Attacks Related to Primary Schools in the US

by Josh on

The history that Americans have with firearms is deep. Some take pride while others fear the deadly weapon. Forty percent of Americans have either used a gun or live in a household with a gun(s). According to the Pew Research Center research report, 2017, at least two-thirds of American adults grew in a home with a firearm while 7%, inclusive of 55% who have not owned a gun personally, I have ever fired a gun at some point.

Gun use is complex in America such that it has led to widespread killings. We look at the attacks by guns dating back as far as 1856 which has involved primary schools in the US.

  • August 6, 1856

In Florence Alabama, a headmaster killed a student by strangulation. The reason was that the boy had killed the head teacher’s pet, Sparrow. The slain boy’s father went to school and shot dead the headmaster.

  • 6th February 1864

In Ashland County, Ohio, at Pyfer’s School House, George Longfelt the school teacher shot Alfred Desem, a student and fled.

  • April 12, 1887

In Watertown, New York, a student at Potsdam Normal School shot himself in the head when committing suicide.

  • 1891, April 9

70-year-old James Foster fired a shotgun at a group of students in the playground of St Mary’s Parochial School, Newburgh New York. Several students sustained minor injuries.

  • February 12, 1909

San Francisco, California; Dorothy Malakanoff, was shot and killed by 49-year-old Demetri Tereaschiko, as she arrived at her school.

  • February 15, 1934

Downey, California; Dr. Blythe shot and killed his wife Eleanor, as well as his son, 8-year-old Robert, at Gallatin grammar school before committing suicide.

  • 23rd February 1943

Port Chester, New York; Harry Wyman 13-year-old shot himself dead at Harvey’s boy’s preparatory school.

  • November 27, 1951

New York City; David Brooks, 15-year-old, was fatally shot as fellow pupils looked on.

  • September 26, 1988

Greenwood, South Carolina; in Oakland Elementary School’s cafeteria, 19-year-old James William Jr., shot to death Shequilla Bradley and wounded eight other children with a gun. He was attacked by Kat Finkbeiner, a P.E teacher while reloading the pistol in the girls’ restroom. James shot Kat in hand and mouth. He finally entered the 3rd-grade classroom and wounded six more pupils.

  • January 17, 1989

In Cleveland School Massacre, five school children were killed while 29 were injured by a single gunman firing over 100 bullets into the schoolyard using an AK-47.

  • May 3, 1999

One Mr. Steven Allen Abrams purposefully drove to the playground of South Coast Early Childhood Learning Center. He killed two children, injuring four other children and an adult. Allen later stated that he thought the deaths of the children would silence the voices that he thought the US government was beaming into his brain.

  • September 5, 2000

Bidwell, Ohio; Frank Shoemaker shot dead, 52-year-old Linda Shoemaker, his estranged wife. Frank killed her in the parking lot of Bidwell Porter Elementary School where she was a cook. He then returned home and committed suicide.

  • October 2, 2006

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Charles Carl Roberts, a milk-tank truck driver, took ten girls hostages from Amish School and eventually shot them. He killed five (aged 7-13), before killing himself.

  • October 8, 2010

Carlsbad, California; 41-year-old Brendan Liam O’Rourke, holding jack-o-lantern, stormed the campus at Kelly Elementary School, he shot and grazed the shoulders of two students, one 6-year-old and the other 7-year-old.

The list was not exhausted since we have covered only the notable incidents that either ended in deaths or several victims wounded. By joining hands, let’s say no to violence with guns. This is possible if we all support the controlled use of firearms!

Guns cause the violence

gun control
by Josh on

Owning a gun in America has become a primary need, with people going as far as collecting guns like antiques. This trend can be attributed to two things, the level of crimes in the communities mainly African American’s, and a status of being “cool”. It’s astounding to know that America has the highest number of guns per capita than any other country in the world. The other disturbing fact is that young adults in their twenties are the most affected victims of gun violence. Any country banks on their youth for continuity, innovation and heirs of the current generation.

