Sadness in Lancaster County

Sad news today from Lancaster County, PA, where a gunman forced his way into an Amish one-room schoolhouse, tossed out the males and the older women, and, after barricading the doors, bound about a dozen young girls then began shooting them. Three died, including a 15 year old teacher's assistant, and then the perpetrator took his own life. Seven others are critically wounded. He was a local father of three who was, apparently, taking vengeance for something that happened to him 20 years ago. This is the third such attack in the last week.
Something is terribly wrong. I remember these kind, gentle people from when we lived in Pennsylvania, several years ago. This is one of the most horrifying things I have read in a very long time. What are we to say?
The news doesn't make it any more likely that I will end up as a pacifist, despite the obvious links between that belief and Christianity. On the other hand I'm not about to sign up with the NRA either. I suppose it's being brought up in Britain, where the police are, mostly, unarmed. (That, and the thought that there will always be somebody with a bigger gun!) It just seems to me that senseless, seemingly random acts like this are the greatest confirmation of the Christian doctrine of Man (to use its historic name). We are fallen people. We are not as we were intended to be. Our rebellion against God, and His purposes has led us into evil. We have rejected His ways. We have lost our fear of divine retribution. We are totally depraved. There is no good thing in us. The scariest thing about murder and mayhem is that, "there but for the grace of God, go I." Only when I am constrained by society, by reverence for God's Law, and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, am I safe from the beast that dwells within.
The Christian estimate of humanity takes sin seriously, even when it is unpopular to do so. No manner of excuses, sociological, psychological or whatever, can take away our guilt. While popular theory emphasises the feelgood factor, and tells us how wonderful we are, the Gospel begins with the bad news that we are, indeed guilty, and that we shall have to answer to an almighty God.
Yet the Gospel is also Good News. It reminds us that forgiveness is possible, and that repentance and faith can lead to changed lives. I have seen it. I have known it in my own life.
But today, the God who weeps with the gentle people of Lancaster County, and who will one day return to judge the earth, is still able both to comfort the afflicted and to afflict those who have grown comfortable in their sin. May those who have lost loved ones, or fear their loss, know the blessing of His presence, and the assurance both of salvation and of judgement.
Presbuteros