OPINION | Barry Richard: Clarkson Says Time For Action, Not Silence

So more funerals are being planned, as yet another shooter opens fire on innocent and largely unprotected students and staff at yet another school in America. This time, hell on earth was Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas. And still, we debate what to do about it.

The Texas massacre drew its usual cries of outrage from some in the largely left-leaning entertainment industry, though those cries were somewhat muted by the realization that simply demanding better gun control and ID checks are not enough anymore.

We need to rethink our entire approach to the issue, and that means taking action to better protect our schools, and perhaps to even re-think some of our cultural norms, if things are going to change.

Entertainer Kelly Clarkson opened the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night by refusing to lead yet another moment of silence for the victims of yet another school shooting.

Instead, Clarkson suggested, "Why don't we not do a 'moment of silence,' why don't we do a 'moment of action?' Change what's happening because it's horrible, and mommas and daddies should be able to send their kids to school, to church, to movie theaters, to clubs — you should be able to live your life without that kind of fear."

Clarkson is right. While political parties banter over gun rules and ID checks, our kids are being killed. And we've yet to even address the problem of inner city violence.

Before anything else is done, we have to make sure our schools are safe zones. Whatever the cost. Our kids are worth it.

And then we must begin the work of looking within our own culture at what we are exposing our young people to that has desensitized so many and has led them to such violent behavior.

The answers are there, if we are willing to find them.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.