Senseless Violence
I don't feel like writing an expose on senseless violence. It is by definition impossible to explain.
When the story of the school shooting in the one room schoolhouse in Lancaster broke earlier in the day, I was so saddened. My wife and I just recently spent our anniversary in Lancaster; we were charmed and impressed by the Amish folks there. Their simple and thoughtful ways were so idyllic.
So to picture these peaceloving folks caught in such tragedy really brought me down. I hate the thought of several beautiful young girls with plain faces and bonnets having their hands and feet tied together, lined up against a chalkboard and then executed in the name of some milkman's childhood angst. Can anyone apologize enough for this sorrow?
Tonight I weep with those who are weeping.
InterAction:
3 October 20062. Jesse Gardner:
I feel your sentiment, Mandy. I've been there many times. I don't know though. You take away the guns and then people use box cutters. You take away their box cutters and they use liquid explosives. You take away their liquid explosives and they're strangling each other. Taking away people's guns isn't going to make them better people, it's just going to inspire more creative sinners.
Look at what schools without guns are like: teacher spewing anger and hate, teachers having sex with their students. Nothing is sacred for the heart that has no guidance.
3 October 20063. ren:
Indeed. British crime rates were not lowered by gun control, but in fact saw a significant rise--a person is 5-7 times more likely to be mugged in London than in New York. Their gangs assault not only with illegal guns, but with baseball bats. In states where there is less gun control (excluding the obvious: felons shouldn't have access to guns), crime against person and property goes down.
And hijackers have only had knives/box cutters and threats.
The problem is evil and hopelessness in the heart of man. I find it interesting that these most recent attacks have been aimed at those who could least defend themselves. The Amish community doesn't even have any police.
Something else to consider is the very real phenomena of copycat crimes and pervasive media presence. And the fact remains: the other two schools had laws and measures in place that prohibited guns in the schools. It didn't change what happened. Gun control won't stop evil. Reminding society of the lines of morality, and giving individuals hope will.
3 October 20064. crystal:
I will not relinquish my right to bear arms. Those who want to harm will find a way while the innocent are left defenseless. I agree that the true issue is man's heart, and that can only be changed through the gospel. Sorry to continue the distraction away from the sorrow of this community.
3 October 20065. Jesse Gardner:
Ren: As always, well spoken.
Crystal: SOMEONE'S married to Tim Jackson. ;)
4 October 20066. John:
The thing that has struck me so much about this incident is not the violence, but the peace and grace shown by the surviving members of the Amish community. I have heard that they pray for the wife and children of the murderer. I saw an interview with a shy grandfather of one of the victims who couldn't sleep and was out taking a walk. He said that he forgives the murder in his heart. When the interviewer asked how that was possible he said:
"With God's help."
YourThoughts?
(Minutia)
This entry was written by Jesse on Monday, October 2, 2006 at 9:24 PM and appears in the World chapter. The previous article was entitled, "Simply Recipes: Eye Meat and Potatoes", and the next entry is called, "For The Record". Bookmark the permalink, save it to del.icio.us or Digg it.
GetUpdated
ElseWhere
AllChapters
- 50 articles in the chapter 0's and 1's
- 35 articles in the chapter America
- 54 articles in the chapter Blogging
- 34 articles in the chapter Ears
- 35 articles in the chapter Eyes
- 21 articles in the chapter Family Ties
- 18 articles in the chapter Friends
- 3 articles in the chapter Great-Grandmother
- 58 articles in the chapter Heart
- 4 articles in the chapter Intercessional
- 61 articles in the chapter Journeys
- 44 articles in the chapter Kicks and Giggles
- 47 articles in the chapter Mind
- 28 articles in the chapter Miscellany
- 16 articles in the chapter Movies
- 2 articles in the chapter Podcasts
- 30 articles in the chapter Retrospection
- 63 articles in the chapter Savior
- 2 articles in the chapter Tech Tips
- 32 articles in the chapter The Pen
- 6 articles in the chapter Wedding/Honeymoon
- 19 articles in the chapter World
BiteSize.journal
ReaderFavorites
- The Mosquito Tone Test
- The Girl And The Boy: An Engagement Story
- Would Jesus Have Cared About The Cake?
- 10 Signs of a Jesus Follower
- Erego Ergo Sum (I Pay, Therefore I Am)
- A Libertarian View of Pensacola Christian College
- Situational Ethics
- Rich White People
- Fundamentalism and the Gentleness of Wisdom
- 10 Tips For Creating Website Mockups In Photoshop
3 October 20061. mandi:
i weep with you. it was very tragic. michael and i had the same thoughts as you. hate to bring up a touchy subject for some, but what with the string of school shootings these past few days, my "no more guns allowed" mantra keeps popping in my head more and more often. i just can't think of any other way to stop something senseless like this....a coward uses a gun on innocent children...it's angering