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Subscribe to RSSDuring a somber bell-ringing ceremony, the Newtown community gathered to remember the students and teachers who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. NBC's Ron Mott reports.
Twenty-six times the bells tolled Friday, punctuating a moment of silence that descended on Newtown, Conn., and many other communities across the country to mark one week since the horror at Sandy Hook Elementary school.
From white-steepled churches in the Georgia countryside to the majestic National Cathedral in Washington, the peals began at 9:30 a.m. — the same time last Friday that gunman Adam Lanza began the rampage that tore a hole in the heart of America.
There was one ring for each of the 20 first-graders and six staff members killed by high-powered rifle fire. In some places, bells clanged a 27th time for Lanza's mother, who owned the guns her son used to kill her, the children and educators, or even 28 times to include the suspect’s suicide.
"When I heard the 26 bells ring it just melted my soul," Kerrie Glassman, who lives in the village of Sandy Hook and knew seven victims, told the Associated Press. "It's just overwhelming. You just can't believe this happened in our town."
The simple, somber remembrance, which was called for by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and seized upon by religious and government leaders from coast to coast, was at once heart-breaking and healing.
Eric Thayer / Reuters
People at Newtown's Blue Colony diner observe a moment of silence for victims of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, exactly one week after the deadly attack.
Images of silence: Remembering the Newtown school victims one week later
The moment was marked as some families were still preparing to bury their murdered loved ones and as a renewed debate over gun control raged, with the National Rifle Association calling for armed guards in all schools.
President Obama, who responded to an online petition for gun restrictions with a video message that said “We hear you,” observed it in private.
Elsewhere, people gathered together. In Newtown, they paused at makeshift memorials at the town Christmas tree and at the firehouse where survivors were brought after the shooting. Simultaneously, the din of New York's stock exchanges was muted.
Michelle Obama: My heart aches for you
St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Bexley, Ohio -- some 600 miles from Newtown, Conn. -- doesn’t have a bell to ring, so it commemorated the one-week mark with morning fast and prayer.
NBC News
Fireman in Newtown mark a moment of silence for victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
“We all feel like we want to do something. We want to share the burden of our sisters and brothers in Connecticut,” Susan Marie Smith, rector of the church, told NBC News.
While Malloy called for 26 rings, the Stockbridge First United Methodist Church in Georgia had decided to ring its bell 27 times to include Nancy Lanza.
“I think for us, she’s a victim, too,” said the Rev. Jody Ray, the pastor. “We probably should have included the young man who committed the crime.
“It’s a tragedy. At the end of the day, people are dead and in response to tragedy, we want to remember all those who were involved…We’re not going to stand in judgment.”
Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images
A nation mourns after the second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history at Sandy Hook Elementary, which left 20 children and six staff members dead.
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To those wondering where GOD was; he isn't allowed in schools, so he couldn't help.
Oh well, old news anyhow, wish they would move on, so we can talk about something else. Are you thinking people want to bring back religion in schools? Which religion should we put into schools and teach. They took it out since not everyone is not the same, or even has a religion. Students can still pray on their own in schools.
I'm sorry your God isn't that powerful. You can try mine if you want. Mine still loves everyone and doesn't care if people teach about him in public schools. He just wants us to pray in private.
cunical, God is in public schools in the hearts and minds of teachers and students who believe in God in some way, shape or form. He is made manifest through their lives and integrity, even if not through school prayer. That is "presence" enough.
And as for God "helping", God isn't some kind of cosmic dispensing machine or a babysitter who jumps through hoops because we ask Him to. It's up to us to help each other. When we do so, God is there.
So, when does the Franklin Mint come out with their commemorative coin?
So basically, your God, the one that alledgedly loved us so much He let His son be killed for trying to show us how to live with love and com[assion for everyone, decided to let a bunch of innocent children be slaughtered becayse adults decded a teacher couldn;t force them to pray in class?
OK, but here's a problem with your somewhat sick, twisted take. Jesus told us to pray quietly, by ourselves, and students and teachers are able to do that now, hey they even have Bible study groups, so God was not actually taken from the schools. What you don;t get to do is go into a public school and act like a false, hypocritical pharisee.
Obviously you worship someone other than God. God is the act of forgiveness even after having your child taken. You are of satan.
We don't need God in government or schools, we need Jesus in the churches instead of mammon, and responsible citizens in government and schools.
Pretty whimpy cult-god you've got there...
Wow, lotsa fun little mythical creatures you talk about there. Too bad that they are all just unprovable cult creatures...
cunical: your god was too busy defending gun laws with the lobbyists to be bothered with children.
So we have armed guards at banks but not schools, therefore we care more for our money than our children’s lives. Are armed guards effective? When was the last mass murder at a bank? Going postal: the term came from an UNARMED group. I noticed that they didn’t call it going bankal!!! And I bet there are plenty of people who would like to go bankal. Therefore being armed is both a deterrent and a safety edge. The term over educated idiots comes to mind when I think of our schools.
NOTE TO POLITICIANS: If you pass a law that makes my new $1500 assault rifle illegal I will make a note of your name and vote for anybody else in November. Also note, there are 300 million guns in the US; that is a lot of votes. The term political suicide comes to mind.
Because our government refuses to protect our children I can’t help but get the feeling that they are using our feelings for our children’s safety to get us to give up our 2nd amendment rights???
