In response to stevegm's comment:

Amen steve.  This blatant and frequent disregard for human life is frighteningly regular.  I don't specifically mean Friday's tragedy but simply everyday.  Look the wrong way at somebody and who knows what could happen? 

Makes me wonder what's in store for future generations.   It's like there's a massive deterioration of morality and accountability going on.

There is no rhyme or reason as to why whack jobs do what they do. Why do grown men rape/fondle young children. Is there a video game for that? Some people are just sick in the head. Theres plenty of young people in this country who are raised along side weapons and dont go on mass killing sprees. Even more who play Battlefield 3 and Call Of Duty and don't go out and reanact it at a local school. Now would these children and school staff be alive today if he didnt have access to these weapons? The cowards who did Columbine didnt have houses with weapons in it. Never stopped them.

Whack jobs will do what they do. You can never 100% defend against someone who is willing to die for their cause.

You people who are blaming guns, video games and movies are looking behind the wrong door. I'm not even sure there is a door with an answer behind it. I do know that the media sensationalizing these things isnt helping prevent future tragedies. Quick, off of the top of your head, name one victim from the Virginia Tech incident. One victim from Columbine..Now in 2 years will you remember  any of the victims names or the shooters name? His name is plastered everywhere. Add that to the fact that he is sick in the head and you already have a nut job somewhere plotting something...That is why these tragedies are becoming more and more common.

a good start would be to reinstate the assalt-weapons ban do there. Lanza did so much damage in 2 minutes....

There needs to be an all of the above approach.  Assault rifle reduction, more stingent regulations on television programming and internet accountability.

Lawmakers need to agree on a new bill that bans assault weapons with large capacity magazines.

The FCC needs to stop allowing programs like Criminals Minds and others like it to pump that filth into our homes.

And Congress needs to come up with a bill that requires internet providers to offer 3 different "lanes" of service at the gateway level:  An adult gateway.  A 12-17yo gateway.  And a childrens gateway.  Then, if a modem is logged in as a 12-17yo gateway, an M rated game is automatically blocked from access.  It's just that simple.

Baning guns, alone, is not the answer.

In response to kelvana33's comment:

When I was a kid, I used to go to the theater with my family to see some pretty violent movies.  I remember being 14 and going with my grandfather to see "Platoon".  My mom took me and my brother to see "Rambo".  Every kid in the nation went to see the Star Wars trilogy.  I own guns.  I haven't shot anyone.

In response to Chowdahkid-'s comment:

Your thoughts on mental health and "stigma's' are interesting.    I think your opinion that these people are perceived as "problematic" is old school thinking.  Today, society is the polar opposite.  Every process imaginable is instituted to either prove they're really no different than the rest of society, and should be treated as such, or.....their healed. 

i am a teacher in a  public high school. as of today there are new security measures being implemented to increase student safety. i'm sure many other schools are doing the same. i give our superintendant a lot of credit in wasting no time in making our school a safer place for our children. please don't ask me to  get into the specific changes and additions. i'd rather keep a would be criminal in the dark as to what they are.  my brother is also a teacher, his not-quite-tongue-in-cheek solution is to arm the teachers. so sad for those families in connecticut. our thoughts are with them. 

In my opinion, significant gun control laws will not be possible in the U.S. simply because the gun culture is too embedded in your society. You have the "from my cold, dead hands..." group, who will never give them up without a fight to the death.  You have the most powerful lobby group in the country threatening senators and reps with wholesale vote losses. 

Finally, you have what I believe to be a national mentality that firearms are a viable method to solve disputes.  Whether it be road rage, marital conflicts, business issues with disgruntled past employees, or a way to silence those voices in your head, when a gun is available for use, too many people seem to choose them.  Generations of violence seen in person, on the nightly news, in TV and movies, and in FPS video games have, I believe, desensitized many people to the actual consequences of pulling a trigger while aiming a firearm at a human being.

While there will always be those who cite the situation of the woman who defended herself from a recent break-in by firing a shotgun, does that side of the equation balance out the horrific incidents we have been seeing in Portland, Aurora, Oak Creek and now Newtown? 

