Louis Iyare
Mr. Wey, J
HRE 4M1-06 12 March, 2015
Seven Killed in U.S rampage In the article, “Seven Killed in U.S rampage”, Jim Salter from The Associated Press informs us about a premeditated shooting rampage that took place on the night of February 26th, 2015. The shooting was carried out by 36 year old Joseph Jesse Aldridge with the use of a 45- calibre handgun which lead to the death of seven innocent people (Salter para 2). After a 911 call from the teenage daughter of the victims weeping and squealing the words, “My mom and dad have been shot” (Salter para 13). The officers arrive at the crime scene and found two people dead. Later on that night the authorities found five more people dead and one wounded in three other homes (Salter para 14). The wounded person was taken to a hospital in undisclosed condition. In addition, to the death of the seven people “ Aldridge’s body was later found and pronounced dead the morning after the shooting rampage in a running pickup truck on the middle of a highway in a neighbouring county.”(Salter para 3). Authorities stated, “No suicide notes were found” (Salter para 3). As the investigation unfolds authorities found Aldridge’s 74 year old mother dead, apparently of natural causes at the home she and Aldridge resided in. The authorities says , “She had been under a doctor’s care and appeared to have been dead at least 24 hours, Texas County coroner Tom Whittaker told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Salter para 7) . Furthermore, Aldridge’s motive for this shooting rampage is very unclear, however, Tom Whittaker speculates Aldridge came home and found his deceased mother, and for whatever reason went on a rampage and started killing people (Salter para 8). As the investigation progresses, the victims were all adults and gunned down within a few kilometers from one another (Salter para 5). In fact, four of the victims of this awful tragedy were two couples who were Aldridge’s cousins ranging from ages 47 to 52 (Salter para 4). The three other victims and the one wounded but expected to survive were being withheld until their relatives could be notified (Salter para 4). As Missouri State Governor Jay Nixon expresses his sympathy. “This is a horrific tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims of these senseless acts and their families”. (Salter para 9).
The ethical/moral issue in this article that is being raised is murder. Murder is unlawfully killing of another human being with premeditation (Merriam Webster) and is illustrated by Aldridge’s deranged behaviour which causes him to engage in a, “house-to-house shooting rampage killing seven people before taking his own life” (Salter para 1). God created both man and woman as rational beings. He gave them the dignity of people who can control their own actions. God allows people to have free will. This article relates to God’s love creation for us and Man’s Free will choice of sin. Everyone is created in the likeness and image of God to fulfill their purpose on earth. Murder like all sins begins in the human mind. It starts as a thought and in this case hatred and anger which lead to the action. Aldridge’s irrational act of murder and suicide goes against the beliefs of the Catholic Church. Aldridge broke the fifth commandment “Thou shall not kill” which is a very evil act. In addition, Aldridge committed a mortal sin which created a complete break in his relationship with God (Wey. What is Sin?). Aldridge for whatever reason as suggested in the article freely chose to engage in the shootings of the seven innocent people which is considered a sin of commission. According to the article Aldridge’s motive for this horrific act is unclear (Salter para 6). Aldridge coming home to the death of his ill mother must have been very hard to comprehend. As well as the pain and anger he must have felt. Nevertheless, there is no valid reason to justify his actions. To expand on, his actions raises a big question on whether he was
