How Could Someone Kill a Child?

Scene outside of school.

It has been about 12 hours since I saw the breaking news of another school shooting. When I first heard of it, my mind sort of forced the image of Columbine High School, Pearl, MS or Jonesboro, AR. These were locations where high school students shot their classmates. When I heard that these were elementary kids, my heart sank. When I learned that these were kindergarten children, I was in disbelief—total denial. My mind could not comprehend what I had just heard. I remember sitting up in my bed and my mouth being open. My first thought was how—not why—could someone kill a child? What type of person could exact that kind of carnage on a 5-year-old?

Think for a moment what life is like for kindergarteners. A 5-year-old is roughly 40 inches tall and between 38 and 45 pounds. This is their first year of school. Gone are the days when they were fearful of mom or dad dropping them off at school. Now, they are halfway through the school year and look forward to each day at school. They wear little book bags that carry folders of their work: coloring pages, circling oranges, crossing out apples, lined papers they print the “A-B-Cs”. Papers that have “smiley” faces and Gold stars on them. They walk everywhere in a line, following their teachers. They are polite. They are sweet. They are loving. They are young enough to look at the good in people and not see the bad. They do not look at the color of their classmates, or the label in their clothes. They have not been corrupted by society. They are sweet and innocent. How could someone kill a child?

I can imagine what this morning might have been like in any of their homes. Climbing up into their chair at the breakfast nook to eat their breakfast and were glad it was Friday. They might have asked their mom “How many more days of school?”, then replied by counting the days out on their fingers and asking their mom “Is it this many?” Or, perhaps one of them asked what was packed in his lunch making sure mom included some pudding or Go-Gurt. On the way out the door, stopping to look at the Christmas tree and decorations reminding them that Santa would soon be coming. Each mom and dad who dropped their baby off at school had no idea that they would never again see their baby alive. They would never again be able to hug them. They would never again hear their laughter. How could someone kill a child?

I can imagine what it was like first thing this morning in the classroom. The teachers were calling role; telling the class to settle down and get ready for the first lesson. I can see the teacher passing out papers and writing on the whiteboard. I can hear laughter. I can hear murmuring between classmates. Then all goes quiet. Then the silence is broken by the unmistakable sound of gunfire. The sound of teachers locking the doors and going through emergency procedures. The sound of screaming. More gunfire. What did those babies think? How frightened were they when they saw a man dressed in black carrying firearms? What did they think when they saw the shooter pull the trigger and shoot a classmate? How fast were their hearts beating? What did they think when they saw blood splatter as the bullet entered into that small body? Then the second classmate was shot, then the third, and so on. Each child slowly realizes that help will not come for them. How many of them were so frightened they soiled their clothing? What did the last child shot think? “Please don’t hurt me. MOM…!” How could someone kill a child?

I can only imagine the destruction caused by a 9mm round on a small child. Firearms by their nature are destructive. They are designed to maim and kill. The basic operation is simple: a controlled explosion with a directed force acting on a projectile. The same technology propels us into space, with the shuttle/orbiter/satellite taking the place of the projectile. Most everyone has seen the hole a projectile leaves in a paper plate or cardboard box when shooting in a backyard. This does not illustrate the destructive nature of firearms. It is not simply a hole. No. Not only does a round tear a hole in the flesh, but it hits the body with such force, that it destroys tissue, organs, and bones. Just think of Newton’s Second Law of motion represented by the equation F=ma from Physics (Force is equal to the mass of an object multiplied by the object’s acceleration.) A 9mm round with a mass of 124 grains traveling at 1200 fps, the muzzle kinetic energy is about 405 ft-lbs of force—about half a ton. This is just what the impact feels like. As the round enters the body, it causes lacerations and crushing wounds. The round then continues, puncturing and tearing its way through tissue and bone. The “shock” of the round creates a temporary “cavity” pushing the organs aside, then quickly closing as the round passes. The cavity from the “shock wave” causes damage to nearby tissue, organs, and bones. This is assuming the round remains intact; if it is a hollow point or one that is frangible (breaks apart), even more damage is caused. I shudder at what just one round could do to a small 40-pound child. How could someone kill a child?

Scared children.

I can only imagine what the crime scene was like; what the first responders saw when they entered the room. The smell of gunpowder lingers in the air so strong you can taste it. The smell of blood—it smells like iron or dirt. Perhaps there was an overbearing smell of vomit, urine, and feces. No matter how awful and overloaded the smell of the scene, it does not compare to the sights. Small, lifeless, torn bodies, were strewn across the room. Some shot in the back while running away. Some slumped over in their desks—perhaps appearing as if they were taking a nap. Perpetual slumber. This crime scene will remain with them for the rest of their lives. The responders taking it all in—trying to remain detached and professional, trying to make sense of this; trying to bring order to this chaos. How could someone kill a child?

I can only imagine what the holidays will be like for the community and families affected by this senseless tragedy. The small churches host funerals instead of performing Christmas musicals. The pastor gives eulogies over the dead instead of heralding in the birth of another child 2000 years ago. The little coffins lined up at the front of the church—the children’s wing empty. The Hanukkah presents that have been opened, but will never be played with or used. The wrapped presents under the tree that will never be opened. The houses Santa Claus will not visit this year because the children are not there. The homes will be silent on Christmas morning because there is no laughter in their hearts. The parents and family members numb with pain, asking themselves all manner of questions. What could I have done differently? How could someone kill a child?

I can imagine in those last moments, there was someone else in the room—someone the shooter could not see. Someone only the innocent saw. He was standing there in His robes of white, looking each child in the eye. Giving them peace and preventing any pain. Telling them, “Come on, let’s go back to my place”. I find comfort in knowing that those innocent children are now seated around and even on the lap of Jesus. He is laughing with them…tickling them, telling them stories about Noah and the Ark, Jonah in the whale, how short Zacchaeus is, and laughing at him trying to “climb down from that tree”. Yes, I have no doubt these children are in a better place—a place where there is no carnage, no destruction, no death. A place where they are experiencing the lyric “Yes, Jesus loves me” forevermore. Sadly, while their children are in heaven the parents and family members are in a living hell. They need our prayers and support.

Sandy Hook Chapel.

We, parents from around the world, grieve with you the parents of Newtown, CT. We anguish alongside you at the loss of such, sweet, innocent lives. Lives that will never see their dreams realized. But know this, God has promised,

A time is coming where there are no more tears.

A time of comfort is at hand.

A time when peace shall be restored.

A time when joy shall be renewed.

            
We pray God's promises for you.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8