To honor the memory of the 26 victims who lost their lives in the Newtown, CT shootings, Governor Lincoln Chafee has called for a statewide moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. this morning and has asked that buildings, which have the ability, ring bells 26 times during that moment in honor the victims.
The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island recommends churches ring the bells 28 times, which would include a ring for both the shooter and his mother.
"We think praying for all souls best reflects Christ’s message of forgiveness and love for all, and that we should especially pray for those souls who may need our prayers the most," said Ruth Meteer, Communications Director for the Diocese.
Patch reader Lisa De Chambeau said a ring should be included for his mother.
"Absolutely", she was a victim as well, said Chambeau on the Middletown Patch Facebook page. "We need to remember that when it comes to mental illness and sociopathic behaviors, it's not something the parents could have fixed or prevented if only they had been better parents."
John D Rivera agreed with the Diocese.
"All life is valuable even if it was a misguided one. If they ring it any less than 28, then it shows that the church is no longer on the side of Christ." Rivera said on the Woonsocket Patch Facebook page.
"All 28 because everyone is a victim, 27 of the shooter and 1 from mental illness," agreed Woonsocket reader Doreen Goyette.
Adele Lussier of Woonsocket also throught the mother and shooter should be included. "That Mom suffered her entire life trying to raise her very troubled child. Do NOT blame that Mother," she wrote.
Angela C Rondeau of Woonsocket agreed with Chafee.
"Its already 26 more than it SHOULD of been... Doesn't need 2 more to remind us all of this horrific tragedy," she commented on Woonsocket Patch's Facebook page.
Rich McDermott of Middletown disagreed.
"No, the bells shouldn't ring for the mother," he wrote on Facebook. "It's because of her lack of attention to her son's mental illness, as well as owning these guns, that she's dead."
What do you think? Should bells ring 26, 27 or 28 times?
Doctor
1:18 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
Thanks to the wind we heard the ringing in the Providence financial district.
Paradis
1:18 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
It was up to those ringing the bells to decide how many times to ring them, not his.
There is so much wrong with this governor involving himself in this in any way especially in light of his lack of empathy for the David Main family!
MsZ
9:47 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
His mother knew her son was unstable. She wanted tO have him committed. Still, she chose to keep guns and ammunition readily available in her house. This and negligence enabled the slaughter of 26 innocent people.
While it is important to pray for all the souls of the deceased, I believe the bell ringing was meant to honor the innocent ones who needlessly lost their lives.
English first
11:12 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012
What would Jesus do? He loves all his children.