Posted: 03/25/2013
Last Updated: 13 hours ago
Last Updated: 13 hours ago
NEWTOWN, Conn. - NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — Some residents (click here) in Newtown, Conn., say they're outraged at receiving robocalls from the National Rifle Association only three months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings....
It can be argued the calls should be limited to members only in areas of the country most effected by gun violence. People have a right to recover from violence without such insults. To limit robocalls to members is to realize there is a percentage of the American populous interested in what the NRA states.
The NRA is incapable of conscience. They are unable to apologize for the unlawful use and sales of guns. The leadership would have realized the silenced voices due to gun violence are more powerful than any telephone call that seeks to make gun owners victims. Gun owners are not victims of any government actions. Quite the contrary, we can all benefit from sincere responsible gun ownership.
I don't know if the families of the victims in Newtown realize standing together and bringing their stories to powerful companies actually works when it comes to guns. In 2009, two of the victims of Columbine had a profound impact on the executives of K-Mart when they asked for the sales of ammo to stop. K-mart did stop selling it. I have made purchases at K-Mart and even had prescriptions filled there, but, I won't go to Walmart.
Walmart is the store where the gunman in Arizona purchased his ammunition. It is sadly ironic to realize Walmart finds the highest profits of Wall Street.
AP/ April 29, 2009, 9:59 PM
At Kmart stores across the country, (click here) shoppers cruising the aisles for diapers, garden hoses and microwave popcorn can also find ammunition for everything from pellet guns to handguns.
But some of those shelves soon will be empty as Kmart phases out the sale of handgun ammunition over the next three months.
Company officials made the announcement Thursday following meetings that included company executives, a prominent gun-control advocate and victims of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.
Kmart stores have not carried handguns since the 1970s, but still sell hunting rifles and other long guns. For some time, the Troy, Mich.-based company has been under pressure from gun-control advocates to stop selling firearms....
But some of those shelves soon will be empty as Kmart phases out the sale of handgun ammunition over the next three months.
Company officials made the announcement Thursday following meetings that included company executives, a prominent gun-control advocate and victims of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting.
Kmart stores have not carried handguns since the 1970s, but still sell hunting rifles and other long guns. For some time, the Troy, Mich.-based company has been under pressure from gun-control advocates to stop selling firearms....
The point is families and victims are powerful in the USA. Their reality can't be denied. I applaud them and apologize for what they are going through because they have inherited the power of being victims of gun violence in the USA.
I recently moved to Monroe County I have a K-Mart and a Wallmart right across the street from each other. As far as a can tell they sell a lot of the same stuff... at about the same price. I have only been into Kmart once... and that was to see what they had. I saw what they did not have...Ammo.
It seems that K-mart took all the ammo out of their stores. As a result I only go to Wallmart to shop. The way it usually works is that I either go to Wallmart to buy things for the house, and buy six boxes of ammo while there.... or I go to Wallmart to buy Ammo, and end up buying other things for the house. Given that I just had a new house built, you can imagine the amount of money I have spent at Wallmart since in the last 6 months. Hint... over $3,000. This is all money the K-Mart did not get because they do not carry ammo. I hope this message gets around to K-Mart.
It seems that K-mart took all the ammo out of their stores. As a result I only go to Wallmart to shop. The way it usually works is that I either go to Wallmart to buy things for the house, and buy six boxes of ammo while there.... or I go to Wallmart to buy Ammo, and end up buying other things for the house. Given that I just had a new house built, you can imagine the amount of money I have spent at Wallmart since in the last 6 months. Hint... over $3,000. This is all money the K-Mart did not get because they do not carry ammo. I hope this message gets around to K-Mart.
There is one other issue that does not involve robocalls. It is the donations made to the people of Newtown. I thought the article in the NYTimes was noteworthy. So while the families and victims are at the forefront of improving the quality of life of a nation through advocacy, they also have another responsibility. This responsibility might be more immediately rewarding. They have monies to direct from the people that sincerely do care.
By PETER APPLEBOME
Published: March 24, 2013
...Now, with almost all the money still unspent, (click here) sharply differing views are emerging over what exactly should be done with it.
The bulk of the money, $10.2 million, was donated to the United Way of Western Connecticut, and has been transferred to a local foundation that will decide who should receive it and when, and how much should be set aside for community needs like counseling and long-term issues.
But this weekend, 50 parents and family members directly affected by mass tragedies, including those that occurred at Aurora, Columbine, the World Trade Center and Virginia Tech, issued a statement saying that in the past, charities had failed to distribute aid to those most in need, and that, unless donated for specific purposes, funds raised for Newtown should be sent directly to victims and victims’ families. A separate statement, signed by those family members and 14 more from Newtown, said that this should become the national model for future tragedies....
...Cristina Hassinger, the daughter of the Sandy Hook principal, Dawn Hochsprung, who was one of the 6 educators killed along with 20 children at the school on Dec. 14, said that the donated money was meant for victims and their families and should go directly to them....
The bulk of the money, $10.2 million, was donated to the United Way of Western Connecticut, and has been transferred to a local foundation that will decide who should receive it and when, and how much should be set aside for community needs like counseling and long-term issues.
But this weekend, 50 parents and family members directly affected by mass tragedies, including those that occurred at Aurora, Columbine, the World Trade Center and Virginia Tech, issued a statement saying that in the past, charities had failed to distribute aid to those most in need, and that, unless donated for specific purposes, funds raised for Newtown should be sent directly to victims and victims’ families. A separate statement, signed by those family members and 14 more from Newtown, said that this should become the national model for future tragedies....
...Cristina Hassinger, the daughter of the Sandy Hook principal, Dawn Hochsprung, who was one of the 6 educators killed along with 20 children at the school on Dec. 14, said that the donated money was meant for victims and their families and should go directly to them....
I agree with Cristina. This is an opportunity for state legislators and governors to seek to make these donated monies achieve their intended goals. These monies were not a result of a fund raising effort. These monies were given out of grief and in hopes it would ease the suffering of those involved. I hope the state governments protect the interest of the victims and their families as was intended by other citizens of this country wanting to help, but, lacking for another expression.
In no way should such a tragedy benefit budgets and treasuries of organizations. The organizations were entrusted with the monies by others in expectations it would reach it's intended purpose.
I wish the families and victims of these American tragedies peace in their lives.
