Tennessee Unitarian Church Shooting, Local Reaction...
Tennessee Shooting Reaction  Police say fifty-eight year old Jim Adkisson opened fire during a children's performance Sunday morning at a church in Knoxville Tennessee. It appears now, that the target may have been selected because of the liberal nature of the Unitarian Universalist Church. At a Monday press conference, Sterling Owen of the Knoxville Police Department told reporters that, "It appears that what brought him to this horrible event was his lack of being able to obtain a job, his frustration over that and his stated hatred for the liberal movement." Being open and accepting to anyone is what the church stands for. Members of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Youngstown are sad to such a tragedy happen. Susie Beiersdorfer, a member of the Youngstown church tells us, "I am sad that they are so closed. that they are not able to feel community, or get the help. It's mental illness and that's helped by people being together and forming communities." Brian Wells, co-chair of the Mahoning Valley Pride Center feels one reason acts of violence like this happen, are due to a mentality in people that needs to change. "People have an us versus them mentality. We need to have a we or an us mentality. Because that's how we're going to accomplish great things and solve many of the problems we are facing right now." Members there hope at least some good can come out such a devastating incident. "I think one of the few good things that could come out of a tragedy this extreme would be for people to realize that they can always seek out help. They never have to act in these extreme irrational ways. And that there are a lot of avenues out there to get psychological and spiritual help." Says Ed Goist, a trustee for the Youngstown Church. They say the shooting will not change the fact that their church is open and welcoming to anyone. The alleged shooter Jim Adkisson remains in jail on one million bond." -http://www.wkbn.com/home -http://www.wkbn.com/news/local/26001854.html |
Posts
