Those who use weapons pay little regard to their surroundings. On Sunday evening, the Løren district in Oslo received a “visit”. Five to six shots were fired at a person who was left wounded, right in the vicinity of Løren football arena. While a match was in progress. It had to be interrupted and the players were taken to the changing rooms.
This is happening in central Oslo on a Sunday evening, in a built-up area. People were sitting on their verandas and did not understand what was going on. It is unreal. One only understands it once it has happened.
This modus is familiar from Sweden: shootings in close proximity to sports arenas. In Moss, a man was seriously injured outside a football pitch.
Why have laws not been adopted stating that anyone who endangers the lives of others in such a manner automatically receives a severe penalty? Must someone be injured first?
The politicians appear to be engaging in incantations. Minister of Justice Astri Aas-Hansen, who bears political responsibility, says that shooting in a public place is “unacceptable”.
– This is a serious incident and it is reported that one person is injured. The shooting at Økern is naturally also frightening for everyone who was in the vicinity, including minors. This is not how we should have it in Norway. The police are handling the situation with substantial resources.
Does it help to say “this is not how we should have it in Norway”? How many times have Norwegian politicians said those words? Has it helped?
Everyone who lives in the immediate vicinity will be affected by such an incident.
If everyone agrees that “this is not how we should have it”, what concrete measures will they propose to ensure that it does not happen again?
If you bear responsibility, you cannot get away with words. The situation requires action. Each time the Minister of Justice responds in this manner, it will become increasingly clear that she is engaging in an abdication of responsibility.
In earlier times, the press would automatically have brought forward other occasions when there has been shooting at Løren. That no longer happens. The media do not wish to help the public remember. What does that mean? That “this is not how we should have it” has become “this is how it has become”.