The second half of the year is just starting and the United States is hearing another news of gun violence. Just a month ago, Father's Day was celebrated to honor dads. This month, Dallas and the rest of the world honor dads once more, only for a different purpose: to remember the lives they lived.
Last July 8, Micah Johnson, a skilled sniper killed five and injured seven police officers and two civilians. Among the police officers were dads who, according to The Sacramento Bee, were volunteers in their children's schools and churches aside from their job posts as protectors of the state and commitment to their families.
One of the slain officers, Michael Smith, is a 55-year-old dad who won a "Cops' Cop" award from the Dallas Police Association. Before joining the Dallas Police Department, he was a U.S. Army Ranger. His friends have nothing but good words to say about him which commended, most especially, his love for his wife and kids (via The Sacramento Bee).
Another killed officer is Lorne Ahrens who on a day before his death, did his last good deed to a stranger, buying dinner for a homeless man. The dad had a wife cop and together they raised their children, 8 and 10, who completed their family committed to the law (via The Sacramento Bee).
The other dead husband to is Brent Thompson, 43, who left his wife in excruciating grief as they will no longer have the married life they have been looking forward to living. Two weeks ago, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority officer just got married with another officer. He had also left his 6 children from a previous marriage without a dad and three grandchildren whose upbringing he would not be able to contribute to (via The Sacramento Bee).
Another one is Patrick Zamarippa, 32, who before becoming a Dallas police officer was serving the Navy. He has been in Iraq for three times in the line of service. He was just a month away from his 33rd birthday which he won't get to celebrate with his wife, 2-year-old daughter and 10-year-old stepson anymore (via The Sacramento Bee).
According to CNN, the sniper responsible for the deaths, injuries and damages done had larger plans. Dallas Police Chief David Brown said that they found bomb-making materials and a journal at the sniper's home. The police believe that the sniper thought he was doing a righteous act by killing policemen, people, who he thinks, punish Blacks unfairly.
As per The Guardian, the shooting highlights the persisting racial divide in the police force and the U.S. criminal justice system. There had been two recent killings of blacks by police in Louisiana and Minnesota that are believed to have provoked Micah Johnson to pull the trigger and aim the gun to white policemen.
The Sacramento Bee reported that a vigil was held in honor of the dead policemen and the families, children and wives, they have left. This week, Barrack Obama will visit Dallas to address the racial disparities and talk to the loved ones of the victims.
How do you think can racial discrimination be dealt with? If done so, would killings, hate crimes and other forms of violence stop? Sound off your thoughts in the Comments section below and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