Gun laws are effective?? Look at Canada: In America 80% of the prison population is black, and about the rest are Hispanic. I don’t see blacks and Hispanics in Canada, so I expect that they would have a lower crime rate. Apples and oranges comparison. Look at Mexico: Hispanic population, whole towns getting wiped out by illegal gun toting gangs. Their government threw the population to the wolves with gun control.
Why is our government loading up on ammunition while at the same time trying to pass gun laws??
Why Does The U.S. Government Need So Much Ammunition?
In my previous article, I also noted that the U.S. government appears to be very rapidly making preparations for something really big.
This week, it was revealed that the Social Security Administration plans to buy 174,000 hollow point bullets which will be delivered to 41 different locations all over America.
Now why in the world does the Social Security Administration need 174,000 bullets?
And why do they need hollow point bullets? Those bullets are designed to cause as much damage to internal organs as possible.
But of course this is only the latest in a series of very large purchases of ammunition by U.S. government agencies. The following is from a recent article by Paul Joseph Watson....
Back in March, Homeland Security purchased 450 million rounds of .40-caliber hollow point bullets that are designed to expand upon entry and cause maximum organ damage, prompting questions as to why the DHS needed such a large amount of powerful bullets merely for training purposes.
This was followed by another DHS solicitation asking for a further 750 million rounds of assorted bullets, including 357 mag rounds that are able to penetrate walls.
Now why in the world would the government need over a billion rounds of ammunition?
If it was the U.S. military I could understand this. You can burn through a whole lot of ammunition fighting wars.
But this makes no sense - unless they believe that big trouble is coming.
George Soros:
Perhaps even more disturbing is what he believes is coming after the financial collapse....
As anger rises, riots on the streets of American cities are inevitable. “Yes, yes, yes,” he says, almost gleefully. The response to the unrest could be more damaging than the violence itself. “It will be an excuse for cracking down and using strong-arm tactics to maintain law and order, which, carried to an extreme, could bring about a repressive political system, a society where individual liberty is much more constrained, which would be a break with the tradition of the United States.”
That's a funny joke, Cunical, from one angle.
Cunical,
That was one idiotic comment. Congratulations.
I was taught that God is always with you. So, that being the case, I guess if God was with those people, didn't give a damn about those 20 children and 6 adults. Kind of makes you start to doubt things, doesn't it?
Also, to NBC and the rest of the media:
ENOUGH ALREADY!!!
This story has been so sensationalized in the media, that it really isn't a surprise that these mass murders get worse and worse. Future killers are all thinking, "gee, look at all the attention I will get if I do something like this", then some nut case goes out and does something similar. This has been talked about on every TV show, every day, for a week. What are they going to do, have a memorial every Friday for a year? Stop with the repeated, sensational coverage.
Shame
Shame
Shame
#1...and your sarcastic minions.
No bells will ever toll for your souls.
You eternity moments of silence will eventually happen
Will your allow your last "voice" to be so mean & heartless?
Let the bells ring today for the 26... LOUD & CLEAR
Not very powerful is he then??
A skinny punk with a rifle and 2 handguns got in but your God can't??
If I was you I would look for a new God, Vishnu seems like a good choice.
I know some disagree but Ms. Lanza was as much a victim as those in the school. I cannot imagine anything more devastating than being the parent of a dysfunctional child that you cannot no matter what you do make mentally well. None of us know what went on in that house but Ms. Lanza from what I read would not have approved of her son committing murder of innocents or herself. RIP Ms. Lanza.
Ask not for whom the bell tolls, NRA; it tolls for thee.
God is everywhere including this school. We don't decide where he is. That idea is so egotistical which is a classic flaw in our thinking. The evil done here is our own doing (in this case the gunman), not God's.
So I guess he was too busy helping Adam Lanza to arm his weapons outside of the school then?
The reason hard right conservatives are losing once again is because they have manifest for themselves, by conscious choice, a halt in their evolutionary growth. By denying evolution exists, they guarantee their exclusion from it by its very design. As science uncovers more and more undeniable truths, the right can't adapt their myths to fit the new realities. That's why their arguments no longer change; they bring the same lame arguments to the table, like the comment about "God not being in schools", making them look repeatedly more and more belligerent, stupid and unevolved.
In Loving Memory Of Sandy Hook Elementary Victims
Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“This is heaven" declared a small boy. "We’re spending Christmas at God's house”.
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe,
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!
“May this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“Come now my children let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All Displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
In the midst of this darkness, "I STILL AM THE LIGHT."
25 minutes ago
To Cunical
This comment is disgusting. The children didn't die because of this. You are confused. Someone is giving you the wrong information.
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your
brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
You have judge the school system and blamed them. Just remember judge and you will be judged. Many Christians are focused on Christ and his words, because the religion would not have existed without him. Christ died to save your soul not your body.
HONOR???
what happened to mourn???
Are we honoring that whacko that did the deed or the victims?
All hail the consensus builders and lobbyist that put this one together.
Rick Real:
Not all Christian are far right and many study Physic, Engineering and Medicine. I believe this far right tea party is giving religion a bad name.
Your comment:
"So I guess he was too busy helping Adam Lanza to arm his weapons outside of the school then?"
My religion would have told me to have empathy and try to find a solution to Adam's madness. Christ taught us and now it is our turn to do the right thing. He gave is life for us to save our souls and we need to do the work.
To Alan 3008,
"Cunical,
That was one idiotic comment. Congratulations.
I was taught that God is always with you. So, that being the
case, I guess if God was with those people, didn't give a damn about those 20
children and 6 adults. Kind of makes you start to doubt things, doesn't it?"
