Comments on: Nation mourns for Newtown

By: lp0320

lp0320 — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 02:50:47 +0000

There are no words that can describe the horror of yesterday. Please pray for the victims and their families, as well as the survivors – they will never be the same. Mike , your words were poignant and appropriate. Thank you.

By: thetooloftools

thetooloftools — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:36:15 +0000

Automatic handguns just invite disaster. Everyone is so afraid of the NRA, they just get whatever they want. What’s next, the right to carry portable surface to air missiles? The NRA tells their paranoid members that if we take away handguns, that their hunting rifles and shotguns are next and nothing could be further from the truth. I come from a gun family and none of us use automatic weapons for hunting.
Some guns just need to be taken off the streets.
PERIOD.

By: mfinsrule

mfinsrule — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:29:17 +0000

I consider myself a strong man, but even I had a tear roll down my face upon learning what happened. As I read what was happening on my phone I myself was sitting in a packed elementary school gymnasium watching a procession of children sing christmas carols to their adoring families. Looking around thinking how easy and convenient it would be for someone to enter and take lives with no metal detectors or security of any kind. But you have to wonder if even those safeguards are enough. Evil will always find a way. All we can do is trust in our faith that our families will arrive home again safely.

By: dbarnes79

dbarnes79 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 21:02:16 +0000

Armed guards at every school? That’s your answer!! Do you realize that many countries in the world have stronger gun laws than the US? UK, Canada, Australia all free democracies. The time is now to stop putting weapons designed to kill people in the hands of normal civilians. The only people that should have these weapons are police or military. My heart weeps for these kids but arming more people is not the answer.

By: edithpiaf51

edithpiaf51 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:53:19 +0000

This was an unspeakable tragedy and my prayers go to the victims’ families. No one should have to endure losing a child especially this way. But remember, killing is wrong no matter whether it is with a gun, a knife, a pitch fork, or one’s bear hands. No one should even hurt an innocent child. It is not the instrument, it is the person who kills and that is who must be dealt with.

By: 49erstim

49erstim — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:28:04 +0000

Well said Mike. This was such a tragedy.

By: fallingsnow34

fallingsnow34 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:03:58 +0000

Thank you Mike for addressing this heartbreaking, gut-wrenching topic. I don’t have the answers, but I do know we have to keep talking. We have had many tragedies lately, all of which affect the lives of many. There are things we can do as individuals and as “grown-ups” whose job it is to protect and guide not just our kids, but any kid we come in contact with. Don’t tolerate bullying or drinking/drugging and driving. Mental illness is not a comfortable thing to be around, but if you are concerned that someone may be suicidal or homicidal ask some questions, help to secure weapons with a trustworthy friend or relative, and get the authorities involved if need be. Things that are beyond our comprehension will still happen, but a little “first aid” can make a big difference.

By: burgandy2260

burgandy2260 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 19:01:01 +0000

It’s the internal pains that we feel for total strangers that will hopefully make us a stronger nation and better leaders for our young. Mike, I applaud you for making mention of this. Lets hope the NFL takes a good, long look at the gun issues they have with it’s own players. Yah can’t be in a PLAY 60 commercial with children one day and the next have a handgun under your seat or concealed in your pocket. It’s time for the eyes of our nation to be opened wider in every aspect!

By: theblowtorchreview

theblowtorchreview — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:54:25 +0000

Banning guns will not solve anything. We need to return to raising our children with morals and compassion and empathy for others. Parents have become obsessed with being their kid’s “friend” instead of being their parents.

By: lancewhite00437

lancewhite00437 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:48:49 +0000

“This puts all things sports in context”

I can’t believe that this even needs to be said. Anyone that doesn’t already have sports “in context”, needs to seek professional help

By: taintedsaints2009

taintedsaints2009 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:44:56 +0000

Some of you say that a knife can’t do as much damage.

Wrong.

This country was crippled by men with box cutters.

In Rwanda, men with machetes nearly wiped out an entire ethnic group of people. That stuff still goes on over there.

I could go on. That’s the problem with gun control advocates. You point to the weapon, and not the person using the weapon. You don’t understand evil or the intent to kill. A sociopath will always find a way. Connecticut has some of the most strict gun laws in the country. Even the most difficult gun laws cannot stop a mad man. And we saw that yesterday. It’s that simple. They’ll find a way.

By: TheWizard

TheWizard — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 18:35:41 +0000

Time for an armed guard for every school. It’s the only way.

By: jillbrenneman

jillbrenneman — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:48:11 +0000

This is a time that as people, as humans have to come together. Whether liberal, conservative or any point in between. We can all agree that this is a horrific tragedy that transcends all of the artificial constructs we create like political divides.

When 5 years olds are gunned down in school……. Every single one of us that has children can consider ourselves fortunate today that we are not suffering what has to be unimaginably difficult for the parents who lost their children.

I have no idea on what the answer to preventing these shootings is. They probably aren’t entirely preventable regardless of what actions are taken. But that far more can be achieved by finding common ground on pragmatic solutions than on getting lost in political debate.

