The Continuing Carnage

Dear Daddy:

More kids killed and shot up in a California school. And I bet you still maintain we don't need more gun laws. You are pathetic.

Down with Violence

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Dear Down:

How many times have we seen these "school shootings" -- kids shooting and often killing their classmates -- and noticed a universal characteristic of them: The shooters have no plans to escape.

Hard to deal with folks like that, you know. Kind of like the Moslem suicide bombers.

Often weeks of planning all the mayhem and carnage -- but no escape plans. No attempt to hide identities.

Do you ever ask yourself why there are not only no thought out plans for escape -- but usually not even a half hearted attempt at such?

I will tell you why. Because to escape would be to fail. These things are all about getting noticed. That is the main thing sought and the main thing achieved. What a million dollars couldn't buy -- is available for the cost of a box of bullets. But you must be caught -- in the act -- to get the full value out of the deed.

And, our little cozy government/media (gosh I have learned to hate the word "media") coalition just wrings its hands and pretends nothing can be done to curb this mess.

This is ridiculous, and getting worse all the time.

Ever notice how when a minor rapes or robs or kills someone locally -- the normal procedure is to protect his identity? The crime is reported -- but no pictures, no TV clips. Nothing to identify the kid -- certainly until he is brought to trial -- maybe not even then.

And this is thought to be the best thing -- for society and the child.

But... let him shoot several people -- especially, oh especially now, in a school setting -- and it is instant celebrity. The helicopter camera-ships and everything else are on the scene -- beaming pictures of all the dead and lots of close ups of the perp and his peers and family members... incredible! Parachute in the professional grief counselors!

Then, the next day, after 24 hours of intense scrutiny -- where there has been no doubt of how many killed -- and who did it -- then, the media slowly falls back into language of "alleged killer"... we hear and read about "the suspect."

A few hours before, there was no doubt about anything -- no alleging and no suspicion -- he was king of the hill -- for doing something horrible. He was... THE STAR!

Unless it is a 6 year old killer like the one in Michigan a while ago -- there were no names and pictures for this one!

No consistency at all. For the teen with multiple kills it is a free ride at the media circus. Apparently there are plenty of willing riders.

Censorship -- prior government restraint? Nah -- just a little consistency would go a long way.

My solution? Cover major crimes -- (with minor perps) the same way every time -- with no faces, or names -- till after the trial in 6 months or a year--and then only to show the sad little creep being led away to his lifetime behind bars. No fanfare -- no glorification.

Too much to ask isn't it? I guess I just don't understand the need for ratings.

Where's the right to privacy of kids? I guess it only applies if they want to kill their unborn babies. Not when it would do the whole nation a lot of good.

Seems like some states and communities ought to put this into statute -- no pre-conviction publicity of minors accused of murder. And they should sue and encourage the suing of any violators of this -- into oblivion. And give the money to the families of the slain.

Hmm... you thought it was a nice idea to sue gun manufacturers when their products are misused. Why not news manufacturers -- who do the actual deeds themselves?

You know I am right -- but you just can't bear the thought, can you. Probably still feel that a self actuator who is freely expressing himself with a pistol is just some of that old First Amendment price we have to pay....

Hogwash.

This continuing carnage is on your head, Mr. and Mrs. Media.

Daddy