Yet another mass shooting took place on Thursday when a gunman entered the Capital Gazette newspaper offices in Annapolis, Maryland and killed five people and wounded others. The shooting is the 154th so far in 2018.
Five people were killed and several others were “gravely injured” in a shooting at the Capital Gazette office, according to police. A shooter is in custody. https://t.co/ZTw7BuaNAk
— Capital Gazette (@capgaznews) June 28, 2018
Some of the writers from the newspaper spoke to CNN after the shooting. Reporter Selene San Felice was interviewed by Anderson Cooper.
‘I have heard that President Trump sent his prayers. I’m not trying to make this political, alright? But we need more than prayers. I appreciate the prayers. I was praying the entire time I was under that desk. I want your prayers, but I want something else.’
Another shooting. Another night in America where a father, a wife, a friend, a neighbor won’t be coming home. We can’t accept this. It must end. Congress must act. Our hearts are with the #CapitalGazette
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 29, 2018
Reporters fear that the shooting, like so many others, will become just another short-lived gun control debate and that the government will finally be willing to take some common sense action.
Staff writer Phil Davis told CNN:
‘If we’re going to have a position in our society where all we offer each other is prayers, then where are we? Where are we as a society, where people die and that’s the end of that story.’
BREAKING: "This was a targeted attack on the Capital Gazette," authorities say. https://t.co/IxnUmCJp0v pic.twitter.com/rOlNhQ0835
— ABC News (@ABC) June 29, 2018
The experience they described was horrific. Some hid under their desks texting family to say good-bye, Davis actually heard the shooter reload his weapon.
‘It makes you feel powerless. It makes you feel helpless. It removes all control from every facet of your life within only a few seconds once you understand what’s happening.’
“I’ve heard that Pres. Trump sent his prayers. I’m not trying to make this political right? But we need more than prayers… I want your prayers but I want something else.”
Capital Gazette writer Selene San Felice says her life has been "shattered" after witnessing the attack pic.twitter.com/mUwVZBjpmo
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) June 29, 2018
The common sense gun reform debate needs to continue to be a focus. 154 tragedies with no real action to address this problem from Donald Trump or the GOP majority in Congress should outrage everyone.
Featured image screengrab via Twitter by @ac360
