Becuae of the very liberal gun laws in U Arse A, you'll never know when you'll be the next target. 
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5382509/shooting-spree-alabama
Alabama gunman killed family, strangers
gunman went on a terrifying rampage in the US state of Alabama on Tuesday, killing at least nine people before shooting himself, authorities said.
The victims included members of the gunman's family, as well as apparent strangers.
Photos: The scene of the US killing spree
Police were investigating shootings in at least four different locations in several communities, all of which were believed to be the work of a single gunman who was yet been identified by investigators.
The afternoon of bloodshed began in Kinston, near the Alabama-Florida border, where the shooter burned down his mother's house, according to the Coffee County coroner, Robert Preachers.
Officials found the woman's body inside the house, but they had not been able to get inside the still-burning building to determine if the gunman shot her first.
The shooter then headed east, into Geneva County, where he shot and killed five people - four adults and a child - at a home in the nearby town of Samson.
Then he killed one person each in two other homes.
The identities of all the victims were unknown, but Preachers said they included other members of the shooter's family.
"He started in his mother's house," Preachers said.
"Then he went to Samson and he killed his granny and grandaddy and aunt and uncle."
"We don't know what triggered it," Preachers added.
The gunman also shot at a state trooper's car, striking the vehicle seven times and wounding the trooper with broken glass.
He then killed someone at a Samson supply store, and another person at a service station.
Samson contractor Greg McCullough said he was pumping petrol at the station when the gunman opened fire, killing a woman coming out of the service station and wounding McCullough in the shoulder and arm with bullet fragments that struck his truck and the pump.
"I first thought it was somebody playing," he said. He said the gunman roared into the parking lot and slammed on his brakes. Then he saw the rifle.
He said the gunman fired and the rifle appeared to jam, then he "went back to firing". Then he drove off.
McCullough, a father-of-two, said he tried to help the woman who was shot and yelled for someone to call an ambulance.
"I'm just in awe that something like this could take place. That someone could do such a thing. It's just shocking," McCullough said.
Police pursued the gunman to a metals plant just north of Geneva, about 20 kilometres southeast of Samson, where he fired an estimated 30 rounds from a semiautomatic weapon, the Alabama safety department said.
One of the bullets hit Geneva Police Chief Frankie Lindsey, who was saved by his bulletproof vest.
The gunman then went inside the plant and shot himself, according to the safety department's statement.
State Representative Warren Beck, whose district includes Geneva, said the gunman had worked at the metals plant.
"My secretary heard gunfire everywhere," he said.
"This is one of the most tragic events ever in Geneva County."
State Senator Harri Anne Smith said some of those killed in Samson were sitting outside their houses.
"He was just driving down the street shooting at people sitting on their porches," she said.
"A family was just sitting on the porch and they were shot."
The towns of Geneva and Samson are near the Florida border in southeast Alabama. Geneva's population is about 4,400 and Samson, 2,000.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5382509/shooting-spree-alabama
Alabama gunman killed family, strangers
gunman went on a terrifying rampage in the US state of Alabama on Tuesday, killing at least nine people before shooting himself, authorities said.
The victims included members of the gunman's family, as well as apparent strangers.
Photos: The scene of the US killing spree
Police were investigating shootings in at least four different locations in several communities, all of which were believed to be the work of a single gunman who was yet been identified by investigators.
The afternoon of bloodshed began in Kinston, near the Alabama-Florida border, where the shooter burned down his mother's house, according to the Coffee County coroner, Robert Preachers.
Officials found the woman's body inside the house, but they had not been able to get inside the still-burning building to determine if the gunman shot her first.
The shooter then headed east, into Geneva County, where he shot and killed five people - four adults and a child - at a home in the nearby town of Samson.
Then he killed one person each in two other homes.
The identities of all the victims were unknown, but Preachers said they included other members of the shooter's family.
"He started in his mother's house," Preachers said.
"Then he went to Samson and he killed his granny and grandaddy and aunt and uncle."
"We don't know what triggered it," Preachers added.
The gunman also shot at a state trooper's car, striking the vehicle seven times and wounding the trooper with broken glass.
He then killed someone at a Samson supply store, and another person at a service station.
Samson contractor Greg McCullough said he was pumping petrol at the station when the gunman opened fire, killing a woman coming out of the service station and wounding McCullough in the shoulder and arm with bullet fragments that struck his truck and the pump.
"I first thought it was somebody playing," he said. He said the gunman roared into the parking lot and slammed on his brakes. Then he saw the rifle.
He said the gunman fired and the rifle appeared to jam, then he "went back to firing". Then he drove off.
McCullough, a father-of-two, said he tried to help the woman who was shot and yelled for someone to call an ambulance.
"I'm just in awe that something like this could take place. That someone could do such a thing. It's just shocking," McCullough said.
Police pursued the gunman to a metals plant just north of Geneva, about 20 kilometres southeast of Samson, where he fired an estimated 30 rounds from a semiautomatic weapon, the Alabama safety department said.
One of the bullets hit Geneva Police Chief Frankie Lindsey, who was saved by his bulletproof vest.
The gunman then went inside the plant and shot himself, according to the safety department's statement.
State Representative Warren Beck, whose district includes Geneva, said the gunman had worked at the metals plant.
"My secretary heard gunfire everywhere," he said.
"This is one of the most tragic events ever in Geneva County."
State Senator Harri Anne Smith said some of those killed in Samson were sitting outside their houses.
"He was just driving down the street shooting at people sitting on their porches," she said.
"A family was just sitting on the porch and they were shot."
The towns of Geneva and Samson are near the Florida border in southeast Alabama. Geneva's population is about 4,400 and Samson, 2,000.
