Gun Control Kills Kids

Written by Shonda Ponder
on September 12, 2009
On Monday, in Santee, California, a school shooting took place where a gunman killed one person and injured 14 more. In the aftermath of this tragic incident, I feel it is time to say a few words.

According to MSNBC the "gunman" was, in fact, a 15-year-old student. This student had been the target of cruel behavior by other students in the school. I say the fault lies within the law itself, rather than the lack of law.

There are several reasons that I come to this conclusion, and I am asking that you would bear with me for an instance while I outline my apparently "twisted" way of thinking so that you can come to a good understanding of the thought process behind it. Although, I am sure many of you will still say that I am crazy for having such a twisted mindset.

If I had got into a fight at school, I would have got a paddle on my behind, not to mention the belt on my butt when my mom read the note written by the teacher afterward. Now days, teachers are not allowed to paddle a child for the most part. And parents are accused of abuse if they spank their children for fighting. So what option did this boy have?

Homeschooling would have worked. But, in California the homeschoolers are faced with fear due to the many laws that are designed to keep children in compulsary attendence at public schools. As a result, many parents have to fear each day as they send their child off to school and pray that their child comes home alive. For at least one person today, that prayer was not enough.

Then there are the "no tolerance" zones. Weapons are not allowed on school property. So, the "gunman" knew that there would be no retaliation while he went on his rampage. In Israel, teachers are required to carry guns with them to school. Once that law had been enacted, the terrorism in the schools stopped. In America, a teacher would go to the federal penitentiary for daring to have a means of defending himself. And the terrorism statistics are sky-high.

Yet, in the aftermath of this tragedy we hear things like, "All I can personally say is here is another nail in the coffin of those who say we do not need gun control."

No kidding. I got it in an email. My response to this is that all I can say is if the "gunman" had known that a teacher or two had a gun to defend herself with, he would have thought twice about attempting such an endeavor. How so? he would have not wanted to get shot at. A gunman who would take a gun onto school property KNOWING that those kids and teachers have NO way of defending himself is cowardly to say the least.

How come there are no murders like this reported on gun ranges? Because gunmen KNOW better than to try. Show me the statistics that tell me that guns are such a problem by comparing the rate of murders attempted at gun shows and gun ranges to those that are attempted at schools. I'll bet you will find that the rate of murders at gun ranges are considerly non-existent compared to anywhere guns are not allowed. And, then tell me that guns are the problem.

I have a hard time believing that a child who is well educated, which apparently the schools fail to do as evidenced by this, and is well disciplined would do such a thing.

All of this has led to my analysis, which is the only one that makes sense to me at this point in time:

Gun control kills kids.

When you remember me...

By Shonda M. Ponder
Written on July 27, 2014

In the end, when you remember me
What will you remember the most?
Will it be that I had struggles,
As you raise your glass in toast?
Or will it be that I was happy
Contented and at Peace,
Because my Savior was there to pick me up
When I'd fallen to my knees?
I think of how I want my death
To glorify my life
I'd like to end in victory
Over the daily strife
I'd like my friends to not forget
When I had nothing, yet had everything
And though I was not perfect
I was able to stand the sting
Of a world that did not understand
But watched me as I grew
And as my Father molded me
Into something totally new
I raised my hands in praise each day
That He would want such trash
To make a treasure that is priceless
In spite of nature's clash
I pray that as I finally lie
and my life is finally done
That every memory of me
Somehow reflects the Son.

A living prayer...

Livin like I'm leavin'

Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

It's my opinion that while we should all "grab a sword", our preparedness should be more in the tune of preparing for a world in which Jesus is King, than in fighting a one world government. If everyone did that, do you realize the peace there would be in the world (and no need for the sword we carry)? We should not be fighting against armies of terrorists, but rather against the evil they represent: Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

The forces of evil can do nothing we don't allow. Pray with your legs. In other words, you don't pray that God will give you a job if you are looking for employment by just sitting at home waiting for one to come to you. You pray while you are looking. Pray while you vote. Pray while you take action of some kind. And, be prepared for the worst.

For those who are thinking that the rapture will save you before the worst happens, is the rapture pre, mid, or post tribulation? As a Baptist, we are taught pre-trib rapture, but as a realist, nothing in the Bible specifies this. Therefore, while we hope for the best, I think it is wise to prepare for the worst.

In truth, I think it was left out of the Bible for a reason. God did not want us to live too comfortably, with the belief that we are all going to be saved from the persecution that is to come, because it would facilitate apathy.

Mistakes are worth making!

I don't see how anyone can have any fun if they are always worried about what other people think. I fall on my face all the time (so to speak) in front of people. I've learned to get up, dust myself off, look at the other person and laugh and say, "Did you see that? What an experience!"

This invites them to laugh WITH me rather than AT me. And, if they don't, and want to go and talk behind my back, so what. I get talked about all the time, I'm sure. I just don't care. If I cared, it would cause drama and stress...I'm not even sure I know what embarrassment feels like anymore...

Heck, everyone makes mistakes. OWN it. Get over it, move forward with the knowledge that you may have made a mistake, but it is not one you will make as easy next time. Therefore, it was a productive mistake and one worth making!


Mistakes That Worked
Popsicles, potato chips, Silly Putty, Velcro, and many other familiar things have fascinating stories behind them. In fact, dozens of products and everyday items had surprisingly haphazard beginnings. Mistakes That Worked offers forty of these unusual tales, along with hilarious cartoons and weird and amazing facts. Readers will be surprised and inspired!