NOT GUNS: IT IS MORAL ACCOUNTABILITY

NOT GUNS: IT IS MORAL ACCOUNTABLITY

By Domenick J. Maglio Ph.D. Traditional Realist

Here we go again. There is a massacre in a gun-free-zone and the media lights up with gun control. They say if we make all guns illegal these horrendous events will never occur again. This assessment is based on juvenile feelings not on logical and rational thought processes. Individuals use trucks, bombs, knives, chemicals and many other methods to kill innocent people. 

The incident on Valentines Day in a Parkland Florida high school clearly demonstrated you can make our schools fortresses but cannot prevent a tragedy. There was a policeman at the gate, identification procedures to enter the buildings, security drills, high walls with a series of gates, which did not protect these students and teachers from a shooter. Furthermore, this student was known throughout the school and was negatively labeled by them. They felt he was “a little bit off” and would be the one most likely to become a school shooter. He was expelled and banned from the school while being identified as a threat by school authorities that stated he was no longer allowed on school property. 

Mister Nikolas Cruz, a nineteen year-old Hispanic was known by the local mental health establishment and whose brother is institutionalized for mental illness. He was on psychotropic medication for his sociopathic thoughts and behavior. His presence on social media was available for law enforcement and mental health officials to review. It should have been sufficient evidence to authorities that this individual was a ticking time bomb and should be Baker Acted. He had planned to pull the fire alarm that would open the gates and give him a greater death toll. Yet he “legally” obtained an AR-15 gun and other paraphernalia to accomplish his objectives. 

Mr. Cruz had all of the classic signs of “threat to self and others”, which would be enough to institutionalize him. The reality is our society has turned a blind eye to dangerous individuals that present a significant threat to our communities. We are emptying our prisons and have closed most of our lock-up mental institutions. Our schools have either transferred dangerous students or expelled them without follow up. 

By placing dangerous people on our streets under the guise of non-judgmental tolerance, we have lost control of our local community and national safety. Authorities keep on telling us to report dangerous people. “If you see something, say something.” The problem is there is no follow up or consequences by these same authorities. Although Mr. Cruz posted on YouTube that he was “going to be a professional school shooter,” and a person close to him reported similar things to the FBI, nothing was done to investigate him. The FBI director, Christopher Rey, apologized to the families of these victims for not following proper protocol. Yet no one was reprimanded and the head of the FBI did not have the honor to resign so there was no accountability in this tragedy. 

The ball is being dropped not only in government but also in most businesses and professions even though authority figures constantly request that all concerns of poor service, defective products and inappropriate behavior should be reported. In these cases like in almost all others, there is no follow-up to serious threats or severe consequences for performing their duties improperly. We experience these derelictions of duty throughout our day but realize our complaints do not matter. 

Accountability has practically vanished in every aspect of our culture. Consequences that are alluded to in the home, schools, businesses, law enforcement and our judicial system have been minimized to token ones or ignored. Parents are resigned to their children’s lying, being involved with violent video games and uncensored social media with little effort to stop it. Promises are made and then forgotten. “Our word” in our culture has become worthless. People say they are going to guarantee their workmanship or product, then avoid answering any concerns.

We buy expensive insurance and find out the company uses every excuse not to fulfill their obligations. Government agencies, large or small businesses, families and individuals no longer stand by their stated mission with integrity or dignity. Everyone seems to believe that screwing the other guy is the only way to get ahead. 

In other words we have become an immoral people. The lack of consequences at home, school, the community and in all levels of government will only be altered if we are willing to get tougher. Parents have to again demand and receive proper behavior from their children. Moderate spanking, honest school assessment, reprimanding and firing workers, institutionalizing dangerous, unbalanced people and sociopathic criminals are the only ways to reestablish the reality that following moral values is best and is the only long term method of living a fulfilling, safe and satisfying life. 

Big government cannot replace the family to provide enough protection for our communities and nation when families are irresponsible. When parents neglect their responsibilities, a police state will emerge that will further repress our freedom and spirit. Without morality being practiced we will continue to confront horrible and unpredictable manmade catastrophes. Regardless, if we eliminate all guns and provide every person in this nation with his own police officer random acts of violence will continue to increase. 

When the souls of people have been corrupted by evil any and everyone is vulnerable to these evil acts.

Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN  and a new just published book, entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can visit Dr. Maglio at www.drmaglio.blogspot.com.