Anything Can Be A Weapon If Found In The Wrong Hands

Mental health. Once again, it has been mentioned, associated with someone who has been responsible for a shooting at one of our country's schools.

So you would think the immediate response would be: "We need to address mental health issues in this country!" Instead, however, once again, we are hearing there needs to be more gun controls.

Some would even prefer there were no guns at all.

According to information released following the horrific shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., the shooter, identified as Audrey Hale, was under care for an "emotional disorder".  Because of that, I can get on board with those wanting more gun control. That is, IF the gun controls brought in to effect deal with those having emotional problems not being able to purchase or own any.

There are already gun laws on the books - they just aren't always enforced by those who sell guns.

I disagree that there shouldn't be any guns in the hands of private citizens. After all, a law is not going to stop those who are committing crimes. I mean, does anybody really believe they give one fig about what the law states?

If you take away guns from law abiding citizens, the only thing you will accomplish is making those citizens more of a target to those who break laws.

It will make them more susceptible to having someone attack them, etc. I mean think about it - you don't hear of shootings where there might be law abiding citizens packing. Those who are committing these acts are attacking some of the most vulnerable among us - children. Those who won't have a weapon on them. Those who most likely won't or can't fight back.

So let's go back to gun laws.

Some reports have said in Tennessee it is perfectly legal to purchase a gun WITHOUT a background check. Maybe the problem is more individual state's guns laws need to be looked at. I could also agree to having ALL states require a background check before someone is able to purchase a gun.

However, that is still not going to address mental health. Not everyone's mental health status is available to those doing background checks. But there is still something which can be done.

Hale's parents reportedly told someone they don't think she should have been able to own a gun. So that begs the question, "why did they keep silent about that belief until after she did something."

Time and time again you hear someone say they noticed something off. Someone says they knew someone was mentally unstable or having mental/emotional issues. They knew someone was acting out, being overly mean, abusive, etc.

The problem is, even though someone noticed or knew, they didn't do anything about what they saw or knew.

We can't just keep standing by in this country and do nothing when a warning flag is being waved right in our face.

And even doing something will not stop all of it. Some people go through life without seemingly having a care in the world and then one day, when no one is expecting it - they snap. There is absolutely no guarantee bad things can be prevented all the time.

It will never make sense to me why someone would attack innocent children who had nothing to do with how they themselves may or may not have been treated. Most of them most likely have never even met the one who is there trying to take their life.

But it also makes no sense to blame an inanimate object. Guns don't kill people - people kill people. And if someone is bent on causing another person harm - they will find a way. Whether it is a gun, a rock, a knife, a bomb, or even verbally and mentally with sticks and stones.

If you don't believe me, just remember what Cain did to Able. What Timothy McVey did to Oklahoma City. What the terrorists did on 911. And there are countless other stories of those who have wreaked havoc with just a knife, an automobile, etc.

Anything in the wrong hands could become a weapon. We just need to pay more attention to those who provide the warning signs screaming "this person should not have access to guns or any other weapon."

We need to be better at preparing our schools in case of an emergency such as this.

And most of all, we need to pay attention to what is going on with mental health in this country.