I'm Christian we were never taught that god was going to save your body. The whole concept of Christ was he died to save your soul? What religion were you taught?
cunical & Troy Hendrickson-7475499, God does not have the power to stop evil. Ignorance on what most religions preach about God clearly shows in your comments. Perhaps you need to open the Bible and read it for a change. The same can be said about Satan unable to prevent good.
We are all given the power to choose what we desire to do with our own lives. Remember, kids do not know evil until adults teach it to them. We are to instruct what is good. Those who teach hate (racism, prejudicism) are responsible for how children grow up. We should be responsible in teaching children to do good, not to be judgemental and do unto others as we would want others to do unto us. The children will decide when they are older and we can only hope they will follow the right path. A child born into a home or village of violence, hatred and greed will learn to carry on that destructive path. All it takes is the exposure of one evil person for anyone to have such evil influence.
So instead of posting rude, obnoxious and ignorant comments...go out and spread some good cheer. If you want God taught in schools to your children then you send them to the private school that teaches your religious beliefs. Public schools that are paid with public tax money should not be preaching or enforcing religion on anyone, especially when it goes against the belief of what that child's family is bringing them up to believe. Religion is a choice; a right...not the law!!
Shame on all you who dare speak of GOD! HE had nothing to do with this pure EVIL act but we know who does! So sad that people have to speak bs at these sad times. God is with us always whether we are allowed to have him in schools, home etc. Amazing when things go bad how everyone looks to him and blame him and ask why? Then look to him to pray for strength only when they need him in tough times...we should pray always not only when we need to.
Innocent people were killed for a deranged evil person GUNS I don't think are entirely to blame neither are violent video games anyway most games have to be purchased by a parent so we should ask ourselves why are we buying these video games that teach our CHILDREN violence, why was a loving mother buying all these weapons and keeping them in her house (NANCY LANZA) when she knew her son was emotionally unstable!!!! WTF!!! You do not have any weapons in your house when you feel unsafe yourself! He used her weapons to kill! Hers!
We have to have policemen patrolling our schools and every school should be appointed at least 2, anyone tries to hurt or harm another child should be shot without question before they can hurt anyone, had that principal or someone at the school had a gun he wouldn't have made it far and lives could have been saved. I do think automatic semis should have some laws tightened so that troubled youth cant buy them or get their hands on them for sure.
We have to EDUCATE our children that GUNS KILL and it stats at home first then educate in schools have Safety fire drills done monthly in schools, have doors built into classroom for EXITS in case of disasters such as this where children can run out to safety, build LOCKDOWN systems in case of emergencies all classrooms get locked where no one can enter or cause harm etc. LAWS MUST CHANGE FOR THE LOVE OF OUR CHILDREN...innocent children who will never have the chance to grow up and be doctors, engineers, actors, even one day could have been president because parents dont think their CHILD NEEDS HELP and don't do all they can to get help! this sicko should have been locked up long ago, not home schooled, nor slept with me under the same roof! And then she leaves him for a few days alone!! wow !!!!!He should have been committed without warning...apparently he knew this was going to be her plan and did what he did! Maybe healthcare should be changed too they pay for friggen abortions, birth control etc but if your mentally ill they throw you out after 30 days because the insurance cuts off! 30 days isnt enough time to get help or start healing!
My son made a great point, hes only 16 and said "MOM if they do away with guns sickos will find another way to KILL they will use bombs, knives etc..." he is right to a point but I told him they wont do away with them, just change some things about them like semi automatic gun control shouldnt be sold to young people etc.
This expression that God isn't allowed in public school is a load of crap. Organized prayer isn't allowed in public schools, but everyone can carry God in his or her heart, everyone can pray silently, and if there's a God he is everywhere -- regardless of whether organized prayer is allowed.
Cunical: Shut the Hell up. Yeah, when all those mass shootings were occurring in churches and Sikh Temples. Was God absent from those place as well? Just shut your GD mouth you pathetic loser.
Excellent poem, Ann Talmadge !!
Cunical:Your psychopathic Christian God was too GD busy defending the gun lobbyists and condemning gays for wanting to getting married.
If God gave humanity "free will". Then She must be Pro Choice. But again, humanity's capacity for exercising "free will" has by in large not benefited the planet in terms of their capacity for unconscionable violence towards one another.
To Maria ,
Beautifully written. Thank you so much.
To Snakeeyes23
Separation of Church and state:
“Jesus responds to Pontius Pilate about the nature of his
kingdom: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this
world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over
to the Jews. But now (or 'as it is') my kingdom is not from the world"
(John 18:36); i.e., his religious teachings were separate from earthly
political activity. This reflects a traditional division in Christian thought
by which state and church have separate spheres of influence.[citation needed]”
Don't mix State with religion.
Nancy Lanza didn't have the sense to secure these guns away from her son, who she knew was nuts. She is part victim, partly responsible for her own death, and partly responsible for the deaths of 20 children and six adults. Certainly, she could not have foreseen a massacre, however, she should have foreseen some kind of crazy behavior with a gun.
She is lucky that doesn't have to witness the results of her not securing the guns in a home with a nutcase.
No bell for her.
To william of rite,
Crucial comments: "To those wondering where GOD was; he isn't allowed in schools, so he couldn't help."
Your comment: "Not very powerful is he then??
A skinny punk with a rifle and 2 handguns got in but your God can't??
If I was you I would look for a new God, Vishnu seems like a good choice."
