Tag Archives: stray bullet

A Parent’s Unspeakable Fear

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Trinity Ottoson-Smith was shot in the head on May 15 in north Minneapolis during a birthday party. She was jumping on a trampoline when she was struck by a bullet. She was hit by a stray bullet fired at another residence. Trinity was nine years old. Let me say this again-Trinity was nine years old. For twelve days she fought for her life, but on May 27, 2021 she died.

Trinity wanted to be a teacher. She was shot in the head jumping on a trampoline. The gun culture in America is killing our children. The phrase “only in America” has new meaning.

Chicago

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Summer is a wonderful time of the year. The sun shines, children are out of school and families spend time together. Even in a hot city summer can be joyous. Children play on the sidewalks and parents sit on the stoops talking.

But it is summer 2016 and in Chicago parents will keep children inside. In Chicago communities are filled with fear. In Chicago gun violence is up 50%.

In Chicago on May 27, 2016 the residents and community leaders rallied together to take back the streets, to make their communities safe. On May 28, 2016, the police reported, 19 people had been shot, four shot dead, including a 15-year-old girl.

The people who make up the city of Chicago are scared of summer. They are scared to walk on the sidewalks; they are scared to let their children play in the sunshine.

Does the sun shine is Chicago or only produce a glare that shields the violence?

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Tally-keeping count

 

When Recreation and Gun Violence Collide

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A park is a public area in a town that is used for recreation.  Recreation is an activity done for enjoyment when one is not working. On January 29, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton went to a Chicago park  with her friends. They were using the public area as a place of recreation. Hadiya was shot to death in  the park.  Hadiya Pendleton was 15 and was a hard working student. Hadiya Pendleton performed at the 2013 presidential inaugural events. Hadiya is dead because in Chicago gun violence seems to have become a way of life that could be said to border on recreation for some members of the Chicago community.

unspeakable fear

Bang, Bang, Bang

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In a one hour span of time there were three deadly shootings on Sunday, December 2, 2012, on the streets of Philadelphia. Three lives reduced to three new hash marks to add to the tally.

tally 1

When a Bullet Strays

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To stray is to deviate from the direct course.  When a bullet strays from its course it can hit anyone who is in its unintended path.

On May 28, 2011 in Buffalo, NY,  a bullet was shot by Bangaly Chelley. The bullet missed its intended target and became a stray bullet. As Ansumane Kanneh was fixing his seven year old granddaughter’s bike, this stray bullet hit him.  This stray bullet killed Ansumane. Ansumane Kanneh was 82 years old.

Bullet Study #2

Bullet Study #2