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| John Masterson |
A New Mexico middle school teacher has been credited with saving many lives when he persuaded a 12-year-old boy into dropping his shotgun after he had wounded two students, according to officials.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said more students could've been injured if not for the heroics of teacher John Masterson, who confronted the alleged shooter Tuesday morning inside the gymnasium at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, N.M.
"He starts to turn and see that the young man shoots and shoots, and then pointing the firearm at Mr. Masterson," Martinez said at a Tuesday night news conference. "Mr. Masterson then begins to talk to him -- to put it down. The young man put the gun down and raised his hands."
A girl identified as Kendal Sanders, 13, underwent surgery Tuesday night and her condition has been upgraded to stable, Martinez said. She suffered injuries to her right shoulder.
An 11-year-old boy is in critical condition after suffering more serious injuries to his face and neck. The young victim underwent a second surgery during the day, according to Martinez. The family of the boy wished to not disclose his name.
The suspected shooter, a seventh-grader whom police have not named, was transferred to an Albuquerque psychiatric hospital after a hearing Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, citing attorney Robert Gorence, who is representing his family.
This must be a sad story for the NRA.
After all if Mr. Masterson had only been a "good guy with a gun," instead of a dedicated professional who cared about his students, just think of how much bigger the body count might have been?
Instead this brave man used his empathy and courage to save lives, including the 12 year old shooter, and ensured that the young man might be rehabilitated and reenter the world as a respectable member of society, rather than to simply be another grave in a graveyard littered with the bodies of shooting victims.
Will be interesting to see how Fox spins this.........or will they just ignore it.....?
ReplyDeleteThis shit is happening way too often. The copycat factor and the push by the NRA for "weapons for everyone" is creating a climate of survival of the best armed. My former "united" states are crumbling before my eyes. I will never give up the fight but I am very sad about the direction were going. It's become an almost daily occurrence. My neighboring state Indiana just had a double murder in a grocery store this afternoon. Shooter killed by police. WTF so sad.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope it is a sad day for the NRA. They've had a bad week after the movie theater incidence and now this. You can also count on not hearing a word from them about these two tragic cases.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that Mr. Masterson would say that he was only doing his job. And he did it magnificently. The NRA mantra about "good guys" with guns being the solution is absolute nonsense. In this particular situation, all it took was courage, empathy and intelligence. We all owe Mr. Masterson a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Mr. Masterson. And thank you to all of the nation's teachers who are criticized and demonized by the GOP for doing your best every day to educate our young people despite increasingly difficult circumstances.
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Your so right Beaglemom.
DeleteThe question that makes me angry is when did our public schools become a war zone. How did the occupation of Teacher become as dangerous or maybe more dangerous than a cop on the beat? Teachers don't go into that profession to make a lot of money and they certainly don't expect to put their lives on the line
while at work. The wonderful, beautiful feeling we can see in all of this is the devotion Teachers have toward our children. That devotion should be respected and rewarded. Sadly, the GOP wants to diminish regard for one of the most respectable occupations we have in this great union.
Twice now we have seen what happens when school staff talk down young shooters - these kids are crying out for help - and seem to live in a society where a gun is seen as their only solution - people might listen if I shoot someone!!!!!
ReplyDeleteToo bad there was no adult present for this tragedy.
ReplyDelete4-Year-Old Accidentally Shoots Cousin With Gun Found Under Bed
A 4-year-old girl fatally shot her 4-year-old cousin with a gun the children found underneath a bed in Detroit on Thursday, police told CBS Detroit.
“They were playing in a room inside the home; the female found a long gun underneath the bed and pointed it at the male 4-year-old and pulled the trigger,” Detroit Police spokesman Adam Madera told CBS.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/4-year-old-shoots-cousin-to-death
WTF?
Arizona Father Accidentally Shoots Child While Cleaning His Gun
The father's bullet struck the child after penetrating two walls of the house.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/arizona-father-accidentally-shoots-child-while-cleaning-his-gun
"This must be a sad story for the NRA."
ReplyDeleteBing-fucking-O! I hope that Wayne LaPierre is eating what resembles* his heart out.
*I myself am convinced that he does not have one.
Here's another hero teacher:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140116/NEWS09/701169758
How many teachers have lost their lives or saved the lives of others in these situations?
ReplyDeleteMore and more teachers are becoming targets not just of rhetoric but real targets.
But unlike firemen and policemen they don't get hazardous duty pay. In fact, at every opportunity the media and the right wing are looking for ways to denigrate teachers are a profession and convince voters teachers shouldn't be paid more than minimum wage with no benefits. Yet at the same time feel that the cream of university graduates, especially in math and science should jump at the chance to be teachers.
In Loco Parentis means in place of the parent. And more often than not, teachers do exactly that. They put the students first, even over their own lives.
Perhaps Gryph might also post the article about the teacher who donated a kidney to her ailing student.
That's what teachers do.
Double their salaries and they're still not paid enough for what they do.
Teachers Rock! As a society, we've got our priorities backward. Teachers change the lives of kids for the better, encourage their natural curiosity and shape the people who will inherit the world.
ReplyDeleteWe need to raise their pay, give them the tools they need (not guns) to do their jobs and give them a safe workplace that's conducive to learning.
They're all heroes!
His eyes are a window to his soul, sad and wise all at once,
ReplyDeletethank gor for good teachers and great humans who care.