Two Weeks, Two Funerals

For the second Saturday in a row, northern Virginia was the scene of a Fairfax County police officer's funeral. Michael Garbarino, seriously wounded in an ambush shooting on May 8, died of his wounds this past Wednesday and was laid to rest this afternoon. Detective Vicky Armel, who was killed in the same attack, was buried last week. Both services were held at McLean Bible Church.

While the 18 year old killer's parents continue to refuse to talk to police, they did issue a statement offering their condolences to the families. One thing that became clear about the killer during the past week is that his parents and friends all realized he was becoming increasingly delusional. Numerous attempts were made to get him treatment, but all were for one reason or another unsuccessful. However, no one seemed to realize that he was dangerous, and that apparently limited treatment options.

The ploy for sympathy, however, still does not explain why the family had 16 guns in their house, including an AK-47. An AK-47!?!?!? And just why the hell would someone need a freakin' machine gun in the suburbs? To deter squirrels from getting into the bird feeder? What's even more frightening about this is that apparently all the weapons were legally owned. Any system that allows that sort of accumulation of weaponry in private hands is seriously flawed, regardless of what the National Rifle Association may say.

It remains to be seen who or what is most at fault in this tragic situation. Was it the parents, for allowing the weapons in the house? Was it the mental healthcare system, for failing to recognize the danger posed by a sick teenager? Or was it absurdly lax gun control laws, constantly pushed by the NRA, that allowed a deranged individual access to such deadly weapons?

Regardless of who or what failed, two officers are dead, four children have lost a parent, and an entire community has been left in mourning.