Here's where the gun debate should go!

[JaneV2.0]

...

My hope is that people will look at some of the societal issues that might be at the root cause of these things and at least bring some of these to light. Things like bullying and peer rejection seem to have played a role in a few of these. My issue is the gun related violence in the mainstream media that romanticizes both good guys and bad guys and at least to some would make it seem like acceptable or common behavior. It would be interesting to see what percent of non-reality TV shows have some degree of gun violence. I'm not a gaming person, but what percent of computer games have gun or deadly weapon violence at their core? Are peoples lives so mundane that they need this elevated sensationalism to be entertained?

....

I'll be interested to see if the shooter has a history of SSRI use that might have led to psychosis.

[CathyA]

I wondered about medication/drugs too.

[creaker]

from the other thread:





I'm not sure that I agree that "a sane person would not act in this way." I don't say that to be argumentative--I just don't know that I agree with that premise.

The act itself is not considered insanity - if it was terrorists and others who kill indiscriminately would all be considered insane.

Why such an act would be committed may be considered insane - like if he did because the voices in his head forced him do it.

[sweetana3]

CathyA, I wondered aloud before ever seeing his picture or a description if it would be a young white male with some life disappointments who had caused it.

[catherine]

These arguments about gun control remind me of the old West Side Story song:


ALL
We're no good, we're no good!
We're no earthly good,
Like the best of us is no damn good!

DIESEL (As Judge)
The trouble is he's crazy.

A-RAB (As Psychiatrist)
The trouble is he drinks.

BABY JOHN (As Female Social Worker)
The trouble is he's lazy.

DIESEL
The trouble is he stinks.

A-RAB
The trouble is he's growing.

BABY JOHN
The trouble is he's grown.

In other words, it's a really complex issue. Guns or no guns, someone felt like he needed to kill a bunch of innocent strangers. I liked the movie Bowling for Columbine, and I, personally, don't see myself ever owning a gun. That could change, such as if I were personally assaulted in my own home, I would probably be traumatized and feel very afraid and compensate by buying a gun. I have opinions about the NRA and gun ownership, but it's really not about the guns. If I were to add my own lyrics to the West Side Story song it would probably be "the trouble is a) there are too many people who feel powerless and disenfranchised in this society and b) stuff happens."

[bunnys]

Good point, Catherine. Especially about the powerlessness many feel.

However, we have a lot of guns in this country and we have a lot of gun violence to go around it. And a lot of other people around the world feel powerless too. But there is a lot more gun violence in this country than in the rest of the world. I'm certain you're right that part of it is about the way people live in our society. I also believe part of it is about the guns.

[CathyA]

I saw an interview the other day with a father of a boy who was killed in the Columbine shooting. He said something like "What are we doing? Other countries are saying 'what the heck is going on there??'

There is one or more shooting in the big city near here every single week..........children/youth/adults.....
Drive-bys at barbecues, parties and people are just shot indiscriminately.

I'm glad there are still the majority of us who have absolutely no concept of having so much free-floating anger that we are willing to annihilate innocent people.

I didn't realize that there were still about 10 people in the hospital from the theater shooting who are still critical.
There is going to be alot of horrible memories to try to deal with for a very, very long time for all of the people who were there.

[bae]

It's hard to write satire these days:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/sad...8857/?ref=auto

WASHINGTON—Americans across the nation confirmed today that, unfortunately, due to their extreme familiarity with the type of tragedy that occurred in a Colorado movie theater last night, they sadly know exactly how the events following the horrific shooting of 12 people will unfold.

While admitting they "absolutely hate" the fact they have this knowledge, the nation's 300 million citizens told reporters they can pinpoint down to the hour when the first candlelight vigil will be held, roughly how many people will attend, how many times the county sheriff will address the media in the coming weeks, and when the town-wide memorial service will be held.

Additionally, sources nationwide took no pleasure in confirming that some sort of video recording, written material, or disturbing photographs made by the shooter will be surfacing in about an hour or two.

"I hate to say it, but we as Americans are basically experts at this kind of thing by now,” said 45-year-old market analyst Jared Gerson, adding that the number of media images of Aurora, CO citizens crying and looking shocked is “pretty much right in line with where it usually is at this point." "The calls not to politicize the tragedy should be starting in an hour, but by 1:30 p.m. tomorrow the issue will have been politicized. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if the shooter’s high school classmate is interviewed within 45 minutes."

"It's like clockwork," said Gerson, who sighed, shook his head, and walked away.

According to the nation's citizenry, calls for a mature, thoughtful debate about the role of guns in American society started right on time, and should persist throughout the next week or so. However, the populace noted, the debate will soon spiral out of control and ultimately lead to nothing of any substance, a fact Americans everywhere acknowledged they felt "absolutely horrible" to be aware of.

With scalpel-like precision, the American populace then went on to predict, to the minute, how long it will take for the media to swarm Aurora, CO, how long it will take for them to leave, and exactly when questions will be raised as to whether or not violence in movies and video games had something to do with the act.

The nation's citizens also confirmed that, any time now, some religious figure or cable news personality will say something unbelievably insensitive about the tragic shooting.

"Unfortunately, I've been through this a lot, and I pretty much have it down to a science when President Obama will visit Colorado, when he will meet with the families of those who lost loved ones, and when he will give his big speech that people will call 'unifying' and 'very presidential,'" Jacksonville resident Amy Brennen, 32, said, speaking for every other person in the country. "Nothing really surprises me when it comes to this kind of thing anymore. And that makes me feel terrible."

"Oh, and here's another thing I hate I know," Brennen continued, "In exactly two weeks this will all be over and it will be like it never happened.

[Tradd]

Bae, Jesse Jackson has already come out with something - I think he was calling for candle light vigils or something like that in as many movie theatres as possible.

Can we please just ban Jesse Jackson? The man's "good by" date is long past.

What's interesting about the whole outcry for stricter gun control after each of these types of incidents, is that there's little outcry about the constant shootings by thug-types in the inner city. Chicago's a great example of it this year. The especially hot weather makes everyone over irritated, and the numbers have gone through the roof.

[bae]

What's interesting about the whole outcry for stricter gun control after each of these types of incidents, is that there's little outcry about the constant shootings by thug-types in the inner city.

And so little outcry about the circumstances that have led to the inner city ecology developing and persisting.

For instance: