By MATTHEW BISTRISKY
Another tragedy has befallen our nation once again, and my prayers go out to all those in Newtown, Conn. It is such a horrible act that it's hard for me to grasp that it has actually happened, and even more, that it will sadly happen again.
Many questions are asked, with only a few ever answered, but the only question I have is: "What are we doing about this?"
We all know that bullying is at an all time high, and illegal gun sales and the internet puts guns into the hands of those who intend harm. In my opinion, the gun industry will never be held accountable, nor the internet sites that sell 100 round drums.
There is too much money and politics and power involved to even make a dent. It is pointless to blame violent movies, music, gun laws, politicians and lobbyists. So what do we do?
What is so hard for a mayor, or governor, or even President Barack Obama to just act. There are about 100,000 public schools in our country. Let's start making metal detectors and training people to operate them and also to know how to identify suspicious characters. Let's install better security in our schools, better doors, cameras, alarms, and so forth. Everyone is so worried about money, money, money. Where is it going to come from, how am I going to make my cut.
Who cares! Americans need to make a decision about whether money is more important than our children. Money and power and social standing isn't our future ... our children are the future.
Why is it so hard to just do something. Find the money. I'm sure NASA has a huge budget. We aren't going to the moon with any purpose this decade, who cares if Pluto is a planet or not, or what a black hole really is.
There are so many ridiculous goals and areas of study that waste so much money, it makes me sick. Film studios spend millions upon millions to make something ... that we watch on our television and put on our t-shirts. Yeah, movies are cool and fun to watch, but at what cost.
America needs to make a decision, and not let politics or anything else get in the way of what needs to be done. If people are bringing guns into schools, it needs to be stopped. Plain and simple. Make the metal detectors, train the people, make the jobs, make the security better. Stop letting decisions be debated and argued and tossed around the senate, and just do it. I don't know why a country as powerful and rich - not always measured in wealth - and free as the United States of America, can't have the personnel, the increased safety and security measures, and a metal detector at every door in every school, by end of next year.
It can be done, but the question is will it be done. It's that easy.
Again my prayers go out to all those in Newtown, as well as those who have suffered loss in similar situations. Let's stand together as a country and see the safety of our children and each other, as a bigger priority, than the gain of money or power or anything else.
Matthew Bistrisky is a Cassadaga resident.
