I might have mentioned that I live in Chardon, Ohio. The other day, the boy who shot six of his classmates, killing three and wounding three others in differing degrees of severity, was up for arraignment. His defense attorney was able to gain a delay for the trial as they prepare an insanity defense. There was no real argument, judging from the video of the hearing . No one around here can imagine the young man committing the crime unless he is insane.
In contrast, in many of America’s cities young men shooting other young men barely attracts notice. In common, “Homicide victims usually are killed by people of their own race and ethnicity. The pattern goes back at least a generation.” In contrast, more black young men kill each other than white young men do. “Overall, more than half the nation’s homicide victims are African-American, though blacks make up only 13% of the population. Of those black murder victims, 85% were men, mostly young men.” So, we don’t pay attention because it is so common. These murders barely make the news. Isn’t it shocking that this is not shocking?
Why do they kill each other? Usually it is over matters the rest of us find inconsequential, which looks likely also true of the murders in my town. In my town, that means a boy would have to be crazy to murder anyone.
The Journal story has some portions that are questionable. “A 2009 study by Iowa State analyzing other data estimated that a single murder runs up more than $17 million in costs to the police, courts, prisons, social services and to the families of victims and suspects.” How is that figured? If just Chicago has recorded 337 murders this year that is $5, 729,000,000 going forward for that city alone. No wonder Chicago is going broke. The numbers seems inflated, but the crime statistics are solid and are shocking in themselves.
The stories cited in the article are sad and I’ll bet are a world away from anyone who reads my post here. Each case sounds like one of insanity to me, but I’m from Chardon.
While I have you, can I ask you something? I’ll be quick.
Twenty-five thousand people subscribe to First Things. Why can’t that be fifty thousand? Three million people read First Things online like you are right now. Why can’t that be four million?
Let’s stop saying “can’t.” Because it can. And your year-end gift of just $50, $100, or even $250 or more will make it possible.
How much would you give to introduce just one new person to First Things? What about ten people, or even a hundred? That’s the power of your charitable support.
Make your year-end gift now using this secure link or the button below.