Christ didn't die to save your body. He died to save your soul. Here is a story of the Amish and how they understood Christ message, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
It happen in Ohio:
""On 2 October 2006, a shooting occurred at the West Nickel
Mines School, an Amish one-room schoolhouse in the Old Order Amish community of
Nickel Mines, a village in Bart Township of Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania.[1][2][3] Gunman Charles Carl Roberts IV took hostages and shot
ten girls (aged 6–13), killing five, before committing suicide in the
schoolhouse.[1][2][3][4] The emphasis on forgiveness and reconciliation in the
response of the Amish community was widely discussed in the national media.
The Amish community response:
On the day of the shooting, a grandfather of one of the
murdered Amish girls was heard warning some young relatives not to hate the
killer, saying, "We must not think evil of this man."[15] Another
Amish father noted, "He had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he's
standing before a just God."[16] Jack Meyer, a member of the Brethren
community living near the Amish in Lancaster County, explained: "I don't
think there's anybody here that wants to do anything but forgive and not only
reach out to those who have suffered a loss in that way but to reach out to the
family of the man who committed these acts."[15]"
Is Christ's spirit powerful? Yes, I think his spirit is very powerful. You don't understand Christianity so why do you comment???
We live in a great country with beauty all around us. Unfortunately, evil is also all around us and sometimes it will win a battle; but for those who believe in the grace of God, evil will never win the war...
POLICE IN EVERY SCHOOL!!!! We need to protect our children!! This is COMMON SEND LEGISTLATION!!! POLICE IN EVERY SCHOOL!!!! We send $$$BILLIONS in aid to HOSTILE countries... PROTECT OUR CHILDREN OBAMA!!!!
I thought there were 27 victims.
Haggie - The NRA has done more for firearms safety than you'll ever understand. Full disclosure - I am not an NRA member, I'm just retired from law enforcement. And I'll keep my high capacity magazines.
We need Principals to have armed nuclear weapons in schools, - in fact, if everyone had a nuclear weapon we would all be safer! (This message brought to you by the manufacturers of nuclear weapons)
God was NOT removed from school. School organized and led school prayer WAS removed from public school. Each and every human in each and every school can pray silently. I'm pretty sure God can still hear.
Matthew 6:5-6
I agree. You send your children to school to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. They can pray before they go to school, on their lunch break, after they get home, and when they are in church.
Bring some intelligent, factual material re: how Barack Obama is "Mexico's Puppet". Don't just keep repeating Fox News headlines attached to absolutely nothing of real substance - ever. Learn to debate using FACTS. Oh by the way... there is no Santa Claus either; he's made up too.
Rick's Real, how much proof do you want? Study up on 'Fast and Furious', you moron. You're telling someone to bring intelligence to their argument when you have YET to prove that you have anything resembling a brain. I feel so sorry for pathetic people like you who have NOTHING grater than themselves to believe in. It's those like you who commit the fouls deeds such as those we've seen in Colorado, Connecticut, and elsewhere. You really should learn how to pick a proper candidate to lead you, as well. You should just give it up and hang yourself. You're an A S S hole and you smell like a bum's nutsack (or so I've heard).
Humanists are always trying to be so tricky.
They conveniently underestimate the commitment that God Almighty requires of people to Himself.
Always trying to make God in their insincere molds, as if they were God.
Jesus Christ said that when you cry out to Him with your whole heart, you will find Him.
Stop playing religious games, "moment of non specific silence", so we don't offend another human. We know through common sense when someone is insincere and we do not give them respect. Serve God, through Jesus Christ, with your whole heart, as He requires.
POLICE IN EVERY SCHOOL!!!! We need to protect our children!! This is COMMON SEND LEGISTLATION!!! POLICE IN EVERY SCHOOL!!!! We send $$$BILLIONS in aid to HOSTILE countries... PROTECT OUR CHILDREN OBAMA!!!!
If we sue the NRA because of the death of these children, who do we sue for the millions of children that have been murdered in the fight for freedom of choice! The only ones that can legally have a child murdered in this country is a women! They fought for it and it is their right!
So, due we sue the women or the doctor who actually is hired to due it! Do we go after the large clinics because they can murder more or after the women!
Come on now! Get with it! This is murder! Yet it is a right!
Women have knowingly murdered more children than any man and demand the right to do so!
Still want to talk about priorities!
This will be a wonderful tribute to those who lost their lives. It's not much, but they will know they are remembering.
Yeah. Wonderful. Now we have a ONE WEEK ANNIVERSARY of the SCHOOL KILLNGS.
Which is right up there with the...
...anniversary of Columbine.
...anniversary of 9/11.
...anniversary of the Holocaust.
...anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing.
...anniversary of Virginia Tech Shooting.
So, let's sit around and wonder why these lunatic loners go out in a blast of glory, knowing that they will go down in history, remembered for something. And, let's sit around and wonder why 20% of Americans are on anti-depressants, since we have ANNIVERSARIES of TRAGEDIES about three times as often as we celebrate something upbeat and happy...
Will NBC even participate in this, or is Kris Jenner on again to tell us what else she felt insecure about?
OBAMA:America's Eva Peron, put the pot down. It is a known fact that pot eats away brain cells. You are proof!! :)
POLICE IN EVERY SCHOOL!!!! We need to protect our children!! This is COMMON SEND LEGISTLATION!!! POLICE IN EVERY SCHOOL!!!! We send $$$BILLIONS in aid to HOSTILE countries... PROTECT OUR CHILDREN OBAMA!!!!
We shouldn't forget about the shooter's mother. She is not the bad guy here and its always 26, not 27. I pray for all involved. I hope they keep talking about this so something gets done to help resolve these things from happening.
