I was watching the History Channel last night, and they had a show about the Columbine massacre. It was presented in an outstanding fashion. It was enthralling. It was also horrifying.
I ran into a dilemma as the show progressed. I didn’t know which to find more shocking: The greusome murder spree that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on, or the gross negligence demonstrated by the police. I don’t just mean all the missed opportunities to lock up Eric Harris prior to that day. More specifically, I mean the lack of action taken during the massacre.
The police literally did nothing as one youngster after another was executed. They sat outside “containing” the incident. Over 3 hours went by before the police attempted to enter the school. The kiling spree did not end until Harris and Klebold committed suicide. To emphasize, this is the ONLY reason the killing stopped. The murderers killed themselves. If they hadn’t, nothing would have stopped them from murdering more children.
As far as I am concerned, the police are accessories to murder. How many people died while they sat out there measuring to see who has the biggest weiner? One teacher suffered 2 gunshot wounds. These wounds may not have been fatal had he received prompt medical treatment. He did not, and as a result, he bled to death from 2 wounds that may have been non-fatal under other circumstances.
From the account of the massacre, as described on the show, I would say that there were only 2 heros that day. The teacher that bled to death - not because he died, but because of his effort to get students to safety (which resulted in getting shot) - and the young, probably traumatized student who did his best to help that teacher.
“To protect and serve” was not the credo that day. The only people being protected were the police, and noone was well served by the policy of containment. The policy has changed since the massacre, but what idiot created such an irresponsible, reprehensible, negligent, and monumentally stupid policy in the first place?
I can’t help but think just how many more students could have died that day if Harris and Klebold had been less bent on their delusion of godlike grandeur, and more bent on killing efficiently and effectively. Certinly, if the goal had truly been “to kill them all,” they could have done so in a more effective manner than strolling around like maniacal rock stars and firing with reckless abandon.
There were two 20 pound propane tanks in the cafeteria, set to detonate at lunchtime. They did not go off. Had they started shooting in the cafeteria, and barred the doors, rather beginning the spree outside, and signalling the entire school of their intentions, and had the tanks blown, the body count may have been in triple digits.
I just can’t get past how atrociously the situation was handled by the police.
Anyway, the show was called Zero Hour: The Columbine Massacre. Check for another airing of it.
**
Linked on Wizbang, Samantha Burns, Point Five
2004–2008
12 responses so far ↓
1
Sssteve
// Feb 24, 2006 at 4:27 pm
That’s amazing and one sad commentary!!!
2
von
// Feb 24, 2006 at 5:49 pm
I recently watched The Corporation, and of course Michael Moore is in it. He talks about how all of the parents of the children work at firearms factories, and that none of them realized the effects that had on the situation. Basically saying that if the parents hadn’t work at the firearms factories, then this situation wouldn’t have happened. Of course, I think he’s a big fat moron, but since it’s fresh on your mind, how do you respond to that claim?
3
FIAR
// Feb 24, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Indeed, Sssteve.
I don’t get the correlation, Von. Who cares where the parents worked? What bearing does that have on anything? Does Mooron mean to imply that the firearms company hands out guns and ammo each week with the paystub, because I don’t find that plausible to any degree whatsoever.
4
von
// Feb 24, 2006 at 8:23 pm
He’s an idiot, and so are the people that believe all of his crap. It just shows that he can just make stuff up, and people will fall for it.
5
SeanS
// Feb 24, 2006 at 9:40 pm
I’ll tell you who made up the f***ed up policy. A politician. Some idiot who was out to please his constituents by reducing police interference. God knows, they might ‘hurt’ the criminals in the act of saving innocent civilians. It just infuriates me. We need to let cops do their job.
6
FIAR
// Feb 24, 2006 at 9:46 pm
Amen to that brotha!
7
rightwingprof
// Feb 25, 2006 at 6:22 pm
You saw a historical show on the History Channel? Everytime I tune it in, it’s something about UFOs or Atlantis or Big Foot.
8
FIAR
// Feb 25, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Usually when I tune in it’s “Modern Marvels”… or UFOs
9
Wonder Woman
// Feb 26, 2006 at 8:39 pm
I agree completely, Fitch.
The police have been bullied into a mentality of worrying about optics and their own asses. Who can blame them when there’s 200 pages of paperwork, an inquiry that more closely resembles a witchhunt and a public just itching to condemn - each and every time a cop pulls his gun?
Is there any question who is REALLY in charge, when a crisis like this occurs?
10
jimmyb
// Feb 27, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Fitch is always right!
Well done, sir!!
11
FIAR
// Feb 27, 2006 at 6:00 pm
WW, The spineless liberals are REALLY in charge.
Jimmy, Thanks! Of course I am.
12
Washington
// Feb 28, 2006 at 9:32 am
I offer my take on this and stand ready to accept the abuse-and give as good as I get.
The police have a difficult job. So do airline pilots, bakers, and the publicist for George Michael.
The Columbine disaster was police inefficiency run amok. It is not a condemnation of the police as a whole-but strides need to be made in making officers of the law more professional.
Whilst situations arise where the police need to be tough, even brutal, far too often we see the extremes; no action or too much. This an be addressed by weeding out those who desire to express power through abadge and those who have splendid academic credentials but fear their own shadow.
The UK has a splendid corps of people who can defuse situations. Yet, when violence is active they are not so special. A cross between our ability be tough and their abiliy to think might be the best way to go.
Leave a Comment or the Terrorists Win!
If you're wondering how to get an icon next to your name, go to gravatar.com and sign up for a free account.
Remember, only terrorist sympathizers don't have a gravatar.