Death NZ had a mass shooting today

[Orchid1818]

Hi bellbird, I'm a bit late to post. I just saw this and wanted to send my sympathies and I pray you are feeling better. All of us in the U.S. feel sad that New Zealand is going thru this. Just know there are many people you can reach out to on this forum from all walks of life to help you get thru this tough time. My thoughts and prayers are with you. It's ok to feel upset or even angry, even if you didn't know any victims. I live near Chicago, which is known sadly for a lot of gun violence. I don't watch the news anymore. When I heard about New Zealand, I was sad and wept, even though I've never been there or have friends there. It's just a country I have in my heart. Anyways you will get thru this and you are safe. Much love.

 

[Deleted member 42984]

My sympathies are with you and your people too, @bellbird

 

[bellbird]

Thank you for your kind thoughts @Orchid1818 and @ziter .

I've been thinking, pretty deeply, a lot, over the past few days.
Though I wish it didn't take such atrocities to trigger such reflections.

Too often, I find myself being swamped by the emotions of events such as this.
I'm trying to see the light... a light, where I would often only see overwhelming darkness.

I think, maybe, a healthy lesson that I can take from this tragedy, would be to live every day... every moment, to its absolute fullest and without hesitation.

Because I owe it to myself, to do the best for myself. And to the unbroken chain of life, that stretches back behind me for billions of years. And their countless decisions and chance events, that made me first a probability and then a reality.

To not necessarily feel pressured to be happy all the time, but to feel obligated to live all the time.

And to be whatever I am in a given moment, but most importantly, to just be.

 

[Deleted member 42984]

Because I owe it to myself, to do the best for myself. And to the unbroken chain of life, that stretches back behind me for billions of years. And their countless decisions and chance events, that made me first a probability and then a reality.

Beautiful, my friend. And I agree with you. You'll get through this and maybe come out a little stronger. Life will always find a way.

 

[Pale Mpress Kitty]

Oh goodness, I can't even imagine what that must have been like.
How are you feeling now and how have your last few days been?

I haven't responded for a while because I honestly haven't been able to process what has happened, and really haven't been able to collect my thoughts on everything that has happened since.

In short, I'm okay. Still processing and still in a state of shock, but I have a lot of support and another session with my therapist very soon.

I've been rather purposefully trying to keep away from the news the last few days. Now that the initial trauma to Christchurch/New Zealand is beginning to die down, everything is coming to the surface for me. It's all been a bit much, really.

 

[bellbird]

I haven't responded for a while because I honestly haven't been able to process what has happened, and really haven't been able to collect my thoughts on everything that has happened since.

I've been rather purposefully trying to keep away from the news the last few days.

I absolutely understand and can relate to this. I've been doing the same.

In short, I'm okay. Still processing and still in a state of shock, but I have a lot of support and another session with my therapist very soon.

Hey I'm really glad to hear that you've got support around you and are seeing your T soon.

I hope that you'll be able to find support through this forum, if you need it, too.
This space, and the people here, have got me through many trying times.

Now that the initial trauma to Christchurch/New Zealand is beginning to die down, everything is coming to the surface for me. It's all been a bit much, really.

Keep reaching to your support IRL, and reaching out here (not necessarily in this thread, but on the forums in general).

Kia Kaha.
You're not alone.
Sitting with you through this awful time.

Sending gentle hugs, if you'd like them :hug::hug:

 

[Never_falter2]

I think it is a good thing that you are not following the news if they upset you. I have been following the news. Coming from Europe I am a bit more used to news about terrorist attacks. Our societies are not as peaceful as yours is. However what I wanted to tell you - and I hope that this is helpful not harmful today:

From what I saw in the news the victims had a very dignified funeral. Many kiwis from all across the political spectrum mourning that senseless and unexplainable violence.
I do think that politians all across the political spectrum in our country can learn a lot from Jacinda Ardern when it comes to dealing with terror... I know not much about her other political views and do not know if I agree with her but I think this makes her a role model.

