Stop The Hate!
Strict Gun Laws Won’t Help.
By Audra J Pitts https://medium.com/subscribe/@audrajpitts744
People are a vicious breed. With the increase in mass shooting violence, and the publicity that the evil creatures who performed the unthinkable acts get, we are looking for who or what to blame. Although the world deserves to know what has happened, the publicity of the shooters whether dead or alive is a driving force for repeat violence. Some of these violent crimes are blamed on racial hate, others are said to be because of bullying whether in school or life in general. Recent threats of violence have pelted schools nationwide, even within the schools my children attend here in my little corner of the nation. I understand that bullying can be traumatizing as I was bullied as a child, many children were bullied when I was growing up, but it never led to killing other innocent children or adults.
People just hate way too much. Just a few months ago, not too far from my home in the Northeast Kingdom, a young transgender man was killed and left alongside the road in a snowbank. This was a hurtful and blatant disregard for human life. Was this shooter a young teen with a gun who was bullied? No. It was a man in his middle age who felt threatened by a young person who was comfortable with who they were. I have a transgender child, and he is very open about who he is. I am very proud of him for being strong, and in fact, I have a younger child who is straight but wears a pride flag to school as a cape. I needed to tell her that it is great that she is supporting her brother, but I am terrified each day when she walks to school, that someone who is not so open-minded will cause her harm.
I must say that I support stricter gun laws, but on the other hand, Americans do have the right to bear arms. No matter how the government rules, guns will always be an issue. Guns can be obtained legally or illegally; the laws will not stop the violence. Mental health background checks will not stop horrible acts from occurring. People who need help mentally can pull the wool over the eyes of the doctors, or maybe the doctors need help themselves. I lived with a violent narcissist; The court ordered him to take domestic violence classes. He would come home each week and laugh at the way he said what they wanted to hear. I believe that there is no other fix to this problem than to stop the hate.
Parents must start being the first line of defense in preventing violence. Children learn to hate because their parents have taught them what to hate. If parents dislike people of color, that will be transferred to their children. If a mother or father is “disgusted” by a member of the LGBTQ society, their children will also hold this and feel threatened. Religious differences are another topic that causes fear to the uneducated parent relaying this fear to the next generation. Most religions voice their dislike of LGBTQ members and do not allow them in their congregations. This is a call to action! Stop the hate! Educate! Be aware of who you are and who looks up to you as a role model. Know what you are teaching your children by the way you act or what you say. Someone is always watching or listening. Just remember to do the right thing.