There has been another horrible tragedy involving a mass murderer. On Friday evening, May 23, 2014, suspect Elliot Rodger, age 22, went on a rampage in the college village of Isla Vista, near the campus of the University of California-Santa Barbara. He killed two sorority sisters, wounded a third, then killed Chris Martinez at a village deli. He apparently took his own life when confronted by police.
After the shooting, his apartment was searched and it was discovered that he had allegedly stabbed three young men to death there. All victims were UCSB students.
The suspect posted many videos and also had written a rambling manifesto that was discovered after the crime, and was clearly seriously disturbed.
Why am I mentioning this unspeakable event? Because this type of mass murder has become much too common in the United States. Rodger owned three high-powered hand guns which he had purchased legally. He also had 400 rounds of ammunition in his car.
Sadly, we in the U.S. have seen this happen frequently in recent years. We have seen Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandyhook, the mass shooting at a hair salon in Seal Beach, California, where eight people were killed, and several rampages on military bases.
It seems that what once was a peace-loving nation has evolved into a country where so many have so little regard for life. There is easy access to weapons, and even if common-sense gun control measures are passed (which I am in favor of), it is likely that criminals and the mentally ill will still be able to buy guns illegally.
I feel for all the victims of these heinous acts and their families. Nothing can ever bring their loved ones back home. We, as a nation, however, need to act to at lease attempt to curb this horrible violence.
I don't know about individual cases, but generally, statistics show that people who perpetuate violence again human beings often started by abusing animals.
Although we have more humane laws today then we had, say, when I was a child, I do not recall even a fraction of the cruelty being perpetuated in the sixties as today.
What is so disturbing to me is that there has been an upsurge in blood sports, e.g., hunting among women and young girls. I never remember hearing of any female hunters when I was young, it was horrible enough that men participated.
Our country is going down the wrong path-wanton violence against any and all members of society, and also, flaunting of laws and not accepting moral responsibility for the welfare of humans and/or animals.
Here is what I find so disturbing: Factory farms, with all their inherent cruelty (unheard of fifty years ago); hunting, with bow-hunting being even more gut-wrenching than hunting with guns (although both turn my stomach); exotic foods (a restaurant in Orange County, California was serving lion); rampant poaching (even of majestic redwood trees in California!); flaunting of rules, regulations and laws (we all have read of Cliven Bundy, who thinks it is his right to graze his cattle on public lands and not pay a dime for the privilege). The list goes on and on. Oh, and we are not along, what about the zoo in Denmark who has a penchant for slaughtering healthy animals.
We all need to wake up and give our best efforts to curbing all violence, wherever and however it rears its ugly head. Give what you can afford to the organization of your choice, whether it is MADD, a political candidate that shares your views, a children's hospital, or an animals welfare organization.
Vote and make it count. I research candidate's voting record on animal welfare and environmental issues before I make my decision. Each of us only has one vote, so make it count!
It would be wonderful if we could keep weapons out of the hands of those who should not own them. A daunting task, for sure, and it will never be 100% successful, as guns are, sadly, everywhere, but we can try.
If more tragedies like the one in California on Friday can in any way be avoided, it will be worth every ounce of effort put into it!
