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Editorials/Columns
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Mass Shootings Have Become Ridiculous
ot a week goes by
wherein a mass shoot- ing doesn’t take place. There is no telling where one will take place or who will get shot. These shootings always take place where a large number of people conjugate, at schools, malls, the work place and sim- ilar places. These shootings are occurring so frequently until
they have become ridiculous. The shootings are usually done by some nut who is a criminal, a crazy, death-struck
nut, a person out to get re- venge and don’t care who he shoots or a person out to com- mit suicide. The shooter al- ways has a gun capable of firing multiple rounds and has magazines that will hold bul- lets upward of twenty rounds. In short, the shootings are being done by sick individuals who don’t have any business in the same town with a gun.
It is ridiculous, these mass shooting. It is the fault of fed- eral and state lawmakers.
These elected officials are con- trolled by the radical National Rifle Association, who doesn’t even want any talk of any kind of gun control. The NRA will not allow their store bought, scared to death legislators to pass a law that would prevent criminals and sickos from being in possession of a gun.
I plead with lawmakers to have enough guts to stand up to the NRA and get some gun control laws.
Something must be done. Private citizens should get in- volved and make their voices heard. The way these shoot- ings are taking place, you, your child, your relative or your friend can be the next victim if something isn’t done. One thing about mass shootings is, it doesn’t have to be your fault, but you could still get shot.
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Makes Me Wanna Holla’
bjectively reasonable.”
These were the words used by two law enforcement experts (brought in by a Cleve- land prosecutor to investigate the shooting death of 12-year- old Tamir Rice by a Cleve- land police officer last year), who somehow, came to the conclusion that the officer's use of deadly force was appro- priate based on the assessment of the threat the officer be- lieved he was facing.
Apparently, according to these investigators (one a 20- year-veteran of the F.B.I), the 2 seconds that elapsed be- tween the time officer Timo- thy Loehmann arrived on the scene and when he shot life-sapping rounds into little Tamir's body were enough for him to accurately deter- mine that shooting a child, who was in possession of a pel- let gun, was his only option for surviving the encounter... I guess the fact that he never al- lowed Tamir the opportunity to comply, drop his weapon, or surrender was beside the point?
The first thing to cross my mind after reading this story was how easily authorities find justification and cause in the killing of Black people, regard- less of the circumstances. The second thing that popped into my head was how unlikely it
would be for an incident like this to ever occur if Tamir were a white child?
For some reason, we never seem to hear about occur- rences where white cops de- cide to shoot first and asks questions later when con- fronted by white suspects.
Ironically, in those situa- tions, police officers never ap- pear to have a problem thoroughly assessing the situ- ation before taking action. Even when their lives are truly in danger they seem capable of using non-lethal methods to detain white culprits.
A prime example of this took place a few months ago when a video surfaced of a white guy, with a sword, charging at a police officer screaming “kill me.” The cop in the video never once threat- ened to use deadly force dur- ing a situation that appeared to fit perfectly with the “objec- tively reasonable” standard.
In that case, not one shot was fired. And, afterward, the officer was praised for showing what was considered “great re- straint” in a moment of ex- treme duress. What I always wondered was if the restraint exhibited was a reflection of the cop's patience or did it occur to him that placing a few holes into white skin would re- quire a lot more explaining
than if the skin he targeted had a much darker tint?
For me, this blatant double standard is the most frustrat- ing aspect of the entire issue. I mean, everyone knows that race is the most pertinent fac- tor when it comes to how po- lice gauge when or when not to use excessive force.
But, to add insult to injury, each time a member of law en- forcement chooses to fire his service weapon into the direc- tion of a Black face the initial reaction is usually to use the B.S. excuse that the cop's re- sponse was in line with proper procedure, as if taking a Black life is as routine as writing parking tickets.
When I think about the Tamir Rice case, and what this new information reveals about the direction it could be headed, I can't help but reflect on the “Justice or Else” theme I heard continually re- peated while viewing the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. If it turns out that the murder of a Black child, once again goes without ac- countability, I just wonder, when it comes to the “Or Else” part, how far they're really willing to go to make sure that those who further the agenda of Black extermination don't continue to get away?
Reality On Ice is © by the Florida Sentinel Bul- letin Publishing Com- pany. Anyone wishing to contact Clarence Barr can email him at: realityon- ice@yahoo.com.
The Men Who Didn’t March
ot a week ago, Washington, D. C. was once again a
site of determined young Black men, joined by white men, Latin-Hispanics, Asian Americans, alterna- tive lifestyles, women, and senior citizens all of them marching in celebration of the first Million Man March that made history 20 years ago.
An 82 years-of-age Nation of Islam Leader Louis Far- rakhan welcomed the throng of thousands as he spoke for two hours.
Indeed, everyone who mattered seemed to be in atten- dance except for one young man. Jayqwon L. Jones would no doubt have joined his cohorts in joyous proces- sion had it not been for one thing: young Jones was the latest victim of Black-on-Black violence.
Age 14, of Tampa, Florida, Jayqwon could happily have been in the midst of a sea of faces, much like his own. Instead, for no malicious reason, Jayqwon decided, on Saturday, the day of the second Million Man March, he would ride his bike along the 8700 block of N. 48th Street, in East Tampa.
That was his mistake. A dark, late model sedan slid by like a snake, and a pistol spewed bullets, one that struck a teenager whose only crime at the time was that he was Black and breathing. Sources said Jayqwon was lucky. He’d live. Maybe, someone marched for him in D. C., after all.
But what about the ones who shot the young man . . . they who are currently on the loose, protected by a can- nibalistic “No-snitch” policy that almost guarantees the shooters will be around to destroy some other mother’s child? In his two-hour speech, did Farrakhan mention them? Or maybe we need another march – against young Black men and women so consumed by self-hatred that like pit bulls, they lash out at anything reminding them of themselves.
We applaud the second Million Man March. But we recognize as long as Black men march in D. C., but con- tinue to kill each other in Tampa, the ones who need to march are simply not marching.
Cancer And Correct Lifestyles
ractically everywhere you go this month, you’ll no-
tice Tampa is painted pink in honor of Breast Cancer Month and to remind women (as well as men) to conduct self-breast examinations and to get their annual mam- mograms. Even though progress has been made in deter- mining the causes of certain cancers, the cause of breast cancer is still a mystery while Black women continue to be disproportionately affected by the disease.
Until the cause and cure for cancer are discovered, people must order their lifestyles to reduce their risk of contracting this dreaded disease. While we have no con- trol over our genetic make-up and have little control over environmental toxins, that doesn’t mean we can’t control our lifestyles, which contribute to the odds of developing breast cancer.
Based on the latest research on the involvement of
viruses and bacteria in cancerous tissue, health experts recommend that using antibiotics should be limited to an “only as needed” status.
Secondly, getting health screenings (mammograms, colonoscopies, pap smears, etc.) as recommended should be top priority. In addition, boost your own immune system by watching your weight, eating healthy and balanced meals, exercising regularly, drinking water daily and maintaining a pattern of a good night’s sleep every night. Last, but not least, limit your exposure to toxic fumes, liquids and air. All of these lifestyle changes are within our control and cost nothing.
As we settle into the 21st century, what becomes plainer every day is that the quality of our health (yes, even regarding the avoidance of cancer) is increasingly within our own hands.
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