Northern Illinois University Shooting Rampage
Ambulances line up at Northern Illinois University after Valentine’s Day shooting.
Once again, a school campus is the scene of a shooting spree. CNN.com is issuing reports as more information is discovered.
As of this moment, 18 are reported wounded and removed to a local hospital. Of those, four have been airlifted with head wounds, to larger facilities. The shooter is dead, apparently from a self-inflicted gun wound, and the rest of the wounded are reported as in stable condition at present.
One of the few things that are known is that the shooter used a shotgun, and that the campus has a NO WEAPONS policy. Already the gun lobby and the anti-gun lobby are debating their opposing viewpoints.
The thing that is so obvious to me is that the world has changed drastically. When I was a youngster, when the world was young, schools were off limits to attack. Through the years, our campuses have been invaded by drugs and booze, then gangs, then escalating to shooting sprees. From Columbine to Virginia Tech, and now to NIU, violence is brimming over.
Whether you are for or against gun control, these horrible shooting sprees point to the fact that we have major societal problems that are affecting our schools. From shooting sprees, rape threats, and classroom violence to increased dropout rates, and falling standards, our schools are in trouble.
I hope we will unite to force the needed changes soon.
Brennan
Filed under: Education News
Brennan,
I absolutely agree with your comments concerning violence on campus and the spiraling of violence we’ve seen on school grounds across the country over the last 10 years.
I encourage you and others to consider the fact that predators, natural and societally sickened, prey on the weak, unarmed and easy target.
How many of the mentioned violent episodes would have occurred at locations that insist on personal responsibility for protection and allow each individual to protect themselves how they see fit? Including the carrying of firearms, mace, pepper spray, stun guns, etc?
Carrying a 9mm may not prevent ravaging lunatics from attempting an evil stunt like the one that occurred today, but it certainly would limit the damage of such attempts.
I find it very difficult to believe that one person would be able to shoot 17 or more people in any setting where at least one other person is armed. I guarantee you there are at least a few students at NIU and some in the classroom of the event this afternoon that would have been and would be proud to carry a firearm to protect themselves and other innocents around them.
I am woeful for all those that lost today, and pray that understanding for protection from further attacks comes to all.