New York Massacre

[Nobunaga]

... Man goes ape, kills 14.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/hostage_shooting

...

[strike wolf]

It's a sad, sad day.

[Lord and Master]

It strikes me, as a European observer, that this type of thing seems to be happening every week in the US. Don't any American's think that perhaps the gun laws need to be changed?
I know it happens in other places round the world too but definitely more often in US.

[MeDeFe]

He should have had a gun.

[Neoteny]

He should have had a gun.

It's true.

It strikes me, as a European observer, that this type of thing seems to be happening every week in the US. Don't any American's think that perhaps the gun laws need to be changed?
I know it happens in other places round the world too but definitely more often in US.

It's even kind of surprising to us. It seems to have picked up recently.

[THE ARMY]

America loves are freedom. If you don't like how things are shaping out to be, and i know its unfortunate, get out of the country and move to Northern U.S. (Canada).

Gun Laws won't do squat, people will all have accessability to guns if they really want.

[sailorseal]

It strikes me, as a European observer, that this type of thing seems to be happening every week in the US. Don't any American's think that perhaps the gun laws need to be changed?
I know it happens in other places round the world too but definitely more often in US.

First fix all of the problems in Europe

[pmchugh]

America loves are freedom. If you don't like how things are shaping out to be, and i know its unfortunate, get out of the country and move to Northern U.S. (Canada).

Gun Laws won't do squat, people will all have accessability to guns if they really want.

Really? Check the kills per head of population by guns in the US compared to the UK.

[Neoteny]

America loves are freedom. If you don't like how things are shaping out to be, and i know its unfortunate, get out of the country and move to Northern U.S. (Canada).

Gun Laws won't do squat, people will all have accessability to guns if they really want.

It seems education laws aren't helping either.

We love "our" freedom, sir, and I think I have the freedom to not be gunned down by idiots like you.

[Simon Viavant]

As pmc said, there's a reason America has one of the highest homicide rates in the world.

[Iliad]

America loves are freedom. If you don't like how things are shaping out to be, and i know its unfortunate, get out of the country and move to Northern U.S. (Canada).

Gun Laws won't do squat, people will all have accessability to guns if they really want.

What is it with people and "if you don't like it, leave"

Whatever happened to "if you don't like it, try to change it for the better"?

[jonesthecurl]

There are people who like senseless killing sprees? (Other than movie directors I mean - that's taken as read).

[Nobunaga]

... And in PA, man guns down 3 cops today.

http://kdka.com/local/officers.shot.Sta ... 75820.html

...

[kiddicus maximus]

Expect to see more and more of this unless our economy picks up. Desperation is a very compelling emotion, both for good and evil.

Look at the aftermath of Katrina as a recent example. $6 and $7 gas? Just because they knew people would have to pay it. Sickening how the fortunate can prey on the suffering of the impoverished.

I know neither of these isolated instances were directly tied to a job-loss or a firing, however I don't see how people are going to maintain civility when they're waiting for 3 hours in the unemployment line and see someone drive by in a Maserati. Eventually, something's gotta give.

[Skittles!]

America loves are freedom. If you don't like how things are shaping out to be, and i know its unfortunate, get out of the country and move to Northern U.S. (Canada).

Gun Laws won't do squat, people will all have accessability to guns if they really want.

You make me sick. I don't see what 'freedom' the U.S. has that no other Western country has. Please tell me. And don't say that you have "freedom for guns", because all other countries has freedom of guns, we're just sensible about it.

And never, ever, call Canada "Northern U.S" again. I'm not even Canadian, but seriously. What patheticness you show.

Guns laws do do squat. If you actually looked at a proper news article, or looked at a statistic, or even read anything at all, then you would know what Guns laws do actually do something. The U.S has the most shootings in the Western world. Oh, I wonder why. Maybe cause it's idiots like you around there.

[Snorri1234]

It strikes me, as a European observer, that this type of thing seems to be happening every week in the US. Don't any American's think that perhaps the gun laws need to be changed?
I know it happens in other places round the world too but definitely more often in US.

First fix all of the problems in Europe

What problems?

[dewey316]

My thoughts and prayers are with all of the family's who lost loved ones, and to the community as a whole. I have no doubt that it will be a very trying time for a very large number of people. The same goes for the city of Pittsburgh, who lost 3 officers, and the family's of the officers who died serving their community.

