On
May 23rd, 2014 the students of the University of California, Santa
Barbara were under hostile attack. A 22 year old virgin, Elliot Rodger went on
a mad killing spree as he went on to kill his three roommates by stabbing them
to death and also shooting three other individuals to death. Before the
stabbing of his three roommates, Rodger posted a manifesto about a girl he had
feelings for and how he was made fun of as well as rejected. The rejection is what
some are saying is what fueled the killer instinct in him. Elliot Rodger attended the
University of California, Santa Barbara and was reported to Police by his own
parents that he was unstable as he was demonstrating odd behavior. Leading up
to Rodger’s killing spree, he had had three brief encounters with the Police.
Little did they know that Rodger had possession of three guns and that he was
armed with four hundred rounds of ammunition to go along with them. Rodger had
posted videos online about his plans yet, people like the Police decided to
ignore them. Had the Police watched his videos, such a tragedy wouldn’t have
happened as they could’ve provided Elliot Rodger the attention or help that he
needed in order to avoid such a tragedy. Alongside the six dead victims went thirteen wounded others. After his
horrifying rampage, Rodger took his own life by putting the gun to his own
head.
I am saddened by this tragedy and feel nothing but regret
for the families of the victims. This kind of situation could have happened to anyone and easily could’ve been avoidable. Rodger being able to get
his hands on three guns just proves to show how basically anyone in the United
States can acquire a gun. The fact that this took place near a University is what scares me most as I will
be going to University in the fall. I look forward to University but alongside
with my excitement and eagerness comes along the fear of events or situations
such as the one that happened with Rodger. The United States has talked about
putting more restrictions on firearms but I feel that they still need to be
more strict about who they distribute them to. I am glad to live in Canada and
feel safe knowing that tragedies like the one seen in California, happen less
often here at home. The U.S. is known to many as the, “land of opportunity, and
the land of the free,” I am all for that but I also believe that certain
precautions must take place for that to happen. When visiting the States, I
will be more cautious about my surroundings as I will never know if the
stranger behind me might be carrying a firearm on them!
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