It is being called the second-worst school shooting in U.S. history, second only to the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre that took 32 lives. A man with several guns entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut and killed 27 people, including 20 children.
For more than three days since that tragic event, the Internet has been bursting at the seams with debate about whether or not this latest shooting will shift the debate over gun control in America.
"THIS IS THE PRICE FOR THE 2ND AMENDMENT. CAN WE FIND THE COURAGE TO AMEND IT NOW THAT WE SEE THE PRICE?" posted a commenter on the NBCConnecticut.com website soon after the incident.
Within four minutes, another commenter responded: "The 2nd Amendment will never be amended and we should never get rid of it. Its (sic) for law abiding citizens to protect themselves, criminals will always find a way to access guns regardless of the 2nd Amendment."
With tears in his eyes, President Obama addressed the nation. "As a country, we have been through this too many times."
“No more weasly words of ‘comfort’ Mr. President. This is the latest, and worst, gun outrage on your watch. Time to act,” tweeted Piers Morgan.
A White House spokesman was asked last Friday afternoon if it was time for a gun control debate in Congress. “I think that day will come, but today’s not that day," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
“Too soon to speak out about a gun-crazy nation? No, too late,” tweeted filmmaker Michael Moore. “At least THIRTY-ONE school shootings since Columbine.”
“I am disgusted by those who want to get into the politics of today’s violence. Shame on Michael Moore & MSNBC,” tweeted one-time GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain.
Five months ago, a shooting in Aurora, Colorado claimed 12 lives and wounded dozens more.
A few days days ago, a hospice nurse and a youth coach who were both killed in a shooting at a mall outside of Portland.
A few days ago, the Mercury News reported that on Wednesday a man entered a Fremont mosque and shouted that he was armed and was going to shoot worshipers there. The white man entered the mosque during a prayer time, claimed he had a gun, and said he wanted to shoot everyone.
The Merc reported that the man was confronted by a worshiper and escorted out, where he drove away.
Hours after the Connecticut tragedy, the National Rifle Association website mentioned nothing of the shooting on its website; its 'Top Story' was Homefront Hugs USA Urgest Volunteers to Make a Difference in a Soldier's Life and its 'NRA News Update: Today's latest breaking news and headlines' spoke of a Michigan ruling allowing gun owners with extra training to be able to carry concealed weapons in places such as schools and churches.
Do we have a facsimile to the 'fiscal cliff' here, a 'weapons cliff,' where there will never be the likelihood of compromise, where advocates on both sides of the gun control issue will draw their line in the sand and never cross? As long as the 2nd Amendment remains unchanged, is gun violence inevitable?
Tell us in the comments below.
