When this first happened, I wanted to write something immediately.  I felt compelled to write from the heart on this, but I waited.  This incident devastated too many lives to be written off the cuff.  I decided to look into some background information so substantiate my views and in the course of doing that research became more and more disturbed, more and more concerned for the direction our country is headed. So, here goes.

Disturbing Stats:

• Firearm Deaths in the US in 2003: 30,136 /// Total US Military Casualties in Iraq in 2003: 486  That's more than 70x the number of total US Military deaths in a WARZONE over the same period.

• The overall firearm-related death rate among US children younger than 15 years of age us nearly 12 times higher than among children in 25 other industrialized nations COMBINED.
• For more stats, go here.

The proliferation of firearms in the United States has reached critical mass.  Industry lobbyists in Washington have worked tirelessly to pave the way for almost anyone to be able to purchase and own firearms.  While I believe in the Second Amendment, I think it's time we actually looked at what the Second Amendment actually says.

Well, this seems pretty damn black and white to me.  'If this criteria is met, then this holds true'.  Is the United States general public now considered a 'well regulated militia'?  Is owning an automatic rifle 'necessary to the security of a free state'?  Unequivocally, NO.  We have local police, state police, the National Guard, and more.  There is absolutely no reason for assault rifles to be available to the general public.

Before any NRA sycophants get on here and rant, you better think carefully about what you say.  I fought to protect the ideals of this country, so don't you dare impugn my intentions.  You want to argue your 'right to bear arms'?  Last time I checked, this right is an AMENDMENT.  First and foremost we have a duty to uphold the core tenants of the Constitution.  Let's visit the core tenant of that wonderful document:

It is not a coincidence that Life takes the spot as highest in precedence.  When others' rights to bear arms encroaches on another citizen's right to live a life in pursuit of these three basic tenants, I draw the line.  No parents should have to live in fear of sending their children to school.  They shouldn't have to fear a phone call telling them that their six year old was murdered in cold blood by an assault rifle toting psychopath.

I thought deeply about the philosophy that 'guns don't kill people, people kill people.'  While semantically true, this is a delusional rationalization.  Yes, guns don't kill people.  Someone has to pull the trigger and we, as a society, have made that insanely easy to accomplish.  It's time that we held ourselves to a higher standard.


Special Interests and Politics:

While the above incident is horrible, it is a symptom of a deeper malady - a cancer that has spread insidiously into every facet of National Governance.  Special Interests, working to promote specific agendas have taken our political system hostage.  Special interest groups have taken over policy making so completely in Washington that the average politician can't get elected without taking money from these groups and offering policy reciprocity in return.  We supposedly elect these politicians to office out of a belief that they will do what is best for their constituencies.  Now, campaign platforms are empty words designed to keep power-hungry 'public servants' in office.  Special interest groups are the ones that facilitate this.  Their money buys influence and power in Washington, drowning out the voices of the average American who doesn't have millions of dollars to throw at corrupt politicians.  The firearm special interests and the NRA both tout deep and abiding beliefs in God.  Unless God is now synonymous the almighty dollar, these folks and the politicians that support them are the most profound of hypocrites.  Last time I checked, avarice was one of the seven deadly sins.  The firearm industry and their cadre of bought policy-makers have sold the lives of our children out of a desire for more money and more power.  So I say this to those policy-makers and lobbyists - HOW DARE YOU.

It's time that we take back our power from these elitists.  I didn't go to war to protect and uphold the Constitution of the Unites States just to watch it be slowly subverted to fit the greed and need of a select few. 

Ultimately, it is these lobbyists and policy-makers that have supported lax firearms policies that I hold accountable for what happened in Connecticut.  If I had my way, they'd all be brought up on charges of  Negligent Homicide.  Take what you will from this, but my stance will never change.  Policy-makers are given their power by us.  We can just as easily take it away.  It's time they start advocating for us and not the special interests.


Mental Health Care in the United States:

Since I was diagnosed with PTSD, I have taken a keen interest in the state of the mental health care system in our country.  Bluntly, it's embarrassing.  So little education is out there about mental illness, mental disorders that those with these issues are viewed by many as second-class citizens at best and a danger to the general public at worst.

News Flash:  My name isn't Rambo.  I will not go on a murderous killing spree because of the horrific things I witnessed in a Combat Zone.

PTSD, Depression, Bi-Polar, Schizophrenia.  People hear these words and become fearful.  Thousands and thousands of people never come forward for treatment out of fear of being shunned by a society that holds no place for them.  Whatever happened to compassion for our fellow man?  Not surprisingly, those sufferers with the most understanding families that actively support their treatment, that show them unconditional love are substantially more successful in mitigating the effects of their illness/disorder on their lives.  It's time that we, as a nation, worry more about others again.  Where is our heart?  Our nationalism?  Our pride in what it means to be truly American?  Since when did ignoring or marginalizing a portion of our population become acceptable?

The only way to fix this is to get rid of the vast bureaucracy that overshadows our efforts to provide for our citizens with mental illnesses and disorders.  In the case of Veterans, the system is so cumbersome that they have to file with one organization (the VBA) in order to be provided with free health care from the other (VA Medical).  It takes days, months, and sometimes years to get the help we need.  And the first solution given by most psychiatrists?  Medication.

There's another special interest that disgusts me.  Pharmaceutical Companies.  The FDA approves these drugs when the side-effects are worse than the malady they are addressing.  I saw an add for Cymbalta on the TV in the work break room the other day.  The first 15 seconds were about what it addressed:  Depression.  The last 45 seconds addressed all of the possible side-effects.  By the end of the ad, I couldn't even remember what the hell the drug was for until they flashed the name back up on the screen.

Do you know what has been most helpful to me in coping with my PTSD?  The compassion of others and finding therapists that help me learn to identify and cope with my symptoms.  It took me EIGHT YEARS to finally find this kind of help.  And I'm one of the lucky ones with a supportive and loving family.

So, have I gotten your attention yet?  Please don't let this issue pass you by.  I hope to hear from everyone on this issue, for and against the view I have presented.  Discourse is the only way we can get to where we need to be.  It's a topic of discussion that hasn't been addressed in way too long.  Let's find our hearts again.  Let's work to hold our public officials to a higher standard.  And for Pete's Sake, get these weapons out of the hands of the general public.

As you all know, I have struggled mightily recently with my PTSD and newly diagnosed Bi-Polar tendencies.  I have taken things a day at a time and worked very hard to focus on the now.  I think that's the right approach I think I may have taken it a step to far and inadvertently told myself that tomorrow's a new day and therefore today has no consequences.  I don't think it was a conscious decision, but the end result is the same.  I don't know how it happened or when, but I am now obese.  Not just overweight.  Obese.

Enter a Reader's Suggestion: "Would losing the weigh for being sponsored be an idea?  Money could go to charity which would make you feel good about it.  But I guess it depends where you are mentally, could you cope with folks knowing you need to lose it and how would you feel if it really was a struggle.  Just an idea, bit of motivation really"

Hmm.  Guess I have some thinking to do.  Would it bother me?  Would putting myself out there in support of a veteran charity help or would it feel like too much pressure?  This is really something that I need to think through and discuss with my wife.  I think the hard part is if I went through all of the work to set it up and didn't get any backing from the community - that's where I think the concern would be for me.  It would be incredibly demotivating if the community didn't come through.

So this is where I need input from all of the people out there that are reading this: What are your thoughts on this?  Do folks think it's a good idea?  I want to look at this carefully and make an educated decision.  And please don't candy coat it.  If you think it's a bad idea, I need to hear from all sides on this.