The gun episode on the first day of school (Sept 2012) at Perry Hall High School was a shock to most of us. It was a traumatic event to those witnessing or injured as a result. And it is still reverberating through the community. I learned that there was a meeting at the school a few days later to for parents to ask questions. This is the responsible thing for the school to do. I learned about it after the fact. Now granted, I don’t have children attending this school, but I do live in this neighborhood, and I want to know what’s going on here in Perry hall.
This phase of the healing is about comforting the victims, parents and students close to this tragedy. I respect that and I can wait my turn. But I want to know what’s going on. I don’t want to simply be appeased.
When I went to school in the 1960’s and 1970’s no one brought guns to school. We need to understand what has changed and we need to talk about what we need to change about how we are responding.
It is time to start community conversations about how we as a community can deal with this situation. There will be those who will want to point out why this is proof that we should all carry guns. And there will be those who think we should confiscate all guns because they cause too much injury, death and havoc.
I am not advocating either position at this point. Even though my brother died in an act of violence I realize the need to keep a calm and patient voice. Truthfully I am afraid of people carrying guns on the street and I am equally afraid of a world in which the government has all the guns.
We need to find a better approach to this problem. Who has some new ideas?
We need to talk about solution and not make accusations based on polarized positions.
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