A man put an 8-year-old girl in a headlock Wednesday and shot her to death, then shot himself in the stomach, authorities said.I have to agree with the sheriff who said it's hard to understand how someone can get that angry. What I would add to that is, it's hard to understand how pro-gun folks can fight so hard to maintain easy availability of firearms when this is the result. Any person who wants one can get one, which necessarily includes the millions who make up the famous 10%. Some of these are the folks with anger management problems, who, for the good of everybody, themselves included, should not have guns. The only way I can see to prevent some of them from getting guns is by reducing the availability. The people who need guns or want them for legitimate purposes will still have their rights, but some of these problem people won't.The girl's father is dating Ricky Lee Blackwell's estranged wife. Spartanburg County deputies said Blackwell shot the girl twice in the driveway of a home where he had taken her and his estranged wife to swim and play. The home is in Chesnee, about 60 miles southwest of Charlotte, N.C.
Several adults and children saw the shooting and pointed officers toward Blackwell, investigators said.
Blackwell shot himself as police closed in. He was taken to a hospital but his condition wasn't released.
The coroner's office identified the girl as Heather Brooke Center of Woodruff.
What's your opinion?
Anyone that could do this to a child is a very sick individual to begin with. I doubt the availability of a gun makes a person like this act.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot more of these cases where the nutjob beats or stabs the children rather than shooting them. In then end, it really doesn't matter, the child is still dead. There is nothing more tragic or heinous than this type of crime.
MikeB,
ReplyDeleteDoes the presence or availability of bathtubs make women drown their children?
Last couple of years there must have been half dozen or more stories of women who did that.
So, based on your assumptions and mindset, it is the easy availability of bath tubs that cause women to murder, right?
Wow MikeB, pretty low.
ReplyDeleteKind of like when the Brady Campaign sent out e-mails the day of VT asking for $32 to defeat the 'gun lobby'.
I agree with FWM, but I disagree with the sheriff and you.
ReplyDeleteMike it is easy to get that angry with the right set of circumstances. Right or wrong. I have commented several times on this blog about the reasons. I am not going to get into it again right now, because I am not personally in the mood to go into it.
John, I remember some of your passionate comments, but I honestly didn't realize your anger over those issues could be compared to this incident. Yet, I think I see what you mean. It partly explains why there are so many problems with guns especially in the heavily populated areas. People get angry, many people, very often, and every once in a while, having a lethal tool handy makes all the difference.
ReplyDeleteMikeB,
ReplyDeleteCome on, don't avoid the question.
With all the women who drown their children, does the availability of tubs make them drown their children?
Should we ban child birth or tubs?
Bob, I'm "avoiding" the question because I don't believe in the absurd comparisons you keep coming up with. We're talking about guns. Is it not possible for you to make your point without resorting to comparison?
ReplyDeleteYou and some of your friends keep saying it's not the gun, it's the person. I don't deny that. But what you seem to deny is that when one of these questionable "persons" has a gun, he becomes much more dangerous than when he has a bathtub, swimming pool, car, computer or knife. I think those are your usual comparisons. The high lethality of the gun is the thing.
Bob, I'm "avoiding" the question because I don't believe in the absurd comparisons you keep coming up with. We're talking about guns. Is it not possible for you to make your point without resorting to comparison?
ReplyDeleteYou and some of your friends keep saying it's not the gun, it's the person. I don't deny that. But what you seem to deny is that when one of these questionable "persons" has a gun, he becomes much more dangerous than when he has a bathtub, swimming pool, car, computer or knife. I think those are your usual comparisons. The high lethality of the gun is the thing.
MikeB,
ReplyDeleteYou keep saying that you want to remove guns to 'reduce death and violence', right?
Then shouldn't we look at things that are causing more deaths and injuries first...if that is truly your goal?
So, which is it? Are you out to reduce deaths and injuries or out to get rid of guns?
Bob asked, "So, which is it? Are you out to reduce deaths and injuries or out to get rid of guns?"
ReplyDeleteThe fact is I'm not out to do anything. I'm interested in guns and especially the part they play in crime and violence. I'm fascinated by the relationship between the lawful gun owners like yourself and the gun violence that takes place.
"The fact is I'm not out to do anything."
ReplyDeleteBullshit Mike. You advocate civilian disarmament and gleefully support those who hold that goal as a public policy success.
If you weren't out to do anything you'd be objective, which you're most certainly not.