Much of America was plunged into massive grief when a lone gunman with a deeply twisted hatred for black people entered one of the most prestigious black churches in South Carolina while members, including the pastor, held a Bible study session.

After a while, according to police reports, he stood and declared he was there to kill black people. As those sickening words hung in the air for a brief second, the young man pulled a gun and, when the smoke cleared, the pastor, Reverend Clementa Pinckney, and eight members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, were fatally wounded.

As Police responded to the horror scene, the gunman escaped into the night, but they knew another grim chapter in America’s gun violence had occurred.

Dark memories of other gun tragedies were revived, with the age old question of why people with serious mental issues have access to lethal weapons. The result usually shatters lives and has families and communities scrambling to find an answer to America’s gun madness that continues with no sign of abating.

There has always been that lone wolf, or ticking time bomb, as some folks describe them, who feel the world has nothing for them. The new age of global violence boosted by use of social media is an added concern, because the vulnerable could be someone next door.

After numerous shootings in America, officials tried to implement programmes aimed at trying to spot people with potential problems before it was too late. There have been some success stories, with Police being able to circumvent plans by those planning to attack a school or a shopping mall. However, those stories don’t get the same exposure as tragedies in which many lives are lost.

It is more than a question of gun control and heavy security throughout America. That is helpful, but the problem runs deep into the value structure at all levels, and with deep wounds yet to heal from a history of racism that emanated from slavery. It seems the nightmare for blacks in the Deep South is yet to end.

With tremendous success in recent decades that saw blacks and whites working together in an effort to improve conditions that would open doors for all people regardless of race, there remain many pockets of people with a deep hatred for such progress who are willing to do anything to turn the social clock back, even if it means killing innocent people. America is not the only place where such vicious attacks take place against people who worship according to their faith.

Many Christians throughout parts of the Middle East and Africa have been gunned down during services, with a heavy death toll.

Christians are still being killed for simply being Christian. It is a dreadful problem the entire world needs to address. When people are murdered in cold blood because of skin colour or their religious beliefs, the world is unsafe.

When values for living in freedom and peace disintegrate, people should ask questions about what values they consider vital to pass on to the next generation — values that would promote respect for themselves and others in a climate of decency.

This could be a challenge even for Bermuda. We need to examine closely any event that holds the potential for causing a drop in basic values in so-called modern lifestyles, where just about anything goes. This is not a condemnation of any particular entertainment, but often hidden elements might open a door that might not be easy to close. With that most horrific tragedy in South Carolina, Americans and people around the world are wondering when something will be done about guns getting into the wrong hands.

The young man believed responsible is now in custody, and will face the full might of the justice system. However, the questions about how it all unfolded may never be fully answered.

The biggest issue of all is that while that young man will no longer be on the streets to threaten anyone, there are still people out there with similar objectives. Trying to detect them before they strike will require greater support from the public.

The healing process in South Carolina has a long way to go. Blacks and whites need to continue building no matter the resistance from divisive hate groups.

During such a tragedy, it can be forgotten that there are good people of all colours and religions living in harmony every day in America. These are the people who will make the difference in providing hope for a more peaceful and safe future. There are not enough guns or bullets to stop the power of good people determined to create a better world.