There is a nightly tradition I never want to miss. Around 7:30, I get to read one of my 19-month
old son’s favorite books. After one book
is finished, he will clumsily climb down off of my lap and grab another – then
another – then another – fighting the fact that, eventually, he will have to go
to sleep.
There is a kitchen that must be cleaned, a workout to do,
laundry staring at me in an overfilled basket, but never do I hesitate to
volunteer for this evening ritual.
I met one man today that will never again have that chance.
His name is Neil Heslin, he lost his son Jesse in the Sandy
Hook shootings. He was testifying today
before a legislative task force setup to examine what changes, if any, should
be made to gun laws.
“Jesse was the love of my life, he was probably the only
family I have left,” Heslin told the press.
His eyes were red, and he was standing next to a picture of he and his
son when Jesse was just six months old.
What struck me is when Heslin was testifying, questioning
the need for high-capacity magazines in certain rifles, someone in the audience
yelled, “Because it’s the Second Amendment!”
One role of my job is not to take an opinion on such
matters; viewers have no interest about how I feel on certain political
issues. However, I feel I can say that
no matter what side you are on, the very least we should give the parents of
Sandy Hook is the respect to speak without fear of being criticized.
There are no easy answers here, because there are so many
variables when dealing with violence, especially when discussing weapons in the
hands of someone who was clearly mentally ill.
I feel for legislators, because whatever decision may be made, it will
leave many feeling angry and possibly resentful of the process.
The news cycle moves on, and there are days now where “Sandy
Hook” isn’t mentioned in a newscast. But
those of us not directly impacted by this tragedy must remember Newtown, even
on the brightest of days, because it reminds us of the simplest blessings in
life.
True, there’s a great deal at stake in this local and
national debate. No matter what happens,
I must remember that I get to go home and read to my children, while so many do
not.
“We were supposed to go back and make gingerbread houses
that day. We never made it. Twenty minutes (after dropping Jesse off at
school), my son was dead,” Heslin told some teary-eyed politicians.
Tonight, “Good Night Moon” was more meaningful than
ever.