With this trend of young people dying violently and the continued exposure which incubates violence, there is an urgent need to intervene. The lobbyists who are powerful and well-funded have been successfully lobbying against gun control laws. It’s absurd, selfish and insensitive for anyone sane not to see what the guns have been doing and continuing to do in our societies.

They argue that people kill not guns. At some point it’s true, but the in some states buying a gun is easy as buying milk in a retail shop. Strict background checks should be a must to anyone aspiring purchase a gun. Strict gun control has shown a significant decrease in homicides in many countries with data to support. Most of the argument is that when one has a gun, they are less likely to be victims or robbery or any other crime. Well, this has not been supported by any research data, but the prevalence of gun-related crimes with a huge percentage is enough evidence to call for a revision of the current laws about gun ownership. There are 2 opposite views on private gun ownership should be restricted. But we think that guns should be banned. The government should focus on equipping the police force adequately to protect the citizens and prohibit personal gun ownership unless it’s a special case or necessity.

Everyone’s Under Gunpoint. Location, Age, and Gender Don’t Matter

by Josh on

As much as there have been shootings around the world with a focus on two places Canada and United States, everyone is under gunpoint. The killings cannot be classified as always planned; the killer has in a single day not decided to use a factor to kill. He or she is hell-bent on satisfying the need to kill without reason or a single person could have hurt strong motive, him or her, but the pain will be reflected in their sole choosing. Following the events of less than a decade, everyone irrespective of age, gender or location is under gunpoint. Why am I saying this?

Florida School Shooting-17 dead, over 24 people injured, US

At the beginning of this year, February to be precise there was a school shooting in the State of Florida, US. It is termed one of the deadliest in the history of America. The killer, Nikolas Cruz, 17 years of age on a given on day walked into a former school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and killed seventeen people hurting another two dozen. Was there motive, nobody can tell, simple expulsion from school, the next thing you know innocent people are dying.

Kindergarten shooting-20 first-graders dead, 6 members of staff dead, US

A case similar was that of Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012 whereby a 20-year-old, Adam Lanza killed 26 before committing suicide. Surprisingly, this is a perpetrator of 20 years old in a school of first graders, no connection at all. With a bullet vest to an elementary school, I cannot think of a reason; he shot dead 20 first-graders and six members of staff before shooting himself. Besides, committing such an act, he kills the mother. Who knows, still I cannot see any connection.

Church killings-26 random Christians dead, US

In 2017, November, Sutherland Springs, Texas, a gunman walks into the First Baptist Church killing about 26. On this day, members of various families are lost just through a simple walk in. Who could have seen this coming? I cannot tell, but all clear is that these were all random people praising their Lord. This shooting tops the list as one of the deadliest mass shootings in the history of Texas and the US in the last less than half a decade.

In Canada, it is not different, the latest of them all being the Faisal Hussein shooting. Faisal walks into a busy street in Toronto, and at random shoots and kills two, injuring 13. In this case, the gunman does not slip away from the police; he is tracked to an alley and later found dead hundred meters away.

Police killings- 3 dead, 2 injured, Canada

Four years ago, 2014, a 24-year-old gun down five police officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Moncton, Canada. All this is done on the street without motive. The suspect ends up killing three of the police officers leaving two of the police officers injured.

Homicide- Man killed for raising not their own, Canada

Still in 2014 in Edmonton Alberta, a 53-year-old walks into a homestead and kills seven. He then moves to another house and kills one with a reason that the victim was raising a child, not of their own. Later the suspect named, Phu Lam commits suicide.

 Walk-in Mosque Killings- 6 dead, 18 injured, Canada

In Quebec City, 2017 January a gunman walks into a mosque and kills 6 leaving 18 maimed. All without any connection could be psychological or crime of passion. No one can tell why an individual can walk into a place of worship and commit such heinous acts.

Cumulatively, the above shows that for some reason certain individuals in possession of arms acquired legally and illegally have ended up killing innocent persons. They did not base their killings on any ideologies, just random murder, no location, and no age and gender considerations. Everyone is under gunpoint.

