Ill, in one way, because it was the same ill feeling I experienced before - not only because of Columbine, or 9/11, other horrible mass killings in the U.S.
Australia's also been down that path before.
In the aftermath, the opportunists point fingers and say all manner of things to get noticed, to push their agendas, and so forth.
One student candidate for the Virginia Tech student elections made a tearful speech about a cousin who was killed, only to admit later it was made up to garner sympathy votes... She blamed it on having bi-polar disorder. Sounds like bad taste to me.
Another took the opportunity to put the blame on and attack atheists in the wake of the massacre. Read this for a superbly worded reply to such hyperbolic nonsense.
You've got to wonder what's not being talked about in the wake of another loner going on a rampage. Why are these things still happening? Where are the debates about the mental health system, the way educational institutions become a living hell for some, GUN CONTROL???
Interesting point:
"Australia had a spate of mass public shooting in the 1980s and '90s, culminating in 1996, when Martin Bryant opened fire at the Port Arthur Historical Site in Tasmania with an AR-15 assault rifle, killing 35 people.
Within two weeks the government had enacted strict gun control laws that included a ban on semiautomatic rifles. There has not been a mass shooting in Australia since."
As a nation we took a look at ourselves, our culture, the cultures of our close partners and made a choice. Personally I don't care much for our current leadership, but I think that was one thing that they did which was a sensible, long-term, and above all, RIGHT decision to make. It has made Australia a much better and safer place to be. It hasn't stopped people from being killed by guns, but the numbers show the truth, by removing large amounts of guns from our society, it has made it safer.Americans, put pressure on your leaders to lead. America's leaders, do what's right. Stop the slaughter of your fellow Americans.
I did read what the killer's sister had to say in the wake of the tragedy. I certainly feel for them and sincerely hope that everyone understands that they aren't to blame for how their son and brother turned out. May cooler heads prevail...
2 comments:
I do agree with your thoughts that many will use the slaughter as a means to call attention to themselves. I remember here on Hilton Head after 9/11 we had this guy running around in bars all the time getting free drinks because he claimed to be working with 100's of ground zero victims who had lost limbs. Claimed to be fashioning new ones for them out of space age polymers and whatnot, advancing the technology as quickly as he can to do his part. I guess when people are drinking they fail to think, "Wait, there weren't hundreds of survivors who lost limbs !?!" Took about 6 months before he had worn out his welcome all over town but I'm sure he had a good time until then.
But anyway. We have too many handguns (the weapons Cho used) these days to put anykind of restriction that is meaningful on them. The US was built with them. Now, if one of the students had exercised their Second Amendment rights and had one, I think Cho's body count would have been much lower. While I don't advocate turning our nation's classrooms into the OK Corral, common sense rather than overdramatization will tell you my thoughts. I'm a cop and I take my handgun everywhere except bars. The President signed a bill last year allowing Law Enforcement Officers to carry weapons in any state. The Beast (my generic term for evil, violent insanity, what have you) is out there and you never know when it will show its head or what form it will take. We pay for the sins of our forefathers.
This was a tragedy in many ways...
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
you may not defend yourself
guns are for criminals
just hope police show in time
.
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