We Need More Guns? Really?
Mourning the loss of carefree childhood
You have to squint to see the two armed guards in the portico of my lovely neighborhood library (where no books are banned.)
I was jolted yesterday by the sight — and somewhat afraid to try for a better shot. Then I realized: across the street is a school.
It is revealing of my advanced age (91) but still: No school or schoolroom in my childhood was ever locked. In trouble — say, with a skinned knee or threat of bully — we ran INTO a nearby school. Only law enforcement personnel (toddlers were taught: Policemen Are Our Friends) and hunters had guns.
We’ve only to compare the gun-toting USA with gun-free nations everywhere else to know why it’s deadly here. And we can’t even ban assault weapons??
A heartbreaking fact: In three generations we have gone from total freedom to lockdown drills. What happened to childhood?
