Hmmm …
You know, I’m vaguely — vaguely — shocked by the big news that’s been all over the TV news channels, today.
Something that I know wasn’t expecting to see.
It seems that — up in Cumbria — taxi driver, Derrick Bird, has gone on a shooting rampage and shot twelve people and injured 25 others: three of them, critically.
And, at the end of it all, shot himself.
This is not the sort of thing we expect to see, in Britain.
Not these days.
Not after Dunblane and Hungerford.
Not when the various gun-license laws have been amended to try to prevent this sort of thing. Over the protest of the few gun associations Britain does have*.
Actually, BBC News 24 has just had a representative on, reminding people that restricting guns doesn’t necessarily prevent this sort of thing.
My cynical side is dearly wishing it could say something, but …
°°°°°
But, ultimately, what can someone like me — blogger, and quiet observer of the world that I am — ultimately say about something like this … ?
Lord knows.
Well …
Apart from, obviously express my condolences to those families who’ve lost a family member to this guy.
And express my hope that those injured don’t add to the number of those lost.
And add to that, the wish that something like this never happens again.
At least, not for a good long time.
•••••
Let’s move on, briefly, shall we … ?
One other piece of news that caught my eye on the BBC site, was that Apple CEO, Steve Jobs had made some remarks, in broad support of the Foxcomm factory, in China.
Which has seen at least 10 suicides, this year alone.
Now, obviously, that’s lead to all sorts of accusations being floated.
Understandably, Steve Jobs — and Apple — want to be seen as doing something about this.
What that’ll be, though, is anyone’s guess …
But, what with turning out to be worth more than Microsoft, and a minor cold war, with Adobe, about Flash, it does look like Apple’s having a bit of a strange week … !
* My old friend, Sean, over in the States, is a member of the US National Rifle Association, the US organisation that aims to both promote the average US citizen’s 2nd Amendment Right to bear arms, but also hopes to educate people about their responsible use.
Hmmm …
To an Englishman growing up in a country where guns, gun-shops and even armed police just aren’t that common, that’s always seemed very strange. But, at any rate, I can always remember Sean — and one or two other gun users I’ve met — saying one thing, repeatedly. “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.”
Somehow, I can’t ever see myself disagreeing with that …
1 comment:
With all due respect to your pal, Sean:
Guns don't kill people. People with guns kill people.
Unfortunately, rampage kills are far too common here in the States. We even have a term for it: Going postal. It refers to US Postal Service workers going over the edge due to workplace stress and abuses, returning to the Post Office facility, and shooting everyone in sight.
Yup. People with guns kill people. Forget the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The NRA and conservatives have abused and stretched the meaning of that into a mental contortion, but nowhere close to the original intention.
Stepping off the soapbox now...
Post a Comment