Replacement Theory

I had never heard of the Replacement Theory until last week when an 18-year-old killed 10, mostly Black people, at a supermarket  in Buffalo, New York. This teenager evidently was motivated by the white supremacist theory that Blacks and other races are replacing whites in our society. Those who believe this theory are afraid that whites will no longer be able to control the laws and the economy of this country. 

Now this individual - from Conklin, New York - may have mental or psychological problems, but how did he get an assault rifle? How come no one picked up clues about his intent? The evidence shows he had been plotting this action for months.  

My heart grieves for the families who lost loved ones. They leave a hole which cannot be filled. And these shootings cause anger and fear among all their neighbors and friends. The whole country should be so outraged that they would change our gun laws. But, of course, we had Columbine, Sandy Hook, Orlando, and similar mass shootings and nothing changed.  

The statistics are mind-blowing. Only a dozen of the USA’s 50 states require permits to purchase a gun.  During 2020 in the U.S., 19,379 gun violence deaths were recorded, along with 612 mass shootings. So far this year, there have been 201 mass shootings, and it is only May.

Not all of these were race-related, but gun violence is certainly growing worse. Stricter gun laws and more attention to mental health would certainly help. When will people care enough to change gun laws and attend to troubled people?