Days after the 17 minute school walk out in protest of gun violence and on the week of the Washington, DC March for Life on Saturday, March 24, another school shooting occurs. This time, the shooting occurred at Great Mills High school in a small town in southern Maryland with the shooter, a teenage student, shooting a 16 year old girl and a 14 year old boy—all students. They survived. The shooter died. Instead of an assault rifle, this time it was a Glock semiautomatic. Motive or target was yet undetermined. So far, it was the 17th school shooting since January 1, 2018, according to CNN. After hearing about the school shooting in St. Mary’s County, Maryland on Tuesday, March 20, I recalled the first time when I appeared in a court case in St. Mary’s. The court house is located in Leonardtown, MD which is a very small sleepy little town. I am sure that nothing much in the way of crime happens in St. Mary’s. Nearby Leonardtown where the Circuit Court lies has a population … [Read more...] about Another Day, Another School Shooting, Another Killing
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Ban the Assault Weapons Elephant in the Room
On the same day that Florida House lawmakers’ committee voted to arm some teachers, a Georgia social studies teacher was arrested for bringing a gun to school, firing it, barricading himself and causing students to run to avoid being stuck and possibly killed. According to Dalton, Georgia police, the teacher, Randall Davidson will face charges of aggravated assault, carrying a weapon on school grounds, terroristic threats, reckless conduct, possession of gun during commission of a crime, and disrupting a public school. Following the Parkland, Florida school shooting that killed 17 persons, Donald Trump proposed that teachers should be provided with incentives to be armed with guns in the classroom. A Florida House committee responded to the Parkland school shootings by approving a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy any gun, require a three-day waiting period for rifle purchases and create a program that could allow some teachers to carry concealed weapons in the … [Read more...] about Ban the Assault Weapons Elephant in the Room
Why is it Easier to Kill Kids than Change Gun Laws?
Last Wednesday as I sat in a hospital family waiting room awaiting the surgical outcome for my brother, a breaking news alert flashed across the TV screen. Another school shooting had occurred. This time the shooter took aim in Parkland, Florida at Douglas High school-killing 17 persons including students, one teacher, wrestling coach and football coach. At first, I couldn’t bear to watch under my present circumstances at the time. As the day ended and the next day arrived, I saw students speaking out on TV about the shooting and their fervent plea for changes to our gun laws. Having once debated former NRA president David Keene on gun rights, I know the NRA opposes any restrictions which take away gun rights. However, I also know we need to prioritize life over death; people over profits; actions over silence; laws over prayers and kids over guns. While the second amendment grants the rights to bear arms, the Declaration of Independence states we are “endowed by their Creator … [Read more...] about Why is it Easier to Kill Kids than Change Gun Laws?