The nation was changed
Because of this26 total reviews
Comment from Julie Lau
Excellent story with a powerful message. I hope it can change a few people's minds. I missed this one earlier: glad I caught it now. Just one thing; I seem to remember that the germ who did the shooting, MD, topped himself a few years ago. Not before time. Juliex
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Excellent story with a powerful message. I hope it can change a few people's minds. I missed this one earlier: glad I caught it now. Just one thing; I seem to remember that the germ who did the shooting, MD, topped himself a few years ago. Not before time. Juliex
Comment Written 03-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you very much, Julie! I appreciate the review, especiallyin view of the fact that it had expired.
From my research I gather he is still alive, "a sad, obese middle-aged man" who refuses to exercise, still stares unnervingly at people, and spends his spare time eating 2-minute noodles and chocolate. Totally disengaged from everyone and everything. In 2022 at least he was still going, a pathetic figure really.
Wendy
Comment from CD Richards
I wish I had six stars to award this.
This article appears to be painstakingly researched and is impeccably written. As a passionate gun control advocate myself, I wish all those in favour of widespread gun ownership could read it.
Wonderful work, Wendy. (That's some mean alliteration there)!
I see you are currently #1 ranked author. Can't say I'm surprised :)
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2023
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I wish I had six stars to award this.
This article appears to be painstakingly researched and is impeccably written. As a passionate gun control advocate myself, I wish all those in favour of widespread gun ownership could read it.
Wonderful work, Wendy. (That's some mean alliteration there)!
I see you are currently #1 ranked author. Can't say I'm surprised :)
Comment Written 23-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 23-Jun-2023
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Thank you very much for your very kind words and review. Even the thought of six stars is good. People against strict gun control will not read or listen to anything opposing their views. They think freedom is to be found in bigger and "better" guns, whereas for me freedom is found in being safe without needing to have a gun. Thanks again.
Wendy
Comment from Spitfire
He looks like a man who has seen too much tragedy. The killer showed signs of being a psychopath when young. Too bad his parents ignored this. I wish the U.S. would put a ban on weapons but the NRA is a powerful organization so it won't happen and the mass shootings will continue. Sounds as if Australia is a great place to live.
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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He looks like a man who has seen too much tragedy. The killer showed signs of being a psychopath when young. Too bad his parents ignored this. I wish the U.S. would put a ban on weapons but the NRA is a powerful organization so it won't happen and the mass shootings will continue. Sounds as if Australia is a great place to live.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Thank you for a wonderful review and for six stars. Someone (a reviewer) checked out the top ten countries to live and Australia ranked third after Sweden and Denmark. I love living here, and although I have lived in other countries, I would never live anywhere else. Unfortunately and sadly I think it is too late for the US to change. The solution, if one truly wants freedom, is not to get bigger and better guns, but to be able to live in freedom without needing a gun. Thank you again Shari.
Wendy
Comment from Sarah Tummey
It's very sad about Walter losing his family, but I wonder why you didn't feel you could write the other person's name? It's an awful thing that happened, but he must have been suffering severely with his mental health to get to the point of committing such a crime. If he'd had some help earlier on in his life, I wonder if it could have been prevented.
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reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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It's very sad about Walter losing his family, but I wonder why you didn't feel you could write the other person's name? It's an awful thing that happened, but he must have been suffering severely with his mental health to get to the point of committing such a crime. If he'd had some help earlier on in his life, I wonder if it could have been prevented.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Thank you for your review and for the four stars. Other than writing his name, how else should I improve it? The person doesn?t need to have his name remembered. He was disturbed and strange and "different" but had no obvious or defined mental illness according to psychiatrists. I wanted the reader to focus more on the reaction of Walter Mikac and his work to make a difference for other Australians.
Wendy
Comment from BethShelby
Australia acted as they should have and their people did as well by surrendering their guns. This is not the case in America where we have mass homicides every day, and their seems to be nothing the people are willing to do about it. The National Rifle Association is a very powerful lobbying group and here and it is a political problem. Every time anyone tries to change the gun laws, people scream they're trying to take away our first amendment rights. Most people are for gun laws but the politicians can't seem to see past all the money the NRA pours into their campaigns. Thanks for telling us what can be done and should be. No one is safe here, particularly the children because many of these mass shooting occur in schools and even in churches.
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Australia acted as they should have and their people did as well by surrendering their guns. This is not the case in America where we have mass homicides every day, and their seems to be nothing the people are willing to do about it. The National Rifle Association is a very powerful lobbying group and here and it is a political problem. Every time anyone tries to change the gun laws, people scream they're trying to take away our first amendment rights. Most people are for gun laws but the politicians can't seem to see past all the money the NRA pours into their campaigns. Thanks for telling us what can be done and should be. No one is safe here, particularly the children because many of these mass shooting occur in schools and even in churches.
Comment Written 21-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Yes, I am frequently horrified by what happens in the US. I fear it is too late now as it?s the tail wagging the dog. Surely the right to have a life should be more important than the right to have a gun? Especially when the whole purpose of a gun is to take a life! Thank you very much for reviewing. I appreciate the six stars hugely. Much valued and an honour.
Wendy
Comment from Aussie
Thank you for writing about this dreadful event. I remember it so well. I believe he is still in gaol. Some said he was bipolar. I hope your writing of this gets through to our American friends regarding guns. The laws in the US don't seem to be able to be changed. The Gun Lobby overrides the President. America lives in a lawless society. K xx
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Thank you for writing about this dreadful event. I remember it so well. I believe he is still in gaol. Some said he was bipolar. I hope your writing of this gets through to our American friends regarding guns. The laws in the US don't seem to be able to be changed. The Gun Lobby overrides the President. America lives in a lawless society. K xx
Comment Written 21-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Thanks so much for reviewing. Always appreciated. Writing this one was very hard. My next will be quite different. I agree with you a hundred percent. One reviewer was obviously not pleased. But the gun fanatics won?t take any notice. They seem to think the solution is to get more and bigger weapons. The psych reports said he had no mental issues which were significant but said he had extremely low intelligence and a few other issues but definitely knew right from wrong. The ones I read said he might have been ADHD and possibly Asperger?s. Who knows? He will never be released.
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The Yanks will never give up guns. Linda writes to me (loves Trump) and has a .45 in her side draw. Now I have another female writing to me (blind entry) waffling on about how innocent Trump is. Their politics are ridiculous. Did I tell you, if he is impeached, he can still run for President? :-(
Comment from Father Flaps
Excellent, Wendy! I'm Canadian, and we don't have many instances of mass murders like this. As I recall, there was an incident in Quebec years ago. And more recently, a murderer in rural Nova Scotia (our neighbor province) dressed like a police officer (including driving his very own Royal Canadian Mounted Police car he had doctored) and randomly killed 22 innocent people! A tragedy.
But the United States deals with shootings all the time. And they refuse to deal with the issue of gun control. Imagine!
Nicely penned essay, Wendy! Powerful. I'm so glad your country's leaders were not afraid to take action. Unfortunately, it's not over in the USA. There will be more shootings by these maniacs.
Thanks for sharing!
Hugs,
Kimbob
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Excellent, Wendy! I'm Canadian, and we don't have many instances of mass murders like this. As I recall, there was an incident in Quebec years ago. And more recently, a murderer in rural Nova Scotia (our neighbor province) dressed like a police officer (including driving his very own Royal Canadian Mounted Police car he had doctored) and randomly killed 22 innocent people! A tragedy.
But the United States deals with shootings all the time. And they refuse to deal with the issue of gun control. Imagine!
Nicely penned essay, Wendy! Powerful. I'm so glad your country's leaders were not afraid to take action. Unfortunately, it's not over in the USA. There will be more shootings by these maniacs.
Thanks for sharing!
Hugs,
Kimbob
Comment Written 20-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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There are always a few crazies. But the harder it is for them to access these weapons the better. We have never had a mass shooting like this since. I g tag hunk it is too late to turn the tide in the US now. But true freedom is the freedom to live in safety without needing a gun. Many thanks for your review and also for the beautiful honour of six stars. They mean a lot to me.
Wendy
Comment from prettybluebirds
Here in the United States, we have shootings almost every day, and still, nothing concrete has been done about it. The politicians argue about gun laws, but nothing gets done. It appears that your government is much smarter than outs. Nice writing.
