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We chase terrorists in Afghanistan while predators stalk our children

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Message Michael Payne

This nation and our society seem to have their priorities confused when it comes to keeping all Americans safe. America has become very paranoid about terrorists who might strike us, so we pour hundreds of billions of dollars into Iraq and Afghanistan. But why do we not address a major problem within our own borders; why is it that we do not have the same degree of fear of the predators within our own society who terrorize and murder our children?

Should not our highest priority be to assure that every American, and especially our children, are given the greatest protection possible? Of course, but the facts do not bear that out. We spend one trillion dollars annually for a massive military presence around the world, costly weapons systems, and civilian mercenaries. But we spend no more than a pittance to develop more effective programs of law enforcement and community actions designed to stop the senseless killing of our children. That is unconscionable.

We watch TV reports of horrific acts of violence against the children of America that are becoming much too frequent and common. So many of these victims of unspeakable violence are young girls who often are kidnapped and never again seen alive. This has happened across America with incidents from California to Florida. We have all heard the grotesque stories of young children being found dead in wooded areas and even in landfills.

I am concerned that Americans are being mentally conditioned as they witness this violence and, as a result of the 24/7 coverage by our national media, have become resigned to it. We react with horror and revulsion when some kidnapped child is found dead, the victim of a deadly predator; but after the accounts of the tragic event leave the news we just revert back to our normal daily routines. Where is the rage, where is the outrage demanding that these predators be stopped?

A variation of this terror looms over our colleges and our high schools. Here are a few of the incidences of killings in these institutions of learning, where our kids can hardly feel safe anymore:

The Virginia Tech massacre took place in April, 2007 when a fellow student killed 32 individuals and wounded many others before committing suicide. The massacre was the deadliest peacetime shooting incident by a single gunman in United States history, on or off a school campus.

In February, 2008 a former NIU (Northern Illinois University) Sociology graduate student shot six and wounded eighteen. In April, 1999 the Columbine High School massacre occurred when two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students and one teacher, and injured 24 others.

Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky was the scene of terror in December, 1997, when a fourteen-year old student opened fire on students at a prayer session, killing three young girls, and injuring five others.

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