THE DANGER OF GUN-FREE SCHOOL ZONES

For yourself, not Dave!

I messed up by not addressing this to Dlowan, so I'll add that now.

I don't know that this is true. But even if it is close to being true, then the three words "in the US" suggests the nature of the problem.

oss

Yes, I knew that. Pity to see you two even briefly at odds as I doubt there's little that separates you both other than geography and a flag.

For those of us from outside the US, the violent tendencies within American culture can be more than just a matter of empathy for the victims of that violence. It's also the problems which attend America's footprint in the world - it is too commonly a bloody footprint.

Blatham, I know that. I so know that.

I know, sweetie. It's this weird problem of writiing sentences which either begin with "You guys..." or with "Us guys..."

It's the fundamental reason I want to poop on flags.

...and even moreso, on flag-wavers.

Me too.

farmerman

If it seems appropriate, and to any real benefit, please pass on to your secretary and beyond, the very deepest shared sadness and sympathies from a Canadian Mennonite.

Yes, and back from argument to farmerman's life.

I don't want to post on this much, as it seems all very personal.

Though interested and sad, I'll try to be quiet.

I can't believe someone actually said this.
And probably actually believes it.

I said I'd try to be quiet..

me?

anyway, there is a thread where Farmer talks about all this. The reason I'm sort of quiet re flailing URLs is that the area and all that is going on in the vicinity is personal to farmerman, and I'll go with that. The community needs to survive wilhout the media routine.

Do you have a link, osso?

No, I don't have a link. Look back on his posts.. not to be curt, just that I don't,

Huh??

Oh, stop.....my sides are hurting.

I had a meeting with an Amish Bishop last evening. My company bought the mine dump of the old Nickle Mines (from which the village acquired its name) His direct family contained 2 of the girls killed and he was talking about "his communities responsibility to lead by example among the ENGLISH". The Amish in this region are not as severe in their practises, so many have tvs in their barns so they can see the news. They dont have electric service nor phones that "connect them to the world" but they will use Nat gas fired generators and use some appliances and they have chargers for their cell phones and tools. Its a carefully considered accomodation they make with the world but are not so isolated that they dont feel that they cannot serve as examples of Christian "ministry".
When I met with the bishop,(hes a regional chairman for the Amish Safety Committee as well as being a bishop, and hes a trained EMT who works a a volunteer for the local Fire Company). However, he was more concerned about how the "English" are feeling extreme guilt and he wanted to make it clear that the Amish way was total unqualified forgiveness based upon a clear belief in an afterlife and the innocennce of children in front of God..

Right now, and until the issue is no longer being scavanged by the news media, the Amish are allowing themselves to be filmed for tv so that they can be interviewed and get their message around.
As a non religious person I felt uncomfortable with all the "God bless you's" from the everyday Amish. They are, if anything, going out of their ways now to be extra kind and to interact with non-Amish and theyre "separated bretheren" (The Mennonites and Church Amish) to show how their way is truly God's way.

Om sigs rants and flaming posts are empty entreatments in the eyes of these people

Om sig will never understand how these beautiful people live their creeds to the total exclusion of even mentioning weapons and guns for defense, or the concept of "just war". Even though its sad in this instance how weve intruded onto them, but I for one, am glad that I live here and not some more enlightened area of the nation.
The most inappropriate thing going on now is the extreme intrusiveness of all the TV stations.One station even spent an hour in a special about how the Amish dont like all this coverage and how their wishes should be respected. This they did by drawing in experts on Anabaptist cults including Hutterites.

.

I only heard today that this is one of...what, three?...recent incidents.


I so hope this does not trigger more people in copy cats.


I did not know where you live, Farmerman.........I cannot imagine how awful and sad it is to be in a community affected by this horror.

Good on the Amish for choosing to get their message across.

You know this how? Because he claims it? The evidence (his obsessive posts about guns to the exclusion of all else) would suggest something less than brilliance.

Turns out it was on this thread, six or more pages back.