Northern New Mexico’s City of Farmington on Monday, May 15, joined the ignominious distinction of becoming yet another U.S. City with a mass shooting and murders.
A total of three persons were killed by a teenage gunman and six were wounded in the shooting first reported to police around 11 a.m. Two police officers were among the wounded and while one was released from a hospital the other was still hospitalized as of Monday night. The 18-year-old shooter was found and shot and killed by police.
His name had not been released as of press time. The dead and wounded had also not been identified by name.
According to published reports, “Chief Steve Hebbe of the Farmington Police Department said in a video statement … that the rampage appeared to be ‘purely random.’ ”
The gunman reportedly was in a residential area of Farmington and using at least three different weapons shot at will at houses, cars, and individuals. Reports said one of the weapons used was an “AR-style rifle.”
Predictably politicians from all quarters, including New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, condemned the shooting and said these acts of violence must end.
End when? End how? Words from elected officials all over the country ring hollow when mass shootings occur because nothing changes. Give us specifics, please. What changes need to be made in gun laws, background checks, and help for mentally deranged men and women? Deranged is the proper term, not just “mentally and emotionally troubled.”
Deranged individuals randomly shoot folks.Lately some of the victims such as the ones recently in Allen, TX., at a shopping mall have been little children.
The Gun Violence Archive estimates there have been over 200 mass shootings so far this year. Definitions of “mass shootings” vary but we know one when we either witness it or read about it. Last year, 2022, there were a reported 647 mass shootings and 21 of those involved five or more fatalities, according to national statistics. This issue is a national crisis and to imagine the most powerful nation on earth cannot come up with a solution is inexcusable.
Political leaders: be bold, be creative, and exhaust all possible solutions to this epidemic. It’s your job. It’s what we pay you to do. Do your jobs, now.