Yet another gangland shooting here in Las Vegas, with a 19 year old dead, and others injured - it is this part of the story which is actually most important:

Washington and about 15 other teens had parked near the house party about 12:30 a.m. Sunday and were walking toward the party when an unknown number of gunmen who were down the street opened fire on them, witnesses said.

"It happened right out of nowhere," Williams said.

Many people who were in the street and at the nearby house party ran through neighbors' yards and banged on doors to seek shelter from the gunfire. Some estimated that more than 50 teens were in the area at the time of the shooting...

..The graduation party, for Durango High School, was held at a house at 4623 Gleaming Meadows St., about a hundred feet from the shooting. Titled "The Grown & Sexy Graduation Party," it was organized by several women including 19-year-old LeyLey Washington, who said she is not related to Charles Washington.

Some people who attended the party said they received cell phone text messages telling them about the party and did not know the organizers or the owners of the house.

LeyLey Washington said her uncle, who is in his 30s, acted as a bouncer and checked people at the door for weapons.(emphasis added)

So, 50 teenagers are out and about after midnight in and around a house party put on by a 30 year old. Not just finding a party, but drawn to it by modern communications, and with the party given a name just tailor made to bring in teenagers who think that sex = grown up.

I can imagine that it was rather loud and likely a bit out of control and if you think there was no drinking, drugs or sex happening in that area, then you're nuts. The mix of teenagers, party, irresponsible adults and indifferent citizenry who didn't demand that the police shut the party down - that is what caused this to happen. It is our failure to act with a bit of civic mindedness - to act with a bit of concern for our fellows - which makes this situation happen again and again and again, and become the endlessly repeated tragedy.

We're afraid to enforce basic standards - and our craven fear has lead to the death of many a young man and women, and the ruination of the lives of many others.

Oh, God - when will we start to act like men and women again? When will we have fear for naught but You and fearlessly do the right thing, every time?

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