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Steven P. Kazmierczak

February 16, 2008

Northern Illinois University became the fourth university or school within a week to witness such an incident when Kazmierczak went on a shooting spree. Our schools are now one of the most dangerous places on earth. On Feb. 8, a woman shot two fellow students to death before committing suicide at Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge. In Memphis, a 17-year-old is accused of shooting and critically wounding a fellow student Monday during a high school gym class. The 15-year-old victim of a shooting at an Oxnard, Calif., junior high school has been declared brain dead.

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Do we blame it on sun spots, Television, negative ions, full moon, or just a symptom of our violent culture? How many violent video games did he play?

Kazmierczak, 27 shot 21 people before shooting and killing himself, was an award-winning sociology student and a leader of a campus criminal justice group, according to school Web sites. Kazmierczak was a student about 175 miles away at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. As far as anyone knew, there were no red flags- no warnings of any violent behavior. Police have found no notes that would explain the attack, and authorities have no known motive in the case.

Barack Obama said Friday that the country must do “whatever it takes” to eradicate gun violence following a campus shooting in his home state, but he believes in an individual’s right to bear arms. Can you beleive that? A Democrat believes in the 2nd Amendment. And wins a grammy award too!

On the serious and traumatic side, some are still battling for their life in the hospital, while five familes are struck with the horror of preparing for a funeral. DeKalb County Coroner Dennis J. Miller identified the five victims who died as Daniel Parmenter, 20, of Westchester, Ill.; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero, Ill.; Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville, Ill.; Julianna Gehant, 32, of Mendota, Ill.; and Gale Dubowski, 20, of Carol Stream, Ill.

There are many experiences to the journey of life, but death is simply unexplainable. It matters not whether it comes suddenly and unexpectedly as in this case, or if it is drawn out over a 2-3 incurable illness. Each path has it’s good and difficult aspects.

We are here for a short season and some are shorter than others. I lost a wife at age 18, a son who was 17, and both parents. From a fatal car wreck, to a plane crash, to deaths by cancer, the results are the same. There’s always a void, and more victims than one initially considers. Some deaths though are more symptomatic of imbalances within our society and culture and I believe that Steven P. Kazmierczak is one of those.

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary 

Comments

2 Responses to “Steven P. Kazmierczak”

  1. NLM on February 16th, 2008 3:29 am

    However well intended gun-free zone policies may be, the fact is that law-abiding citizens have greater potential for becoming defenseless targets! Acting in self defense against a criminal assault is legally guaranteed in all 50 states and federally, as it should be. Therefore, if an institution or establishment reserves the right to impose upon your right to bear arms, they should be liable for any loss of life, or bodily injury that results from a tragic event such as the one at Northern Illinois University.

  2. Simon on February 16th, 2008 1:04 pm

    I disagree that citizens should be allowed to carry guns. Human, especially Americans, are impetuous. Consider the number of road rages, drunken revelry and domestic abuses in this country. If everyone were armed, we would see shootings in freeways, homes and parks. Just look at the number of people who were shot in homes last week - you will be amazed. The average American is one on prescription medicine, engaging in sexual promiscuity while watching talkshows on TV. Immigrants have contributed more to this country than your average gun-toting American.

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