I was bullied in elementary school - physically, verbally, mentally, psychologically.
I was bullied in junior high, high school, and college as well, via one or more of the previously mentioned methods.
I was physically assaulted - mugged - my sophomore year in college. Woke up in a hospital 48 hours later (coma was induced, I think) with a skull fracture, blood clot in my left ear, deviated septum, shattered nasal passage, partial vision in my left eye.
I've suffered bouts of depression, sought professional help multiple times, and have hated myself and/or the world around me at times.
I have trust issues, and probably carry a lot of unseen/unheard baggage I'm either unwilling or unable to admit.
And through it all - over the past nearly 54 years - not once have I ever contemplated buying a weapon and using it to attack others.
Having said this ...
I am not a gun owner, but have fired guns before. I have no problem with guns being owned and used by properly trained individuals, who understand the danger they can (and often do) pose to society. Just don't force me to carry a loaded firearm, or to be around loaded firearms, as part of my public school employment.
I have no problem with the idea of background checks before purchase, because I believe anyone who chooses to purchase a weapon should be mentally competent. I also believe background checks would not completely eliminate bad guys getting guns or completely eliminate mass shootings. But they would help.
I do not believe background checks violate our constitutional rights. While many voice the "slippery slope" argument, gun control doesn’t need to involve confiscation. Something as simple as licensing and requiring an understanding of how to use it could reduce gun violence.
I believe the National Rifle Association is doing a disservice to both its membership and all other citizens through its political posturing, and that its failure to endorse common sense controls on both who can own weapons, and what types of weapons should be owned by the populace, is doing the organization more detrimental harm than good.
I believe the Second Amendment does not outweigh any other amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and I fully support students incorporating their First Amendment rights and speaking out in peaceful assembly to change the ways our nation thinks about guns.
I'm proud of yesterday's Wellington High School student-led 17-minute on-campus "Walk IN," to recognize those that lost their lives in last month's senseless and horrific day at Stoneman Douglas High School. It was truly "unchartered territory" and went as smoothly as one could hope. It was voluntary; my students were not forced or coerced to participate in any way.
(There may have been some students who took it as a "day off" mentality, or at least a "cut a class" mentality. I'm not so naive as to think otherwise. But from what I observed and have heard from fellow faculty, the vast majority took it seriously, and are out to prove they have a legitimate voice in the process.)
I'm proud of yesterday's "Day of Action" on the campus of Wellington, where students were (again, voluntarily) able to donate blood, register to vote, or hear our elected officials speak in the Lecture Hall. We had Sen. Kevin Rader, Rep. Matt Willhite and a Special Assistant to U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel at scheduled times during lunch. And we had branches from our Armed Forces set up throughout the courtyard for students interested in how they can serve our country.
When I was in high school, I became politically active for a number of reasons - my father's active opposition to the Vietnam War; my own formation of being a conscientious objector; my volunteering for the John Anderson presidential campaign. I'm proud to see today's young adults becoming politically active as well. We want and need young adults involved in the political arena. On all sides of the political arena. We are at our best when we can have passionate, educated arguments from multiple viewpoints and find common ground for the greater good. I believe despite the current mood in our nation's capital, there is still opportunity for teamwork.
They are the future. They are our future.
