Thoughts And Prayers, Thoughts And Prayers: Mass Shooting In Winder, Georgia!

Another damn school shooting. Winder, Georgia.

The blame game and mass shootings in.... will be combined.

Over 450 mass shootings.

Other mass shootings

• West Haven, UT
• Bessemer, AL
• Federal Way, WA
• Birmingham, AL
• Brooklyn, NY
• Nashville, TN
• Forest Park, IL
• Milford, DE
• Dayton, OH
• Waianae, HI (2)
• Albuquerque, NM
• Burnsville, MN
• Euclid, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Tulare, CA
• Philadelphia, PA (2)
• Warner Robins, GA
• Allentown, PA
• Syosset, NY
• Lubbock, TX
• Sioux Falls, SD
• Mobile, AL
• Chester, PA
• Dalton, GA

I normally do a long posting about the failures of Congress, President Joe Biden, former president Donald J. Trump, former president Barack Obama and former president George W. Bush. 

I am just going to flat out say it:

These idiots can't stop gun violence or Israel.

Another mass shooting in the United States and the usual remarks from lawmakers is "thoughts and prayers" or "my heart goes out to."

In the case of how Trump puts it, "we've got to get over it."

I am paraphrasing Trump but that is the shallow theme of his horrible campaign.

Biden, Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, J.D. Vance, Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia U.S. members reacted to the mass shooting in Winder, Georgia.

Barrow County sheriff deflects when asked about gun violence.

Apalachee High School, two weeks into the school year, 14 year old Colt Gray carried out a mass shooting which killed two students and two teachers. Gray, a student at the school, adding that the suspect would be charged with murder and tried as an adult. The suspect reportedly used an AR-15 style rifle in the school shooting. 

The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Reporting revealed that in May 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation had visited Gray and his family to investigate school shooting threats posted online. The FBI confirmed that the subject of that investigation was a then 13-year old Gray, but probable cause for an arrest did not exist.

Barrow County, Georgia voted for Trump handily.

Before the shooting, a call from an unknown source was placed to Apalachee High School stating that five schools would be targeted and that Apalachee would be the first.

Reports of the shooting were first received at around 9:30 am, with the school placed in lockdown at around 10:20 am and law enforcement responding at around 10:23 am. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation director said that the sheriff's office received calls of an active shooter at the school at around 10:20 am local time, with responders arriving within minutes. The school resource officers engaged the suspect within minutes and he surrendered to them.

One student told reporters that he had heard about 10 shots, not believing the shooting to be real until he heard an officer yelling at someone to put down their gun. Another recounted that after hearing the gunshots, the class barricaded the door with objects before hiding. One student said their teacher attempted to investigate the noises before being directed to lock the door due to an active shooter. Then they heard someone pounding on the door shouting "open up!" multiple times before gunshots and screams.

Students were evacuated from the building to the school's football field, after it had been deemed safe.

 Richard Aspenwall, Christina Irimie Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo.

The dead were identified as two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder, about an hour’s drive from Atlanta. Killed were two other 14-year-olds, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, and instructors Richard Aspenwall and Christina Irimie, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said in a nighttime news conference.

At least nine other people — eight students and one teacher — were taken to hospitals with injuries. All were expected to survive, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.

The words “hard lockdown” appeared on a screen in junior Layla Ferrell’s health class and lights began flashing. She and her frightened classmates piled desks and chairs in front of the door to create a barricade, she recalled.

Sophomore Kaylee Abner was in geometry class when she heard the gunshots. She and her classmates ducked behind their teacher’s desk, and then the teacher began flipping the desk in an attempt to barricade the classroom door, Abner said. A classmate beside her was praying, and she held his hand while they all waited for police.

The FBI narrowed the threats down and referred to the case to the sheriff’s department in Jackson County, which is adjacent to Barrow County.

The sheriff’s office interviewed the then-13-year-old and his father, who said there were hunting guns in the house but the teen did not have unsupervised access to them. The teen also denied making any online threats.

The sheriff’s office alerted local schools for continued monitoring of the teen, but there was no probable cause for arrest to additional action, the FBI said.

Students count their blessings.

The White House issued a statement confirming that Biden was briefed by Liz Sherwood-Randall, the Homeland Security Advisor, on the shooting and that his administration will "continue coordinating with federal, state, and local officials" as they receive more information. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his devastation in regards to the shooting and to anyone affected by it. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre commented on the shooting during the afternoon press briefing, discussing the concern for gun control in the form of universal background checks and other programs. 

Harris thanked first responders and stated that it "doesn't have to be this way."