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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Here in the United States, we have shootings almost every day, and still, nothing concrete has been done about it. The politicians argue about gun laws, but nothing gets done. It appears that your government is much smarter than outs. Nice writing.
Comment Written 20-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 21-Jun-2023
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I could never live there. I think it may be too late for the US to turn the tide now, which is very sad. Many thanks for your very thoughtful review. Greatly appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from Paul Manton
Thank you, Wendy, for this outstanding article. I apologize for having no remaining 6star awards. Most countries have by now suffered these appalling tragedies: we read with horror of the Dunblane massacre in 1996, and of a plethora of seemingly avoidable deaths in the USA - then, soon after I visited my friends in Norway, the inexplicable slaughter of 77 young people at a youth camp. Which leads me to apologise for not being aware of the story of MG, as dreadful as anything I have mentioned. Perhaps it was because Dunblane was the same year - I pray that MG was not a copycat killing.
Your story reads like the very best documentary presentation, so I wish again that I had that extra star. Thank you for enlightening and educating me.
Paul
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2023
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Thank you, Wendy, for this outstanding article. I apologize for having no remaining 6star awards. Most countries have by now suffered these appalling tragedies: we read with horror of the Dunblane massacre in 1996, and of a plethora of seemingly avoidable deaths in the USA - then, soon after I visited my friends in Norway, the inexplicable slaughter of 77 young people at a youth camp. Which leads me to apologise for not being aware of the story of MG, as dreadful as anything I have mentioned. Perhaps it was because Dunblane was the same year - I pray that MG was not a copycat killing.
Your story reads like the very best documentary presentation, so I wish again that I had that extra star. Thank you for enlightening and educating me.
Paul
Comment Written 20-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2023
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Thank you so much Paul. I appreciate even the thought of six stars. We have not had any mass shootings anywhere near that scale since then for which I am constantly thankful. The horror of mass shootings in the world in these times has led to "compassion fatigue" and it scarcely is newsworthy even. Yet each life unnecessarily lost is precious. So sad.
Wendy
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Absolutely agree, Wendy. I support a charity called 'Samara Aid for Syria', helping widows and orphans to survive and setting up hospital facilities wherever they can. The world has forgotten Syria, where nearly a million have died and nearly 8 million are internal refugees, without homes.
We do what we can, Wendy.
God bless, Paul
Comment from lyenochka
I always admired Australia's response to that horrible mass shooting. Everyone valued human life over their right to own a gun and that's the way it should be. I don't know why our country tries to equate gun ownership as a Christian right - maybe partly because they don't trust the government/authority.
You told this even superbly and I'm glad that you didn't even mention the killer's name. From the first school shooting that set off hundreds of others here, I still remember the kid's name and he's very much like the killer you describe. I hope someday our lawmakers will have the guts to take the right steps to protect our citizens.
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2023
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I always admired Australia's response to that horrible mass shooting. Everyone valued human life over their right to own a gun and that's the way it should be. I don't know why our country tries to equate gun ownership as a Christian right - maybe partly because they don't trust the government/authority.
You told this even superbly and I'm glad that you didn't even mention the killer's name. From the first school shooting that set off hundreds of others here, I still remember the kid's name and he's very much like the killer you describe. I hope someday our lawmakers will have the guts to take the right steps to protect our citizens.
Comment Written 19-Jun-2023
reply by the author on 20-Jun-2023
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Yes, we don?t have that same attitude about our "right" to have a gun, and in general human life is valued highly. Christians in particular would never use a gun. Farmers will reluctantly cull wild animals when necessary Most of us are against hunting as a sport. We haven?t had a mass shooting on this scale since then and I pray we never will. Personally I think the US will never be able to wind back now - sadly, I think it?s too late. The US solution appears to be "get a more powerful gun". Where does that end?
Thank you so much for a wonderful review, both thoughtful and compassionate, and I send special thanks for the lovely six stars. I am very appreciative.
Wendy
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Thanks for writing it, Wendy. Unfortunately, crazy people will get guns now even with legal regulation with 3D printers as we saw in Japan.