We remember dates in our country’s history. Certain dates we are proud of. Others we are not.

Dec. 14 marks six years since the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012.

This date has stayed with me because the 20 children that were killed that day were 6 and 7 years old; the age of my granddaughter at that time. It was an indescribable tragedy.

Exactly three years ago, I wrote a column after having a conversation with Don and Travis, two friends of mine. We discussed gun violence as well as their beliefs and views regarding that topic.

Don, who grew up in east central Minnesota, leaned to the right politically. After a career in corrections with the U.S. Department of Justice, Don spent time in Iraq and Afghanistan assisting their people in specialized instruction and teaching counterterrorism.

Travis, who grew up in La Crescent, leaned left. He completed his degree at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and went to work at the Federal Medical Center in 1995. A counselor, Travis works to assist the men who are being released from FMC to successfully re-enter society.

Despite being on opposite ends of the political spectrum, they both understood further efforts in attempting to reduce gun violence were needed. I thought I would revisit these topics with them in 2018.

Could it happen here?

In my discussion with Don this past week, he agrees there are people who shouldn’t have access to a gun. He also believes those who are permitted to carry a weapon need to be well trained, and individuals need to be carrying weapons for the right reasons. It is a profound responsibility.

Travis told me it’s a sad topic to even discuss and he has a deep worry that an incident could happen in Rochester. As he talked to me, he was serving dinner to his 8- and 3-year-old daughters. His worry, similar to most of us, revolves around loved ones.

Travis wishes additional resources could be allocated to strengthen the background check systems to communicate with all organizations and to work more effectively and efficiently. He understands that means more tax dollars and more bureaucracy.

Travis also believes a push for further legislation is needed to keep weapons out of the hands of those classified as a danger to themselves or others. Whatever we have in place now is not working.

State-level issue

Don realizes taking weapons away from citizens is complicated and a slippery slope. Don said there are smart people out there and a fair system with oversight needs to be established. This must involve law enforcement, mental health professionals and those with legal expertise. The fewer politicians engaged in establishing a process, the better.

Don believes these attempts should be created and established at the state level. He feels citizens will have more of a voice at this level. Local, county and state officials are more accessible to the people. He’s quite sure things would get screwed up at the national or federal level.

Travis also agrees additional regulation should occur at the state level. He understands the bad guy always will find a gun, but he still struggles with citizens having a gun cabinet filled with semi-automatic rifles.

I think most people understand the government will not take guns away from law-abiding citizens, although that is difficult for some to accept. Bad guys will not abide by present or future gun laws. Legislation mainly impacts lawful gun owners.

Come together, trust

My opinion is conservatives and liberals must, should and can come together with a focus on mental health concerns when it comes to gun ownership.

Every summer, I take my granddaughter to the butterfly exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo. This is her favorite exhibit. As we enter the butterfly garden and I watch my granddaughter’s joy, I remember Catherine Violet Hubbard, who also was a lover of all living things.

Catherine died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. As a society, we always will have bad guys. We always will have those who feel victimized or angry and want to take life from innocent people. The answer why never is apparent.

Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson said his office is involved in formulating a statewide approach to gun permitting via the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association. The sheriff already has talked to Governor-elect Walz about mental health issues and how that might relate to gun legislation. Law enforcement is serving on the front line on both issues.

The success of preventative actions is hard to measure, but we must try. A focus on eliminating the availability of weapons to the mentally ill along with getting them the assistance they need is something both sides can join hands on.

I feel Catherine’s voice and her influence, along with all the others who lost their life that day, still is heard and felt. Catherine once told a butterfly as she released it, "Tell all your friends that I am kind." She wanted all of the butterflies to know she could be trusted.

Working together involves trust. Trust signifies hope. We owe them that.