Another mass shooting. Another mass shooting in TEXAS. Another mass shooting in WEST TEXAS. Just a few weeks ago in El Paso. Not to mention all the other ones that taken place across the nation in the past few months.
Just a couple of days after the El Paso mass shooting, I was talking with a co-worker who told me that she was now afraid to go ANYWHERE. Then she said, almost prophetically, "it could even happen here (Midland, TX)." This lady went on to say that she was worried about her grandchildren every time they left the house, afraid to go to the mall, to any public event, and even to church. I know that many other people feel the same way. If I go out in public, will I walk into the gun sight of some angry sniper? Can the police protect me? Will this be the last time I see my loved ones? Do many people ask these questions every time they leave the house?
So this past Saturday I was at home playing with the grandchildren, enjoying the company of my lovely bride and my son. I had just talked with my mom. I told her how great a day we were having. We talked awhile then said our good-byes and ended the conversation. Minutes later, around 3:40 PM, I received a call from one of my employees who told me that the hospital was under general lock down and the disaster plan had been activated. All hospital personnel who were not actually on duty were summoned for an emergency involving multiple casualties. Even as I hurriedly dressed for work, the news app on my phone alerted me that a mass shooting was in progress and the active shooter had not yet been located by police. In fact, the police at this point believed there could be two or more shooters. I raced out the door to my vehicle. As I drove into town I wondered if the shooter might be somewhere between me and the hospital. And I also thought, it is finally happening here! Another mass shooting, here in my own town!
Although I cannot publish here what went on at the hospital, those of us who were called in during the emergency remained for several hours. Finally, a news alert over my telephone stated that a shooter was dead, several people were injured, including three officers, and that at least five people were dead. Soon the news service stated that twenty or more people were injured or dead. Shortly after that announcement, all employees who had responded to the emergency were released to go on their way. I, and my fellow workers, had no idea if any of our friends or relatives were numbered among the injured or dead. And the thought with me must have been with the others: It happened here...it happened in my town.
I drove slowly toward home, under the speed limit, deep in thought, and probably annoying someone behind me. Another mass shooting. Another mass shooting in Texas. Another mass shooting in West Texas. The sister cities, Midland and Odessa, were still praying for the people of El Paso, had only recently sent aid to the citizens there. Now the same thing had happened here. People were hurting. People were dead. And there was that nagging fear in my heart that, it happened here finally, but was it really over? Did the police really catch the one and only shooter? At one point it had been believed, at least by the public, that there could be more than one shooter. Later, the Police Chief of Odessa put a rather practical spin on it when he said that, while it was possible there was more than one shooter, no one else was shot after THE suspect was killed by police.
Now, over twenty-four hours after this tragedy, the identity of the shooter was revealed by the police. I refuse to place his name here, but will only refer to him as the shooter, although the Odessa Police Chief phrased it better when he called the shooter an animal. As with the last couple of mass shooters, this shooter/animal, whatever his beliefs/problems were, chose to inflict pain on others rather than either seeking help for himself, or failing that, putting himself out of his own misery without inflicting death, pain, and terror on others.
Yesterday, shortly after this attack occurred, I saw posted on Facebook these words:
You have looked in no person's eyes today who was not a child of God.
I know that is true, but I have to wonder how a child of God becomes so misguided as to carry out the carnage brought to bear on the people of the Permian Basin yesterday. The police have not revealed the shooter's suspected motive yet, and I don't really care what his motive was. Will knowing his, the shooter's, motive somehow make this crime easier for the survivors, the bereaved loved ones, those whose relatives are in the hospital, to accept? Will it bring "closure?" No to both of those. I am sure the motive will be pretty much the same as the other shooters' motives. The shooter was angry about something, he had been mistreated as a child, he felt the government was oppressing him, or fill in the repetitive blank. The fact is that another mass shooting/mass murder was committed. I cannot fathom in my mind what it is that allows a person to feel he has the right to kill others because of his own misfortune, or even just because he is a barbaric brute. And we never know when another shooter will repeat this act in another city. It even happen in Midland or Odessa again.
PS:
The quick action of the police, and calls of citizens along the shooter's route, helped keep the casualties from being even higher.
May the Good Shepherd comfort all those who are hurting because of this tragedy, may He walk along with those who lost loved ones, and may He carry those who are too weak to walk on their own in the coming days..
