A Student Perspective on the Recent Fatal Hospital Shooting
- Gabe
- Aug 6, 2017
- 2 min read
32-year-old Dr. Tracy Sin Yee Tam was killed during a shooting spree in Bronx-Lebanon Hospital on June 30, 2017. The gunman responsible for her death and the life-threatening injuries of 6 others was 45-year-old Dr. Henry Bello, a former employee of the hospital, who resigned before he could be fired due to his lack of performance in February 2015. During the chaos in the hospital, SWAT teams and NYPD surrounded the building and hurried to save immobile patients before it was too late. The shooting ended with the culprit attempting to set himself on fire and then fatally wounding himself with the gun he used during the shooting. NYPD later released that this cruel act does not appear to be an act of terrorism, but rather work-related violence. Tragedies such as these are even harder to see when compounded with the new president resisting tighter gun control laws, and in fact promoting less restrictive ones. Even though the world without guns is nowhere near remotely possible a resolution in the “land of the free,” the topic of stricter gun control needs to be addressed more. This is where our youth can be a part of the change and actively protest against the gun industry, which is immensely responsible as it constantly uses lobbyists to buy their way to gun control laws that work in their favor. It is such a shame to see these tragedies, such as the death of Dr. Tracy Sin Yee Tam, and to have to ask ourselves: what would’ve happened if gun show loopholes, universal background checks, and overall stricter gun control were already in effect?
Bronx hospital shooting: gunman fired from job week before rampage - CNN.com
Bronx-Lebanon Hospital shooting: Gunman sought ex-colleague, sources say - CNN.com
Doctor fatally shoots 1, wounds 6 at NYC hospital - CNN.com
Doctors, Nurses Tell of Shocking Moments After Code Silver Is Called During Hospital Shooting Rampage | NBC New York
Shooting Kills 1 Man, Injures Another: NYPD | NBC New York
Photo Credit to NBC New York
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