Kentucky School Shooting Leaves Two Dead

By Douglas V. Gibbs
Author, Speaker, Instructor, Radio Host
There is no doubt in my mind that the shooting today in Kentucky will bring the Democrats out of the woodwork with their cries for gun control again, and that is a shame.  The reality is, while I do believe that the direction of society, and the glorification of violence in parts of the culture (music, film and video games) have played a part in the rise of violence in our society, I also believe in the end it is really all about the decisions we make as individuals.

In the case of Kentucky, the shooter who made a horrific decision to go on a shooting spree is a 15-year-old male student.

The location of the shooting, Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, is about a two hour drive from Nashville, Tennessee, located in the southwest corner of the Bluegrass State.

The shooting has left two students, both 15-years-old, one male, one female, dead, and 17 others were injured (12 of which were from gunshot wounds).  The shooter is in custody, and will be charged with murder and attempted murder.

The quick actions of the local sheriff's department prevented the possibility of more lives being taken.

The shooting began first thing in the morning, around 8 a.m., as the gun-toting teenager entered the school with a handgun on his person.  

Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul tweeted his thoughts and prayers to the victims of the shooting, stating that he was "Deeply saddened by the tragic news out of Benton, KY this morning and closely monitoring the situation. We mourn the lost and are praying for those who were injured, as well as their families, friends, and the heroic first responders."

Kentucky U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell also tweeted his thoughts to those impacted by the shootingj, "Closely tracking reports of the tragedy in Benton, #Kentucky at Marshall County High School and my thoughts are with the students, teachers, faculty, and the entire community. Thank you to the first responders who continue to put themselves in harm's way to protect others."

Congressman James Comer, who represents Kentucky's 1st congressional district, tweeted the first official indication there had been an incident at the school: "My thoughts & prayers go out to the students & faculty at Marshall County High School where there has been a tragic school shooting."

The Kentucky Shooting follows one day after a student initiated shooting in Texas at Italy High School.  In the case of the Texas shooting, a female student shot a 16-year-old classmate in the school's cafeteria. The suspect has been taken into custody and charged with the shooting of the girl.

Again, I wish to emphasize that these shootings were committed by individuals, who, for whatever reason, chose to use a tool in a manner that does not conform to safety rules, and cultural acceptance.  The shooting are anomalies not caused by the tool in question (guns), but by the decisions of bad individuals.  The problem with the gun control agenda is it seeks to punish those who use the tool in a proper manner for the sins of those who do not.  That is like seeking to take the drivers' licenses of law-abiding citizens because there are drunks on the road, or outlawing hammers because of the deaths caused by that particular tool.

Besides, outlawing something does not necessarily eliminate the use of something.  After all, drugs are illegal, but some people still use them.

Note: That last sentence was not a call for the legalization of drugs, only an observation that when something is outlawed it does not eliminate the problem.  In the case of guns, while gun control may control the gun use of law-abiding citizens, the criminal element will still get their hands on firearms.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary