Jiverly Voong, AKA Jiverly Wong (Photo: NY Daily News)There is a very serious problem simmering in this country -- escalating gun violence. Something drastic needs to be done and quickly. We cannot just sit by and watch people being gunned down in this country on a weekly basis. The massacre in upstate New York comes on the heels of the massacre in the North Carolina nursing home, the massacre in Alabama, the mass killings of Lovelle Mixon of four police officers in Oakland, California, the slayings in Boston by Kerby Revelus of his sisters, as well as the rising incidents of murder-suicides in this country. It seems that the underlying theme in all these horrific crimes are extreme rage, financial hardships and easy access to high-powered guns. It is time for this country to enact stricter gun control laws, including zero-tolerance to offenders.
Coming on the heels of this senseless massacre, five police officers have been shot, three killed, at a Stanton Heights residence in Pittsburgh, Pa., after police tried to serve a warrant. There was a stand-off, with the suspect, Richard Poplawski, who was barricaded inside the home. It is now being reported that he is now in police custody. According to media reports, friends said Mr. Poplawski had several guns, including an AK-47 assault-type rifle, a .357 Magnum revolver, a .380-caliber handgun and a .45-caliber handgun. This gun-loving lunatic was afraid President Obama would ban firearms. The three dead officers are Eric Kelly, Stephen Mayhle and Paul Sciullo III. Kelly had been on the force for 14 years and the other two only two years each. Another officer was shot in the hand and a fifth broke his leg on a fence.
Mr. Voong was a Vietnamese immigrant who decided to play "judge and jury" with the lives of innocent people. Though no motive for the massacre has been released, it is ironic that he chose a place where he could identify with some of the people -- the American Civic Association. The community center was filled with people from different countries, all working to become a part of their new home -- learning English, taking a class to become an American citizen, much like the gun did when he became a citizen decades ago. He planned this massacre down to the last detail, as evident in his actions. He parked his car against the back door, stormed through the front and started his short reign of terror. Some people ran to the boiler room to get away from this horror. When the dust settled, 13 innocent people were dead, before he apparently killed himself. Four were critically wounded and fighting for their lives.
The man was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in an office, a satchel containing ammunition slung around his neck, authorities said. Police found two handguns - a nine mm and a .45-caliber - as well as a hunting knife, authorities said. He was prepared to do irreparable damage and, shamefully, he succeeded. It has been reported that he was angry at losing his job and he couldn't speak English very well. We are all experiencing some financial hardships in this economic climate, but you don't just pull the trigger and kill others to solve your problems. It is being reported in the New York Daily News that he reportedly talked to his coworkers about guns and that he was angry. He also reportedly went to target practice every weekend, another reason why he was able to do so much damage at the civic center.
These are two senseless crimes. At least Mr. Poplawski is still alive and will face some serious charges. We have to find a way to curb this escalating gun violence -- from the streets of the inner cities to the suburbs, there should be zero tolerance. We are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence that has no end in sight. I have lost count of the incidents that have occurred in the last six months alone. We have lost seven police officers in three weeks and numerous civilians. This bloodshed has to end.
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