I’ve been trying to write this blog for almost a week. Each time I’m nearly finished, another shooting happens. Since March 10, 2009, there have been nine mass shootings.
On Friday, April 3, 2009, thirteen people working to make their American Dream come true were shot to death at an immigration center in Binghamton, NY, a small town where “these things just don’t happen.” The gunman, who had barricaded the back door and was wearing a bullet proof vest and carrying numerous guns and rounds of ammunition, took his own life as he heard police approaching. As information about the victims was made available, we found that many of them had come to America to escape exactly this kind of horror. People on the news said they couldn’t believe it because this only happens “somewhere else.”
Participants in a peace vigil after Binghamton shootings
Early Saturday morning, April 4, 2009, Pittsburgh police were called to a domestic disturbance. Two officers answered the call, and another one, who lived on the same street, decided to stop to help out, even though he had just ended his shift. All three were ambushed and murdered, shot in the head. A quiet neighborhood was turned into a war zone as a man fired hundreds of rounds from an AK-47 out a bedroom window. Again, people asked, “How could this happen here?”
Late Saturday night, in another quiet town, this time, Graham, WA, an uncle discovered the dead bodies of his five nieces and nephews. Then, approximately 20 miles away, authorities found the body of the father, dead by his own hand, in his car. Initially, the reports were the same: “They seemed so good together,” and “they were always so quiet.” In their shock, the people cried, “Not here.”
I started writing this blog on Monday night. Collecting research, editing, took me a little while. But the shootings won’t stop.
Late Monday night, April 6, 2009, in Alabama, a man involved in a divorce case shot and killed his entire family, set the home on fire, then shot himself. Even though the man had been physically and emotionally abusive to both his wife and son, authorities say they didn’t believe he would take this route. I can't believe they were willing to admit they're that stupid. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_on_re_us/alabama_four_dead
Tuesday, April 7, 2009, a man went on “a shooting rampage” at a Catholic Korean retreat that helped the homeless in California. People who knew him said they had no indication that he would ever behave in such a way. Police are still searching for a motive. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-korean-retreat-shooting9-2009apr09,0,5696106.story?page=2&track=rss
And still, this isn’t even a conclusive list of the latest tragedies. They’re just the most recent. There have also been four other mass shootings since March 10, 2009. A complete list can be found here ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040303928.html ) at the Washington Post, which includes, the mass shooting at the Pine Lake Rehab, the mass shooting of the four police officers in Oakland, CA, and two more family murder/suicides.
Maybe we’ve gotten so used to these reports of mass shootings that they don’t even faze us anymore? They’re barely making the news anymore. I really had to search for information about these incidents to write this blog, as though they had happened long ago and were already forgotten, no longer worthy of national media attention. But if nine mass shootings in the past month doesn’t get your attention, maybe this will: over 50 people have been killed as a result of this violence, and the number is growing everyday. ( http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ji-
Five crosses left for the five children in WA
Again and again, in these cases, we see people on the news throw up their hands, claim they don’t understand how such a horrible thing could happen, and claim, “there weren’t any signs.” Then, days, sometimes only hours later, we find there were, indeed signs, indicators pointing to something that wasn’t quite right about the shooter, or more often, something that was terribly, terribly wrong. There are always signs.
Since the Binghamton, NY, shootings, Jiverly Wong has emerged as an extremely disturbed, angry, paranoid man. He was known to neighbors and family as being violent and fascinated with violence. He used cocaine. The community knew about him.
The Pittsburgh shooter, Richard Poplawski, was also angry and paranoid. He had begun to stockpile weapons, had a history of domestic violence, and had a PFA against him. Police had been called to his home many times before. The community knew about him. The police knew about him.
James Harrison, the man who murdered his children in WA state was eventually described as mean and angry. As the initial shock died down, neighbors came forward and stated that he was often heard yelling at the children, that parents were always fighting, and that he had a reputation for being mean to everyone. A former neighbor stated that he had called the Sheriff’s department and Child Service’s to attempt to get help for the children, but nothing was done. The community knew about him. The police knew about him.
Police are still searching for a motive in the Korean retreat shootings. Yet, as the initial shock died down, a neighbor of the man came forward and stated that the shooter was angry and felt that others were not pulling their weight around the retreat. He apparently had issues with the people he attacked. Someone knows something.
In the case of the Alabama shooter, it was documented that he abused his family. It wasn’t taken seriously. Now they’re dead.
So, what are we going to do, America? The Pittsburgh police officers said over and over again that they were “out-gunned” by the man who fired hundreds of rounds at them with an AK-47. What civilian needs an AK-47? And how are our police supposed to protect themselves against one when they’re only permitted to carry .9mm?
Every single one of these people, save the Korean shooter who little information is known about, had a history of violence and exhibited signs of mental illness, abusive behavior, was known to police and/or government agencies as exhibiting threatening behavior, and yet STILL they were able to purchase and own firearms legally? WHY?
One suggestion that I have is that people, in general, need to be more aware. This could happen to you. This could happen in your neighborhood. This could happen to your friend, neighbor, or family member. How many times have you heard your neighbors fighting loud enough that you could hear them in your own home, but not called the police? How many times have you said to yourself, “Where’s a cop when you need one?” but not called one? You don’t want to get involved? Well, your community is your business. Sure, you could inconvenience someone for a few minutes. Or you could save someone’s life.
Obviously something needs to change about gun laws too. When mentally ill, drug addicted, violent people own guns LEGALLY, something is terribly wrong with the system.
I know people are going to run to this post writing, “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people.” Well, guns killed people in every single one of these incidents. If these people wouldn’t have had guns, many of these people would still be alive.
There’s not a person posting to this blog who can outrun a bullet.