 

Americans’re Buying and Carrying Guns From 1791. Time’s Up

by Josh on

Gun control conversations in the US are always hindered by the Second Amendment that the first independent America Congress mad to the constitution. Those who support ownership of guns argue that the first American government wanted the US citizens to have the right to bearing arms. But why did the founding fathers amend the constitution? In 1791 America was young having won the revolutionary war by defeating the British army.

No police force was in place, and thus Native Americans would crush now and then. Because of the war colonists had with the British Army, guns were a huge part of everyday life. They would use the guns for hunting to get food and eventually formed a militia that helped keep peace in the newly found country. Weapons that existed back then are not comparable in anyway with modern ones.

Below is a discussion on why buying and carrying a gun in 1791 is justified and today is not.

  1. In 1791 there was no Standing Army

America started out in 1791, and the whole country’s population would not even match a single state’s people today. Revolutionary war had just ended and threats of danger were looming. Native Americans and settlers would attack each other much often. Lack of real police force to contain the attacks meant citizens had to take laws into their hands.

Times have changed. The police force is in place today. In case of an attack dial 911 and in no time, police security is at your doorstep. We do not want such rights to own guns as it used to be newly found America. Today, the federal government has invested a lot in external defense and states have got us covered internally.

  1. Muskets and AR-15s Do Not Match Up

The weapons used in revolutionary war were very feeble. They had a one round magazine capacity and could only fire three effective rounds a minute in the hands of the most skilled shooter. Accuracy range was 50 meters.

Today’s weapons are much more sophisticated. Take a simple AR-15 which can have 30 rounds magazine capacity and can fire estimated 45 rounds a minute. Accuracy range is almost 550 meters. This shows that allowing guns in today’s modern America is 100% dangerous compared to 1791!

  1. 1791 Guns Shot Were “Slow”

Revolution firearms would be loaded one round at a time. Fired shots per minute were three or four because the process of loading and reloading a gun involved the following;

  1. Adding gunpowder
  2. Using ramrod to insert a bullet, and making sure it is well placed and,
  • Reattaching the ramrod before aiming to fire a single bullet

The process of using a gun today is not complicated. Conflict arises and within no time, ten or more people have lost lives. It is not safe to have citizens own guns without proper regulations.

  1. Musket Balls Could Not Fight Gravity

The lead was in short supply during the revolutionary war; some musket balls were thus made using a combination of lead and tin or lead and pewter. The balls were heavy, and they could not resist gravity. They affected accuracy even at a close range since they were pulled down shortly after being fired.

Lead supply is sufficient today. Accuracy is guaranteed since the bullets have been devised to resist gravity. A shot taken even by the most unskilled shooter may miss the target by very few millimeters.

Guns in 1791 were much safer even when in the hands of citizens. They were less harmless and mostly used for hunting. Modern-day firearms are much sophisticated, and their hurting capacity is bigger compared to Muskets. People back then were not violent. Let us take a closer in modern America and make it better by restricting buying and carrying of the dangerous weapons.

 

Pope Francis: Gun Investors are Hypocrites

by Josh on
From Reuters:

Pope Francis: Gun Investors are Hypocrites

People who manufacture weapons or invest in weapons industries are hypocrites if they call themselves Christian, Pope Francis said on Sunday.

“If you trust only men you have lost,” he told the young people in a longcommentary about war, trust and politics, after putting aside his prepared address.

Francis issued his toughest condemnation to date of the weapons industry at a rally of thousands of young people at the end of the first day of his trip to the Italian city of Turin.

“It makes me think of … people, managers, businessmen who call themselves Christian and they manufacture weapons. That leads to a bit of distrust, doesn’t it?” he said to applause.

He also criticized those who invest in weapons industries, saying “duplicity is the currency of today … they say one thing and do another.”