Just a couple of days after the El Paso mass shooting, I was talking with a co-worker who told me that she was now afraid to go ANYWHERE. Then she said, almost prophetically, "it could even happen here (Midland, TX)." This lady went on to say that she was worried about her grandchildren every time they left the house, afraid to go to the mall, to any public event, and even to church. I know that many other people feel the same way. If I go out in public, will I walk into the gun sight of some angry sniper? Can the police protect me? Will this be the last time I see my loved ones? Do many people ask these questions every time they leave the house?
So this past Saturday I was at home playing with the grandchildren, enjoying the company of my lovely bride and my son. I had just talked with my mom. I told her how great a day we were having. We talked awhile then said our good-byes and ended the conversation. Minutes later, around 3:40 PM, I received a call from one of my employees who told me that the hospital was under general lock down and the disaster plan had been activated. All hospital personnel who were not actually on duty were summoned for an emergency involving multiple casualties. Even as I hurriedly dressed for work, the news app on my phone alerted me that a mass shooting was in progress and the active shooter had not yet been located by police. In fact, the police at this point believed there could be two or more shooters. I raced out the door to my vehicle. As I drove into town I wondered if the shooter might be somewhere between me and the hospital. And I also thought, it is finally happening here! Another mass shooting, here in my own town!
Although I cannot publish here what went on at the hospital, those of us who were called in during the emergency remained for several hours. Finally, a news alert over my telephone stated that a shooter was dead, several people were injured, including three officers, and that at least five people were dead. Soon the news service stated that twenty or more people were injured or dead. Shortly after that announcement, all employees who had responded to the emergency were released to go on their way. I, and my fellow workers, had no idea if any of our friends or relatives were numbered among the injured or dead. And the thought with me must have been with the others: It happened here...it happened in my town.
I drove slowly toward home, under the speed limit, deep in thought, and probably annoying someone behind me. Another mass shooting. Another mass shooting in Texas. Another mass shooting in West Texas. The sister cities, Midland and Odessa, were still praying for the people of El Paso, had only recently sent aid to the citizens there. Now the same thing had happened here. People were hurting. People were dead. And there was that nagging fear in my heart that, it happened here finally, but was it really over? Did the police really catch the one and only shooter? At one point it had been believed, at least by the public, that there could be more than one shooter. Later, the Police Chief of Odessa put a rather practical spin on it when he said that, while it was possible there was more than one shooter, no one else was shot after THE suspect was killed by police.
Now, over twenty-four hours after this tragedy, the identity of the shooter was revealed by the police. I refuse to place his name here, but will only refer to him as the shooter, although the Odessa Police Chief phrased it better when he called the shooter an animal. As with the last couple of mass shooters, this shooter/animal, whatever his beliefs/problems were, chose to inflict pain on others rather than either seeking help for himself, or failing that, putting himself out of his own misery without inflicting death, pain, and terror on others.
Yesterday, shortly after this attack occurred, I saw posted on Facebook these words:
You have looked in no person's eyes today who was not a child of God.
I know that is true, but I have to wonder how a child of God becomes so misguided as to carry out the carnage brought to bear on the people of the Permian Basin yesterday. The police have not revealed the shooter's suspected motive yet, and I don't really care what his motive was. Will knowing his, the shooter's, motive somehow make this crime easier for the survivors, the bereaved loved ones, those whose relatives are in the hospital, to accept? Will it bring "closure?" No to both of those. I am sure the motive will be pretty much the same as the other shooters' motives. The shooter was angry about something, he had been mistreated as a child, he felt the government was oppressing him, or fill in the repetitive blank. The fact is that another mass shooting/mass murder was committed. I cannot fathom in my mind what it is that allows a person to feel he has the right to kill others because of his own misfortune, or even just because he is a barbaric brute. And we never know when another shooter will repeat this act in another city. It even happen in Midland or Odessa again.
PS:
The quick action of the police, and calls of citizens along the shooter's route, helped keep the casualties from being even higher.
May the Good Shepherd comfort all those who are hurting because of this tragedy, may He walk along with those who lost loved ones, and may He carry those who are too weak to walk on their own in the coming days..
I’m glad you and your family are safe! The state of today’s reality is truly frightening! Praying for peace and solutions.
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