It really doesn't suprise me that it only took the first reply for this to turn into a gun debate. There are dozens of other posts, with statistics and such for that. It is sad that not one of the posts in this thread even seemed to realise that more than a dozen people lost their lifes, or at least had any compassion in it, that goes for both sides.

[MeDeFe]

My thoughts and prayers are with all of the family's who lost loved ones, and to the community as a whole. I have no doubt that it will be a very trying time for a very large number of people. The same goes for the city of Pittsburgh, who lost 3 officers, and the family's of the officers who died serving their community.

It really doesn't suprise me that it only took the first reply for this to turn into a gun debate. There are dozens of other posts, with statistics and such for that. It is sad that not one of the posts in this thread even seemed to realise that more than a dozen people lost their lifes, or at least had any compassion in it, that goes for both sides.

Habituation. It happens so often that the original shock value is lost and cynicism rears its head.

[Nobunaga]

Expect to see more and more of this unless our economy picks up. Desperation is a very compelling emotion, both for good and evil.

Look at the aftermath of Katrina as a recent example. $6 and $7 gas? Just because they knew people would have to pay it. Sickening how the fortunate can prey on the suffering of the impoverished.

I know neither of these isolated instances were directly tied to a job-loss or a firing, however I don't see how people are going to maintain civility when they're waiting for 3 hours in the unemployment line and see someone drive by in a Maserati. Eventually, something's gotta give.

... That reasoning associates (excuses?) violence with envy, and it seems quite logical to you.

... That's a bit frightening in itself.

...

[2dimes]

'merica, land of the free. Ha ha ha ha ha ha etc. infinity.

I'm going to go play some legal online poker now because I'm in Canada, if I win there's no tax on Gambling.

[Nobunaga]

... Good luck.

... Though I feel a bit envious now... Maybe I should go shoot 14 people at the local Wallmart. kiddicus maximus will back me up in court - "something had to give".

...

[2dimes]

Sorry about that Nobunga, do you need to come over and borrow a rifle?

[got tonkaed]

Expect to see more and more of this unless our economy picks up. Desperation is a very compelling emotion, both for good and evil.

Look at the aftermath of Katrina as a recent example. $6 and $7 gas? Just because they knew people would have to pay it. Sickening how the fortunate can prey on the suffering of the impoverished.

I know neither of these isolated instances were directly tied to a job-loss or a firing, however I don't see how people are going to maintain civility when they're waiting for 3 hours in the unemployment line and see someone drive by in a Maserati. Eventually, something's gotta give.

... That reasoning associates (excuses?) violence with envy, and it seems quite logical to you.

... That's a bit frightening in itself.

...

I dont know if its envy so much as it is frustration. While certainly i dont think you can blame the deaths on the bad economy (notwithstanding the 5 children which were murdered recently picked up by the news) i think the idea is that in the difficult times for some people, seeing others continue to be successful only highlights how hard things are for them. Maybe if you already had the idea in your head, other stimuli brings you over the edge.

Granted i dont really think envy related frustration is why people are doing what they are doing, but i think thats the argument.

[kiddicus maximus]

I don't see how people are going to maintain civility when they're waiting for 3 hours in the unemployment line and see someone drive by in a Maserati. Eventually, something's gotta give.

... That reasoning associates (excuses?) violence with envy, and it seems quite logical to you.

... That's a bit frightening in itself.

...

I don't mean me personally. I am still employed and can afford my mortgage, car payments, etc...

I am referencing the 'mob mentality' that may ensue should things not turn for the better. Myself, I'm a law abiding citizen, but I do travel through a rough neighborhood every now and again, and the envy/frustration/anger that those less privileged have towards upper-middle-class white guys like myself is apparent. At some point, fear or respect for the law will give way to self-preservation, and that is when, well, something will have to give.

I hope we never get there.

[GabonX]

It strikes me, as a European observer, that this type of thing seems to be happening every week in the US. Don't any American's think that perhaps the gun laws need to be changed?
I know it happens in other places round the world too but definitely more often in US.

It's clear that the problem was that he was the only man in the building with a gun. The laws and culture need to change so that more people have the capability and will to defend themselves.

It's notable that in the UK and most other countries that pass gun restrictions violence has gone up, including gun violence, while every state which has adopted right to carry laws has seen a drop in violent crime within one year.

It is no coincedance that the city with the highest rate of gun violence in the country, Washington DC, also has the most restrictions placed on gun ownership.