Another Suicidal Rampage

[a1]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22116784//


I wonder why people do these things.

[Katahu]

I saw that recently. Very sad. What's even sadder is the fact that this guy was talking about killing people for a long time, yet nobody did anything to stop it [not even his friends or relatives]. In fact, the majority of such cases seem to go unchecked because America these days is diluted in the belief that clinical depression can be cured with just a pill and then move on. Then, when things go wrong, the people would start blaming the government. Self-absorbency at its best.

[ozzy72]

Alas whilst people with underlying clinical problems still have free access to firearms these tragedies will continue.
What is really needed is stricter testing for gun licences like there is in the UK. That way legitimate gun owners (I enjoy shooting myself) can own weapons. Alas this'll never stop the criminal element and I don't think there is a way to get Americans to turn in their firearms (especially the criminally inclined types as well as mentally ill ones).
Brings flashbacks of Hungerford a few years back in the UK. A terrible thing to happen in the season of joy

[beaky]

Without veering too far off topic: the root of the problem in the USA isn't so much lenient licensing as the unscrupulous dealers who will sell to anybody... and "anybody" often turns out to be totally illicit street dealers who distribute the firearms even more. The answer is simple enough: enforce the laws already in place...

As for this latest horror: all I'll say is that the shooter blowing his own sick brains out is as close as you'll get to a happy ending to this kind of story; I'm happy we'll be spared the trial.

[PsychoDiablo]

I believe that alot of people would have been saved if the store aloud entrance to ccw holders, same as collage shootings. People are quick to think having a gun free zone makes them so much safer when in reality that is exatly what a shooter is looking for, defenceless victims. To the killer there is nothing worse than somebody with the ability to return fire.     Sorry for the rant.

My condolences to the familys and friends.

[FlightSimKid]

This is sad & also pathetic (at the gunman) i mean he done it because he wanted to be famous, he broke up with his girlfriend and lost his job, and was treated with depression in the past. Soo what if he broke up with his girlfriend and lost his job, he could have moved on with life but instead he opens fire and kills 9 inoccent people. He done it to be famous well in my books his not famous his just a coward who couldn't take losing his job and breaking up with his girlfriend.

[Chris_F]

What is really needed is stricter testing for gun licences like there is in the UK.

the root of the problem in the USA isn't so much lenient licensing as the unscrupulous dealers who will sell to anybody

I don't see how that would have helped.

[beaky]

What is really needed is stricter testing for gun licences like there is in the UK.

the root of the problem in the USA isn't so much lenient licensing as the unscrupulous dealers who will sell to anybody

I don't see how that would have helped.  The kid did not own the gun nor buy the gun.  He stole the gun from a lawful owner.  At least that's what I've read.

There's something similar to all of these cases which I think speaks better to "root cause".  There's always a desire for fame/notariety.  As long as we teach our children that self esteem stems from what other people think of you they will grow up to seek acknowledgement by any means necessary and this will be the consequence.  Today it's bullets.  Tomorrow it'll be pipe bombs or poison.

You're right; I was off on a tangent... mental health is at the root of it in cases like these. If you want to go berserk and hurt a lot of people, there are plenty of other ways to do that.

[Brett_Henderson]

I wish these discussions wouldn't go down the gun path. It's a pointless debate; neither side cedes, and it ends up locking threads

[ozzy72]

If you want to go berserk and hurt a lot of people, there are plenty of other ways to do that.

Yup, like becoming a teacher

[Chris_F]

If you want to go berserk and hurt a lot of people, there are plenty of other ways to do that.

Yup, like becoming a teacher

And then singing in class...  :)

[ozzy72]

Even I don't sing in class... the Geneva Convention and all that

[Brett_Henderson]

EG7, I appreciate your point of view, too... and we aren't all that far apart; except when it comes to requiring training, and a license just to own a weapon. If you're going to carry a weapon; then yes.. I'm all for rigorous training. If you're just going to use it for target shooting and home defense.. then it's up to you to decide the level of training.

To clarify my qualifications:

[Brett_Henderson]

I always did find that when a thread wanders off topic, it becomes more informative and entertaining.

Thanks for your frankness, and please accept my apologies too. Heated debates twixt head-strong folk leads to regretful behavior, by all. Water under the bridge..