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Local residents react to the shooting in Connecticut
Friday's shooting at a Connecticut Elementary school has shaken our country to its core. It's also reigniting an ongoing debate over gun control.
News 5's Lauren Conley spoke with people across the area. Just this week two people were killed at a mall in Portland. Earlier this year a gunman took the lives of seven people at a University in California. And 12 were killed, 58 wounded at an Aurora, Colorado movie theater. These incidents are prompting people to ask, when will it stop? These sirens rang hundreds of miles from our homes here in the Midwest. But, why they rang is leaving a lasting impact on communities across the country. "Just the possibility. you know, will it happen at our school?" said Stephanie Schlotzhauer. "I'm still with child and just to think, that's just not something that should be possible so I can't even imagine what they're going through," said expectant mother, Michaela Carlson. People rallied outside the White House for stricter gun control and President Obama has acknowledged it may be time for a policy change. "We're going to have to come together and take action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics," President Obama said. But here in the country's heartland guns are part of everyday life. "I think if more people carried firearms, criminals would be less likely to try stunts like that," said Brent Terway. "If they knew there were teachers or security in those schools that had guns on them, they would hesitate to go in there." Our News 5 Facebook page is flooded with reaction. Wendy Jones Propp said, "Why is it that when this stuff happens people start calling for gun control? We need to deal with mental health issues." Steve Kopisch said, "As a gun owner it's incidents like this that disappoint me about our society. We always seem to look at the weapon that committed the murder more than the murder[er] themselves." But, there are some who'd like to see a change made soon. "To me it feels like anybody can go into a gun store and get a gun." said Tom Vanderpool. Whether gun control is the answer or not, many people are left wondering, what can be done? "I think our family values need to be tightened up and tell your kids you love them," said James Nore. CNN and YouGov conducted polls on gun control earlier this year. Both showed overwhelming support for stricter control with background checks and bans on gun sales to people with mental health issues. Support for stricter gun control spiked after the 1999 Columbine school shooting. Yesterday's tragic events may just be the straw that breaks the camel's back when it comes to gun control. |
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