I disagree very very much! The mother put these weapons in her son's hands, knowing that he was mentally unstable. Then proceeded to TRAIN him on how to use them. The guns should have been locked in a gun safe. She is very much the bad guy here. It is sad she paid with her life, but because of her actions and irresponsibility, 20 children and 6 adults are dead. I will not even glorify the son further by counting him among the "victims".
Prayers for all.
nanavana@nc --- could not have said better myself.
The mother used poor judgement and refused to see that her son needed help, as other parents tend to do when they don't want to believe it themselves, but that doesn't mean she isn't a victim as well. Just like a man/woman using poor judgement in walking in an area of town known for violence gets killed while being robbed. Poor judgement and denial doesn't excuse the mother, but it doesn't excuse the fact that she was still a victim of being killed by her own son.
I wouldn't honor her with the children and educators killed, but she is still considered a victim.
Of course she was a victim! The first of the day! I said I wouldn't glorify the son by counting him among the victims.
Point is, the mother legally purchased all of these weapons herself. She knew her son was "troubled". But she CHOSE to allow him access to these weapons, even saw to it that he was well trained on using them (which in a home with children who are not "troubled" might make sense). The guns should have been locked in a gun safe that only she had access to. If that had been done, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
nanavana@nc
Ya gotta decide.
You trash the mom and son, then say "Prayers for all"?
"Trash the mom and son" is an interesting way to interpret my comment, but ok.
have a nice day!
We don't know if they were properly locked up or not. I have yet to see the police state if they were or not unless you can point me to where they gave information about whether the guns being properly kept. I might have missed it among all the articles they keep publishing on the incident. Plus, we don't know if she allowed her son access to the safe as well since she saw the time they spent at the gun ranges as bonding time. She probably felt she could trust him enough for him to have access to the safe if something were to happen.
You made it sound like she shouldn't be counted as one of the victims. Main reason why I responded the way I did. You are kind of contradicting yourself by first saying she is the bad guy but then respond to me saying she was a victim. She's not the bad guy. She made a horrible mistake in thinking that if she could connect with him in doing something they would both enjoy, he would be okay. It's a mistake parents do make in thinking they can save their kids from something horrible by trying to connect with them and not seeing there is a larger problem that requires medical help.
Most houses of worship will be ringing their bells 28 times which includes the mother of the killer and the killer because they are children of God.
State
I agree with most of what you are saying. I do not know if the guns were indeed locked up or where they might have been kept, but apparently he had access to them somehow. We also don't know the mental state she might have been in. It can't have been easy raising him alone and perhaps she needed help as well and didn't get it for whatever reason. As far as my comment about her being the bad guy, I really have to say that while she didn't pull the trigger, she put the guns in his hands and taught him how to use them. I stand by that. If it sounds contradictory, so be it.
You just described 70% of the mothers in the BuyBull belt. And probably about 90% of the mothers in Texas.
Which unprovable, mythical cult god are you referring to, Don? Yours?
Don -- 26 times, not 28. Not arguing your other points, but not sure who besides you is saying 28 bell tolls...
We can only hope that the body of this murderer is removed to an unmarked grave.I believe that some people are basically evil,they are bad seeds and no one wants to have his remains any where near this tragedy.This sounds cruel but i think the killer should be cremated and his ashes thrown in a swamp.
The killer never cared about his ashes. He only cared that this event would make him famous, because he knew the American people will make him famous. This country will anniversarize this event and morbidly celebrate it for decades to come.
Bells will be ringing 28 times by several mainline Christian churches for 28 departed souls. We are not to judge those who have departed. No cult, no mythical God worshipers. Just following Christian principles.
unfortunately Don I'm sorry to say your God is dead,we have not seen a sign from God for two thousand years ,so get over it.
If the guns were properly locked up, by definition, Adam would not have had access to them.
Do you really thing Mr. Lanza gives a rats ass if they did or didn't ring the bell one time for him? Do you think the 26 others care that they did get a bell ring? Some things people do are just puzzling & stupid.
28 Bells toll… 27 times for each innocent women and child. 1 time for a lost tortured young man’s sole.
Have you guys EVER heard IN HISTORY of God taken actions to stop humans from making their own decisions? I mean, it's called FREE WILL! God does not LET bad things happen. Humans make their own decisions. What God cares about is how you react to tragedies and deaths- i.e. by relying on HIM.
DMorgan you're a piece of human fecal matter. Go jump off a cliff. Shtibag...
I have not learned any information that supports the opinion that Ms. Lanza had any reason to fear her son would harm someone. As far as I can tell, there was no sign or symptom that indicated he was a danger to anyone. I know what he did was absolutely horrible and unthinkable, but that does not make it his mothers fault for not getting him help when she had no reason to think he was a danger. There are so very many people all around us that have some level of disorder but there is no way to know who will be the ones to "snap". It is very sad that Ms. Lanza is being blamed for this tragedy and being ignored as a victim. She is as much of a victim as all the other people were. It is being said that she is to blame for owning the guns used in the massacre and also for educating herself and her son on how to operate the guns. This is equally preposterous. Droves of people all around us regularly go to firing ranges to learn to shoot and for a form of recreation. It makes sense to me that a family would do these activities and do them together. Mothers are always looking for ways to "connect" with their sons and shooting guns is usually something guys love to do. There is nothing sinister in the fact that Ms. Lanza did this with her son, even if he did struggle to "fit in" or be what the world considers is "normal". She still had NO WAY of knowing that her son would ever want to use those guns to murder her, 26 other people and kill his own self too. It is ludicrous to blame this poor woman for any of her son's actions. She had no clue this would ever be an issue....ever. I hate that this tragedy has happened and I mourn for all the precious lives lost...including Ms. Lanza and her son.
