Tuesday, 17 April 2007 | 4:41 pm
Safety and Sanctuary
Massacre. What a terrible word. I doubt I could truly understand its meaning seeing as I've never been in a situation like that. This morning, the horrible news of the Virginia Tech shooting were broadcast on every radio and every television. 32 victims died at Virginia Tech in a senseless act of murder. 33 including in the gunman. It really makes you think doesn't it? Imagine how the parents and families of the victims felt.
George Bush said of the shooting, "schools should be places of safety and sanctuary in learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community."
A massacre of any kind is not something that would happen in Australia is it? Unfortunately not true.
Nearly 11 years ago (28 April 1996), 35 people were killed and 37 wounded at Port Arthur in Tasmania. Keep in mind that Port Arthur was a popular tourist location. The attack was obviously premeditated. The gunman arrived there with all his guns and ammunition. He started at the cafe, shooting the customers at point blank range. One mother threw herself over her daughter to protect her. The gunman shot the mother in the back, then the daughter in the head. The mother survived and later learned in hospital that her daughter was dead. From there he went to the gift shop and the car park, shooting everyone he could see. He got into his car and drove towards the entrance, along the way SLOWING DOWN to shoot a mother and her two daughters Alannah (6) and Madeline (3). If those names sound familiar to you, the father of those girls (who lost his entire family) began the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to keep children 'safe from violence' (Link here). That wasn't the end. The gunman murdered more people at the tollbooth and nearby petrol station. He was apprehended many hours later after staging a hostage situation and setting fire to a house.
As if that isn't enough to give you nightmares. Just reading an account of the entire thing was sickening, not to mention making me cry.
Hmm...is there any point to this entire blog entry? I guess not. I just wonder what could POSSIBLY motivate someone to commit such a terrible crime? It's hard to believe anyone could have it in them to kill so many people. What a dismal blog entry. All the good things that happened today have been completely forgotten, but at least I still have a chance at tomorrow.
George Bush said of the shooting, "schools should be places of safety and sanctuary in learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community."
A massacre of any kind is not something that would happen in Australia is it? Unfortunately not true.
Nearly 11 years ago (28 April 1996), 35 people were killed and 37 wounded at Port Arthur in Tasmania. Keep in mind that Port Arthur was a popular tourist location. The attack was obviously premeditated. The gunman arrived there with all his guns and ammunition. He started at the cafe, shooting the customers at point blank range. One mother threw herself over her daughter to protect her. The gunman shot the mother in the back, then the daughter in the head. The mother survived and later learned in hospital that her daughter was dead. From there he went to the gift shop and the car park, shooting everyone he could see. He got into his car and drove towards the entrance, along the way SLOWING DOWN to shoot a mother and her two daughters Alannah (6) and Madeline (3). If those names sound familiar to you, the father of those girls (who lost his entire family) began the Alannah and Madeline Foundation to keep children 'safe from violence' (Link here). That wasn't the end. The gunman murdered more people at the tollbooth and nearby petrol station. He was apprehended many hours later after staging a hostage situation and setting fire to a house.
As if that isn't enough to give you nightmares. Just reading an account of the entire thing was sickening, not to mention making me cry.
Hmm...is there any point to this entire blog entry? I guess not. I just wonder what could POSSIBLY motivate someone to commit such a terrible crime? It's hard to believe anyone could have it in them to kill so many people. What a dismal blog entry. All the good things that happened today have been completely forgotten, but at least I still have a chance at tomorrow.