It’s almost becoming a daily if not weekly routine in America where someone goes into a school or school event and opens fire killing and injuring people.
This time it happened at a parochial school, Annunciation Catholic School, in the Minneapolis area where two children, ages 8 and 10, were killed. There are 17 people who were reportedly injured, with 14 of them children.
The suspect, who reportedly took their own life, is being called both Robert and Robin Westman, 23, as they identified as a woman. Of course, I know this is going to be a spin by conservative media, pundits and politicians to say that the LGBTQIA community is dangerous. Funny how how they call transgender women “men” and dead-name them when it comes to serving in the military or wanting to play sports.
(Yet, I’m sure a lot of these people can tell you who their favorite transgender porn star is.)
This happened at a morning mass. It’s just proof that thoughts and prayers aren’t the end-all be-all way to stop school shootings. If so, it may have stopped at Columbine High School in 1999. It sure didn’t prevent the Sandy Hook massacre back in 2012 with those two who were killed were just a gleam in the eye of their respective parents. I may not be very religious but I know that you do not go into any religious facility or congregation to commit acts of violence. Let people worship and have good spiritual fellowship in peace, for God’s sake.
I know a lot is going to come out and the people on the right are going to make this something about everything but guns. Reportedly Westman purchased the firearms legally and had no criminal records. Details are still sketchy but Westman had posted rambling videos online of suicide, depression, their own racism and school shootings.
If we prevented people who made online videos about those subjects from obtaining firearms legally, I’m not sure it would prevent more shootings. Despite what our current government thinks about the First Amendment but it’s obvious being a racist doesn’t stop you from owning or purchasing a firearm.
It’s a sad time for the school as they had wanted to make this school year’s theme about hope. And I know that might be hard to think about. But hope is necessary for the rest of the school, faculty and staff. Fortunately, reports have indicated the injured students and adults are expected to survive. So that is hopeful.
Yet, I feel this is going to be more of a political issue as Minnesota’s governor is Tim Waltz and was Kamala Harris’ running mate. The Minneapolis mayor, Jacob Frey, is also a Democrat. We need to do more at this time rather than send in the National Guard.
I want to add that just because Westman identified as a woman, not all transgender people are violent. Many cisgender people get through their lives and won’t even kill a spider, as they shouldn’t. The people of Minneapolis and Minnesota need more than sound bites at this time.
What do you think? Please comment.
Zane Says 