I've been thinking about these kids and their teachers, etc. in Newtown. I've also thought about the young man who was on the other end of those guns. There's heartbreak everywhere-and will be for some time. I simply cannot imagine the grief of the families who lost a child-I know how berserk I have had the loss of dogs, cats, and horses and the power of just that was overwhelming in and of itself. The loss of a child? I'd probably have to be sedated. Oh, I've lost family members before-but, you know, you expect to lose aunts, uncles, and even parents. Not that it is pleasant-it isn't, but you expect it. Children are 'supposed' to out-live you.

People everywhere are yammering on the 'loss of morals', 'protecting our children with carry permits', and 'getting these people off the streets'. I have news for these folks-they're barking with no teeth. There's nothing worse than a toothless Chihuahua yapping endlessly at nothing credible.

There was no 'loss of morals'. This young man was troubled-no morals involved. For whatever the reason, he did not get the mental health access he needed. That might have been counseling, medications, group therapy, or some combination of them- but if you either do not have healthcare insurance OR your insurance only pays for, oh, say, $1.000/year/family and only 50% per visit and your mom can barely pay the rent as it is, well, you don't go. Psych care is EXPENSIVE. If you've never priced it, you've missed something. (A group session will be $250/session-insurance would pay $125 leaving you to pay the other $125. If you have 8 sessions, you've exhausted your insurance benefits and it's all out of pocket.)

I'm NOT excusing or rationalizing his actions. Far from it. I'm saying that our healthcare system and view of society as it currently exists failed this young man AND failed the people at Sandy Hook Elementary. This entire thing could have been made less likely to happen. Japan and Sweden have made it very unlikely to happen with very strict gun control laws. They also have much, MUCH better access to mental health care for their citizens. The USA, as a whole, has its priorities all screwed up and the National Rifle Association has been leading the way.

This is NOT about the Second Amendment. This is about making certain that only people who ARE QUALIFIED to have weapons actually have them in their hands. Nothing more, nothing less. I have to take driving tests to prove that I can handle a car, motorcycle, or 18-wheeler. If I want to fly, I have to qualify on each aircraft at each level before the FAA will approve me to be in that left seat. What makes weapons any different? Vehicles of all kinds can and have been used as weapons both here and abroad. Registration and licensing only makes sense.

What also makes sense is making mental health care more accessible so that people can get it when and where they need it and more affordably. It won't mean much if people can't afford it. We need the trifecta-1. ease of access, 2. location of access, and 3, low cost.

Maybe-just maybe-then we can think about having children in safe schools. Until then, we'll teaching them "Shooter Drills"-and that's incredibly sad.