Right. In 1952, Polio killed over 3,000 children.
But we're talking about guns. Not bombs, not polio.
US Connecticut Shooting
- Thread starter AeryFairy
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Right. In 1952, Polio killed over 3,000 children.
But we're talking about guns. Not bombs, not polio.
America's gun culture: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...world-as-demonstrated-in-four-charts/?hpid=z3
I suspect that in a country like Sweden, a gun is thought of generally as a tool for one specific purpose, i.e., hunting.
I think that in the U.S., between the "it's my Constitutional right and you'll pry it from my cold dead fingers" crowd, the paranoia about needing guns to protect oneself from one's own government, and the enduring thread of the Wild West that fosters a strong sense of gun related machismo as well as the perceived need to have a gun to protect the homestead from outlaw mauraders, a gun/violence becomes the fallback *problem solver*.
I think that in the U.S., between the "it's my Constitutional right and you'll pry it from my cold dead fingers" crowd, the paranoia about needing guns to protect oneself from one's own government, and the enduring thread of the Wild West that fosters a strong sense of gun related machismo as well as the perceived need to have a gun to protect the homestead from outlaw mauraders, a gun/violence becomes the fallback *problem solver*.
Freesia
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Sadly, New Zealand seems to have a relatively high rate. But like Envy says, it is mainly farmers that own the guns here. Though there is also some hunting that people do here 
.
A lot of the issue is also the type of gun. I dont see the need to have anything that isnt a rifle. There is a gun shop a half hour drive away from here. Every time I see it I have an urge to go and take all the guns and ammunition and melt them down into something nice like some playground equipment or something useful. (edited because I dont want to say what I really think when I see the gun shop.)
.A lot of the issue is also the type of gun. I dont see the need to have anything that isnt a rifle. There is a gun shop a half hour drive away from here. Every time I see it I have an urge to go and take all the guns and ammunition and melt them down into something nice like some playground equipment or something useful. (edited because I dont want to say what I really think when I see the gun shop.)
It appears as though the children were all first graders.
For the next 11 1/2 years, that's going to be a daily reminder at that school, with an entire grade so diminished in numbers.
Just unimaginable.
For the next 11 1/2 years, that's going to be a daily reminder at that school, with an entire grade so diminished in numbers.
Just unimaginable.
Freesia
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So it appears the mother was not the wisest. She had a troubled child and she was an avid gun collector who often took him shooting at shooting ranges with her. I think if you have a special needs child it is not a smart idea to bring them up with a whole bunch of guns, particularly if they are reclusive and prone to depression. It is a recipe for disaster.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...Adam-Lanza-a-fiercely-intelligent-killer.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...Adam-Lanza-a-fiercely-intelligent-killer.html
Let's remember the names and faces of the victims, and let the name of the shooter be forgotten. And let's remember the names of the brave teachers and administrators who did their best to protect their charges. These are the names and faces worth remembering.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/newtown-school-shooting-victims/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/newtown-school-shooting-victims/
As details are emerging, it appears that the teachers and administrators acted with remarkable presence of mind and courage. If not for these women, the carnage would have been worse. The families of the children who survived owe them a great debt.
ledboots
Peace
Yes. Twenty-seven year old teacher Vicki Soto died a hero, shielding her students.
http://m.nydailynews.com/1.1221004[/quote]
Kitties
Forum Legend
I'm just losing my faith in people. I know there are a lot of good people in this world. But so much of what we do to each other, I just don't get.
yakherder
老外
Being a productive member of society and not going insane in the process sure does require a lot of doublethink doesn't it?
Sorry, just rambling. I think I'll wait a couple days before I expand on that.
Sorry, just rambling. I think I'll wait a couple days before I expand on that.
I've also just heard this information on Fox news. The mother did live in a large isolated house, however this does
not explain the gun collection that had guns similiar to ones used in wars.
das_nut
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I just get sick of the gun debate. On one side you have people that think we'd have a polite, pacifist society if everyone walked around armed, and on the other side there's people who think violence never existed before the first gun was made (there's slight hyperbole on my behalf here, but not much).
These are the two sides that scream the loudest during any debate.
And if you're somewhere near the middle, the moment you raise your voice, someone on one extreme will pigeonhole you into the opposite extreme.
*sigh*
This isn't unique to the gun debate either. The blame game seems to crop up every time. For example, in this case Mike Hucklebee blames the lack of religion in schools. We'll see movies and/or music being blamed soon. Goth subculture has already been mentioned, so its just a matter of time before someone blames that.
These are the two sides that scream the loudest during any debate.
And if you're somewhere near the middle, the moment you raise your voice, someone on one extreme will pigeonhole you into the opposite extreme.
*sigh*
This isn't unique to the gun debate either. The blame game seems to crop up every time. For example, in this case Mike Hucklebee blames the lack of religion in schools. We'll see movies and/or music being blamed soon. Goth subculture has already been mentioned, so its just a matter of time before someone blames that.
das_nut
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Parts of Europe are remarkably high, relatively speaking (although the US clearly ranks as #1 for gun ownership, worldwide).
US ranks #18 for gun homicides though, which is somewhat disturbing for several reasons - both the high rate in itself, and the fact that many countries have a far higher level of gun homicides with far less guns on the street.
Freesia
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But then, you would think that in this case it is kind of obvious what the influence was, given that the murderer was brought up in a house full of accessible dangerous guns, with a strange gun obsessed parent who encouraged him to shoot? Only a complete moron would even debate that having easy access to guns wasnt one of the top factors in this case.
And nobody actually listens to that Mick Huckabee, he is like something out of the 18th century so why even bring his opinion up?
They are using an Akita therapy dog called Spartacus to give comfort to the children. These dogs are used to help victims of violence and people that suffer from depression.
http://akitas-4-u.com/Akitas as Therapy Dogs.htm
http://akitas-4-u.com/Akitas as Therapy Dogs.htm
