Yesterday a 14 year old young man got hold of a firearm and used it to shoot up his school.

Four are dead (2 teachers and 2 students) at latest report, and 9 wounded. Naturally the politicians are out in force asking for new gun laws. However they could easily solve the problem by simply making murder illegal. I can't for the life of me understand why won't they just do that?

Who is to blame?

The perpetrator. He chose to do what he died. He did not have to do it, but wanted to do it.

What prompted him?

An evil heart. Jesus says, "Do you not see that ... what comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." 

What else might be behind this? Disregard by parents for their children's moral training. A fractured household. But remember that Colt Gray is the one who made the decision, who chose to slaughter fellow human beings.

What else? His father who reportedly purchased the firearm for him as a Christmas gift. (Thank God for the real Christmas gift, "for unto us a Child is born a Son is given" who redeemed the world by his own cruel death.)

What else? Violent video games are likely a large part of the problem in general.

Who should be punished?

The perpetrator.

What is the appropriate penalty? We must leave that those who are so charged. 

How can we prevent future evil actions?

We cannot. 

How can we reduce them?

It may be too late.

It may take an apocalypse of one sort or another to reset the world to a higher moral standard. And so the church, though scorned by so many, continues to pray:

Lord, have mercy!
Christ, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy!