The Brave News

by Enrique Gutierrez

On October 27th, 2018 an Anti-Semitic gunman shoots up a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, murdering eleven people and leaving six critically injured during the event.  

Waking up early Saturday morning, one expects their morning to be peaceful and quiet, continuing the normal routine. This was not the case for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, as many awoke with tragic news.

In Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill, the population of Jewish citizens are one of the largest amounts in America. A large mass of Jewish people were attending a synagogue Saturday morning, but their reception was interrupted by a crazed gunman. The gunman opened fire and killed eleven people and left six others wounded. The event being held at the synagogue was a child’s birth ceremony, but was ultimately turned into the scene of a hate crime homicide.

The Pittsburgh gunman was identified by officials as Robert D. Bowers. Robert Bowers held a history for hating against people’s beliefs and actions before committing the homicide. Bowers expressed his anger against the Jewish community and immigrants on social media before this horrible act.

Bowers decided that a perfect way to show his domination in society was to shoot up a synagogue and disturb the peace. Bowers identifies himself as a White Supremacist and a Anti-Semitic through social media platforms, posting racist images and making offensive comments towards other cultures and belief groups.

According to the New York Times, some comments made by Robert Bowers included:

“Jews are the children of Satan.”

“Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a Jew.”

While the shooting took place, he yelled, “I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in,” said Bowers as he took the lives of innocent Jewish citizens.

Robert D. Bowers blamed the Jewish community for worldwide issues with criticism and prejudice.

Bowers was not killed at the scene. Authorities captured Bowers, who was already injured, and took him to a nearby hospital to get treatment for the wound. Bowers was charged with 29 criminal counts for his homicide and aggravated assault against the Jewish people. Bowers had possession of 21 guns under his name. During the violent crime, Robert used an AR-15, three handguns, and was dressed in tactical gear knowing he would draw gunfire due to him carrying weapons.

This starts a whole new discussion and again brings up the issue of gun control in America. Gun violence has been evident throughout history and has been the cause of the death of millions, and recently thousands here in the US.

Many protests have taken place with people against gun usage, and also protests have been held for people wishing to allow citizens to keep possession of guns. People who possess guns feel that they need guns to have self-protection for themselves and their family.

The United States Constitution’s Second Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” US citizens can possess arms under the owner’s name with legal rights and a background check.

Hate crimes and discrimination continues to exist in the US and across the world, which seems to be the bigger issue. Most hate crimes exist because of different viewpoints and opinions people have towards others religious beliefs and skin color.

In the Pittsburgh shooting, the cause of the terrible incident occurred because of a man’s political views and his religious beliefs. The possession of guns remains to be an issue with many assaults and crimes being committed with arms. The Squirrel Hill community will forever mourn and remember the lives lost in the synagogue shooting, and hope for soon reform.