It happens every time some crazed person takes it upon himself to use a handgun to prove a point, or to let the world know just how out of touch with reality he was, or to bring attention to some cause, or whatever. In this case, 32 innocent people died as a result of one man's lunacy, depression, or other mental instability.

It was a terrible thing. I can't imagine being on the other end of the line when school officials, counselors, or law enforcement officials call to say that one of my children were among the dead. How that must hurt. If I were among the parents of Virginia Tech students, I would dread the very thought of my phone ringing.

It was a terrible thing.

What makes it worse is that fast on the heels of the news release about the situation in Blacksburg, Va., the anti-gun lobby took up their mantra of "more gun control" and "this wouldn't have happened if …" and so forth -- the usual drivel.

But what if one of those students would have had a conceal-carry permit? What if someone could have stopped this lunatic in his tracks? What if the professor who blocked the door with his body and ended up giving his life for his students had instead had a handgun in his desk drawer and had been able to legally use it to save lives? What if it wasn't so easy for criminals and other not-so-stable folks to find and use handguns while law-abiding citizens are stuck in the mire of red tape?

Shortly after the incident at Virginia Tech became public knowledge, the National Rifle Association issued an official statement offering condolences to those who lost loved ones and those who were most effected by the massacre. I'm sure they meant every word. I think it was the right thing to do.

However, I also think leaders of the NRA felt they had to make a statement early because they knew defenders of the Second Amendment are guaranteed to come under fire, so to speak, as soon as the smoke clears. I believe the statement, though sincere, was made out of a political necessity forced upon gun rights groups by the growing voices of gun control.

The outcry against gun rights in America came not only from the usual left-wing talking heads, but from around the world. The Australian Prime Minister talked about how they had taken action and passed strict gun laws in his country and how the blame for the VT shootings landed squarely on the shoulders of our "gun culture." British newspapers blamed the massacre on the availability of guns in the United States. Swedish officials talked as if someone might actually be listening to what they had to say when they spoke out against what they called "lax" gun laws in America. And our friends in China -- yes, China -- where it is against the law for private citizens to own guns of any kind, chided us for creating a societal atmosphere where guns rule.

Frankly, I think they should all mind their own business. It seems the jealousy they have against the freedoms we enjoy in this country forces them to offer their opinions any time something like this occurs.

As a citizen of the great state of Missouri, I -- for one -- am glad Missouri Governor Matt Blunt on Friday, April 13, signed Senate Bill 257 into law. The legislation, earlier approved by both houses of the Missouri Legislature, offers fundamental protection against confiscation of legally-owned firearms during declared states of emergency. If you remember, many law-abiding citizens were having their guns takes away -- some never to be seen again -- during the catastrophe that was Hurricane Katrina.

While signing the bill into law, Blunt said the legislation "guarantees that law-abiding citizens' freedom to bear arms will not be taken away, especially during an emergency."

That was Friday, and on Monday the sleeping monster at Virginia Tech rose up and perpetrated his vile, horrific deed.

That's the world we live in. Some things just can't be explained by the politicians in Washington or the talking heads in the mainstream media.

Especially the deaths of 32 innocent people on a cold April morning in Virginia.

Instead of using this tragedy ("a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal event") as a reason to attack the Constitution, we should honor their memories by not reducing their lives to pawns in a political chess game.

May they rest in peace.