A lot of things contribute to these situations. We should look at ALL of them. Better healthcare for the mentally ill, domestic violence (it sounds like this may have been a family situation writ large), the media glorification of murderers, etc.... All of these things should be examined. But only when the conversation turns to guns are we not allowed to even discuss making changes to public policy. No matter how many times this happens over and over and over again we aren't allowed to make the mere whisper that we should do something common-sense like reauthorizing the assault weapons ban or closing the gun show loophole. No matter how many bloodbaths we get every month we aren't even allowed to put the subject on the table. That's not the case with anything else.

It's time to put guns on the [!@#$%^&*] table.

Edited December 14, 201213 yr by marceline

Perhaps, but if nothing else, longer and stricter waiting periods allow more opportunities for outside intervention in matters such as these. You can't tell me he wasn't giving warning signs before today, or that everyone around him was unaware that something about him was "off" in the days and weeks leading up to this tragedy.

This is just devastating, given that the majority of victims were children.

Let this guy roast in eternal hell.

I wish the opposite. I hope he's finally at peace, and I truly hope that this is a signal to parents and everyone that mental illness is nothing to be embarrassed about. Fight harder for the law to help when you might have run out of options.

There are gun control laws in China & Australia and they WORK, it can in America, we just have politicians who are too cowed by the NRA and whatnot to pass actual gun control laws.

Sad when in this country it's easier to buy a gun than it is to register to vote or buy real estate

Edited December 14, 201213 yr by dragonflies

Perhaps, but if nothing else, longer and stricter waiting periods allow more opportunities for outside intervention in matters such as these. You can't tell me he wasn't giving warning signs before today, or that everyone around him was unaware that something about him was "off" in the days and weeks leading up to this tragedy.

I'd like to agree, but I think people get the guns no matter what. I wish someone would concentrate on making it more difficult to buy guns illegally.

Meanwhile, I cannot believe one of my FB friends suggested allowing schoolchildren to carry guns (in order to defend themselves) as an actual solution. Please, you can't trust 'em with glue, let alone handguns.

I wish the opposite. I hope he's finally at peace, and I truly hope that this is a signal to parents and everyone that mental illness is nothing to be embarrassed about. Fight harder for the law to help when you might have run out of options.

I don't know the extent of what his mental health was - has anything leaked as yet?

While I agree you have to be mentally disturbed to pull something like this, I would like to know if there were any sings or history with him. Even then, I still find it hard to muster any sympathy for him - at the end of the day multiple children who will never get the chance to fully live their lives were shot dead and he's responsible. Are they not the victims?

Edited December 14, 201213 yr by Y&RWorldTurner

Meanwhile, I cannot believe one of my FB friends suggested allowing schoolchildren to carry guns (in order to defend themselves) as an actual solution. Please, you can't trust 'em with glue, let alone handguns.

They want 5 year olds to carry guns?

Unless they think every child is Dean Winchester or the kid on the Walking Dead, I don't know what to say.

He had no record and no documented history of mental problems, unless something else has come out. He likely would have gotten guns easily even under stricter laws.

But which "he"??

There appears to be much confusion over the shooters identity. Who can even say what the history is at this time when they haven't apparently sorted out the identity of the shooter? The one being broadcast as the perpetrator is in custody, the younger one is dead and is now being said to be the actual shooter. Details appear to remain sketchy.

On a slightly tangential note, I agree with those who think we need a 2 pronged approach. The mental healthcare standard in this country is obviously inadequate, and the stigma, I think, contributes to this failure. And yes, I have believed that we do need much firmer gun controls. Why does anyone need such ready access to a high powered weapon?

Edited December 14, 201213 yr by DramatistDreamer

They want 5 year olds to carry guns?

As Gigi Morasco (ONE LIFE TO LIVE) once said when told to hold her cell phone up to lightning: "That sounds so safe."

He had no record and no documented history of mental problems, unless something else has come out. He likely would have gotten guns easily even under stricter laws.

You're assuming it was his gun. And I'm willing to roll those dice. Guns have to be the target now.

But which "he"??

There appears to be much confusion over the shooters identity. Who can even say what the history is at this time when they haven't apparently sorted out the identity of the shooter? The one being broadcast as the perpetrator is in custody, the younger one is dead and is now being said to be the actual shooter. Details appear to remain sketchy.

On a slightly tangential note, I agree with those who think we need a 2 pronged approach. The mental healthcare standard in this country is obviously inadequate, and the stigma, I think, contributes to this failure. And yes, I have believed that we do need much firmer gun controls. Why does anyone need such ready access to a high powered weapon?

I'm a bit confused myself because I'm not understanding how the perp is dead in the classroom unless by his own hand.

A lot of things contribute to these situations. We should look at ALL of them. Better healthcare for the mentally ill, domestic violence (it sounds like this may have been a family situation writ large), the media glorification of murderers, etc.... All of these things should be examined.

+1

But which "he"??

There appears to be much confusion over the shooters identity. Who can even say what the history is at this time when they haven't apparently sorted out the identity of the shooter? The one being broadcast as the perpetrator is in custody, the younger one is dead and is now being said to be the actual shooter. Details appear to remain sketchy.

On a slightly tangential note, I agree with those who think we need a 2 pronged approach. The mental healthcare standard in this country is obviously inadequate, and the stigma, I think, contributes to this failure. And yes, I have believed that we do need much firmer gun controls. Why does anyone need such ready access to a high powered weapon?

There's big money to be made on paranoia. That's what some gun groups run on. There is a paranoia that people need the deadliest ammo, that even things like cop-killer bullets are necessary.

The paranoia is why I no longer believe gun control will make a difference. I think this will just go underground.

I can't keep up with the details either (I thought the father was killed, then read that it was a brother), I was just going on the early info.

Even then, I still find it hard to muster any sympathy for him - at the end of the day multiple children who will never get the chance to fully live their lives were shot dead and he's responsible.

Yes, he's responsible. However, it would be wrong of us to demonize the shooter, write him off as a monster unworthy of anyone's sympathy or compassion, and then leave it at that. Obviously, some dark, emotional, and ultimately uncontrollable forces pushed him to do what most never would dream of under "normal" circumstances. In his own, sad way, then, I see him as much of a victim in all this as the schoolchildren who became the unfortunate targets of his struggle.

If soap operas teach us anything, it's that we need to understand the victimizer as well as the victim. Otherwise, we shut ourselves off completely to the human condition.

Edited December 14, 201213 yr by Khan