28 people have been killed, including 20 children, when a gunman opened fire at a Connecticut school. The gunman has been killed. The figures are preliminary and are likely to change. The gunman has been identified as Adam Lanza, 24, a resident of Hoboken, NJ.
This senseless act of violence will likely give both sides of the gun battle ammunition; gun control advocates will argue that this means we need more gun control laws. The NRA and its allies will argue that if someone had had a gun there, they would have put a stop to this violence before it got so out of hand. This debate will never be settled until doomsday. Therefore, the only way to stop this violence is prevention -- we all have a breaking point. Those of us who have friends and loved ones need to recognize when they are getting near that breaking point and when they need professional help. We need to recognize our own breaking points as well and stay as far away from them as possible. If we recognize something that's dysfunctional in our own lives, we need to make changes now so that it will not get worse.
Finally, each one of us has to decide that violence, no matter how extreme our circumstances are, is simply not an option. It doesn't matter how deeply in trouble we are; there is always a solution.
The West Nodaway School District held a moment of silence before the Northeast Nodaway vs. South Nodaway boys game Friday night at the Northwest Missouri Tournament to remember the victims and families of this tragedy.
If you or someone you know is affected by mental illness, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness at (800) 950-6264 from Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Central time. Trained volunteers can provide general information, referrals to local state officers and support groups throughout the country, and to other organizations serving the needs of those affected by mental illness.
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