All the patients had “large destructive wounds,” said Dr. Lillian Liao, a pediatric trauma surgeon in San Antonio.
And these were the children who have so far survived the shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Here are the children and teachers who did not survive.
“When a high-velocity firearm enters a body, it basically creates a wave and a blast,” Dr. Lillian Liao, a pediatric trauma surgeon at University Hospital in San Antonio — treating four patients from the Uvalde shooting — told “Nightline.” “So it looks like a body part got blown up … A handgun may create one small hole, whereas a high-velocity firearm will create a giant hole in the body that is with missing tissue.”
When I look at the pictures of these children and teachers, it takes me to my own grandchildren who are in elementary school. It fills me with sorrow.
I have read and listened to a lot about gun control/gun safety. I’ve not yet heard a reason I can agree with for people outside the military to have assault weapons and high capacity magazines of ammunition. Certainly they aren’t necessary for hunting. Target shooting? Why? In preparation for what?
A suggested remedy for reducing school shootings is to arm the teachers. If the teacher is going to be able to compete with a person with an assault rifle, then the teacher needs an assault rifle. But maybe a handgun would be enough of a deterrent. How would this would work on a practical level. Let’s say the teacher has a handgun. Is the gun going to be locked in a safe container? Will it be loaded? Will the teacher keep it in his/her desk? Wear it under a jacket? On her hip? Let’s say in the Uvalde case, these two teachers had been armed. The young man walked in with an assault rifle. I can’t imagine the teacher could have pulled her gun…even off her hip, let alone out of her desk or a locked box…in time to shoot the intruder. She would be dead or wounded nearly instantly.
Let’s say it isn’t a case of an intruder intent on mass shooting. Let’s say an angry student sneaks a gun into school because a particular teacher insulted him (I say him, because it seems to be mostly – only? – boys who do this). I doubt the teacher could get to a gun before being shot.
And then there is the economics of this idea. Schools can’t even afford a nurse, or a counselor, or a security officer, or a librarian, or enough textbooks, or enough supplies. Who is going to pay for the guns and the training? And who is going to teach the classes while the teacher is being trained in rapid response to a shooting situation?
Finally, part of this idea is that good people with guns will deter bad people with guns. In Uvalde there were numerous police officers heavily armed right outside the school. The result is 19 dead children, two dead teachers, and a few “survivors” with “giant holes in the body that is….missing tissue”.
Darrell Parsons
Talbot County
Talbot County
Michael Estrella says
I still can not get Sandy Hook out if my mind and yet over the years since that event we have managed to mutilate so many more of our children with virtually NOTHING changing. Perhaps we should hang photos of these destroyed children on the office walls of every congress and senate member and force them to stand quietly in front of those photos for 5 minutes each and every day until they pass sensible gun laws that will help put an end to these national tragedies!
Anne Stalfort says
It’s all so sad isn’t it? We can fix this like other countries have, but we don’t. Think of the children, the grocery shoppers, the concert goers, the worshipers, the doctors and nurses (just today) and vote!
Rev Julia Hart says
I had said to a friend–a retired elementary school teacher, “How horrific. You know they had to document the horror with photos. A joint Congress, with the SCOTUS, AND Executive Branch, should be forced to sit together IN the Capitol and watch picture after picture of destroyed little bodies, yes en mass and in horrific detail… be forced to see the Trauma of each family as they claimed their loved one, AND each funeral. Audio should include desperate little children calling 911 for help. Show It All. And these so called leaders of our nation may not leave the chamber for any reason. They must witness what they allow to continue to happen. As well as Buffalo, Sandy Hook, and myriads of others.
We need a REAL Congress, not self interested money grabbing politicians on the take. The Lobbyists say, “You’ll remember me/us” as they stuff millions in the pockets of Congree people. They want notoriety like Hollywood stars as they grin at cameras, prestige, a good salary, and lifetime benefits. Yes, lifetime. Governance? What’s that? Who the heck is running this country? NO ONE. It’s been decades since we’ve had a working, governing Congress. I doubt we’ll ever see one again.
A few years ago The Washington Post had a campaign: Democracy Dies in Darkness. It’s dying in broad daylight. Now.
Make them listen to us–as EACH OF US, exercises our vote, 2022 and 2024. They that govern represent us, NOT themselves. We “hire” them with our vote. We need to fire them. We would probably do better with neophytes than seasoned politicians. Some 80% of Americans WANT some kind of gun laws. Is The Congress listening to us?
What is the price tag on a human being? What was the price tag on the 19 children and 2 teachers?
Please note, that I did NOT mention any political party. This is so much bigger than that. Sadly, the Government doesn’t realize this.
James Jones says
When you can’t even trust the President and his family to uphold the law, you have a bigger problem than you realize. Hunter Biden, the Presidents remaining son, purchased a handgun after knowingly committing a felony when he chose to lie on a question on for 4473. The question was are you a user of illegal drugs. There is absolutely no doubt that this was a blatant lie, as he had to go to rehab for cocaine use. How can you trust someone to do what the say they will or will not do when they do not even uphold the solemn oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. In my opinion this makes the President a liar and criminal also. It’s all about making money and keeping power during a time of grieving.
Michael Davis says
Mr. Jones, Since the beginning of this year, 150 children under the age of 11 have been killed by gun violence in America and you raise the issue of Huner lying on a form like somehow that is a bigger problem? I doubt if the parents of those 150 dead children would agree with you.
darrell parsons says
It’s a typical response of some folks to go off in a different direction because there is no adequate response to the death of these children. These deaths have nothing to do with President Biden, Hunter Biden, Russia, gas prices, liberals, conservatives, hunting, skeet shooting….and on and on and on…we’ve all heard the deflections. None of those change the fact that our children are being murdered through the use of battlefield weapons.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Any anti-gun control NRA whore being interviewed should have to share a split screen with images of slaughtered 4th graders.