Newtown Shootings Inspire Columns, Blogs

A bit after 9 a.m. local time Friday, Dec. 14, heavily armed 20-year-old Adam Lanza forced his way into Shady Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., and killed 20 children and six adults before taking his own life. Earlier, he killed his mother at their home. The guns he took to the school were registered to her, according to news reports.

This tragedy, falling on the sixth day of Hanukkah and 11 days before Christmas 2012, inspired members of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Below are hyperlinks to published blogs and print and multimedia columns created by us. The list will be updated in the days ahead as well. Members should please use the Contact Form for submissions. [Last update: 11:45 a.m. Central, Dec. 28, 2012]

• Amy M. Abbot, self-syndicated in Indiana, “Being Autistic Doesn’t Necessarily Bring on Violent Behavior“
• Mike Argento, York [Pa.] Daily Record, “America Has Simply Accepted Tragic Gun Violence“
• Dave Astor, The Montclair (N.J.) Times, “‘Guns and Moses’ and That School-Surplus-Grows Biz“
• John Avlon, CNN Opinion, “Don’t Let This Moment Pass Without Acting on Gun Control,” and American Way in The [London] Telegraph, “Newtown Shooting: Now Is the Time for Gun Law Debate in America“
• Rob Azevedo, The Citizen, Laconia, N.H., “Sick of It All Following Newtown Tragedy“
• Terri Barnes, Spouse Calls in Stars and Stripes, “Tragedy Evokes Memories, Questions“
• Walter Brasch, Wanderings, “A Brief Review of 2012: The Gun Culture of America“
• Stu Bykofsky, Philadelphia Daily News, “Stop Targeting Guns, Owners in Safety Talks“
• Carol Camelot, Desert Star Weekly Desert Hot Springs, Calif., “Get a Grip on Your Fears“
• Gail Collins, The New York Times, “Looking for America“
• Ralph Couey, Race the Sunset, “The Epidemic of Anger“
• Roger Ebert, Roger Ebert’s Journal in the Chicago Sun-Times, “The Newtown Killings“
• Kathy Eliscu, KathyEliscu.com, “Thoughts on Newtown, CT“
• Kate Fratti, Phillyburbs.com, “In Wake of Tragedy, Praying for Change“
• Art Gunther, The Column Rule, “Angels Among Us“
• Matthew Hall, San Diego Union-Tribune, “What’s in the Newtown Shooter’s Name?“
• Genma Holmes, Genma Speaks, “Ms. Santa, I want a Bullet Proof Vest and a Doll“
• Rick Horowitz, Milwaukee Public Television, “After Newtown, What Matters,” previously “Just the Latest Mass Shooting“
• Mike Leonard, Herald-Times, Bloomington, Ind., “Tight-Knit Communities a Factor in Many Shootings, IU Sociologist Says“
• Terry Marotta, Exit Only, “First the Mourning, Then the Work“
• Philip Martin, blood, dirt & angels, “For Newtown” (Podcast of Martin performing Richard Thompson’s “How Will I Ever Be Simple Again”)
• John Messeder, Dispatches from the Home Planet, “‘Wall to Wall, Throughout the Day’“
• Brian O’Connor, The Detroit News, “And Body Armor Under the Christmas Tree“
• Jill Pertler, Slices of Life, Kitsap [Wash.] Sun, “Optimism on Steroids“
• Ben S. Pollock, Brick: Muse on News, “If Soldiers Are Quartered, Only Militias Will Be Regulated,” previously “Nothing to See Here, Folks. Let’s Move Along“
• Lindor Reynolds, Winnipeg Free Press, “Funeral for a Princess: Former Winnipeg Girl’s Small, White Casket on Heartbreaking Display as She Is Carried Home,” previously “Love Wins in Newtown: Ana’s Family Finds Strength in Faith and Friends for Her Funeral Today“
• Jim Shea, Hartford Courant, “Our Obligation To 20 First-Graders: Get Guns Under Control“
• Bonnie Squires, Main Line Times, “Will Carnage in Connecticut Jump-Start Gun Law Discussions in Pa.?“
• Suzette Martinez Standring, Spiritual Cafe in Patriot Ledger, “Adam Lanza: Afterlife Awareness?“
• Bill Tammeus, Faith Matters, “Human Vs. Other Animals,” previously “What We Must Do Now“
• Ed Tasca, Glendower Media, “The American Nightmare“
• Ken Tingley, The Post-Star of Glens Falls, N.Y., “Once Again, We Are Forced to Look at Tragedy“
• Cathy Turney, A Little Bit Off, “Connecticut — Pay Now or Later“
• George Ure, Urban Survival, “Land of Wrong Answers“
• Kelli Wheeler, Momservations, “Santa, Please Bring Mommy an Assault Rifle“