It’s not everyday that so many innocent lives are taken due to the uncontrollable sick acts of a couple of troubled individuals. Sadly, these kinds of tragedies are becoming more and more common which is extremely humbling.

The two latest tragedies took place the past couple of days which once again begs the growing question: WHY???

Why would someone chop a well known psychologist to death who resided on the Upper East Side and injure another in the same gruesome manner before getting away? The most haunting aspect is this maniac is still on the loose.

While that unsolved murder rages, an even more devastating incident took place at the campus of Northern Illinois Thursday where 27 year-old graduate student Steven Kazmierczak unloaded on a lecture hall taking five lives and injuring over a dozen others.

What would set off by all former friends accounts a very bright individual who was a criminal justice major. At NIU, the same person got solid grades earning a couple of awards for academic achievment. What went so terribly wrong for Kazmierczak to snap attacking innocent people he didn’t know before committing suicide?

Well, for starters, he had shown erratic behavior for a couple of weeks due to being off medication. As someone who works part-time for a non-profit organization who helps people deal with anxiety and depression, I’m certainly more familiar with how important it is for clinics like Freedom From Fear to be open for troubled individuals in need.

Who doesn’t feel down at some point? It can’t always break your way. Every person is different in terms of how they cope. I will openly admit that as an older brother, I’ve been there to support my brother who battles OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). If you’re familiar with it, then you know about the kind of rituals and superstitious behavior/patterns it can entail on a person.

It’s extremely vital to support a loved one or close friend when they go through a mental illness. I can’t say for certain what happened to set off these two individuals but obviously, they were being treated for something and in at least one case, being off the med had an extremely negative affect impacting so many others. Think of all the families out there who sent their kids to Northern Illinois and now are dealing with loss or praying that the injuries aren’t serious if they’re even that fortunate.

Good god. This is what it’s sadly become lately in our society. Where the Virginia Tech Massacre is now referenced when another one of these unpredictable catastrophes takes place.

Remember Columbine? Who doesn’t? There was even a movie made about it which I caught some time last year. I don’t even know why I watched. I have yet to see 9/11. Maybe because it’s just too close to home.

Like most regular people, I would just like to believe these types of incidents will finally go away for good. However, unless we analyze why they’re happening and do everything possible to prevent them by any means possible (group sessions with students, public speakers, etc), then it’s not going to be nearly enough.

Maybe next time instead of procrastinating over Liar Liar Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee, our disingenuous politicians should try focusing on why this much bigger problem still exists.

The sad cold reality is that if someone decides to snap for a couple of minutes, we don’t have much control over the situation. That’s why you have to count your blessings these days.

Here’s hoping things look up.