Shooting at the Empire State Building
Another day and another shooting — this time at the Empire State Building where it looks right now several people have been shot — at least one killed — by someone who was fired by a firm in the building a year or so ago. The NYPD appears to have shot and killed the shooter.
Details are still coming in on the news, but this is not the society we deserve — “People can’t be free if they are constantly at the mercy of an armed nut.”
The New Yorker writes about this as they try to gather up more information:
The President probably wasn’t told about the shooting, about eight hours earlier, of Ronald Wallace, Jr., in Brooklyn. He was thirteen years old and killed for no reason that his family can discern, they say, going to the store. The Empire State Building may be more visible, but both incidents, and the too many others this summer, point to some truths about guns in America: they escalate situations, whether workplace disputes or a angry man lashing out; they can be highly indiscriminate in the damage they do; and they are everywhere. We need to talk more about why.
Right.
If you are following this story, feel free to post updates here in the comments.
Tags: Gun Contol
the gunman had 8 bullets and it’s been reported he used 3 on his first victim (his former manager). With a reported 9 victims and the shooter dead, people are suggesting most of the bystander casualties came from stray police bullets.
Sad all around. Gawker has some amazing (and gory) first hand photos.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/chicago-shootings-19-woun_n_1827530.html
I’m surprised there is not more attention to this. Thirteen people shot in thirty minutes. Yikes. How is Wilm. the most violent again?
This is probably not a popular opinion, but when I hear of a revenge shooting of an ex-boss, I always want to know the shooter’s side of the story. Especially in this economy, being fired can lead to the loss of your house, your marriage, and plans for your children. No wonder these kinds of shooters always seem disturbed, especially when the termination is seen to be unfair.
It might be time to re-examine at-will employment that allows people to be fired for any reason or no reason. I understand the value of at-will employment and don’t want to completely end it, but some kind of reform is needed, even if it is simply a requirement that employers give you the reason for dismissal in writing under oath, or some way to provide a fair hearing.
puck, i would be all for that as long as nothing changed on the employee side. Unless you sign a contract at the begining of your employment, you should be able to walk whenever you want.
Most, not all, terminations have some specific reason or sets of reasons. In most occupations, even fast food, employers have invested in the employee to some extent. Constant turnover is costly to businesses. A stable workforce (in theory, a rationale for unions) is a benefit to employers. While there are many impediments to efficient business, I can’t think of one that would be so severely disruptive to any industry than to put constraints on at-will employment. Supposing my employer was afraid I was going to work for a competitor and decided to delay the fair hearing I owe them until they were in a more advantageous position? Preventing me from leaving whenever I want (the two week notice, while customary, is not a legal requirement) overly constrains me. Additionally, in my experience, the hand writing was on the wall. Usually the employee is the last one to know because they were often ignorant of the signs, such as poor performance, etc.
@SB, Dave – I agree, and I have said the same thing myself. Nonetheless, employers should not be free to lie about your reputation.
Employers have a nasty habit of ginning up false performance issues to justify firing people. This of course denies unemployment benefits to the affected employee, which adds injury to insult. Perhaps the reform should be with unemployment eligibility as well.
Years ago an employer let me go on hastily trumped-up performance issues – ten days before a significant amount of my stock options were due to vest. My unvested options of course reverted to the executives who let me go. I found a better job right away, so I didn’t have time to stay mad or even apply for unemployment.
similar situation, puck. I was working at a cafe and was put on “shift leader” shifts for a few months without getting any kind of raise or promotion… after i started really pressing the issue about getting paid more for doing more work i was told it was a “probation/evaluation” process to make sure I could do the job. I wouldnt let it go and finally over one week i got written up 3 times for “insubordination” and was fired. Im pretty quick to argue, but i know how to be a good employee.
just because they have a “reason” doesnt mean it isnt bull.
Chicago managed to get 19 people shot last night but failed to kill any. Clearly NYC emphasizes marksmanship.
Rockland, you are an ass!
it seems all 9 bystanders were injured by the NYPD…. so glad to know how safe guns are in big cities when trained “good” people are shooting them.
Guns escalate the situation, so let’s take them away from the NYPD.
No, Will. Rather, let’s stop pretending that they “solve” the problem of violence against innocent people.
Does anyone actually believe that carrying guns makes one safer? Utter crap.
Over 90% of all gun deaths in the US are family and friends.