To Joseph:
"unfortunately Don I'm sorry to say your God is dead,we have not seen a sign from God for two thousand years ,so get over it."
He is dead to you but not to us. Don't comment on something you don't understand. Christianity is about Christ. He didn't say he would be with you in body.
Well, then, you missed it. I saw an interview with a friend of Mrs. Lanza's who told the interviewer that Mrs. Lanza was concerned lately that her son was increasingly out of control of his faculties.
She wasn't to blame for owning the guns, but she didn't secure them. It's not sinister. It's laxness, and the lack of a rule of law that told her she was required to do something. A rule that would have taken out of her hands the very difficult decision to obstruct her son's access to the weapons.
It's not about finding blame - it's about finding solutions.
You may want to go back and read the rest of my paragraph as I continued on saying this:
Because no other information has been released on if the guns were locked up or not, there is no point in stating the same thing that nanavana in regards to Lanza not having access if they were not locked up properly. We don't know if he was allowed access by his mother, but since she was killed we will never get an answer to that.
Two cents worth ,Do you feel it appropiate to add Lanza and his mother in the same sentence as the innocent people that were murdered?This kid was sick and the mother knew it.Why did she take him to the gun range?Sick people and guns are a potent mixture. She should have taken him to a phycologist rather that a gun range .
You can say all you want Gossamer,try to prove my statement wrong.The statement,There has been no sign of God for two thousand years.Now prove me wrong.Use your GOD given wit.Thanks
Joseph,
Think logically, not all Christians are waiting for him to come back. Your argument is incorrect. Many believe his spirit is alive in all those that accept his teachings. That spirit not something you see. In ancient text Christ offers his spirit to help his apostles to their job. Christ again was about the soul and not the body. Can you prove his spirit is dead???? No you can't. We see his spirit alive in the actions of others. We cannot give you that feeling. Therefore it is safe to say that there will always be people that believe and people that don't.
So you waste your time telling people their GOD is dead.
I respect your comment Gossamer but i am a compassionate person also.I have helped the homeless and gave to charity.I don't need a code or scripture to tell me killing is wrong or giving is good.Every person has a free will to do good or bad in this world it is their choice.
LOL! you kick god out of everything from schools to governments... then when it all falls apart on you, you turn and blame him... Adam Lanza isnt the only one needing a psych eval... cus that kind of thinking is INSANE!!!
You cant in one breath say there isnt a God or you dont need him, then when tragedy strikes ask where he is... come on folks!
My God is a She and no one kicked Her out. It's just that She understands that the places to pray and worship Her are not a public school - where other kids may believe in something else - or a government, but in Her church or temple or synagogue or coven or mosque or whatever-else-you'd-like.
Bella. I'm going to assume you're talking about the christian/BuyBull god, simply because your talking nonsense and you sound wholly illogical... which fits with virtually every christian i've ever met.
So -- how does the christian's cult god, who is said to be All Powerful, All Time, Everywhere, Creator of this Earth and the Universe... how does this god creature (which YOUR CULT and YOUR CULT BUYBULL describes as all of these things) how does it get kicked out of a school? How exactly is such an All Powerful god creature like that kept out of buildings -- when it created everything, is all powerful and is Everywhere?
Do you realize how petty you sound? How bitter, petulant and illogical you sound? Why do christians continually make such wholly illogical, ridiculous, and incongruent comments?
Bella you look like a cutie if that's your picture. I love God but He's too big to teach in school. If conservatives think that schools are crappy at teaching reading and math (and most conservatives think that, even though it's not true) then why do they think schools can handle God? Cus that's INSANE. Merry Christmas to you.
Its quite simple DMorgan...
God will NEVER overrule free will. Hence why you have scriptures like Rev. 3:20... It shows your CHOICE. Thats one...
Secondly, God is only as sovereign as his Word...he will never go against it. And if memory serves me right, in Genesis he SAID that WE have dominion over the earth... its OURS to rule. So technically, if anything goes wrong down here on planet earth, we should look to ourselves to blame... not Him, because he wont break his word and overrule our free will to "help us"...
Now.. if you would like, you can ASK him for help, and THEN he will. Hence why you have the bible... a GUIDE SHEET/BLUE PRINT that lays out what needs to happen or what u need to do if you want certain results. YOU have the CHOICE whether to follow it or not... free will again...
So...you say my statement is illogical, but I say yours is. Its no different from barring your neighbor from your property, then getting mad at your neighbor for not coming to your christmas party... um..HELLO!?!?!?!
correct, free will of one person in this instance, the shooter. It has nothing to do with the sins of children or teachers or a town etc. That guy made his choice and others paid for it.
Also we asked for king's and prince's then and now we get politicians .
To Michael 1033656"
"correct, free will of one person in this instance, the shooter. It has nothing to do with the sins of children or teachers or a town etc. That guy made his choice and others paid for it."
Thank you very well said.
The situation at the school in Newtown was a tragedy and yes 26 people were gunned down. But please let's give some respect to the children also gunned down in places like Chicago (312 this year alone). Of course the media doesn't make a big deal out of it because they think like the politicians (it's the inner-city neighborhoods who cares). But let 20 kids get down in a white rural area and they and the politicians are on it like flies on s.it and all of a sudden gun control measures are back in the discussion..Shame Shame. They ought to ring that church bell for every child killed (whatever the purpose of ringing the bell is) in this country by gunfire this year.