At what point does the nation decide that "the benefits of this Right To Bear Arms do not justify the costs"?

Perhaps, despite the cries from the NRA that this will be the "thin edge of the wedge", a ban on assault weapons, which have no use in hunting, and are designed solely to wipe out human beings with frightening efficiency, will finally gain some traction.

And now, the disclaimer: as many of you know, I live north of the border, so I am an 'outsider' in this debate, and do not profess to be an expert in this subject, by any means.

In response to adkbeesfan's comment:

In response to NeelyOrrBourque's comment:

In my opinion, significant gun control laws will not be possible in the U.S. simply because the gun culture is too embedded in your society. You have the "from my cold, dead hands..." group, who will never give them up without a fight to the death.  You have the most powerful lobby group in the country threatening senators and reps with wholesale vote losses. 

Finally, you have what I believe to be a national mentality that firearms are a viable method to solve disputes.  Whether it be road rage, marital conflicts, business issues with disgruntled past employees, or a way to silence those voices in your head, when a gun is available for use, too many people seem to choose them.  Generations of violence seen in person, on the nightly news, in TV and movies, and in FPS video games have, I believe, desensitized many people to the actual consequences of pulling a trigger while aiming a firearm at a human being.

While there will always be those who cite the situation of the woman who defended herself from a recent break-in by firing a shotgun, does that side of the equation balance out the horrific incidents we have been seeing in Portland, Aurora, Oak Creek and now Newtown? 

At what point does the nation decide that "the benefits of this Right To Bear Arms do not justify the costs"?

Perhaps, despite the cries from the NRA that this will be the "thin edge of the wedge", a ban on assault weapons, which have no use in hunting, and are designed solely to wipe out human beings with frightening efficiency, will finally gain some traction.

And now, the disclaimer: as many of you know, I live north of the border, so I am an 'outsider' in this debate, and do not profess to be an expert in this subject, by any means.

Horrific crime where so many young innocent children were senselessly murdered.  The adults who gave up there lives deserve respect, many of us would have done the same in those circumstances. Most people who live in the United States are decent, kind, loving, and considerate people.  Many of us as parents were deeply affected by watching other parents deal with the horrific crime, we are good people.  

With regards to morality, our society is not morally corrupt!  Stop that, every generation goes through self effacing making the troubles of a society simple and trivial.  Study history, like read "Devil in the White City", killers existed many years ago.  Does anyone think things were more morally acceptable in the 1930s? No blame just analyze and attempt to make these terrible things not happen.  It is not to say something should not be done, there are numerous steps to make schools safer.  The President is correct, this is enough.  I am a former teacher btw, (I am not correcting my gramatical errors either!)   

Guns? Well, our good neighbors to the north probably have more guns per capita than the US.  It has it's serial killers etc. but not as many murders as a country.  It is not soley guns.  Think on the subject:  the U.S. is a more hetergenous society with differening cultures meshing into a larger one (although that was not the case in Norway), change is rapid today especially with jobs in a global economy making the youth of the US seem a bit disconnected, etc.    My point, there are many factors why some people commit horrendous crimes given the conditions our 21st society.  Guns are not the reason solely neither is gaming.

Gaming?  I agree with the above posters.  Things can be done to limit access to violent games.  Yet, I played Army with my friends when I was a wee boy.  I hunted when I was a teenager. I watched Looney Tunes, the Road Runner, Combat, Clint Eastwood. Need I say more!  Anti social behavior as an outcome of gaming could have some merit, ok, yet TV is not too interactive!  Thus I find it hard to decipher gaming as the root of violence by young people against their own generation.  

North thanks for bringing up the subject, I have responded because I think things can be done to protect our children.  

Horrific crime where so many young innocent children were senselessly murdered.  The adults who gave up there lives deserve respect, many of us would have done the same in those circumstances. Most people who live in the United States are decent, kind, loving, and considerate people.  Many of us as parents were deeply affected by watching other parents deal with the horrific crime, we are good people.  

