In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook, this nation desperately needs to have a conversation about gun control. We need deliberate and decisive legislation to prevent future atrocities. We need readily available assistance and treatment for our mentally ill. We need the courage and conviction to make sure all of that happens and no longer gets shoved aside the minute our media's done paying attention.
What we do not need, however, is fantasy-combat-fools like Oregon State Rep. Dennis Richardson serenading us with his imaginary tales of bravery. How if only he'd been there his heroic acts would have surely saved lives.
Over at Gawker there's a post about how Oregon State Rep. Dennis Richardson thought it'd be a good idea to send off an email to three school superintendents detailing how ultimately the failure lies with the school personnel for what happened at Sandy Hook.
From: "Rep Richardson"
Subject: RE: Preventable Tragedy in Connecticut
Date: December 14, 2012 2:53:06 PM PST
To: [redacted]
[redacted]:
The Sandy Hook shootings are another heart breaking failure of school personnel to ensure the protection of innocent children and adults. Sadly, most of the deaths could have been prevented.
If I had been a teacher or the principal at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and if the school district did not preclude me from having access to a firearm, either by concealed carry or locked in my desk, most of the murdered children would still be alive, and the gunman would still be dead, and not by suicide.
When will our school officials open their eyes to the reality that law enforcement officers, in such instances as these, can respond only after the unfettered killings have occurred, and that our children's safety depends on having a number of well-trained school employees on every campus who are prepared to defend our children and save their lives?
Dennis Richardson
I don't know what's more sick here, the fact that he's blaming the true heroes who lost their lives trying to protect those kids or the fact that this asshole really thinks he could have prevented this.
I can only imagine the scenario his warped mind conjures up. The intruder blasts through the door only to be confronted by a steely-eyed Dennis "the Death Bringer" Richardson who calmly puts a bullet in the would-be killer's head. He probably blows smoke from the barrel and spins his firearm before putting it back in the holster as well. In reality he'd of probably shit himself right before adding to the carnage by firing indiscriminately into a crowd of kids.
That's the problem with this notion in conservative circles that the solution is to arm more people. People, who mind you, aren't necessarily trained in how to handle a firearm let alone deal with one in a crisis situation. People, who mind you, may want nothing to do with guns.
I can think of two recent situations off the top of my head where trained professionals didn't fare so well in a weapon-related crisis. The Topeka cops from last night as well the NYC shooting this past summer where police injured 9 bystanders attempting to subdue the target. These are trained professionals dealing with the real brutality of a chaotic situation, and in the case of the NYC cops did harm to citizens despite their best intentions.
So Rep. Dennis Richardson you just take your tough guy fantasies to a more appropriate place like The Walking Dead fan fiction forum. You are no Dirty Harry. You're no Rambo. Hell you aren't even RoboCop. And in the wake of what happened this past week, with real obstacles ahead of this country in mourning, you are of no help whatsoever.