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Monday, October 15, 2007
Ohio school shooting holds meaning for I-Reporter
SuccessTech shootingJeremy Burnside of East Lake, Ohio, left work Wednesday, October 10, and walked several blocks to SuccessTech Academy, the downtown Cleveland, Ohio, school that had been the scene of a shooting hours earlier.

"I just wanted to see," said Burnside, who took a photo of the scene and sent it to CNN with his cell phone. Before this event, he was writing opinion pieces to voice his concerns about gun violence, and said this shooting only strengthens his arguments.

Burnside was on campus during a January 2002 shooting at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. Three people were killed, including the dean, a professor and a student. Three others were wounded.

Looking back, he said he had always hoped if he ever found himself in the position to stop a gunman, he would try to do so. But when he was in the middle of a real-life incident, he waited in the library.

"When it actually happens you're powerless to move. I feel guilty for it, actually."

SuccessTech shootingHe participates in annual five-kilometer runs in honor of the victims of the Appalachian School of Law shooting. Earlier this year, he returned to Cleveland after the run and heard about the Virginia Tech shootings in Blacksburg, Virginia, soon after. Virginia Tech and Appalachian School of Law are about two hours apart.

In May 2003, he was in proximity to another shooting, this time at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He had just returned to law school in Grundy after a family visit in Cleveland when he learned of the shooting.

Burnside struggles to understand the coincidences he has seen in his life. He sent in a photo that held more meaning to him than what is apparent at first glance: a few ambulances outside a school following a horrible event. As a person deeply affected by gun violence, he communicated with us as a way of contributing to the ongoing dialogue he has established. He's also building up the historical documentation and interpretation of this event on a greater scale. In that way, a simple picture is worth way more than 1,000 words.

What's your story? Tell us about it. Check out the latest rundown of the Week in I-Report, and take a moment to send an I-Report of your own. Post a comment below if you have any thoughts.
Posted by Nicole Saidi: 10:56 AM
2 Comments Add a comment
Why do we need so many guns in America? Canada has so many less gun related deaths and is only a stones throw away from us. They get it why can't we. Defend our nation, sure, need a gun to do it sure. Only in a uniform, sure.
Posted By Anonymous Roosevelt Holmes Jr. : 7:58 PM ET  
What do you think happened at the Utah mall shooting? A crazy guy was shooting at people, then an off-duty police officer with a concealed-carry permit saved possibly dozens of lives when he shot the gunman.

My position on gun control is fairly simple, I do not support a handgun "ban" but more extensive background checks and restrictions as to "who can buy a gun." I'm still supporting the Second Amendment , but only to those who are worthy to uphold it. Sadly, 21st Century America is a place where you need a gun to protect yourself from crazy people.

Check out my blog at ramblingjesse.blogspot.com
Posted By Blogger Jesse : 6:39 PM ET  
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