Various media outlets are showing pictures of grief stricken parents who just got the worst possible scenario. If something as horrific as this can’t bring us together as humans, as a country, to try to prevent and force us to transcend politics for the best solutions. Then I don’t know what can. And honestly if we can’t transcend politics in the face of something like this then we have to ask ourselves what is wrong with our society.

Dead kindergarten children shot in a massacre. Regardless of my political views. I’m open to suggestion from any side of the political divide to try to prevent something like this from happening again.

Maybe we all compromise some on our politics and find a middle ground and the path of least resistance in trying to prevent something like this again.

By: fashlol

fashlol — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:47:47 +0000

I grew up in Newtown and still live here today. Just terrible and shocking. Great words Mike.

By: jillbrenneman

jillbrenneman — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:38:13 +0000

This puts all things sports in context. Whether Andy Reid should be fired. Or whether the bounty scandal was adjudicated fairly, or whether Tim Tebow should start for the Jets.

All that is quickly put into context as not important in the grand scheme of things when an event like this happens.

By: ketch20too

ketch20too — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:34:39 +0000

Well said, Mike. Brokenhearted and speechless.

By: xxwhodatxx

xxwhodatxx — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:28:30 +0000

It doesn’t matter if guns were completely illegal (I’m sure they’ll try) NO ONE can stop a lone gunman except someone in the school or target with a gun to protect them.

By: jimeejohnson

jimeejohnson — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:22:59 +0000

I have owned guns for over 40 years, learning safety from the NRA. Society has devolved into a me-first, hateful, and ignorant place where the profit motive trumps all else. Hence, I dissolved my NRA membership years ago, as they are pimps for the firearms industry. My guns have trigger locks, my ammo is stored and secured separately, and I have a home security system that will give me plenty of warning and time to lock and load, if necessary. Pity the fool who comes into my home, as he will leave a corpse.

By: billbrasky72

billbrasky72 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 17:08:15 +0000

For the life of me, I can’t figure out what has broken down in our society the last 10-20 years to produce people (monsters) that are capable of such acts. When I was in school in the ’80′s and early 90′s, everybody had guns in our trucks and vehicles in the school parking lot…on school grounds. We hunted before school and we hunted after school. The guns were far more accessible then they are today, and the security was much lighter. The difference was that the mindset wasn’t there. These sorts of things simply didn’t happen. What has broken down in our society?

By: rtant2013

rtant2013 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:38:12 +0000

It’s a tragedy that the entire nation feels, 20 young innocent young children having their lives cut way to short. It’s a shame and I couldn’t imagine being one of those parents who lost their child, or one of the parents that now had to explain to their child what they saw or heard.

On the case of stricter gun laws, I don’t believe that will do anything but hurt us more. These irresponsible, lunatics make up a very very small portion of people who own guns, how would we protect ourselves if we aren’t allowed to arm ourselves. Guns don’t kill people, a gun can’t pull its own trigger, it takes a lunatic madman to do that. If anything people should arm themselves at all times, that’s they only way to prevent anything like this, Aurora, VT from happening.

By: hawks1124

hawks1124 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:33:01 +0000

This is sad, everyones prayers should be focused on that community, and giving thanks for the safety of our loved ones because this tragedy could happen again anywhere. With that being said I don’t go to msn, or basically any news related site because these stories rip at your heart, and basically what the “news” has become. I don’t expect to hear about non football related tragedies from a Football website,

I can understand Mr. Florio sending his best wishes to the families involved especially as a parent.

By: lrjets

lrjets — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:30:06 +0000

Senseless, evil crimes will always happen. The heartbreaker yesterday will linger in these poor children’s minds forever as well as the parents and families of the little angels who were the victims.

By: fatguystrangler

fatguystrangler — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:23:42 +0000

The news reports list the perp as a 20 year old man. Yeah, he was a male. But what sort of ‘man’ murders his mother than proceeds to mow down elementary school kids? I’m not arguing mental illness or whatever, just seems like a complete disrespect for life of any age IMO. I hope for the best for all those grieving parents and potentially scarred survivors.

By: westcoastraider

westcoastraider — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:23:09 +0000

Stricter gun laws won’t help, theres a whole black market out there that stricter gun laws won’t even phase..

We need to listen to each other, look out for each other, as a society were wrapped up in who ever the kardashian is dating now or snooki having a child, we don’t listen and pay attention to reality anymore..

We need to open our eyes and come together, this is happening way to much and only we as a people can stop it

By: bills4

bills4 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:22:36 +0000

Exactly. Praying is not going to stop people from using guns. Have you noticed that all these mass killings are being done with legally purchased guns. I read the mother had 5 legally purchased guns. Three of which were used in this tragedy. Compare what happened in China yesterday and what happened in Connecticut. One nut used a gun and killed 26 people. One used a knife and killed one out of 22.

By: rg3andthensome

rg3andthensome — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:21:24 +0000

Bless their souls. Tragic.

By: jasonkrebs

jasonkrebs — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:11:46 +0000

Do more than pray. Email your senator and congressperson and demand gun reform laws, now.

By: jmesplan

jmesplan — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:04:02 +0000

Well said Mike.

By: ygkr85

ygkr85 — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:02:35 +0000

Well said. Let’s all do better.