Or a doctor an operating room if it was an abortion! The bells would have to ring for most of the year continuously!
If we are going to discuss the right to keep an bare arms because of this horrendous massacre, why would we leave out the millions who have been murdered by mothers to be!
Just when does a child become precious to you!
Wow...the heartlessness of people never stops amazing me. "let's move on"....you mean like we moved on from 9/11? "God's not allowed in public schools"...guess he's not allowed in Sikh temples either...or malls...or movie theaters. That boy that killed Newtown was mentally ill. You people are sick. @!$%# all of you....and please report me I really don't give a @!$%#.
We have moved on, perhaps you should too... This is old news, why dwell in the past, might as well bring up Pearl Harbor while your at it. People lived, they died, it was sad at the time, but this is now, not then. I don't think people are heartless, they just know when to move on.
Good on ya Chris150... Move on to the Fox News site...they'll glorify you there as you are the epitome of conservatism. Have you moved on from Benghazi...or are those dead more important? Hmmmm?
Let's sit around and make MORE anniversaries of killings, tragedies and bombings to celebrate!
Then, let's sit around and wonder why people like that killer do something like this to get the fame that the people in this country give him and everyone like him. And, let's sit around and wonder why 1 out of 5 Americans are mentally ill or on anti-depressants, because we anniversarize and celebrate a tragedy, killing spree or a bombing every two weeks in this country!
WisconsinDad, I'm a socialist, about as far left both socially and fiscally as you can get, so you can't wave the "nutty conservatives want to forget the children" flag. I read this top headline, about a church ringing its bell, and wondered how in the hell a church bell ringing could be considered news... then I saw that it was in Newtown.
And I still wonder why it's news.
Churches ring their bells all the time. It's NOT NEWS. The thing that happened a week ago? Everyone already knows about it, so again, NOT NEWS. It's a ratings ploy, playing to people's emotions, glorifying what happened to pull in some more advertising dollars, and it's disgusting. We need to move forward and that starts with the media taking responsibility for their exploitation.
"god " is allowed in public schools but prayer to your god is not FORCED on others in public schools. That is the point. You believe in the shutting down of free will, which is not what your god allowed. In your own teachings you are doing the work of the devil.
And Alan Pugh who runs 90% of the media out there? Liberals and socialist, so please make sure to point your finger in the right direction (left) when you say it is all just a ratings ploy.
Why do people feel the need to dwell on & feel sorry for so long? How much time do you need? Spending your entire life feeling sorry for bad things that happened just seems like a sad pathetic state of existence to me.
East Coast Rob, read the post I was replying to. It's called context.
Also, the media in the US is ran by socialists? Ha, tell me another one. We're a rare breed. I don't think you know what socialism actually is.
You're telling others, probably even the victim's families, that they should pretend this didn't happen and not be sad at all. I'd say that's pretty heartless.
Also, memorial services like these take a while to prepare. I'm sure the people living in Newtown just feel oh-so-bad that they couldn't get it done fast enough for your liking. Yup. They should've had all the preparations done in like, five minutes so they could "get over it" faster and not be sad at all that their children are dead. I mean why should they be sad? They can always just have another one. Granted, that new child won't fully replace the one they lost, but who cares? You're not allowed to be whiny and sad about ANYTHING in this world anymore, so they can't be sad at all. Hell, it should be ILLEGAL to be sad! Right? I mean, that's what you and several others are saying right now, and since it seems to be the popular opinion these days so it MUST be true!
....you people are pathetic.
Truly a touching and thoughtful tribute to the children and adults that lost their lives last Friday.
Too bad most of you miss the entire point of the story. It sucks to be you.
Mac - thank goodness someone else gets it. I am sure those people who are affected by this tragedy appreciate the thoughts and prayers and the tributes. Shame on those who distort the well meaning tribute.
Has anyone thought that these people just want a break from everyone else and everything that is being done?
If you believe Christians believe in God, look how many are out buying Satan's wares the day after. If you believe that prayer works, look how many trust to their gun for protection. Today's church is not Apostle Paul's church. Slander and fear are not the work of the Holy Spirit; it is not that God is not in government and schools, it's that Satan, not God, is in the church deceiving believers.
I have more faith in the Old Testament!
I applaud the church(es) that are ringing 27 times. Nancy Lanza was a victim and she should be recognized as such. I am happy she was laid to rest today and her family were able to say good-bye. I do wonder if Peter Lanza attended. He owed Nancy a big thank you for the care she gave to their troubled son. She did the best she knew how while he moved on with his life. I pray for Nancy's mother as she accepts and tries to heal from the loss of her beloved daughter. I pray for Ryan who now goes forward in his young life without his mother and what is likely love and hate of his brother. So very sad. We can only hope that something good will come from this tragedy and the lives of the precious children will be honored with some changes that should have been made years ago. RIP to 27 good people and children. Healing to the families and first responders.
I do not blame the mother or any of the whackos that kill indiscriminately. I blame every one who allows them to think it's ok to have and use these weapons in a casual way. If people with guns never killed anyone, I would say fine. I think though, that a case has been made that there are few humans that walk the earth that are responsible enough to own assault weapons. I also believe that those that do not own guns have a right not to be shot by the ones that do, and that we are entitled to some sort of protection, besides buying more weapons to be protected from them...
