Tragedy Strikes

Tragedy Strikes

Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes, it is hard to understand why they happened, or how they happened, but it is important to remember that God always has a reason behind the things he allows to take place. We might not always know His reasons. We might never find out in this life time. 
But one day we'll know.

Today there was a school shooting. But unlike so many others, this one was in an elementary school. It resulted in the deaths of 20 children and 8 adults.

This horrible tragedy took place at about 9:40am in Newtown, Connecticut at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A 20-year old man entered the school dressed in black, wearing a bullet-proof vest and open-fired inside two classrooms. The children were moved into classroom corners and closets until they could safely leave the school. They heard gun shots, crying, and screams while they were still inside. Some children reported witnessing the death of another child, or seeing the body of a child as they were leaving the school.

From the News:

"Youngsters and their parents described teachers locking doors and ordering the children to huddle in the corner or hide in closets when shots echoed through the building. Authorities didn't say exactly how the shootings unfolded."

"The rampage, coming less than two weeks before Christmas, was the nation's second-deadliest school shooting, exceeded only by the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 people dead in 2007."

The story is still developing, and they have yet to discover the motive behind the attack. 

President Obama's Response:

"The majority of those who died were children — beautiful, little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old," Obama said.

(He paused for several seconds to keep his composure as he teared up and wiped an eye. Nearby, two aides cried and held hands as they listened to Obama.)

"They had their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, wedding, kids of their own," Obama continued about the victims. "Among the fallen were also teachers, men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children."

Governor of Connecticut's Response:

"Evil visited this community today and it's too early to speak of recovery, but each parent, each sibling, each member of the family has to understand that Connecticut — we're all in this together. We'll do whatever we can to overcome this event," Gov. Dannel Malloy said.

This story has left me feeling somewhat heartbroken. I've been crying on the inside ever since I learned of the attack. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones, especially the children. I wish there was something I could do to help. I can't imagine what I would do if I were in their shoes. I will be praying for them, and encourage you to do the same.

UPDATE 12/15/12

A vigil was held at a local Catholic church building last night in honor of those who had died.

“I think about these children … and I know we have 20 new saints, 20 new angels,” Monsignor Robert Weiss told the standing-room-only crowd. “But that doesn’t take away the pain. It doesn’t take away the hurt. But it does bring us closer together.”

References

Quotes came from an article written by John Christoffersen, The Associated Press, accessed at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting_n_2300831.html 

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/Newtown-Mourns-Awaits-Victims-Identities-in-School-Shooting-183594611.html

More Information

http://news.yahoo.com/routine-morning-then-shots-unthinkable-terror-034139544.html

http://gma.yahoo.com/connecticut-shooter-adam-lanza-obviously-not-well-182011729--abc-news-topstories.html

http://gma.yahoo.com/childrens-terror-newtown-massacre-192100426--abc-news-topstories.html