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NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > GERMANS UP THE ANTE FOR AMERICAN SCHOOL SHOOTERS
GERMANS UP THE ANTE FOR AMERICAN SCHOOL SHOOTERS
March 11 2009
Winnenden, Germany – A small town, a country, and the world are in shock as word comes of 16 people shot dead in a German school. 9 students, 3 teachers, two bystanders and the shooter himself have died in this small town north of Stuttgart after 17 year old Tim Kretschmer opened fire at Albertville school. While many mourn the loss of young lives, others are amazed and enthralled in celebration as the details of one of the greatest non-American school shooting are revealed.
Tied for third place with fellow German Robert Steinhäuser who killed 16 at the Johann Gutenberg Secondary School in Erfut in 2002, Kretschmer came two shy of taking second place from Thomas Hamilton of the Dunblane, Scotland massacre. First place, with a staggering 386 deaths, is held by a rebel group with a name bloated enough to equal its kill total, Riyadus-Salikhin Reconnaissance and Sabotage Battalion of Chechen Martyrs. Those killings took place in Beslan, South Ossetia and are not expected to be topped anytime soon.
“By sheer volume of number of events the United States is still top dog. Seung-Hui Cho kept America at the top of the charts with Virginia Tech, and Columbine still stands as the most famous shooting in history, the reference point for all mass killings afterwards despite its total being topped a number of times,” said Scrape TV Mass Murder analyst Drake Webber. “There’s a serious question about whether or not the Beslan
massacre could be considered a school shooting because it was a part of a greater conflict. This is a strong issue for debate but the core question is whether or not it’s the location or the circumstances that really makes the shooting.”
It was only yesterday that an American attempted to make his mark in the history of mass killings when Michael McLendon killed 10 and himself in Alabama. Though not a school shooting, in the wake of the epic German effort many in the U.S. are trying to shoe horn it into the category.
“The Alabama shooting was more of a town killing spree and although it appears as though the shooter was motivated by a lot of the same types of things that motivate typical school shooters it’s hard to make an argument that will slot it in amongst the greats,” continued Webber. “Five of the people who were killed were family members as well and that so rarely happens in school shootings. It also kind of artificially ups the tally because of the trust and love that people have for family members. No one ever expects to be gunned down but you really don’t expect it from a family
member so opportunities to duck and hide almost never arise. There’s an innate suspicion of strangers, especially those with automatic weapons that can save lives. This time round Germans have taken the crown, at least for now.”
The celebration of the massive body count can be heard all across Germany as many call it a return to form for the country with the greatest history of mass murder. Many are also pointing to the arrest warrant issued today for suspected Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk who has been charged with 29,000 murders and is expected to be extradited back to Germany for trial.
“Every time a Nazi criminal is tracked down the Germans are always first to jump on prosecution, largely because it reminds them of glory days. It’s not possible to relive those halcyon days, as it never is for anyone, but like a song or peculiar scent on the wind, days like this remind the 
German people just how great they once were,” continued Webber. “This is also good news for potential mass murderers through the European Union. As the borders between countries continue to loosen the ability to smuggle arms will become that much easier. It’s been so difficult for Europeans to keep up with the Americans because of the restrictions on the necessary tools but as this shows, it wasn’t for lack of willpower.”
Many are also hoping that the new American President will introduce new legislation on firearms making it easier for foreign countries to keep pace. 
“In a level playing field Europeans will ultimately win I think due to their incredibly long history of war and massacres. The Americans have done well for such a young country but they are just that,” continued Webber. “We haven’t even tapped into Eastern Europe yet and the history of slaughter there is incredible. From Vlad the Impaler to Genocide after Genocide, I think that area is going to be responsible for massive growth for all of Europe in the coming years and the Americans are going to be playing a lot of catch-up. And both sides have Africa coming up fast in the rear view mirror, though they will be limited by their lack of schools.”
Emil Uliya, International Correspondent
NEWS > EVERYONE ELSE > GERMANS UP THE ANTE FOR AMERICAN SCHOOL SHOOTERS
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