Regarding Newtown Tragedy

It goes without saying that we grieve for the losses of those shot by the killer as well as those who survive them.
As a mother of little ones, and first grade teacher, I am crushed by this event. As a woman in recovery, I am aware and disturbed by the thought of denied and dismissed signs that this man was ill, desperate, and therefore dangerous. I am aware of our call to honestly acknowledge and genuinely serve the mentally ill. These lives might have been spared. Hurt people hurt people. I don't want to engage in a system that allows people to become so desperate...with nothing to lose. Nothing to lose fuels nothing good. And is a force to be reckoned with.

Only because of my program of recovery, can I see the shooter as once, somebody's baby. He was not well cared for. Responsibility belongs to each of us, to care for the people of the world. ALL People matter. When we forget that, they remind us with heinous acts like this.

It's just too easy to proclaim our grief and outrage over this "evil" man, our fists shaking as we demand "Something must be done!" But what does that look like? How is it constructive or indicative of intent to consider viable change. More prisons? Stricter laws? The real sadness is in our own accountability and willingness to acknowledge our very real disregard for "those people".