Phew ok... a couple of days passed and Wes pretty much said what i wanted to say (he's awesome that way). But still,i want to bring an "exception" to the shooting cases we are bringing here. It was during a cold day in march 2012, a scooter was stolen and some kids in a Jewish private school were out in recess.
Mohamed Merah.
Remember his name cause the french will never forget. American folks don't recall that story much, not because it happen in France, but because it was during the G.O.P's "super Tuesday". Even though Obama and Hilary gave a minute of silence to the victims, the U.S media had other cats to fry it seems. I recall a segment on CNN and fox news totally distorting the news and experts called it a "predictable terrorist act". Still, let's look into him and see if we can learn something after last week shootings.
Mohamed Merah wasn't in any drug related condition (don't forget health care is universal in France, you can pretty much walk in a clinic with empty pockets and walk out no problem like a boss), he was under watch by the authority after he seek his "contacts" with Al-qaida. He had both legal owned weapons and illegal weaponry in his domicile (rumors said he wanted to train people), he had a suicidal history, he tried to join the french army and the foreign legion but was rejected... So he went out to do one of the bloodiest shooting in french history against jewish kids (unarmed) ... then against french soldiers (armed).
After a 30 hours shooting, yes i did say 30 hours, he was finally brought down by parachutists in an almost 5 wanted stars GTA like scenario complete with the middle finger as his dying gesture. It must be said that many times before march 2012, the french authority wanted to arrest him for his violent behavior but was either released after insufficient evidence or because... well... the gun law, tough strict in France, isn't enforced enough for his case. After all, he had a receipt for his weapon (most of them).
You may say that this proves that gun laws had no effect when it comes to prevent this crazed killer, saying that, i can assure you, will only loose sympathy from the victims (and the french) no matter the number of time you will give your hearts and feeling to them. They will only hear insults. Now, you can say that this man was a "special case" and that he was an Arab (don't even go there) who acted like a radical Islamic terrorist seeing how successful he was with his plan, all french intelligence reports proved he had no relation with any terrorist cell whatsoever, he was just alone and insane. They even found out he left the country and search unsuccessfully for Al Qaeda contacts then afterward he tried to join the french army or any "gun wielding organization" like he said to his closest friends, his criminal records prevented him. His buddies even said they were worried cause he constantly mumbled he wanted to kill something. He found no way to kill "legally" in the end...
...Instead, he only found guns either with a permit or in the black market. He armed himself like a commando complete with grenades and automatic rifles, grew a deep hatred against society and created a crazy made-up conspiracy against his Arabic roots. All in one day, he shot Imad Ibn-Ziaten (who was also muslim like Merah), a french soldier who though off duty, was in uniform and armed at the time of his death. Stole his scooter then gunned down some Jewis, including the death of a teacher and three kids. The next few days, he targeted police officers and soldiers sent to bring back order. His killing and his crazy 30 hours long arrest has promoted his case from "Random shooting" to "terrorism". To this day, the survivors and the family of the victims agrees, the swat team that lead the raid agrees, Mohamed Merah's family who tried to talk him down from his madness also agrees, Merah was insane and if there were more prevention in any way, the massacre could of been avoided.
Gun. Must. Not. Roam. Free.
And now i bring this sad but uplifting story from an interview of Imad Ibn-Ziaten's mother whose son was the soldier and the first victim of the shooting. She gave a lesson about how anyone should react to shootings in general.
It came to me, i wanted to know who was Merah. Where does he live? Who was he? and also why? So when i went to the bloc [he grew up in], I found some youths siting down. I assure you it was horrid just horrid. What i saw it will always stay with me. I asked them, "Do you know who Mohamed Merah was?" and right after, they laughed at me and high-fived each other. "But Madam, you don't know who Mohamed Merah was? He was a martyr! A hero of islam!" I was in disbelief. I presented myself to them, "See before you, i am Imad Ibn-Ziaten's mother, the first soldier and victim to die before Merah. Do you have any idea what is happening to me? Are you aware of what i am going trough?" Right after, they changed attitude. They were ashamed, crying even. "Madam... we are sorry... we didn't know!" So we sat down and talked for nearly an hour. We exchange our stories and our problems and that's when it struck me: they need our help. Unless we come to them and aid their situation in their location. The racism, their economic problems, the social inequality, there will always be another "Mohamed Mera". I saw their tearful eyes. I am Muslim and i was afraid of them but i pitied them. Unless we, as a people, make more restrictions and we come to the help of the needed, there will always be more shootings and more victims.
The quotation is at 0:41 of this video (sorry, only in french, still looking for an English version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww8zWD1HcFM
She started a movement to help the needed, stop anti-semitism and racism altogether and even help the poor on the side. Want to stop tragedies? I say, be inspired by her, go out and prevent desperation, stop being worried about freedom or security. Instead share your love. I ain't a religious man but i will end with the mother of the victim's word to the press, "Inchalla".
