Thursday, January 17, 2013
Rep. Tim Murphy says the underlying cause for tragedies like Newtown's is untreated or undertreated mental illness.
Following President Barack Obama's announcement on what he wants to see changed in the wake of the Newtown mass shooting, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair), who represents Peters Township, issued the following statement: With the President’s policy recommendations now released, Congress can begin the legislative process of reviewing these proposals with a shared goal of preventing tragedies like Newtown from occurring again. I am approaching this effort with the seriousness the families of Newtown, indeed all families across the nation, deserve from their elected officials and will examine all aspects of the President’s recommendations. But the underlying cause in mass tragedies like Newtown is that the perpetrator had an untreated or …
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Dawn Hochsprung always encouraged the students to read, even dressing up as the book fairy for a recent book fair.
Tracy Schuster, a Bethel Park High School teacher and Upper St. Clair resident, was so inspired by the story of principal Dawn Hochsprung of Sandy Hook Elementary and her heroic sacrifice in attempting to stop the shooter, that she felt she had to do something in her honor. Through a little researcher, Schuster learned that one of the things the students loved and remembered about Hochsprung was her enthusiastic encouragement of reading. In fact, she dressed up as the "book fairy" as you can see in the photo to the right, courtesy of Newtown Patch. "Like her, I think that books can make all the difference in a child's life," Schuster said. In an effort to honor Hochsprung and help spread her passion for books, Schuster and Sydney …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
'The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,' the NRA's Wayne LaPierre said.
In an amazing Friday morning press conference in Washington DC, the National Rifle Association broke its weeklong silence following the horrific shooting of 26 people at a school in Newtown, CT and called for a surge of gun-carrying "good guys" around American schools. NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre called for a new kind of American domestic security revolving around armed civilians, arguing that "the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." "We care about our president, so we protect him with armed Secret Service agents," LaPierre said. "Members of Congress work in offices surrounded by Capitol Police officers. Yet, when it comes to our most beloved, innocent, and vulnerable members of the …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
In the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting, Dick's Sporting Goods also has removed all guns from the store closest to Newtown, CT.
In the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, two major retailers are pulling the plug on sales of certain semi-automatic weapons nationwide. Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the world, has suspended sales of some semi-automatic rifles from all stores. The company, which is headquartered in Moon Township, also has removed all guns from its chain closest to Newtown, CT. In a statement, the store said it ordered the move out of respect for the victims and families of Newtown. Friday’s shooting left 20 children, all between the ages of 6 and 7, and six adults dead. “We are extremely saddened by the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, CT, and our hearts go out to the …
Monday, December 17, 2012
The president of the school directors and acting superintendent release a statement.
Peters Township School Board President Cindy Golembiewski and acting Superintendent Joseph Dimperio issued the following statement over the weekend: On behalf of the Board of School Directors and staff members of the Peters Township School District, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families who lost children and loved ones at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday and to the entire community of Newtown, Connecticut for their devastating loss. Our sincere thoughts and prayers will be with them all in the coming days and weeks.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Many schools have security guards and metal detectors—but should they go a step further, as Butler School District did this week?
The Aurora, CO theater in July, the Wisconsin Sikh Temple in August, the Oregon Mall earlier last week—and the mass shooting in Newtown, CT on Friday. This year has been numbing in terms of America dealing with multiple deaths in public places. The blaming game has already started with such political and religious "hot potatoes" as gun control, lack of prayer in the schools, inadequate access to mental health care, lack of parental control, breakup of American families, etc. According to Mother Jones, an independent news organization that features investigative and breaking news, there have been at least 62 mass shootings in America in the last 30 years—and most of the killers got their guns legally. Of the 139 guns possessed by the …
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Murphy shares 10 suggestions to help adults reassure and comfort children during this difficult and confusing time.
U.S. Rep. Murphy (R-Upper St. Clair) released the following statement on the violent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. "(Friday's) senseless tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School leaves us all shocked. We don’t have words to explain our grief, and we cannot begin to understand what would cause an individual to inflict this kind of pain on fellow human beings, let alone defenseless children. To the grieving families, our deepest condolences go out to you all. For the many teachers, first responders, police officers and emergency personnel who were focused on returning the students to safety, we thank you for putting yourself in harm's way to save a child's life. We hold you all close in our prayers.” Prior to …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Local and state police in Newtown, Conn. were called to an elementary school at about 9:30 a.m. Friday after a gunman opened fire at the school, killing more than two dozen people.
Connecticut police said Friday afternoon that 26 people, including 20 children, were killed at an elementary school after a gunman opened fire. Another adult was killed at a second location. The Scene Police in Newtown, CT were called to the Sandy Hook School at about 9:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 call. They alerted Connecticut State Police and authorities began an active shooter investigation once they arrived at the school, according to Connecticut State Police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance. Authorities said the gunman was found dead inside the school. He was allegedly armed with four guns and a high-powered assault rifle. Authorities said during a press conference that they have retrieved three weapons from the scene. A parent …
Susan Earley
9:12 pm on Monday, January 21, 2013
The problem with trying to deal with the mental health issues are many.....there are privacy laws to protect an individual's health records......and until someone does something illegal... I doubt that a mental health diagnosis is going to work as far as restricting gun ownership....what if they want to hunt? that is a legitimate reason to won a gun...mental ill or not. It has been my … more ›