Nine people died in a shooting at a historic African-American church in Charleston in the American state of South Carolina and the city’s police chief, Gregory Mullen, said eight of the victims were killed inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Another died shortly afterwards. In Mullen’s own words: “I do believe it was a hate crime.” This should send chills down the spine of every American. Police are now searching for a white male suspect in his 20s. The church’s pastor, state Senator Clementa Pinckney, was among those killed, civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton tweeted.
It is hard to fathom the level of hate required to walk into a place of worship and gun down innocent people. But it is also hard to fathom a society where there are too many guns, too much firepower and too few laws to stop people from owning them.
Added to this volatile mix is a dubious record of reconciling black and white in America. Consider the events based on race killings in the last 24 months across the US and there is no other solution to draw other than that America needs to do serious soul-searching when it comes to racial inequality.
There can be no excuse for the actions of the deranged gunman responsible for this attack — deranged, for no sane person could either contemplate or execute such an act. We can only wish that he is soon brought to justice.
