It's terrible what happened on Sales and South 14th. A young man was shot and killed in front of several witnesses and in the middle of town. When I drove up to the scene people were still in shock, and many were hugging and consoling each other in the street. It's never easy to see that kind of thing, no matter how many times I have seen it. The worst part was seeing the mother of Austin David, the man who was shot, consoling David's girlfriend, who was in the car with him at the time of the shooting.
Photos of Austin David shared by his mom
Photos of Austin David shared by his momHere is what scares me about things like this. It happened at an intersection we have all driving thousands of time, and any of us could have been in that area at that time, and any of our families could have been there too.
I don't know if you have ever listened to a police scanner all day long, but here at KTAB we do, and when I here something like this, or a high speed chase, or a vehicle accident, I think, "Where are my wife and kids?" My wife is a stay at home mother, who enjoys taking the kids out and about while I am at work. They could be anywhere in town at any point in the day. If I hear a bad accident near my home, I sometimes call my wife to make sure they were not involved. If I hear a high speed chase, I call my wife to make sure they are not in the area. It's very scary to think that at anytime someone could make a bad choice that would affect others around them in what ever way. The people who witnessed yesterday's shooting may not have been hurt, but they saw what happened and those images will be with them for a long time. The families of both men involved have to be devastated, and I know people in Abilene are still shocked at what happened on our streets.
I hear you Victor and I understand what you may be feeling, but not only will this be happening in the middle of town but on the outskirts,in the neighborhoods, on the open hyways. Until the means for such happenings is addressed there will be many more. The means, the guns, whether legally concealed or illegally the guns were there and available( if not maybe there might have been a fist fight---but every one would have walked away ALIVE). I'm not saying to ban guns but leave them in the place they belong in the home to protect ones property and peace of mind. I truly believe that is what the founding fathers intended it to be. Or maybe we should just revert back to the old west, strap on a hogleg,disband the police force and settle disputes mano to mano, and reopen Boot Hill. Until the means is address we will all worry each and every time we leave our homes. Its sad but all to true--I do pray for both families and offer my condolences. As the days go by it shall happen again. Be careful and mindfull out there.
ReplyDeleteI got you Victor. Agree fully. My wife's maiden name is David and I received several messages to ask me if that was her brother that was killed. Thank God her brother doesn't live here. But it makes one think. And I am sorry pawpaw, while your comment is dully noted, guns laws will not fix this problem. There will be guns no matter what occurs and you know what if a human doesn't have a gun, they will find something to cause harm with. Making a difference starts with one person standing up for something. If they do others will join. For the last two years there has been a Stop the Violence Rally. While people still die, it means something profund that despite violence on the local, state, national, and worldwide level it is something to celebrate. So stop talking about it and do something. Condolences to the David family and the family of the shooter. May you find peace somehoe admist the violence.
ReplyDeleteHere's what I find terribly sad. Because someone wasn't going fast enough and because someone else was in a hurry, two men have "lost" their lives. One in the literal sense, one having to live with what was done the rest of his life. Road rage just doesn't make sense. I hope ALL learn a lesson from this. If it takes you a little longer to get there, then so what, if someone makes you angry, don't resort to violence or threats, and if threatened, let the authorities deal with it instead of becoming a vigilante. I hope that Mr. David did not die in vain.
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