Six young people were gunned down at a friend's home celebrating their homecoming. The shooter was an off duty deputy-sheriff. Is United States becoming a nation of shooters?
A story reported in Times Online tells of yet another senseless shooting. The tighter gun laws that many advocate would not have prevented this one, however, as the shooter was an off duty deputy sheriff and had the right to carry a gun. Britain, which has some of the tightest fire arm laws in the world had 50 deaths related to firearms in the time span of 2005-06. The latest figures compiled for the United States show 10,654 gun-related deaths during 2004. That is 213.08 times as many!
The lives of six young people were taken this week end when a 20 year old man went on a shooting rampage at a house party held in a small Wisconsin town. Tyler Peterson, the off duty deputy sheriff took the life of ex-girlfriend and 5 of her friends. It is speculated that he was in a jealous rage. Three of the dead were high school students, and the other three had only recently graduated. The festivities were in celebration of homecoming events. Another victim remains in the hospital in critical condition.
Lindsey Stahl, still in shock over the senseless murder of her 14 year old daughter, Jenny stated between sobs “I'm waiting for somebody to wake me up right now. This is a bad, bad dream... I heard it was a jealous boyfriend and he went berserk.”
Tyler will never get to tell his side of the story, as his life was taken too, supposedly by a police sniper. Investigations are ongoing as to why and what happened. Investigations are (ongoing), but the lives aren't...
This small American town of Crandon will join the ever growing list of scarred communities, torn and grieving from yet another senseless shooting. These acts are becoming an every day occurrence in the United States. How can we call ourselves a Christian nation when we breed such violence? There has to be a cure for this epidemic of violence. When we outlawed prayer in schools did we invite guns in? We seem to care more about protecting our right to bear arms than our right to worship God.
Judy,
I am very touched with the passion in your article. This is such a sad event.
#2 by Mark Kubes, Oct 18, 2007
If you fear being killed or hurt by a gun, move to the UK. What are the UK statistics for non-gun related deaths, suicides and murders?
Are they higher in the UK than in the US? ...I am not sure, but I suspect so.
Most US gun deaths are suicides, although we do have a lot of gun crime. The problem here in the US is that we do not keep the criminals locked up. The revolving door of "Justice" keeps returning felons back on the streets to prey on us.
Those of us who wish, should be able to arm ourselves and against these predators.
Thank God Florida is one of the many states which allow conceal carry (with a permit). Several hundred thousand people in FL conceal carry, not to mention the number of people who carry weapons/guns in their vehicles legally that do not hold permits.
There are very few permits revoked or rescinded because the permit holder did something wrong. Most permit holders are responsible law-abiding citizens just interested in protecting themselves and their families.
Violent crime in FL has decreased since the introduction of the "shall issue" conceal carry laws have been in effect.
#3 by Judy Sheldon, Oct 18, 2007
Mark, it sounds like we have many problems; suicides, a revolving legal system, the need to carry a gun for protection, high crime. Teaching our children better morals would not hurt.
Thank you for reading my article and for your input.
#4 by Liane Schmidt, Nov 15, 2007
This is such a sad topic. Education, love and wisdom. We need more of it in this world.
I am very touched with the passion in your article. This is such a sad event.