With regards to morality, our society is not morally corrupt!  Stop that, every generation goes through self effacing making the troubles of a society simple and trivial.  Study history, like read "Devil in the White City", killers existed many years ago.  Does anyone think things were more morally acceptable in the 1930s? No blame just analyze and attempt to make these terrible things not happen.  It is not to say something should not be done, there are numerous steps to make schools safer.  The President is correct, this is enough.  I am a former teacher btw, (I am not correcting my gramatical errors either!)   

Guns? Well, our good neighbors to the north probably have more guns per capita than the US.  It has it's serial killers etc. but not as many murders as a country.  It is not soley guns.  Think on the subject:  the U.S. is a more hetergenous society with differening cultures meshing into a larger one (although that was not the case in Norway), change is rapid today especially with jobs in a global economy making the youth of the US seem a bit disconnected, etc.    My point, there are many factors why some people commit horrendous crimes given the conditions our 21st society.  Guns are not the reason solely neither is gaming.

Gaming?  I agree with the above posters.  Things can be done to limit access to violent games.  Yet, I played Army with my friends when I was a wee boy.  I hunted when I was a teenager. I watched Looney Tunes, the Road Runner, Combat, Clint Eastwood. Need I say more!  Anti social behavior as an outcome of gaming could have some merit, ok, yet TV is not too interactive!  Thus I find it hard to decipher gaming as the root of violence by young people against their own generation.  

North thanks for bringing up the subject, I have responded because I think things can be done to protect our children.  

In response to islamorada's comment:
[QUOTE]

Horrific crime where so many young innocent children were senselessly murdered.  The adults who gave up there lives deserve respect, many of us would have done the same in those circumstances. Most people who live in the United States are decent, kind, loving, and considerate people.  Many of us as parents were deeply affected by watching other parents deal with the horrific crime, we are good people.  

With regards to morality, our society is not morally corrupt!  Stop that, every generation goes through self effacing making the troubles of a society simple and trivial.  Study history, like read "Devil in the White City", killers existed many years ago.  Does anyone think things were more morally acceptable in the 1930s? No blame just analyze and attempt to make these terrible things not happen.  It is not to say something should not be done, there are numerous steps to make schools safer.  The President is correct, this is enough.  I am a former teacher btw, (I am not correcting my gramatical errors either!)   

Guns? Well, our good neighbors to the north probably have more guns per capita than the US.  It has it's serial killers etc. but not as many murders as a country.  It is not soley guns.  Think on the subject:  the U.S. is a more hetergenous society with differening cultures meshing into a larger one (although that was not the case in Norway), change is rapid today especially with jobs in a global economy making the youth of the US seem a bit disconnected, etc.    My point, there are many factors why some people commit horrendous crimes given the conditions our 21st society.  Guns are not the reason solely neither is gaming.

Gaming?  I agree with the above posters.  Things can be done to limit access to violent games.  Yet, I played Army with my friends when I was a wee boy.  I hunted when I was a teenager. I watched Looney Tunes, the Road Runner, Combat, Clint Eastwood. Need I say more!  Anti social behavior as an outcome of gaming could have some merit, ok, yet TV is not too interactive!  Thus I find it hard to decipher gaming as the root of violence by young people against their own generation.  

North thanks for bringing up the subject, I have responded because I think things can be done to protect our children.  

Finally, you have what I believe to be a national mentality that firearms are a viable method to solve disputes.

In response to Chowdahkid-'s comment:

Country  Guns per 100 residents
          (2007) 


  United States 88.8 1

   Serbia 58.2 2 ^[5]

  Yemen 54.8 3
 
  Switzerland 45.7 4

       Cyprus 36.4 5

  Saudi Arabia 35 6
 
  Iraq 34.2 7  

  Finland 32 8 ^[6]

  Uruguay 31.8 9
 
  Sweden 31.6 10
 
  Norway 31.3 11  

  France 31.2 12
 
  Canada 30.8 13

Nice Find Chowda!

i'm guessing english is your second language. the two sentences you posted have so many grammatical errors, it would take half an hour to correct all the mistakes. my typing in lower cases is intentional, unlike your garbled english. sorry to those of you who have to read this nonsense, on a thread of such serious nature.  go to the miro satan link to see what has NOB's britches in a bunch.