Too Often

Yesterday at Northern Illinois University, there was yet again, a shooting. I have heard mixed reports, but something like 5-7 people have been killed. This is happening far too often. I can't help but wonder what in the world happened to these people that makes them think it's ok to do this sort of thing! My heart breaks for anyone involved in this shooting or any shooting. This is how often these horrible tragedies are happening! (Warning: If you get easily upset, don't read on.)

February 2 1996, Moses Lake, Washington--Two students and one teacher killed, one other wounded when 14-year-old opened fire on algebra class.

February 19 1997, Bethel, Alaska--Headteacher and student shot dead and two others injured by 16-year-old boy who is now serving a 210-year sentence.

October 1 1997, Pearl, Mississippi--Sixteen-year-old boy stabbed mother to death before going to school and shooting nine students, two fatally.

December 1 1997, West Paducah, Kentucky--Three students killed and five injured by 14-year-old student who opened fire in corridor of Heath high school.

March 24 1998, Jonesboro, Arkansas--Four girls and a teacher killed and 10 others wounded at middle school by two boys, aged 11 and 13, who fired from woods during false fire alarm.

April 24 1998, Edinboro, Pennsylvania--Science teacher shot and killed at James W Parker middle school dance by 14-year-old pupil.

May 19 1998, Fayetteville, Tennessee--Three days before graduation, 18-year-old student opens fire in car park of high school, killing classmate who was dating his ex-girlfriend.

May 21 1998, Springfield, Oregon--Fifteen-year-old boy kills parents before opening fire in Thurston high school cafeteria, killing two students and injuring 22.

April 20 1999, Littleton, Colorado--Two students throw explosives and open fire on students at Columbine high school, killing 12 students and one teacher, and wounding 23, before killing themselves.

November 19 1999, Deming, New Mexico--Twelve-year-old boy shoots 13-year-old student in the head at Deming middle school, killing her.

February 29 2000, Mount Morris Township, Michigan--Six-year-old girl shot dead at Buell elementary school near Flint, Michigan, by six-year-old classmate.

May 26 2000, Lake Worth, Florida--Thirteen-year-old student shot dead English teacher on last day of classes after teacher refused to let him talk with two girls in classroom.

March 5 2001, Santee, California--Two killed and 13 wounded by 15-year-old student firing from a toilet at Santana high school.

April 14 2003, New Orleans, Louisiana--One student killed and three wounded at John McDonogh high school by four teenagers, who were not students at the school, in a gang-related shooting.

April 24 2003, Red Lion, Pennsylvania--Fourteen-year-old killed headteacher of Red Lion area junior high school before killing himself.

September 24 2003, Cold Spring, Minnesota--Two students shot dead at Rocori high school by 15-year-old boy, who is awaiting
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/mar/22/usgunviolence.usa1)

Nov. 22, 2004: Sixteen-year-old boy is accused of fatally shooting one student and wounding three others outside Strawberry Mansion High in Philadelphia. The attack apparently was over a $50 debt in a rap contest. Keels is set to stand trial on murder charges later this month.

March 21, 2005: Sixteen-year-old boy shot and killed five schoolmates, a teacher and an unarmed guard at a high school on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota before taking his own life. Weise had earlier killed his grandfather and hisgrandfather's companion.

Aug. 24, 2006: A man, went to an elementaryschool in Essex, Vermont, looking for his ex-girlfriend, a teacher. He couldn't find her and fatally shot one teacher and wounded another, police said. Williams also killed his ex-girlfriend's mother, according to authorities. He shot himself twice in the head ater the rampage and was arrested.

Sept. 27, 2006: A man, took six girls hostage at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colo. Morrison, sexually assaulting them and using them as human shields for hours before fatally shooting one girl and killing himself.

Sept. 29, 2006: 15-year-old boy brought two guns to a school in rural Cazenovia, Wis., and fatally shot the principal, a day after the principal gave him a disciplinary warning for having tobacco on school grounds, police said

Oct. 2, 2006: A gunman took about a dozen girls hostage, killing at least three of them, at a one-room Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania's Lancaster County, police said. The shooter was among the dead, and a number of people were injured.
(http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3045893)

Jan. 3, 2007 Tacoma, Wash. An 18 year old boy, shot fellow student, 17, in the hallway of Henry Foss High School.

April 16, 2007 Blacksburg, Va. A 23-year-old Virginia Tech student, killed two in a dorm, then killed 30 more 2 hours later in a classroom building. His suicide brought the death toll to 33, making the shooting rampage the most deadly in U.S. history. Fifteen others were wounded.

Sept. 21, 2007 Dover, Del. A Delaware State Univesity Freshman, shot and wounded two other Freshman students on the University campus. He is being charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless engagement, as well as a gun charge.

Oct. 10, 2007 Cleveland, Ohio
A 14-year-old student at a Cleveland high school, shot and injured two students and two teachers before he shot and killed himself. The victims' injuries were not life-threatening.

Feb. 8, 2008 Baton Rouge, Louisiana--A nursing student shot and killed two women and then herself in a classroom at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge.

Feb. 14, 2008 DeKalb, Illinois--Gunman kills seven students and then himself, and wounds 15 more when he opens fire on a classroom at Northern Illinois University. The gunman, was identified as a former graduate student at the university in 2007.
(http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777958.html)

I am sure there have been more that weren't on the list, even more before 1996. Then there are those like, the department store in Omaha Nebraska, and then Trolley Square, here in Utah, the so called "bubble"! It can happen anywhere! And with just about all of these instances, they are KIDS, taking other kids lives!
It just makes me think of the quote :
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” (-thanks Jessica! It's a good one, and very fitting in this case!)
Not that it is everyone else's fault that these people act out irrationally, but kindess towards others is never a bad thing. Besides, who know how things would have ended up, had these people had friends, and people that loved them!

Here is an interesting article if you are interested!
10 Myths about School Shootings!


PHOTO CREDIT: Chronicle photo by Eric Sumberg Daily-Chronicle.com