Love is stronger than hate ❤???

BTW fear of terrorism is one of my vets fears which has sort of infected me. If you want to we can have a chat about how to cope with this. I would start another thread then because I do not want to derail this one which should stay about mourning the victims.

 

[blackemerald1]

I'm pleased she is fast tracking the law in NZ to ban assault weapons etc. The rifle association in NZ is powerful but she has struck while this atrocity is still fresh and she has the majority of public opinion listening. If she waited the event fades and people return to either complacency or gather enough opposing steam to defeat the push.

It won't solve hate or the underlying social problem that may have brought the terrorist to act but after they implement appropriate laws it may make it a little harder to use guns to perpetrate this type of crime. I hope so.

 

[Friday]

but she has struck while this atrocity is still fresh and she has the majority of public opinion listening.

I just hope all y’all don’t make our mistake...

...every time we pass reactionary legislation, gun laws get less strict, with more loopholes.

But we have a lot of gun laws. So most people don’t even realize the big bad scary thing they think they’re passing is a fuzzy wuzzy little kitten and is sending millions out to the gun shops to get whatever goodies are now totally legal, that weren’t a week ago. Snort. And the eedjits think people are flocking to “stock up” before the law goes into effect. It’s like they can’t read calendars. When the law goes into effect the 15th, and the monthly sales are though the roof, might should check and see those numbers on actual sales -not preorders- start on the 16th??? :rolleyes: I swear, if we made traffic laws like we make gun laws? The speed limit would be 200mph, there’d be drive thru beer & wine, and we’d have a tank lane on most freeways. Meanwhile the nondriving morons would be congratulating themselves on how they “beat” the lobby for 250 (not even bothering to find out he current limit is 70mph and they’ve more than doubled the limit, or somehow incapable of rendering a decimal in its correct place <insert pedantic voice here> 20 is slooooower than 70. <wtf?> You passed 200. // Did not. // I can’t even talk to you), banned hard alcohol, and have kept amphibious assault vehicles off the road. :banghead:

Seriously... don’t be us.

 

[LuckiLee]

Yep. Every time they pass a new gun "law" legal and illegal gun sales soar! Everyone I know has at least one gun in their home now. (Except us) Thinking about it now.... Seriously, everyone.

 

[blackemerald1]

The basics of the legislation seem to be sound from what the media and the pollies thus far have disclosed.

The previous legislation in NZ is slightly less strict than the UK, a lot less strict than Australia but stricter than the US.

Any firearms currently in the process of being purchased are now cancelled because the legislation is retrospective. So it doesn't matter if anyone rushes to the shop whilst the pollies cross the t's and dot the i's.

Guns that are now named as prohibited cannot be sold from dealers or privately.

A 'buy back' scheme will be implemented which will 'encourage' gun owners who currently possess the type of firearm (s) that are now prohibited to hand them in and receive compensation for doing so. Nobody will make a profit out of this compensation it's not designed to do that. (Except for the criminals who will try to do that).

Gun dealers have to send their stock back to the manufacturer (s).

There is a amnesty during the buy-back period to get firearms that may be being illegally held without registration and licence - handed in. That's for non-criminals that forgot they have them in the cupboard :rolleyes:

Obviously criminals will disregard the law but that's not new. The black market will thrive so that's not new either.

The shooter in this terrorist attack acquired his licence and weapons via legal means. That seems to be the focus of the legislation by the pollies.

Will that stop terrorists/criminals who are really bent on getting their hands on weapons? Hmm...it might make it harder for them and force them to be much more secretive but if someone really wants weapons for criminal activity and is willing to pay big money and take big risks... no - it won't.

It's a start and I hope it doesn't result in the situation you described @Friday.

 

[somerandomguy]

stricter than the US.

The only thing that would be less strict than the US is if you handed out free semiautomatics and ammo to all children in the street.

To be fair, it does depend on the state. Some states would give them to all the dogs in the street, too.