Sandy Hook… 10 Years later

[poker]

I consider December 14th, 2012 the single darkest day of my presidency. The news from Sandy Hook Elementary was devastating, a visceral blow, and like so many others, I felt not just sorrow but anger at a world that could allow such things to happen.

Even then we understood that mere words could only do so much to ease the burden of the families who were suffering. But in the years since, each of them has borne that weight with strength and with grace. And they’ve drawn purpose from tragedy – doing everything in their power to make sure other children and families never have to experience what they and their loved ones did.

The journey hasn’t always been easy – and in a year when there hasn’t been a single week without a mass shooting somewhere in America, it’s clear our work is far from over. But of late, I’ve sensed that slowly, steadily, the tide is turning; that real change is possible. And I feel that way in no small part because of the families of Sandy Hook Elementary.

Ten years ago, we all would have understood if those families had simply asked for privacy and closed themselves off from the world. But instead, they took unimaginable sorrow and channeled it into a righteous cause – setting an example of strength and resolve.

They’ve made us proud. And if they were here today, I know the children and educators we lost a decade ago would be proud, too.

- President Barak Obama

 

[silentkisser]

I still cannot believe that in the aftermath of this massacre, the NRA and GOP prevented any legislation for reasonable gun reform. I mean, this mass murder actually triggered a boom in gun sales because the whackos thought Obama would ban the weapons....which he probably should have. It is mind blowing to me that what spun out of this helped lead to Trump being in power. Think of it: Sandy Hooks helped make Alex Jones significantly more popular while also planting the seeds for future conspiracies. There is where things like pizza gate and QAnon were fermented. I'm not saying these types of conspiracy theories didn't exist pre-2012...but, this helped it go mainstream, especially with the right. I just think of the abuse and treatment the grieving families of the victims faced back then...and even to this day.

And, to be clear....Obama should have done more. I don't know what he could have done, considering how the Supreme Court had ruled on gun rights before. But, man....a decade later and there are still mass shootings every couple of days. The carnage, the destroyed families and ruined lives...mind boggling...

 

[Dirkpit]

Truly sad…the media coverage of this tragedy has prompted copy cats. This was horrific and the media made these kids famous……just like they wanted. More focus needs to go into mental health an social programs.

 

[silentkisser]

Sadly there really wasn't much Obama could do on his own. For the rest of his term in office the Republicans controlled either the House or the Senate so getting any gun legislation passed through Congress was impossible. Perhaps there were Executive Orders that could have been issued but the thing with them is that the next president can just undo them with the stroke of a pen, which Trump would surely have done on Day 1 in office.

Yeah, I know. And, to be honest, if he did an Executive Order, how long would it be before the Supreme Court stepped in. In reality, Obama could do nothing.