Bang, Bang ... Again

 

So we had another fatal shooting in Winston-Salem last night making it a total for January of 9 with another night to go. On an annual basis, that puts us on the track for 108 murders in 2023, some 3 times the 33 murders in 2022.  

 This instance was a most common one:

• Nearly all the perpetrators and their victims in our city are black with a few Hispanics thrown in for good measure. That is in direct proportion to racial demographics throughout the country.
  
• Last night's murder occurred in a parking lot. Parking lots are the second most common location for murder, outnumbered only by residences.
• The victim was shot with a firearm, the most common murder weapon by far.
• The murder occurred late at night.
• The murder was the result of an argument, the most common causative factor involved with a murder.
• The perpetrator is unknown. Only about half of all homicides are ever solved by law enforcement.

So why the surge in murders in our town? Our retiring police chief is black. Her replacement is black. Our county sheriff is black.  They are constantly announcing new crime prevention program, all to (obviously) no avail. Black parents are constantly calling for an end to gun violence in their community, all to (obviously) no avail. Politicians are constantly calling for an end to gun violence, all to (obviously) no avail. Their "thoughts and prayers" for the families of the dead are to (obviously) no avail. 

The great hue and cry every time a murder, and especially murders, make the news is for a ban on assault weapons. But the simple fact is that rifles are used a very small minority of murders. Is it not time to attack the problem caused by those who pull the trigger of handguns? If there is a gun problem in the United States, is handguns and those who illegally possess and use them. All to often the murderer is a convicted felon who illegally possesses a firearm and uses it to commit murder. Laws are only effective if people who abide by them.

Isn't it time to face the music and place the blame with the murderer and not with his or her weapon of choice? Indeed, to "go to" weapon of choice when firearms are not available for murder are common knives. Are we to ban them as well?