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As we mourn Oklahoma, let's not forget more people die weekly from gun crime As we mourn Oklahoma, let's not forget more people die weekly from gun crime
(4 months later)
The awful events in Oklahoma City have captured the world's attention and concern. As I write this from the United Kingdom, 24 people have been killed and reports of 10 times that number have been injured. We see scenes of the two schools, Briarwood and Plaza Towers, as well as Moore Medical Centre, that were badly damaged.The awful events in Oklahoma City have captured the world's attention and concern. As I write this from the United Kingdom, 24 people have been killed and reports of 10 times that number have been injured. We see scenes of the two schools, Briarwood and Plaza Towers, as well as Moore Medical Centre, that were badly damaged.
I don't want to belittle from this tragedy. I have found myself looking again and again at the images and stories. But I can't help but think that gun crime in America kills more people almost every week than even these mighty tornados.I don't want to belittle from this tragedy. I have found myself looking again and again at the images and stories. But I can't help but think that gun crime in America kills more people almost every week than even these mighty tornados.
It is impossible to put a value on a life – and the 24 lost so far from yesterday's events is terrible and heart-breaking – but, since the beginning of May, over 370 people have reportedly lost their lives to gun crime in the Unites States.It is impossible to put a value on a life – and the 24 lost so far from yesterday's events is terrible and heart-breaking – but, since the beginning of May, over 370 people have reportedly lost their lives to gun crime in the Unites States.
It's also the case that since 1950, Oklahoma has experienced more tornados than any other state in the country. Previously, two major tornados have also hit the city – in 1999 and 2003 – both beginning near the same southwest corner, at Newcastle, and continuing through Moore and up to Midwest City.It's also the case that since 1950, Oklahoma has experienced more tornados than any other state in the country. Previously, two major tornados have also hit the city – in 1999 and 2003 – both beginning near the same southwest corner, at Newcastle, and continuing through Moore and up to Midwest City.
Why wasn't anything done to prevent it?Why wasn't anything done to prevent it?
Well, just as with New Orleans in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina – where human construction of levees weakened the natural defences, rendering the poorer residents in "the bowl" particularly vulnerable, even though the disaster was predicted at least a year prior – Oklahoma City residents were the victim of negligence from their own voted representatives.Well, just as with New Orleans in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina – where human construction of levees weakened the natural defences, rendering the poorer residents in "the bowl" particularly vulnerable, even though the disaster was predicted at least a year prior – Oklahoma City residents were the victim of negligence from their own voted representatives.
The state's two senators, Tom Coburn and James Inhofe (both Republicans), have a history of opposing legislation that directly supports Oklahoma if a natural disaster were to hit. And, even more crucially for the continuing fight for the sanctity of life, together they were key to the failure of the federal gun control legislation, which will continue to facilitate and perpetuate murder across the United States.The state's two senators, Tom Coburn and James Inhofe (both Republicans), have a history of opposing legislation that directly supports Oklahoma if a natural disaster were to hit. And, even more crucially for the continuing fight for the sanctity of life, together they were key to the failure of the federal gun control legislation, which will continue to facilitate and perpetuate murder across the United States.
In 2011, Senator Tom Coburn proposed an amendment to offset $7bn of funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as voting against funding FEMA in the same year if it became bankrupt. Fellow Oklahoma Senator Inhofe abstained from voting. Inhofe also suggested dissembling storm shelters. Both senators voted against relief funding after Hurricane Sandy, although they have suddenly changed their stance, calling post-tornado relief for Oklahoma "totally different".In 2011, Senator Tom Coburn proposed an amendment to offset $7bn of funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as voting against funding FEMA in the same year if it became bankrupt. Fellow Oklahoma Senator Inhofe abstained from voting. Inhofe also suggested dissembling storm shelters. Both senators voted against relief funding after Hurricane Sandy, although they have suddenly changed their stance, calling post-tornado relief for Oklahoma "totally different".
But what of guns? In Tom Coburn's own words:But what of guns? In Tom Coburn's own words:
"I oppose any and all efforts to mandate gun control on law-abiding citizens. I staunchly support gun ownership and, as a gun owner myself, I believe we have a constitutional right to do so.' He recently described the very concept of expanding the background check on gun owners as 'unworkable.'""I oppose any and all efforts to mandate gun control on law-abiding citizens. I staunchly support gun ownership and, as a gun owner myself, I believe we have a constitutional right to do so.' He recently described the very concept of expanding the background check on gun owners as 'unworkable.'"
Inhofe, to his credit, has at least come out offending everyone he possibly can to defend his support of guns, by implying recently that the families affected by the Newtown massacre only believed the gun control bill had something "to do with them" because "they were told that by the president". Well, there goes the intelligence and rationality of the affected families, James. "It's unfair of the administration to hurt these families," he added, rendering all logic and emotion supposedly superfluous.Inhofe, to his credit, has at least come out offending everyone he possibly can to defend his support of guns, by implying recently that the families affected by the Newtown massacre only believed the gun control bill had something "to do with them" because "they were told that by the president". Well, there goes the intelligence and rationality of the affected families, James. "It's unfair of the administration to hurt these families," he added, rendering all logic and emotion supposedly superfluous.
A brief look at Slate's GunDeath crowd-sourced initiative reveals that the majority of these deaths come from New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago and Detroit. Poor, mostly black areas. This isn't new. Since Newtown there has been a growing awareness that reportage is failing. The 44 people killed in gun crime in Oklahoma state is comparatively low, even if more than died yesterday.A brief look at Slate's GunDeath crowd-sourced initiative reveals that the majority of these deaths come from New Orleans, Memphis, Chicago and Detroit. Poor, mostly black areas. This isn't new. Since Newtown there has been a growing awareness that reportage is failing. The 44 people killed in gun crime in Oklahoma state is comparatively low, even if more than died yesterday.
For the large media outlets the thinking seems to be that people don't care unless a sexy headline can be spun. The problem is a mass murder is a story, whilst one or two gun violence deaths are a statistic. Unless crowd-sourcing such as the Slate project continues to grow, media outlets will continue to ignore this incessant chain of gun violence death.For the large media outlets the thinking seems to be that people don't care unless a sexy headline can be spun. The problem is a mass murder is a story, whilst one or two gun violence deaths are a statistic. Unless crowd-sourcing such as the Slate project continues to grow, media outlets will continue to ignore this incessant chain of gun violence death.
Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on 14 December 2012 where a gunman shot and killed 27 people, at least 4,291 more people have died from gun crime in the US. That number is most likely larger by the time you read this. Thirty of these victims have been children, and only a handful of them white.Since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on 14 December 2012 where a gunman shot and killed 27 people, at least 4,291 more people have died from gun crime in the US. That number is most likely larger by the time you read this. Thirty of these victims have been children, and only a handful of them white.
They are: Darrien Nez, Elijah Henderson, Tramond Davidson, Clayton Veninga, Jordan Dawson, Tywon Jones, Olajuwon Clayborn, Daniel Gardner, Jadarrius Speights, Shasta Miller, Shelby Miller, Pierre Childs, Kinsler Allen Davis, Dylan Cheek, Jason Haley, Dejour Gadsden, Jarvan Jackson, Brandon Vu, Sawyer Simpson, Carly Simpson, Greg Reese, Makayla Lance, Marqui Thompson, Clifton Barney, Gwyan Elijah Levine, Sharquette Smith, Daja Robinson, Elvira Campos and two more, a girl of 10 and a boy of 16, as yet identified.They are: Darrien Nez, Elijah Henderson, Tramond Davidson, Clayton Veninga, Jordan Dawson, Tywon Jones, Olajuwon Clayborn, Daniel Gardner, Jadarrius Speights, Shasta Miller, Shelby Miller, Pierre Childs, Kinsler Allen Davis, Dylan Cheek, Jason Haley, Dejour Gadsden, Jarvan Jackson, Brandon Vu, Sawyer Simpson, Carly Simpson, Greg Reese, Makayla Lance, Marqui Thompson, Clifton Barney, Gwyan Elijah Levine, Sharquette Smith, Daja Robinson, Elvira Campos and two more, a girl of 10 and a boy of 16, as yet identified.
Recognise any names? Likely not.Recognise any names? Likely not.
From the perspective of London, the media outcry about the tragedy in Oklahoma seems slightly over the top. As news broke, reports ranged that 50 to 90 people had been killed. Today, it is reported that every single student within Briarwood has been accounted for. Thank goodness. The situation at Plaza Towers seems far worse, however, with seven confirmed dead and more still to be found. Horrible news, certainly, but not on the scale of the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh on the 24 April, which killed 1,217.From the perspective of London, the media outcry about the tragedy in Oklahoma seems slightly over the top. As news broke, reports ranged that 50 to 90 people had been killed. Today, it is reported that every single student within Briarwood has been accounted for. Thank goodness. The situation at Plaza Towers seems far worse, however, with seven confirmed dead and more still to be found. Horrible news, certainly, but not on the scale of the collapse of the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh on the 24 April, which killed 1,217.
The search for survivors in the Bangladesh factory only finished a week ago. Without doubt, it is one of the most horrific events of the year, especially considering the comparatively shallow awareness of the event and the fact that the building was a supplying of garments for none other than British favourite cheap retail store Primark.The search for survivors in the Bangladesh factory only finished a week ago. Without doubt, it is one of the most horrific events of the year, especially considering the comparatively shallow awareness of the event and the fact that the building was a supplying of garments for none other than British favourite cheap retail store Primark.
If we can equate 24 American lives with 1,127 Bangladeshis on the world stage, surely we can start adding up the individuals who lose their lives on a daily basis from US gun crime and begin to put an end to this madness. It will take time to change a whole way of thinking from the outside, but it is not impossible.If we can equate 24 American lives with 1,127 Bangladeshis on the world stage, surely we can start adding up the individuals who lose their lives on a daily basis from US gun crime and begin to put an end to this madness. It will take time to change a whole way of thinking from the outside, but it is not impossible.
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