Hillary Clinton: We can have common sense gun reform

by Josh on

Hillary Clinton: We can have common sense gun reformAddressing the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Hillary Clinton spoke at length about the Charleston, South Carolina shooting in which a young white man murdered nine members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopalian Church on Wednesday, June 17. (Campaign to Unload has called this shooting a terrorist action, as it was seemingly based on racial hatred and intended to strike fear into the hearts of black Americans.)

“We can have common sense gun reforms that keep weapons out of the hands of criminals and the violently unstable while respecting responsible gun owners,” she said. “The stakes are too high, the costs are too dear, and I am not and will not be afraid to keep fighting for common sense reforms, and along with you, achieve those on behalf of all who have been lost because of this senseless gun violence in this country.” -Hillary Clinton, June 20, 2016

Read more in the Huffington Post.

Statement on Charleston Shooting

by Josh on

Campaign to Unload Responds to Deplorable Shooting in South Carolina

Statement on Charleston Shooting

 

Washington, DC – Last night an attack on humanity, an act of terrorism and a fatal shooting rooted in racism happened in Charleston, South Carolina when a man open fired on a bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal.

 

In response to the shooting last night Campaign to Unload in partnership with the Million Hoodies Movement for Justice, released the following statements:

“This is much bigger than a gun violence tragedy. This is a tragedy that shines light on the prevalence of racism. We must work against the intersection of racism and gun violence, which together becomes terrorism. This cowardly act was an attack on humanity and a sin against all people of faith. Our coalition stands in solidarity with the Charleston community.” -Jennifer Fiore, Executive Director, Campaign to Unload

“We condemn this undeniable act of terrorism intended to strike fear at a time when we have stood together to declare that Black lives matter. We continue to fight for a world where young people of color can exist with full dignity, justice, and humanity in a safer and more just America. Our thoughts go out to the families of those killed and to the congregation that lost its pastor.” – Dante Barry, Director, Million Hoodies Movement for Justice

Universities Should Protect Their Students, Not the Gun Lobby!

by Josh on

Students at Boston University learned this week that the gun violence that directly affects them, their friends, and their communities is not severe enough to warrant that the school divest from companies that profit from that destruction.

Right after the shooting massacre of 20 children and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut — a town several current BU students call home — the university started an advisory committee for socially responsible investing and even invited three students to join. The recommendation to divest from gun manufacturers was the first proposal the advisory committee made. It was rejected by the trustees in December.

Here’s what you may not know: Many of our school endowments are invested in companies that make guns and ammunition and lobby against common-sense gun laws that would make us all safer. The profits from these investments may build a new wing of the university hospital to treat gunshot victims. Contributions alumni make could be indirectly paying for gun industry executives to meet with senators on Capitol Hill to convince them to vote NO on background checks for people who want to buy guns, just like they did after the Newtown shooting.

While our elected officials remain blinded by the gun lobby’s money and influence, our generation continues to be devastated by gun violence. In the 2 years since the massacre in Newtown, there have been over 100 school and university shootings. Every student knows what a lockdown drill feels like, and increasingly we have been through a live lockdown with an active shooter on our campus. This year, gun violence will replace car accidents as the leading cause of death for millennials. Cars are highly regulated. Guns, not so much.

Despite this disturbing trend, young Americans refuse to accept this violence as an inevitability: We’re standing up, speaking out and demanding action. On campuses across the country, divestment has become a powerful tool for students to push for meaningful change.

Boston University students are now calling on the university to reevaluate its decision, asking the trustees not “to be on the wrong side of history.” As editors from BU’s student-run newspaper, the Daily Free Press, wrote,

It’s upsetting that the board believes that generations to come would judge them more harshly for divesting from gun companies than for continuing to support them. There is a clear generation gap in a rapidly changing world — they can’t escape the social consequences of this decision.

No university should ever fund an industry that profits from violence against its students, as the gun industry does. The fight to end gun violence starts with us — with our friends, on our campuses. Our universities need to know that we won’t continue to be complicit in helping to perpetuate the violence killing our friends and classmates.

Get involved. Make a difference.