Kemp tweeted his condolences and asked for all Georgians to join in praying for the safety of students in classrooms. Republican Georgia Representative Mike Collins, whose congressional district includes the school, issued a statement offering prayers for the victims and their families. The mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens offered his thoughts and prayers to those affected as well as support to responding law enforcement.

To all the Black firearm owners who support the Second Amendment or former president Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential race, I just want to say...

"YOU'RE GONNA BE SHOT BY POLICE TOO!"

The National Rifle Association never reacts to lawful exercise of firearm use when a Black, Hispanic, Arab, Muslim, Indigenous, LGBTQ or underage teen of color is carrying them.

It is automatic dehumanizing from the far right, police unions and the junk food media.

Biden says Congress is not doing enough to stop gun violence.

When white men, women or even some Asians are carrying firearms, the NRA is often parading them around like they're heroes and protectors of freedom.

In about 45 states, I believe it is lawful for you to walk down a street with a firearm.

If you're a Black man walking down the street with a firearm, the random 911 call or the visual spotting from a police officer merits an automatic drawl of a service weapon.

Police officers within seconds are either shooting or premeditated an excuse to use force.

The unions back up their claims of "fearing for their lives" despite the perpetrator not even firing a round. Given that the junk food media loves to paint the aggressor as the victim, the police officer is given the benefit of doubt. The person police shot usually do not get any ounce of doubt. A mugshot of a suspect or a picture of a person posing with money or firearms automatically draws far right conclusions to justification of force.

Even fleeing from police with a firearm and not even pointing at them results in police shootings. 

If a person does survive, the state still charges the person for a crime despite the state allowing open carry and lawful possession.

So I just want to say that the Second Amendment is White, period.

Harris campaigning in New Hampshire says this is too much.

A bullet does not care about color. We all bleed red and so many lives are lost to gun violence and Republicans offer no solutions other than "thoughts and prayers" with a touch of "lock em up."

Gun violence is the number one threat in the United States.

I dismiss this ridiculous notion that criminals are the problem, not the guns. Firearms are often obtained through legal purchases. 

Again, having more security, teachers being armed and offering safe rooms are not solving the problem. The problem is lawmakers not willing to stop gun violence.

According to the far right: White shooters are mentally ill. Black shooters are unrepentant thugs and criminals. Gay shooters are active groomers. Muslim shooters are terrorists. Hispanic and Asian shooters are illegal immigrants. According to the far right, almost all mass shooters are registered Democrats because they have liked or done one thing common to the left. Of course, they often share disinformation by using the "Sam Hyde" meme or make bogus social media platforms with the shooter's image as a way to denounce most mass shooters being white or associated with conservative causes. They say a white person should "protect" themselves from protesters and use of firearms are "justified" if they come to a protest to instigate conflict. They say if a shooter is active military or a veteran who supports conservative causes, they are considered a "heroes" and use of firearms are justified. If the shooters are teens, the far right automatically assume the gunmen are Black.

The Republicans usually amplify white victims. Anytime a person of color kills a white victim, it is often wall-to-wall coverage on Fox, Twitter and they force it into national news. They make the case to blame Black Lives Matter, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Democrats, Rev. Al Sharpton and rap music for Black on whatever violence. Republican lawmakers who do not live in urban neighborhoods often troll social media to talk about gun violence or crime in Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee and New York City while not doing a damn thing to stop it. If a white person shoots a Black person, the shooter is given the benefit of doubt. White shooters are given glowing profiles about their perfect lives and how friends noticed something but refused to do something. When it comes to Black shooters, automatic vilification. They don't see mental illness. They see it as gang violence, allegedly fatherless homes, Democratic policies or the need for more firearms. The far right and Republicans exploit gun violence in the Black community for culture wars and racism.

Unconfirmed image of the shooter.

So in closing, expect more.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those police officers who were killed in the line of duty. Those victims who don't get their names or accomplishments mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence. We are tracking police violence as well. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. 

Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence. Let them know that we are tired of police officers using immunity when committing death of suspects in custody. Let them know that you are tired of private equity firms getting away with destroying small businesses and long established companies. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel. You are tired of hearing about "Israel having a right to..." and the bogus claims of being anti-semitic or in support of terrorism. 

We have bigger issues at home and our tax dollars should solve the housing crisis, lowering food prices, fixing roads, bridges, helping reinvest in struggling urban and rural communities. We have hospitals closing, big box retailers leaving communities and television programs dying. There are bigger issues in the country than Israel. You want an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists.