something that needs to be understood and considered, so therefore, there is a need for a compensation system for victims who are survivors–whether from Virginia Tech, the Tucson shopping center, the Aurora movie theater, the Sandy Hook Elementary School, the Boston Marathon shootings, or any other terrorist or criminal act similar to these in the future.

All of us who are fortunate enough to be able to avoid such tragic circumstances must understand that it is the job of government to be compassionate to victims of crimes, as there “but for the grace of God go I”, even if one is not religious!

The price of terrorism and gun crimes is that we, who avoid those circumstances, must help to pay for and support those who have lost loved ones, or those who live on and suffer for the rest of their lives, while we go about our business!

The price of terrorism must be shared by everyone, and if anyone disagrees, that says a lot about their so called “patriotism”!

The Urgent Need For Some Limits On The Second Amendment!

In the wake of the Tucson disaster last weekend, there is an urgent need for reasonable limits on who purchases guns, and the ability to acquire extended magazines for weapons, such as the one that allowed the perpetrator to fire 33 rounds without reloading. New York Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, whose husband was killed on the Long Island Railroad, and whose son was wounded, in an incident in 1993, which led to her election to Congress in 1996, is proposing such a bill about the magazines.

A background check, which was part of the former Brady bill, which was the law from 1994 to 2004, needs to be reinstated.

Also, the need to ban weapons within 1,000 feet of a federal official, including members of Congress, is being proposed by Congressman Peter King, a Republican, who thinks he can get this through the House of Representatives, after this horrible tragedy in Tucson. Right now, there is legislation on the books preventing a firearm within 1,000 feet of any school.

At the same time, the thought that members of Congress might carry firearms at public events for self protection, as suggested by two members of Congress, is pure insanity, and sets a bad standard.

And the idea that universities and colleges should allow staff and faculty and students to carry firearms to prevent another incident equivalent of Virginia Tech in 2007, is also a terrible idea, and is sure to lead to more bloodshed and violence, as guns do not belong in an educational environment! 🙁