Cumbria shootings - What we should be doing

It's all gone Pete Tong in Cumbria today and as I write this I am aware that twelve people are dead as a result of the actions of taxi driver Derrick Bird. In addition to this there are a further twenty-five wounded (three said to be critical) as a result of this man's apparently random shooting spree.

In addition to those killed or wounded Mr. Bird appears to have added his name to the list of casualties by having taken his own life.

So, leaving aside the BBC styled, "Do you know anyone who's been shot, or do you live in the area of know someone who might not but can talk about it as if they do. Send us an email," approach to news (think it's the result of cuts and due to a lack of regional reporters these days), what should we be doing?

Firstly we should be praying for those who have been wounded and for their families and the families of those who have been killed.

Secondly, we need to be praying for those who have been caught up in this unfortunate incident as eyewitnesses or as part of the blue-light response teams (Police and Ambulance) and in the NHS support of those who have been injured.

Lastly, we need a balanced and measured response (unlike that which we saw when Dunblane happened!) and should encourage people against kneejerk responses, the majority of which (like Dunblane) are ill-thought through and of limited or, more realistically, no real value at all.

Hopefully out thoughts are with the families of all victims and the community at this time.