Tomorrow, for the fifth work day in a row, I will drive by Newton. There are stuffed animals piled around street signs left by strangers and loved ones that stopped by to pray. The satellite dishes on the trucks are seen everywhere, and the traffic is heavy from the funerals, cops, and reporters. I wish that anyone believing they have a right to these assault rifles go to this town and experience what these families, my neighbors are going through. Until then, I have no respect for your opinion.
I hope and pray that you who criticize and put blame on the family never have a loved one in your family that has
mental problems. Loving, caring parents, who try their best to get help ( no, it isn't always possible - see comments about authorities who say " we can't do anything unless....." Those of us who do have a child, a grandchild, a brother or sister, or niece or nephew whom we truly love and have tried to help, hurt so badly for these families, both the terrible loss of children and teachers, and also for the family of that young man who had such awful mental problems. Think of what THESE family members are going through during this, looking at their loved one and hoping, praying, that this will never happen to them..
We need to declare guns as "potential weapons for mass murder" just as we declared nuclear weapons as "weapons of mass destruction"!
make sure you name planes, trains, automobiles as weapons also
Don-2405154- We need to declare gun as
In the last 10 years millions of murders have been done in the name of freedom of choice, They were committed against unborn children!
If we are going to have an honest debate on how to protect innocent children how can we leave this out? You are talking about the Second Amendment and the need to put curbs on it, yet I hear not a peep on something that kills more children then anything else! Yet, it is a right!
Seems harshly judgemental to exclude a bell toll for Nancy Lanza, the mother of the shooter who was the first victim that day.
I agree. She was a member of the community too, right or wrong. I certainly am not demeaning the loss of those at the school though.
Here's another thing we're going to do to remember the victims: we're going to keep working until having an NRA bumper sticker on your car is about as popular as having a NAMBLA bumper sticker. Yeah, this is happening.
May the Souls of the Departed, Faithful Rest in Peace. May God Bless their Souls. May God give the strength and courage to the families of the deceased to bear this huge loss. Whenever there is a tragedy Americans Rise to the Occasion and Stand Shoulder to Shoulder in Solidarity. We are also in solidarity with you. GOD Bless the Americans. GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
So much for those who who have no sin cast the first stone........
People who write on #hithouse walls roll their #hit in little balls, and people who comment on those lines of whit eat those little balls of #hit
Boy all you have to do is read comments on anything related to this tragedy and you get a crystal clear picture of just how dumb and fragile this country is. Keep spitting that venom everyone, keep thinking you have the answers, keep lashing out at anything and everything that scares you. If god is real and just I hope this country is melted into glass tomorrow, you have all ruined it, what a waste of effort and sacrifice. So much work, so much death, so much time and energy wasted on a bunch of sheep jumping and screaming at anything that moves. It wasn't the gun, it wasn't the hobbies, it wasn't the movies, it wasn't the books. It was an unstable mind that didn't get the appropriate help. Stop throwing rocks at ghosts and admit that the majority of you don't truly give a sh*t about the person next to you or the powers that govern us. The proof is adding up, anti social kids in need of medication or therapy wouldn't need to lash out at the world violently if you all weren't so full of venom. But I digress, this rant is for me, nothing will change, nobody will change, this country is poison.
I'm about two steps from looking into whether countries like Canada or Switzerland could use my professional skills. My kids are learning now that this country has its flaws like every other country, and one of them is the absolute refusal of anyone to sit at the tablet and have a rational discussion about the risks and benefits of anything.
Oh, and if you're smart you'll emphasize to your kids the importance of learning about other languages and cultures. They need a way out for when this country has nothing left but the poor and ignorant.
Nice to see the media whores are milking this story for everything they can.How about we just give it a rest so the families can have some peace.
December 14, 2012 -- a day of infamy.
Whoah let's not take it THAT far. A couple THOUSAND people were killed at Pearl Harbor. I don't think in another 70 years on December 14 we'll be hearing any news stories about the anniversary of this shooting. Hell, I already can't even remember the day the Columbine shooting was.
Please don't let these lives be in vain.
#1. We need to provide more and better psychiatric care and family support services in this country. My family has lived the heartbreak and difficulty of getting help for someone who desperately needed it... incredibly difficult with how the laws are currently written.
#2. Are the 2nd amendment rights more important than the victims "right to LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"? If so, how incredibly selfish the gun nuts in this country are... you may as well have pulled the trigger yourself to promote the gun culture and gun rights to this extreme.
Maybe the 'gun enthusiasts and NRA supporters should be the ones to explain this to the surviving children that when through this trauma in their school since they're all so gungho. Ban the ammo and make all semi-automatics the useless hunks of junk that they truly are.
I'll bet NBC News and the other outlets would love a mass shooting every couple of weeks. Keeps the stories flowing and people coming back to comment.
Twas 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38, when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious.
Their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy.
They didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy.
"We're spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their Savior.
The children gathered near. He looked at them and smiled,
and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms, and He called them by name,
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.
Those children all flew into the arms of their King,
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
as if He could read all the questions she had.
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of Mom and Dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below.
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand.
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."
I loved your poem.Very well done and heartfelt.I am not a Christian and loved it just the same.It gave me comfort to read something so thoughtfully written among all the bickering.
How about ringing a few thousand bells for the thousands killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya, etc.? Oh wait, I see they are not WHITE AMERICAN kids. Right?
i can agree with this somewhat but they honor those in their country we honor those in ours. If we had vigils for every child that died we would have our own tv channel for them all.