WASHINGTON —
Again this nation is horrified and shocked as yet another shooting rampage makes us shudder and shake our heads in disbelief. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, as we mourn with the nation and watch the story of Aurora, Colo., unfold.
James Holmes, 24, managed to open the back door of a movie theater in Aurora, kill 12 and wound 59.
But are we really shocked?
Have we become so accustomed to turning on the news to watch coverage of shooting rampages like that in nearby Columbine 13 years ago, Nickel Mines, Pa., Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, and that of Gabby Gifford, that somehow Thursday night’s tragedy is just another notch in this nation’s belt of senselessness?
Do we simply move on with our lives, and just wait for another seemingly mentally unstable person to lose control in a crowd?
Returning to center stage will be the popular demands for better public safety, tighter gun controls and less violence in the media — since many will assume the action flick “Batman — The Dark Knight Rises,” could provoke someone to open fire in a movie theater. And, while all those things might not be bad ideas individually, none of them will get to the root of the problem in America.
Anyone can walk into a crowded super store, post office or school, and even with a legal weapon, purposely assassinate innocent victims. No new legislation will ever change that. Perhaps we might all live like hermits and stay within the safe confines of our own homes. But even that isn’t practical, as we think back to our own Daviess County rural shooting spree in 1996.
An accelerated pace of moral decay is the source of problem, and it goes back a long way, but such insane actions have become much more prevalent since the shootings in Columbine. Did we ever think we would ever be so de-sensitized to killers firing on innocent victims in mass?
Aurora’s shooting will soon likely be a distant memory because it will be yet another town or city parking lot, with another crowd of people screaming to get away and clutching their loved ones in horror.
Senseless, just senseless.
Local News
Making sense of Colorado shooting
Our View
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North Daviess still facing budget cuts
Members of the state legislature gave schools a two percent increase but North Daviess Community Schools Superintendent Robert Bell said the corporation will still get funding cuts over the next four years.
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Three injured in accident
Three persons were injured Thursday afternoon when a driver ran a red light on the U.S. 50 Bypass south of Washington at SR 257.
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Wrestlers for relay
The Team Todd Relay for Life team will be joining with Tri-State Wrestling to bring an event to the Old Petersburg Gym on Saturday. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with bell time at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 and children under 4 are free. All proceeds from the event go to the Daviess County Relay for Life Team Todd.
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Dollar General focuses on reading
The Dollar General Literacy Foundation announced an award of $7,800 to the Washington Carnegie Public Library to support the new adult literacy program being now being offered.
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Letters returned after 55 years
Fifty-five years ago Jerry Decker wrote letters back home to his sweetheart, Carol, from Camp Pendleton, California where he was based in the Marine Corps. Fifty-five years later, Jerry still had his letters from Carol. But Carol, now Jerry¹s wife of 52 years, had, well misplaced a few of hers.
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Police Report
CITY REPORT
Tuesday11:08 p.m. - A female caller reported a power outage on Old U.S. 50 W. Line crews responded, but were not able to restore electricity due to a faulty underground line. The line was fixed Wednesday.
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Shoals graduation set
Commencement exercises will be held in the gymnasium of the Shoals Junior-Senior High School at 2 p.m. Saturday for 36 candidates for graduation. The Junior-Senior High School Band, under the direction of Joel Weitkamp, will open the commencement program with the processional, followed by the national anthem.
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Area Briefs
Williams reunion on Sunday
The Nora and Beve Williams family reunion will be held at noon Sunday at Washington Eastside Park Pavilion. Bring a picnic lunch and any mementoes.
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Police Report
CITY REPORT
Monday
8:49 p.m. - A complainant on station turned in a pouch that contained an electronic tablet. The pouch was found at Eastside Park. -
WC to graduate on Friday
Washington Catholic High School will hold its commencement exercises at 8 p.m. Friday in the gymnasium. Following the procession and invocation, Karie Craney, principal, will make introductory remarks. The salutatory addresses by Hannah Emmons and Steven Holland will follow a musical selection by the WC Ensemble. The valedictory address will then be given by Andrea Onyett. Daryl Hagan, superintendent of Catholic Schools Diocese of Evansville, and Andrew Wibbeler, dean of students, will present graduate scholarships. Bishop Charles C. Thompson, Diocese of Evansville, Daryl Hagan and Karie Craney will then present the diplomas.
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