School killer's mom made irresponsible, and fatal, mistake

By Bud Kennedy

bud@star-telegram.com

Mom loved me.

Until her medication changed. Then she wanted to kill me.

"Your mother wants me to get her a gun," a neighbor whispered over the phone.

I came over, and Mom went for my neck: "I'll kill you, so help me God!"

She was that way for months. Then a new prescription turned her back into my loving, but chronically depressed, mother.

Nobody ever gave her a gun. Or I wouldn't be here.

Somebody in Connecticut gave a disturbed and maybe developmentally disabled 20-year-old access to guns, and now here we are.

Go ahead. Argue whether Adam Lanza's madness is the result of lax gun laws, or a lack of mental health care, or simply another example of Satan's eternal evil.

But this really isn't all that complicated.

His mother, Nancy, let him get his hands on a big rifle and a bunch of guns.

For leaving guns unsecured, she paid with her life.

If a problem 20-year-old throws a party and young guests drink themselves to death, we don't blame that on the liquor industry or the lack of rehab centers.

We blame whoever left a reckless and troubled young person with temptation.

Maybe we shouldn't be debating gun control. Maybe we should be debating gun responsibility.

This shouldn't be news to gun owners. If you want guns, fine.

Just take responsibility for locking and securing them.

If one is left unlocked and winds up stolen or misused, then hold the owner legally accountable. If one falls into young hands -- or to someone unfit to be armed -- hold the owner accountable.

Even gun owners should welcome laws that promote greater personal pride and responsibility.

One more thought: Of all the lame excuses in a weekend of shameful commentary, the cheapest of all is to blame "evil."

Blaming evil is the lazy way out.

It means we don't really need to update our laws, or raise money for better healthcare, or do more to help adolescents with mental problems or developmental disabilities.

We must do more than pray.

Bud Kennedy's column appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 817-390-7538.

Twitter: @budkennedy

Looking for comments?