12 people are dead and 25 wounded after horrific shooting spree in West Cumbria. Cab driver suspect Derrick Bird committed suicide in woodland shortly afterwards
He was described by neighbours yesterday as a quiet man who kept himself to himself – until something pushed him over the edge. It is a familiar pattern in rampage killings. The perpetrators are often perceived to be very ordinary people, and to lead ordinary lives. They are very rarely seen as psychotic or cranky.
Many people have feelings of low self-esteem and may mistrust those around them or even suffer paranoia. But they don't go on a killing spree. What makes the few that do, flip? Access to firearms is one factor. Guns are, fortunately, not easy to get, but if people have lethal means of causing violence close at hand there will be more violence. How many people would be killed if every household had a gun? That, thank goodness, is not the case in this country.
Bird had two guns - believed to be a .22 rifle with telescopic sight and a shotgun – Who on Earth gave him his (double) license? Also, why was a gunman allowed to go on the rampage for 3 HOURS! Where were the police? Aren’t they meant the defend us, law-abiding citizens, from something like this? Maybe with their batons and handcuffs?
Something is seriously wrong here.
My deepest condolences go out to all the families who learned the horrible news today that their loved ones were mindlessly murdered. I will be remembering you in the days to come when it seems like no one any longer remembers.
He was described by neighbours yesterday as a quiet man who kept himself to himself – until something pushed him over the edge. It is a familiar pattern in rampage killings. The perpetrators are often perceived to be very ordinary people, and to lead ordinary lives. They are very rarely seen as psychotic or cranky.
Many people have feelings of low self-esteem and may mistrust those around them or even suffer paranoia. But they don't go on a killing spree. What makes the few that do, flip? Access to firearms is one factor. Guns are, fortunately, not easy to get, but if people have lethal means of causing violence close at hand there will be more violence. How many people would be killed if every household had a gun? That, thank goodness, is not the case in this country.
Bird had two guns - believed to be a .22 rifle with telescopic sight and a shotgun – Who on Earth gave him his (double) license? Also, why was a gunman allowed to go on the rampage for 3 HOURS! Where were the police? Aren’t they meant the defend us, law-abiding citizens, from something like this? Maybe with their batons and handcuffs?
Something is seriously wrong here.
My deepest condolences go out to all the families who learned the horrible news today that their loved ones were mindlessly murdered. I will be remembering you in the days to come when it seems like no one any longer remembers.
9 comments:
Watched this on the news absolutely aghast. So many questions need answering. Some I suspect we'll never get answers to.
My husband was in Whitehaven last weekend (he started the Coast to Coast cycle ride form there) - it is terrifying when you think of the randomness of this. I just can't begin to imagine the pain of all the families involved.
I think this has shocked the nation ,Whitehaven has suffered too much lately ,the floods ,then the bus crash, now this,My thoughts and prayers are for them at this time ...love Jan xx
Yes, it is horrible and shocking. I have some sympathy for the police - it must be very hard to deal with an incident like that in such a rural area, when the killer is driving around at random.
@Steve: It is sometimes better not to ask onself any question, as no answer will come anyway. Devastating loss of lives...
@Jane: Two of our friends were in Whitehaven for a couple of days oo. We were looking after their daughter, 12, and we found out the news from a TV in Comet! We were panic striken and frantically tried to reach them by phone. Their phone was switched off as they were in a meeting, fortunately totally oblivious of the situation. It took us almost two hours to reach them, two of the longest hours in our lives! Thank God, they're fine, but what about the poor victims?
@Jan: I can hardly believe that something like can happen here in the UK. Absolutely devastating!
@Jenny: Thanks for visiting. If the police had got involved there would have been dead policemen/women too. No chance to defend themselves against someone with two guns driving and shooting erratically...It seems almost unreal...
I couldn't believe it when I heard it. Things like that only happens in the states. It's such a terrible tragedy.
A terrible tragedy. No law can prevent someone losing it in this manner. All the victims need support right now including the family of Derrick Bird who will have to live with th stigma for ever. However lets keep the politicians away from using this as a reason for changing any laws.
Yep, horrific and shocking! We heard about it while at our friends' and for a few mins we thought they were talking about a movie.
Wanted to stop by and thank you for visiting Happy Snappy with your comments. :)
Regarding your post, that was a horrible tragedy and those are very good questions you're asking there. But I wonder if anyone could give the 'right' answer to any of them...
Post a Comment