More College Campus Mass Violence

[Zeuslax]

(my girlfriend is an avid deer hunter and has a few, though),

Now that's something you don't read every day.

We should demand that the media and elected officials never mutter or mention the shooters names with incidents such as these. The media should not be allowed to turn incidents such as these either into conquests either. Once again we have witnessed one of the sickest copycat atrocities that could possibly happen - mass killings. School shootings are even trickling beyond our shores to Europe and Asia.

Do not give these maniacs a platform or a legacy. Do not give them the dignity. Save the mental analysis for academia. I'm starting to believe that a law should be passed that says we will not mention the killers name or show his/her picture.

[Sonny]

I am no longer split on the gun issue. We have proven as a society we are not mature enough to bare arms the way the founding fathers intended.

We?

A few wackos go nuts and you take a swipe at all of society?

[Sonny]

I'm starting to believe that a law should be passed that says we will not mention the killers name or show his/her picture.

Don't let the Bill of Rights get in your way there Zeuslax....

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

[Zeuslax]

Don't let the Bill of Rights get in your way there Zeuslax....

That's obviously the first thing that pops into your mind when making a statment such as that. However, sometimes the world changes and we need to place an asterisk next to things. This happens all the time in our form of gov't..........

[Sonny]

Good thing the framers of the Constitution has the foresight and wisdom to allow us the ability to modify that Constitution.

[laxfan25]

As these campus rampages seem to be all the "rage" of late, with a certain copy-cat aspect to them, Zeuslax's comment about not publicizing the name struck a chord. As these tragic events have unfolded I can still recall with utter clarity the name Charles Whitman, forever paired with the phrase Texas Clock Tower Massacre. This happened over 41 years ago, but was seared into the national consciousness in a decade when assassinations of national and international leaders seemed to be a yearly occurrence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitman

[EvanFSU]

We?

A few wackos go nuts and you take a swipe at all of society?

Yes, Sonny, I say we because when instances like this happens it effects our entire society. Every document in American history refers to "we" as one people.

I agree with previous statements that the majority of legal gun owners do not commit these crimes, however, its the availability of guns that is the problem. There is no easy solution here, but something has to be done so I stop getting these horrific breaking news alerts while at work.

[GrayBear]

What percentage of non-gun owners would commit crimes with guns?

My guess is 0%.

What percentage of violent crimes are committed with guns?

Probably a pretty large percent.

Ask better questions and you get better answers.

Those aren't better questions. They don't even address the point.

The point the original poster was making, I think, is that the perpetrators of these crimes will always acquire guns, not necessarily legally, while the lawfully registered gun owners are likely to continue to behave lawfully.

In other words, a legal ban will likely have a negligible effect on these crimes.

[Sonny]

We have proven as a society we are not mature enough...

A few people aren't mature enough. 98% of society is fine. Law abiding citizens, etc.

[KnoxVegas]

Good thing the framers of the Constitution has the foresight and wisdom to allow us the ability to modify that Constitution.

I, for one, am happy for this and we as a society getting rid of the whole 3/5 of a man thingee. Now back to the gun control argument masquerading as a thread on the tragedy that occured at NIU.

NIU is a team we played while I was at Augustana. My heart goes out to the students and their families.

[Beta]

I would venture to say that getting EVERY gun (legal or illegal) in America out of the hands of people is an impossible task. Taking just the legal guns away from the public and not digging for all the illegal ones would cause more harm than good.

Esp since it wouldn't be hard for people to get them from Mexico...since our border is awesome and well respected by our neighbors to the south.

If someone is crazy enough to murder innocent people...they're going to find a way to do it. Guns or no guns. Look at Iraq...a drive-by shooting or a school shooting is the least of the worries (in terms of numbers) compared to an IED planted in a pet store that kills 200-300 people.

[OAKS]

I think we've proven as a society that prohibition doesn't work. Alcohol prohibition encouraged organized crime and violence. Drug prohibition is similar. I think a gun prohibition would just be more of the same. It's very much a cultural issue though. You have places like Australia where guns were banned and violent crime rose, and you have places like Japan where there's a gun ban and little violent crime.

[peterwho]

I think we've proven as a society that prohibition doesn't work. Alcohol prohibition encouraged organized crime and violence. Drug prohibition is similar. I think a gun prohibition would just be more of the same. It's very much a cultural issue though. You have places like Australia where guns were banned and violent crime rose, and you have places like Japan where there's a gun ban and little violent crime.

Excellent point - it is an issue with our society.

Guns are the means to the end. They are the enablers. Take them away and you still have the issue. They will find another means (does anyone remember what a truckload of fertilizer accomplished?).

The problem is that we continue to avoid the issue. Each one of these incidents is categorized as such: An isolated incident carried out by a crazed individual. Unfortunately, the frequency is increasing.

Could it be that we need to look at how these people came to the point where they acted in this most anti-social way?

Questions for the parents out there:

Do you know what "music" your kids are listening to?
Do you know what web sites your kids are visiting?
Do you know what games your kids are playing online or on their game box?
Do you know who their friends are?
Do you know what they are watching?

I know there are a lot of you out there reading this trying to come up with a way that "The Government" can help us out, but as one other poster observed, they are too busy with steroids in baseball and cheating in football and whether some low-level staffer in Gonzalez' office was guilty of contempt of congress...

The quickest way to address this issue is for parents to start parenting. Trust me, it is HARD work. It distracts from your career and golf handicap. It means you have to actually communicate with your kids (that means LISTEN, too). You have every right to go into your kids room and look in their closet. I'm not suggesting that every kid who listens to "My Dying Bride" and plays "Halo" is going to play shoot'em'up in the classroom. I am suggesting that you find out how they feel when listening to this music or play many of these games. Trust me, the conversation can be very enlightening.

I realize this won't be popular and a lot of you will criticize this. Go ahead.

Someone knew that this guy was in trouble. No one seems to have taken the time to get in his way.

[Jolly Roger]

Here! Here!

[Steno]

(my girlfriend is an avid deer hunter and has a few, though),

Now that's something you don't read every day.

She's from Northern Minnesota. Go figure.