School Shooting

[jon@af]

Wonderful, another group of teens decided they needed to kill someone at their school. 4 young men who attended a highschool in New Orleans, Louisiana took it upon themselves to bust into the school's gym with an AK-47 and hand gun to start shooting. They succeeded in killing one male student, however Im not sure if anyone else was injured.

Heres a question: WHERE THE F ARE THE PARENTS!? do they not know what their children are doing? Or do they just not care? People blame bullies for shit like this happening, but you know what? A lot less of it would happen if the parents actually took a role in their childs life. Sorry, had to get that out. Anyway, I think it's a shame, however, there were not massive casualties so that's always a good sign, although one death is always too much.

[TexasF355F1]

I heard about this, I think it happened like late last week I believe or maybe the beginning of this week. I agree, where are the parents. I think at some point parents need to be looked at just as much as the kids who did this. If it is found that they were good parents then there is no reason to bother with them any further. But oh wait, its not the parents or the individuals.....its the video games, the music, the movies, blah blah fucking blah. I'm sick of people not being held liable for their actions and it always being blamed on Eminem, Marilyn Manson, Mortal Kombat, etc, etc. This "kids" deserve to have their assholes plugged by the big guys in prison.

[taranaki]

It would seem to me that this all-too-regular occurence is a phenomenon that is unique to America.I can't think of any cases off mass school shootings that have occured anywhere else.I can't imagine any situation in New Zealand that would allow a group of children to gain access to an AK47,OR a handgun,let alone both,and loaded at that.

So is it a mentality that is unique to America,or is it a failing in your nations' gun laws?You can't really blame the parents, the youths are old enough to know right from wrong,and if it is not an offence to leave your firearms assembled,loaded and ready to fire then they've legally,at least,it's not their doing.

[Jay!]

Originally posted by taranaki
It would seem to me that this all-too-regular occurence is a phenomenon that is unique to America.I can't think of any cases off mass school shootings that have occured anywhere else.

April 26, 2002; Erfurt, Germany: http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe...many.shooting/

[jon@af]

Originally posted by taranaki
It would seem to me that this all-too-regular occurence is a phenomenon that is unique to America.I can't think of any cases off mass school shootings that have occured anywhere else.I can't imagine any situation in New Zealand that would allow a group of children to gain access to an AK47,OR a handgun,let alone both,and loaded at that.

So is it a mentality that is unique to America,or is it a failing in your nations' gun laws?You can't really blame the parents, the youths are old enough to know right from wrong,and if it is not an offence to leave your firearms assembled,loaded and ready to fire then they've legally,at least,it's not their doing.

I dont know why this is so unique to the United States, It shouldnt be unique anywhere because it shouldnt be happening and it makes me sick when it does.

I still believe the parents should recieve some of the blame. Guns are lethal(duh) and shouldnt just be laying around. Any smart parent who has a child or teen in the house should keep their weapon stored in a safe place that only they can access. Yes, I know that that may sound a bit stupid to some "But that wont stop the kid from getting the weapon" This may be true, but it will reduce chances. I understand what you say Naki, but you cant just let the parents off scott free and say "you had nothing to do with what your child was up"

[taranaki]

Originally posted by jay@af
April 26, 2002; Erfurt, Germany: http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe...many.shooting/

Thank you for that,I can now revise my opinion.

I know of only one case outside of the United States......................

The fact that you can remember sufficient detail to pull up the facts at will would indicate to me that this was a sufficiently unusual occurence for you to recall it.Can you also recall the details of every school shooting in America in the last few years?

but seriously,it does seem to occur with alarming frequency in the States,here's a list of incidents that took place in the five years immediately prior to the most infamous of all mass killings by school students,Columbine High School.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Da...ngs990420.html

Ican think of no factors that are unique to America [other than the notoriously lax gun laws]that would create this almost-unique phenomenon.If anyone can offer me a better explanation,I'd love to hear it.

[Jay!]

Originally posted by taranaki
Thank you for that,I can now revise my opinion.

I know of only one case outside of the United States......................

The fact that you can remember sufficient detail to pull up the facts at will would indicate to me that this was a sufficiently unusual occurence for you to recall it.

It was mentioned in this forum very recently. Also, when I search Google for "school shooting," that article is the first hit returned. Wonder, is it the same for you?

[Milliardo]

Parents share the blame, since they should've been the ones who have seen their children's development and growth. It's been noted that the first 7 years of the child are the most critical, since that's when they have developed the personalities they will have for the rest of their lives. If their parents have not formed them well then, they can't totally lay blame on their surroundings, since it was their duty to be the first instructors.

[taranaki]

Originally posted by jay@af
It was mentioned in this forum very recently. Also, when I search Google for "school shooting," that article is the first hit returned. Wonder, is it the same for you?

oddly enough,it is. Right after the 3 references that match to current news headlines of the latest American tragedy.

[texan]

I think first and foremost this sort of thing is becoming more common because of our fascination with violence. American culture as a whole loves violence as a form of entertainment; we romanticize it, we look up to it, we believe it is capable of solving so many problems. This isn't due to the media, the production of such video games and movies are a reflection of the consumers.

And then you do have to give weight to the very wide availability of guns. Now that is a fact in America, and it's not going to change (nor should it IMO). What is sad is that a bunch of teenagers have access to them, that has to change. Most adults should be legally able to own firearms (part of our Constitution), but people have got to learn how to secure them. Of course that won't matter all that much to someone who's really determined, but the incidence of fatal accidents involving guns could largely be prevented with greater safegaurds.

Lastly I think a great deal of blame goes to the parents, which quite simply aren't involved in their children's lives anymore. There is no way in the world I could have harbored the kind of hate these kids must have without my parents knowing about it and intervening, so where were these people?

So between our love of violence, availability of firearms and neglect in securing them, and the lack of proper parenting you get things like this. And when you appply those statistics in just the right mix over a population of 280 million, you're going to get a few of these crazy occurences every few years.

[NSX-R-SSJ20K]

Yea i mean what happened to all the decent hard core cop movies like Dirty Harry

All i see now is Heist movies. :o Ya know?

But seriously i think some people are easily influenced and watching violent movies and such conjures up some sort of rage.

They're also probably abused and looked down on by the other students of the school

[Pick]

THis is just ridiculous. These kids cannot have enough self-control or respect to deal with crap that is happening in their lives. We have all had rough times, especially in high school. It is just ridiculous that these kids can't control themselves.

[YogsVR4]

A traggic list of worldwide shootings.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777958.html

While it is not unique to the US it does happen here to often (once is more then enough)

[TexasF355F1]

Originally posted by Pick
THis is just ridiculous. These kids cannot have enough self-control or respect to deal with crap that is happening in their lives. We have all had rough times, especially in high school. It is just ridiculous that these kids can't control themselves.

I agree, but as was stated by Milliardo, self control and respect for others is learned early on in life and must be enforced by the parents. We all have had tough times(mine was 7th grade from only a few people who were the idiots who failed of course). I honestly don't know first hand, b/c I was one of those fortunate enough to have lots of friends from all walks of life in high school. I wouldn't have necessarily considered myself popular, I just was cool with a lot of people. Kids will be kids of course and I teased others just as any other kid did growing up. Of course now when I look back I realize it was immature but I do consider it a normal part of growing up. But parents do need to play an intricate part in the childs development otherwise they are going to b/c these psycho's who kill.