On July 15, 2007, another senseless act of gun violence against my cousin Anthony Earl, a long-time worker of the Indianapolis Post Office and a father of two boys — of which his 12-year-old son was also a victim — occurred. Anthony had collected a few guns as a hobby. His 12-year-old son had told another boy at school about his gun collection. This other boy had told his uncle about the guns.
This uncle decided to rob him with his own gun. Upon knocking on my cousin Anthony’s door, he shot him through the door and then proceeded in the house, shooting his 12-year-old son. The 9-year-old boy hid under the bed. Fortunately the mother was not at home. The man was arrested and convicted. Not a memory I want to have, but in this day of continued gun violence, I’m stuck with it and the emotional consequences. Hopefully with change this won’t be someone else’s memory. No, my cousin and his son did not survive.