Hey there, friend...Thank you for taking the time to write. I know that the past few days must have been traumatic for you to say the least.
I'm very glad to hear that there's some positive word about Maya Olivia - that's a spot of brightness in this otherwise bleak period.
I'm with you about not having any real good answers about how to prevent tragedies like Columbine, Simon's Rock, now Virginia Tech.
I don't think rounding up the guns is a good answer because, like you say, it creates more of a black market. I do think it would be helpful if our legislature would properly fund the enforcement of existing gun control laws like background checks and waiting periods. I think that too many times these are not really enforced, leading to people getting guns who should never ever have them.
Here's a random fact - the 'Golden' kid who killed at his high school in Jonesboro(?), Arkansas several years ago is a distant cousin on my maternal grandfather's side. My grandfather abused his wife and children and was mentally unstable (understatement).
I've been thinking about how disaffected and isolated the murderer must have been. Anyone who would do something so heinous has to be seriously mentally deranged. I'm not trying to excuse his actions, but it makes me wonder if there were less of a stigma in this country about mental illness and seeking help for emotional problems, if he could have been reached before he completely snapped?
What would the world be like if you could say to an acquaintance - 'You know, you're not sounding real stable right now - how about seeing a therapist, getting a checkout?' And the response is 'Not a bad idea - I'll look into it.' No weirdness, no defensiveness - just a fact of life like 'that mole looks weird, better let a dermatologist check it out...'
Anyhow, I hope your pilgrimage to your alma mater is good this weekend...have a moment or more of silence in Blacksburg for the families and for all of us here too, please.