Homicide in Louisiana

Lot of tragedies keep happening on a daily basis- People get shot, people get killed in an accident, many bad things happen to good people. We keep hearing news of such bad things happening to ‘other’ people. They always happen to ‘other’ people. It doesn’t happen to us.

What happens when it happens to one of us?

Yesterday, a very close friend of my family, Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma, was shot and killed in Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (USA). He went for a quick visit to his friend Kiran Kumar Allam. During that time, it looks like few guys entered the apartment of Kiran Kumar Allam. Exact details are not known but looks like there was some struggle. Chandrasekhar was found shot dead with one bullet in his head (along with Kiran). Chandrasekhar was strangled with computer cable before he was shot.

Chandrasekhar, known to us as Bujji, is a very close and dear friend of my brother. They studied together at LSU in Baton Rouge and they visit each other’s families on a regular basis. Bujji is a good friend to all of us including my parents. Bujji’s sense of comedy is unique and he can split you in laughter with his most amazing banter. I came back from my recent visit to Louisiana where we spent good time with Bujji to tell my wife that he has one of the most wonderful ‘sense of humor’ – he keeps cracking you up all the time.

He was on the verge of finishing up his PhD and was looking forward to many new things. He got married recently. And just few days ago, he bought a new car so that he can go around with his new wife. My brother was looking forward to their more visits .

Gun Culture in USA

Of late, we have been hearing many shooting incidents from US. The main reason, though some people do not admit it, is the easy access to firearms.

The USA qualifies as one of the weirdest countries on the planet when it comes to their second amendment of their constitution. This has been the most controversial amendment in their constitution and most retrograde. No other country in the developed world has similar attitude or laws towards owning and operating firearms.

So many killings have happened, so many shootings, snipers using their weapons to shoot innocent people from far away, students killing their mates in their schools and so many other crimes, and yet US continues to keep this controversial amendment going on because of a very strong and rich gun lobby.

Today, we are all sad, deep in grief. My brother and my family are not able to reconcile to this news – we have so many memories with Bujji. And yet, I write here on this blog. I am outraged, at how much this country is ready to endure, how many more people it is ready to sacrifice before they mature up, and stop their gun culture.

Links: [1], [2], [3], [4]