By Christy M Grubb
The plots follow a typically disturbing Hollywood movie, yet the alarming trend of children and gun violence is, in fact, a reality. While the percentage of violent crimes in America has fallen over the last few years, teens are committing more serious and more brutal crimes.
Over the past six months, the country has been exposed to many appalling incidences involving guns in the school yard. What is so surprising about the crimes is that they depart from the urban scene usually associated with youth violence and have moved into more rural settings.
The "boy next door" was a promising teen but suddenly snaps, putting everyone's life in danger. According to ABC News-Online, The first case which sparked a national trend involved a 16- year-old boy from Pearl, Mississippi. On the morning of October 1, the boy stabbed his mother to death and then, with a rifle hidden in his trench coat, went on a shooting spree in a crowded courtyard at Pearl High School. Two of his classmates were killed and seven were injured.
Police speculated that the boy was distraught over a breakup with his girlfriend and was bent on revenge, because the ex-girlfriend was the first victim. Then, in a amazing twist, six more teens were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Police officials declined to comment on whether or not the boys were involved in some type of cult activity, but they did state that the boys "did hang out together."
The young man behind all of the tragedy defended his motive in a letter, saying that he killed because people like him are mistreated every day.
The second occurrence of gun violence hit close to home for many Kentuckians. The 14-year old son of a prominent Paducah attorney, waited in the crowded lobby of Heath High School before class on December 1. When a nearby group of students finished praying, he drew a pistol and fired, killing three classmates and wounding five others. He was arraigned on January 15, with a judge entering an innocent plea. The boy faces life in prison without the possibility for parole for 25 years on each of the three murder charges; Kentucky law requires that violent criminals be at least 16 to be eligible for the death penalty.
The last case is quite possible the most shocking of all. On March 17, four students and a teacher were killed after a brutal ambush outside a Jonesboro, Arkansas middle school. The accused assailants are two young boys, a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old. Police officials say that the boys hid in the woods and waited until everyone came out of the school for a fire drill. It was then that they boys shot numerous rounds into the crowd, sending everyone into a panic and killing five people, according to ABC News-Online.
After all of these high profile stories, many may be wondering where young people are getting the firearms to commit such brutal crimes. In many of these cases, the defendants obtained the guns from home. Most of the boys were familiar with the location of the family firearms, as well as how to use them.
In other cases, authorities point out how easily a young person can purchase a gun. According to ABC News-Online, "in a recent study in 17 cities, investigators found that young people often buy guns near their hometowns, that guns move quickly from legal sales to illegal use, and that, even when they do not go on headline-making shooting sprees, teens are buying weapons with alarming ease."
Perhaps rural law enforcement agencies should follow the lead of urban police forces such as the one in Boston. According to ABC News-Online, through gun tracings, gang infiltration and prevention, the city's juvenile crime rate has plummeted. Now 27 other cities are trying the program, with the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
Many officials are optimistic that by targeting the gun supply, and through education, they can dramatically reduce the risk of more teen murder sprees.
Clinton sex scandal just won't go away
by Trampus King
It seems that everyone has some opinion of what has been going on with the man in charge, Bill Clinton. Now I know that ol' Bill may have been in some trouble the past few months, but that doesn't change the fact that he is still the president and is in charge of the greatest nation in the world.
I'm not trying to take sides in the situation, because everyone has their own political opinion that it is probably close to mine, but we won't go there. It seems like every day there is another computer generated picture of Clinton on the Internet with some of his gal pals romping around in their nighties in the White House bedroom. This disturbs me and many of the people I talked to on the Cumberland campus about this issue.
Bill Clinton is human. He may not be the greatest person in the world to most of us, but he is a man and he is in charge at the time. What goes on in his private life should be left in his private life. I understand that there are people who have the right to know what's going on, but, then again, if all of this had been left alone, the country may be in a better state of mind.
Every day there is someone new who comes out and says that she has been in contact with the President, that he has hit on them or whatever. Some of their stories may be true, but a lot of them are probably just melons along for the ride into history on the back of the truck.
It doesn't stop there. It seems like everyone has something comical to say about the situation, which they have the freedom of speech to do so. I only have one problem: I was brought up in a Christian home, where I was taught right from wrong. It upsets me when I'm going through the channels and stop to check out supposedly religious shows in which the whole time is devoted to telling people how awful and full of evil Clinton is.
Now I am not a preacher, but who is doing more damage here? On one side you have Clinton, who is the President, elected by the people. Then there is this highly notable religious figure on television telling our young people that we should go out and protest this man for what he has done and the people he has been accused of being with. Hmmm?? This is stirring to me.
When I was young and my great grandmother, who was a devout Christian woman for all of her 97 years on the earth I might add, would sit in front of the fireplace and read the Bible. I learned a lot of things that have made me live my life the way I do. I believe that there is an almighty power out there who tells us, "thou shall not judge." I believe that if some of these people would read their Bible it will say the same thing.
People should stay out of this man's personal life. It is his to pay judgment for, not our job to keep ridiculing him.
The people are the ultimate force in changing the political system. That's how you deal with a problem like this one.
Just leave the man alone, and let it go--it's old news.
Reflections of a rewarding trip to a Southeast degree
by Dorothy Thrash
It has been a long rewarding journey for me here at Southeast Community College. I must say that there were many times when I thought I wouldn't make it through to receive my degree. But here I am less than a month away from graduation.
I made a promise to myself more than 25 years ago. I will fore fill that promise of May 8th of this year. Proving to myself, and other senior citizens, that it is never too late in life to reach for your dreams. With hard work and perseverance dreams do come true. There were many who encouraged me as I pushed forward to achieve my goal.
I could always depend upon family, students, and faculty to lift my spirits by saying, "you can make it."
Even though I am happy with what I have accomplished, I can't help but feel moments of sadness when I think of leaving. As I walk from building to building and class to class, I realize that the students and faculty have become my extended family away from home.
I will miss everyone tremendously. Everyone has touch my life in so many ways. To all the students that always had a bright smile and cheerful hello when I passed by, I thank you.
To the professors who were determined to give more than what was required I thank you. If I was choosing for the first time a college to attend, I would still choose SECC.
I can remember my first day of school at SECC. I was so afraid of failing. So in memory of some of you who have touched my life in so many positive ways, I leave this note for laughter:
It is Hughes you should accuse
With Carr you will go far
If it's Foutch, you'll need a couch
Live some with Wilson
Someone to tell them, call Hellams
Reader is the leader
If you're trippin, go with Gibson
Who's on the phone with Jones
Utopia with Scopa
Lewis is the truest
Dr. Ayers really cares
Andy was dandy
Call knew it all
You won't find a rookie in Cookie
Massey was classy
You need Sundy on Monday
Hello Beautiful I could never forget you.
You are like sunshine on a cloudy day.
I'm signing off but never out. God bless your all.