A Church Attacked
I’ve been remiss in not writing about this sad story.
A Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, Tennessee, was attacked on Sunday by a man wielding a shotgun. He attacked the church because it welcomed gays and lesbians, according to a four-page letter left in his car. He also hated the “liberal movement.” He carried 76 shotgun shells (including three spent shells) with him; he obviously was planning to inflict a lot of damage. He killed two people and wounded seven others. He apparently was planning to be killed by responding police.
Beyond the sadness and outrage I feel, this person shooting up a church raises a whole host of issues. He attacked a church (it doesn’t matter if you’re religious or not — I’m not, particularly — attacking a church is especially heinous). He attacked a church while a children’s musical was being performed because he hated the “liberal movement” and because he hated gays and lesbians. Is this not an argument for gun control?
How does someone hate so much to motivate that person to commit multiple murder? Is he so threatened by gays that he has to kill them? I suppose we’ve become inured to the constant violence on television these days — school shootings, disgruntled former employees killing people in their former workplace. These are all outrageous, very disturbing and saddening acts. And all of these are arguments for stronger gun control.
I know, I just read about this earlier. So sad. So unnecessary.
And how ridiculous those people in Georgia who got so upset that the Atlanta airport wanted to ban people carrying handguns. People can’t take them past security and onto the planes, yet they wanted to be able to carry a gun around the terminal because it’s in their “right” to do so.
Unfortunately all these senseless mass school shootings, etc. don’t have the effect of creating tighter laws. It only makes the NRA and gun-rights activists more entrenched in their efforts to have more and more gun freedom in public places: parks, restaurants, on buses, etc.
It’s sadly ironic, isn’t it? It makes me shake my head.
My send prayers for the deceased and send condolences for their family, friends, loved ones and the church.
I have nothing against guns — I go to the shooting range every once in a while for some target practice – just because.
But when those guns are used to kill people just because someone doesn’t like another’s lifestyle or because someone is depressed and don’t want to live or because someone is mentally ill and didn’t take their meds or because someone doesn’t have friends or a reason to live – that is outrageous. There is no way to tell, by looking at a person, if they are sane, insane or what their motivation is therefore everyone wanting to purchase a gun should be a thoroughly investigated.
When we go to purchase a home or rent an apartment or to secure a vehicle we have to go through a process and wait to be approved. It is not unreasonable to check someone’s background before selling them a gun. It really isn’t.
If you don’t have a gun, you can’t use it.
This story bothered me so much I had to talk about it too. How can someone be so intolerant of others that it drives them to murder?
So many right-wing pundits and the so-called media talk about hatred in order to drive up their ratings and salaries and you have people like Adkisson who sit on every word.
Paulette, I don’t have anything against guns in themselves. I’ve been trained to use them safely and it’s — I admit — fun to target shoot. But there are too many people like this guy who walked into a church and started shooting. If people like him can get guns, there is something wrong. I know you can’t stop every person who shouldn’t have a gun from getting them (as long as they’re available someplace), but we have to start somewhere.
Very true, my2bucks. There’s always someone talking — especially in this media age — that can whip someone of fragile mentality into a frenzy.
There is so much “freedom of speech’ and ‘freedom to bear arms’ talk being spewed by the media just to excite their audience like ‘2BUCKS’ said.
But what about the responsibilities that comes with those freedoms? The media doesn’t address those therefore the shows exciting their audiences is also being irresponsible.
Deanna — sometimes in my excitement after reading your blogs (you posts are excellent and thought provoking) I may seem to be addressing you personally but I’m not. You are a very reasonable person; I never thought for a moment that you have anything against guns. You like me believe that it is a right but there must be responsibility placed on that right. :-)
Paulette, thanks for the compliments. I appreciate them, and I appreciate you reading my blog. I respond because it’s my blog … if the comments are thought provoking (and most are … I really am glad for the comments, they help me think more about my position and how I communicate that in writing) I want to respond and further the conversation.
So keep coming and reading, Paulette. I love your comments, and I love your blog as well. Both your comments and your blog always make me think.