6 December 2007

      Well here I am again, and yes, moaning about the same old thing. I’m sorry if I seem to be making a point of hammering this particular nail home, but for this I make no apologies. It is after all an attempt to change attitudes, to change a mind set, and ultimately to save lives. I have in the past written some poetry and some stories, none of which would stick in the readers mind for more than a few moments and would make little or no impression upon that reader’s life. My articles on the other hand I hope will give cause to ponder, to question and with a bit of luck change the outlook of those who may read it.  For those of you who have read of my articles, will remember the articles I wrote on the 10 Aug 2007 and the 10 Nov 2007. These were articles about killing of innocent people going about their normal lives by some person with a gun. In the last of these articles I made a prediction that the most recent deaths at the time would not be the last. It is sad to say that this prophesy has come to fruition.

       A lone gunman has opened fire on people in a shopping centre in Nebraska, killing eight wounding a further five and then shooting himself dead. This report comes just twenty four hours after a man opened fire on shoppers in another of America’s major towns. This time the perpetrator was caught hiding under a street bench in camouflage clothing. His tally for the day was one old man wounded, but no one killed. Now I have heard it said by the gun lobby that its not guns that kill people its people that kill people. This is just a cop out, people have always and will always kill people, and if one is to believe the Bible it started with Cane and Able. This having been said it is the gun that makes it possible for one person to kill more people, more efficiently than anything else except a bomb. There is little doubt in my mind that if  the UK had the same gun laws as America this kind of murdering gun disease would be rife here too, so thank god its not.

       So America, once more you have eight innocent lives terminated abruptly and eight families now in mourning because of your love of the gun. When you send your child to school or even when you go to the Mall, it could be your turn next! I am sure that those eight people when they went to do their Christmas shopping never for one moment thought that they would be coming home in a coffin!

        I know for a fact that this will make not the slightest difference to America’s love of the gun. I know for a fact that the gun is now part of the American psyche. I also know that America is now numbed and desensitised to the affects of these shootings, that these killings are now just part of American life, just like road accidents. It is somewhat strange that America had the will to ban alcohol and yet can’t bring themselves to ban hand guns. Since America is the land of litigation I am surprised that no one has taken the government to the courts and sued under the Health and Safety regulations, or for perpetuating a law that allows its citizens to be killed on a regular basis.

        Once again I make the same prediction as I did the last time, while America’s gun laws remain as they are more innocent people will die. We have all heard of Russian roulette, well America you have American roulette, death by a strangers gun, and for no reason. Just in case you need a reminder here is a list of the most famous (or should that infamous) school shootings. This list is neither up to date nor comprehensive.

April 2007: At least 32 people are killed in two shooting incidents in the campus of Virginia Tech university in Virginia.

October 2006: A 32-year-old gunman shoots dead at least five girls at an Amish school in Pennsylvania, before killing himself

September 2006: Gunman in Colorado shoots and fatally wounds a teenage schoolgirl, then kills himself; two days later a teenager kills the headteacher of a school in Cazenovia, Wisconsin

November 2005: Student in Tennessee shoots dead an assistant principal and wounds two other administrators

March 2005: Minnesota schoolboy kills nine, then shoots himself

May 2004: Four people injured in shooting at a school in Maryland

April 2003: Teenager shoots dead head-teacher at a Pennsylvania school, then kills himself

March 2001: Pupil opens fire at a school in California, killing two students

February 2000: Six-year-old girl shot dead by classmate in Michigan

November 1999: Thirteen-year-old girl shot dead by a classmate in New Mexico

May 1999: Student injures six pupils in shoot-out in Georgia

April 1999: Two teenagers shoot dead 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves at Columbine School in Colorado

June 1998: Two adults hurt in shooting by teenage student at high school in Virginia

May 1998: Fifteen-year-old boy shoots himself in the head after taking a girl hostage

May 1998: Fifteen-year-old shoots dead two students in school cafeteria in Oregon

April 1998: Fourteen-year-old shoots dead a teacher and wounds two students in Pennsylvania

March 1998: Two boys, 11 and 13, kill four girls and a teacher in Arkansas

December 1997: Fourteen-year-old boy kills three students in Kentucky