We Were Not There
February 12th, 2007Four killed in mall shooting, official says
Deseret News
We were home and safe. The local news had a police briefing that said six people were killed, including the gunman. There are several people in area hospitals, at least three reported in critical condition.
Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
More tomorrow, I’m certain. o
UPDATE: 7:10 AM MDT CNN’s latest story.
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February 12th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
what was that your wife was just saying about the benefits of utah? random mall slayings?
glad you guys weren’t there. its funny, i’m here in los angeles listening to npr and worrying about ya’ll, people i’ve never met.
the power of the pen…
February 13th, 2007 at 1:29 am
So glad to hear that. I was worrying too…all the way from Copenhagen to Utah!
/anna
February 13th, 2007 at 1:42 am
I was at work when I looked up at a feed coming down, and recognized Trolley Square from a helicopter shot.
I checked the wires to see what was going on, and naturally my thoughts went to you and our other friends in SLC.
Glad to year you’re OK.
February 13th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Thank you for letting us know. As you can see, many of us were worried!
February 13th, 2007 at 5:25 am
Glad to hear you weren’t there. Many greetings from Switzerland!
February 13th, 2007 at 5:25 am
God, what a tragedy! I simply can’t imagine it. Jon… I’m so glad that your family is fine, and so sorry for the SLC families that will have to cope with this for the rest of their lives.
::::Richard is now climbing on to his high horse::::
What will it take for the US to enact some form of meaningful gun control? I’m not naive enough to suggest that it will prevent something like this from happening, but it does focus attention on the people who sell firearms, bringing pressure and some form of accountability to the process.
I wish the US would realize that the status quo isn’t working. Lawmakers need have a long hard look at the incidence of violent crime.
I was reading a paper a few weeks back — by a UK organization called the Transform Drug Policy Foundation — that advocates drug legalization. They estimate — that within a few years of legalization — violent crime and property crime would be halved, as would the prison population. Drug turf wars would virtually cease. Urban areas would be regenerated, and… well, you get the idea. It’s a VERY long list.
And these estimates are for Great Britain, which really doesn’t have a gun culture. I suspect that the results would be even more profound in the US. Imagine how much better it would be for all Americans if you could reduce violent crime by 10 or even 20 percent. Or more.
I’m hopeful — with the Democrats in a meaningful position for the first time this century — for real change in the world’s greatest country.
::::Climbing off his high horse::::
February 13th, 2007 at 6:10 am
I’m going to echo the others and say, the 3 of you were the first thought I had when I heard this story. My heart goes out to all families involved, what a horrible thing to happen.
February 13th, 2007 at 6:36 am
It was my first thought when I heard that it was in Utah. I’m glad you’re all ok, and my heart goes out to all the families of everyone involved.
February 13th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Add another faithful reader to the list. The Armstrong’s were the first folk to flash through my mind when I heard about the shooting.
Glad to know you are all okay. Saddened about the families who lost loved ones.
February 13th, 2007 at 8:39 am
I was just about to email George to ask if he, and all of you, were OK. Thank cheeses that you are
It’s horrible, but I agree with Richard and his ‘high horse’. Here in the UK we have plenty of our own troubles, and of course those who are determined to get a gun will get a gun. But it seems like we get off lightly - I firmly believe that the worst thing we could ever do would be to give everyone the right to bear arms. It’s inconceivable
February 13th, 2007 at 8:52 am
ditto! First thought when I heard was the three of you–and mountainfamily and crazyus. Speaking of which…how are the crazyus crew? They seemed to have dropped away.
Glad to hear you guys were not there!
February 13th, 2007 at 9:36 am
Oh man, I left work last night at 7 and thought about stopping by Trolley Square for a Valentine’s Day gift for my wife.
Glad that thought passed through my head and I just went home.
Damn.
February 13th, 2007 at 9:40 am
This is just a horribly tragic situation. I go to Trolley Square once a week for lunch with friends at Desert Edge and it’s such a great place to visit. The fact some 18 year old guy decided to exact such torture on people is mind boggling. I, like you, enjoy living in Utah because of what the state has to offer and the fact you don’t see this happen, well, I guess now we do. Horribly tragic for the familiies who didn’t have their loved ones walk through the door last night.
February 13th, 2007 at 9:44 am
So good to know. Like many, I thought of your family when I heard the news. I live in Jersey, close to the Philadelphia shootings…what a horrible night for so many people. Peace.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:10 am
So what if you are the only people I know (of) in Utah. And so what if it is totally irrational and buying into a culture of fear by wondering if you were affected.
I own my irrationalities. Really, I do.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Salt Lake City = the Armstrongs to me, too.
Glad you guys are safe, but my heart aches for the families of those who were killed and injured.
And I’m also sad for those poor people in New Orleans. How many disasters can those guys handle before they, too, go off the deep end??????
February 13th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Last night I came home around 9:30 to a very freaked out wife (we live a few blocks away from Trolley Square). Thankfully, we’re all safe and sound as well, however we’re very, very sad as we frequent Trolley often.
And the families (sigh). I hope I never know that kind of pain. My heart goes out to them.
February 13th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
SLC=Armtrongs to me too. Your family was the 1st thing I thought of when I saw this and I’m glad everyone is okay. (BTW thank you for the fusic/flickr reply last week. I followed Heather’s advice and got it to work. Daughter is back home from the hospital and we’re all snowed in.)
February 13th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Good Lord.
February 13th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
OMG… i am so glad that y’all are okay! My hearts go out to the victims and their families.