By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
The tragedy of the deaths and wounding of students and faculty of Umpqua Community College was without doubt a terrible event. We first and foremost must center our prayers and attention towards the victims and their families who have endured suffering and pain that we hope to never experience ourselves.
But if anything can be praised it is the police, emergency crews, and community members who took upon the risks and the responsibility to protect the victims and provide at least a measure of comfort to the survivors and those who did not make it. One person in particular truly caught my attention and I am sure everyone else as well. He is Chris Mintz, who undoubtedly saved several lives but as a result became one of the shooting victims himself.
His actions are truly heroic as you may certainly agree.
Chris Mintz was attending class at Umpqua Community College when he heard shots ring out in an adjacent room. Instead of running for safety, the ten year military veteran went toward the scene, directing people away from the danger. He found and walked toward the shooter, trying to prevent him from entering another classroom by blocking the doorway. He attempted to calm the shooter by talking to him and trying to buy time and life for the other students. Mintz certainly knew the great risk of facing this armed attacker alone and it did not go well for him.
Chris was hit multiple times from gunfire and went down. As the gunman walked toward him, Chris told his assailant that today was his son’s birthday. Showing no mercy his assailant shot him again.
In all Chris was shot seven times trying to protect others. Authorities credit Chris with delaying the shooter and in doing so likely saved numerous lives. Though exact details of the events are still in flux with reporting information, it is clear Chris Mintz’ actions were heroic and lifesaving.
Police arrived six minutes after the active shooter dispatch went out. Every second in distraction of the shooter helped law enforcement arrive and be able to more quickly confront the gunman, who then committed suicide.
A hospital spokesperson stated that Chris suffered hits to his hands, arms, back, stomach and both legs were broken. Despite this he is expected to recover but he will need extensive rehabilitation.
I cannot stress how brave his actions were and how inspiring his story can be for many.
His cousin sponsored a GoFundMe petition to help defray the costs of his medical bills. Social media took hold and contributions from seventeen thousand donors rapidly poured in. Initially ten thousand dollars was requested in the fund drive, but in the first twenty two hours over half a million dollars poured in from grateful citizens. It is certainly enlightening.
I have to stress that Chris Metz was not the only victim and that others suffered as much or worse as lives were tragically lost. Other victims now have similar pages started but have not yet garnered such large donations. Those also deserve contributions as well. Since it is only the beginning of such things I will at a later time attempt to compile a list of other victims’ pages or sources where funds may be directed in their direction.
UPDATE:Officials announced the shooter committed suicide during the shout-out with police.
By Darren Smith
Sources:
CNN
Chris Mintz GoFundMe Page
Northwest Cable News
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.
Why are so many on the left propaganda pushers?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/10/06/zero-correlation-between-state-homicide-rate-and-state-gun-laws/
Nick
“KCF, The same caricature formula of anti Jew and anti black cartoons of earlier times.”
= = =
And NOW it upsets you?
selfhelplegal
“there is no written or practical test, required training or health requirements to buy a car.”
= = =
First you need to point out where the graphic expressly says “buy”. Shouldn’t you? To buy,own, and/or possess are three different things that can also mean the same. However operate is another issue altogether… I agree:
Test and license accordingly with followup exams for renewing expiring licenses.
I’ll try this here…
http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:arc:video:comedycentral.com:0dc1b477-bf90-4ac2-8a5b-e4616950bb92The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Jingoism demonstrates the author’s ostensible lack of deep thought and principle.
I will write using smaller words this time:
I am completely aware I am writing to you in the same emotional way you do, because that is all you can understand.“
Oh, Rolling Stone magazine, the people that falsified an horrific rape at UVa, and is now being sued for the lie?
Ha ha ha.
“… are you completely unaware? …your incessant “SJW” nonsense.”
I am of course responding to you using the SJW style: emotional/rhetorical.
There is no point in attempting to engage an SJW in a debate using reason, logic, evidence, and balancing risk versus reward.
Instead, one must resort to shouting, blaming, shaming, grade school taunts and bullying when talking to SJWs.
It is what it is.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/meet-the-right-wing-rebels-who-overthrew-john-boehner-20151006
The Republican civil war has claimed its biggest casualty yet. The revolution that toppled John Boehner was carried out by a group of intransigent conservatives who had made the speaker of the House’s job hell ever since the Tea Party wave of 2010 elevated him to power. It is only in recent months that this disruptive force in American politics even has a name: the House Freedom Caucus.
Composed of nearly 40 of the most committed ideologues in the House, the Freedom Caucus has a simple mission: to get GOP leadership to deliver on the extreme, anti-government and social-conservative rhetoric that nearly all Republicans spout to get elected.”
***************
And it’s the “Fringe” who elected them.
Ha, good catch.
KCF, The same caricature formula of anti Jew and anti black cartoons of earlier times.
See? A perfect example.
Unable to give any points of discussion, we get a nickname by which to stigmatize, and a picture.
See? they’re fat and angry and have big elephant noses and they are chasing a black man.
Meaningless drivel plus mendacious propaganda.
An SJW two-fer.
http://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/2015/article/meet-the-right-wing-rebels-who-overthrew-john-boehner-20151006/211755/medium_rect/1444074173/720×405-R1246_NAT_GOP.jpg
“McCarthy began the process of creating an enemy that Movement Conservative followers could hate. His outrageous accusations divided American citizens into good and evil. Buckley and his brother-in-law, L. Brent Bozell, expanded this theme, dividing Americans into “Conservatives” like McCarthy and themselves, who were trying to save the nation, and “Liberals” who wanted to destroy it.”
Birchers have morphed into these “Movement Conservatives”. Perhaps they should be referred to as “The Fringers”.
Oddly enough, social justice warriors had once identified themselves as such with pride, until it became a term of derision; deservedly so.
KCF, never spams, does he? Or is the whole “SJW” nonsense a spam?
@selfhelplegal
There’s no point engaging SJWs like Max in a discussion using logic, evidence and reason.
They can only argue emotionally and with the barest traces of logic.
Thus, Max will repeatedly post pictures and videos in lieu of actual argumentation.
In the end, their only argument is to claim the high moral ground, signalling their virtue for others of their tribe, and try to stigmatize those who disagree.
Remember that they are overly emotional, irrational, disingenuous and always lie.
They will never ever say, Gosh, I see your point.”
Not worth rebuttal because they are not arguing at all, just spamming, meaning to overwhelm by the sheer number of posts (a blog form of shouting).
Also note that if guns were as regulated as cars, you wouldn’t need a license to buy or own it and there would be no waiting period. It would be far easier to get one. Max-1’s graphic is in error- there is no written or practical test, required training or health requirements to buy a car. Also, “title and tag” of sorts is provided for a gun, it’s called a bill or sale or receipt. It would be nice if the regulations to buy a gun were reduced to that of a car. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/12/23/why-not-regulate-guns-like-cars/
“That such a Hero has to rely on donations for Medical Care is disgusting.” That you and others that want government health care think it acceptable to take money under threat of a gun from strangers to pay for his and your health care is also disgusting. And that is literally what taxation is- if you think otherwise, choose not to pay your taxes and see how long it is before people with guns show up to collect.
No, I am not an anarchist nor do I oppose the concept of taxes.However, for those who quote the canard that taxes are necessary for a civilized society, I offer you the opportunity to explain how civilization would have fallen had tax money not been spend on “Piss Christ”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
https://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/2621/2129/original.jpg