Comments on: 'Revenge' Shooting At Amish School

Four Girls Killed, Six Others Hospitalized; Cops Say Gunman Killed Himself

[roedmel]

I have been going to Lancaster ever since I was two years old. My parents would take me there and we would go to get away from the hectic NY life and enjoy the simple things in life we always take for granted. I am 25 years old now and Lancaster will always have a special place in my heart. I have traveled all over the world, and never have I found a more peaceful and serene place like Lancaster. The Amish are the hardest workers and dont require the all the glamour other cultures do to be happy. I have always had a fond respect and love for the culture and to see the shooting there today made me have to sit down and weep. I was sick to my stomach; never did I imagine a place like Lancaster to have a tragedy like this one. It is a part of life that is just not fair. My thoughts and prayers are with them and all the families of the victims. I hope everyone including the media has the respect to value the Amish culture and respect their culture of not wanting to be on TV. They need to be left alone at this time and to realize that they are very respected by the "outside world". They have never intruded on our lives, so we should not burden theres.

[inlancaster]

How can the Amish trust us English now? They are going to seek God for the meaning of this slaughter. I can not help them find His face.

[vladina-2009]

I do not understand how anybody could use this tragedy to attack science ( teaching of evolution in our school) and blaming separation of God and school for this. I believe it was said that this shooter was a church goer himself. I could not believe that CBS left this speech without any comments. This is supposed to be free speech not propaganda.

[writeon66]

Before tonight, I was unsure I'd watch CBS that much for the evening news. However, after watching the "Free Speech" section, I think I will make CBS a more frequent viewing choice. Here's why: it appears that free speech is free except if you mention an opinion such as that expressed tonight. It's ok for certain individuls to state that Christians are the same as the terrorists who flew planes into the Trade Center, but it's not okay to say that our country is in a moral decline. Isn't it? Who would have thought that people would walk into schools and kill our children? It's time to wake up, and listen to the people who are truly wise, such as the gentleman who spoke tonight.

[anne1224]

I don not see how you can compare what happened at Columbine to what happened today. This was not a high school student that wanted revenge on his classmates. Also, the Amish are a community of people that keep to themselves and would not hurt anyone. Yes, Columbine was a horrific tragedy. But lets keep things in persective here. No one deserves to have this happen to them. No parent or child should have to go through something like this. To those of you who have made derogatory statements here about the Amish. Shame on you. You have no right to judge.

[thgdriver]

As far as I have been able to find out, it is the openion of most I have talked to, the Amish do use firearms for protection on the farms against fox, wild dogs, rodents, and the like.

[hermit22]

Who better to know about Colombine than a father from Colombine? He has had years to think about the subject. CBS did well to give him time on "Free Speech". Thank you.

[anne1224]

"I bet this perp may have been in an Amish community at one time"

There are people that live in Lancaster county that are not Amish. It was reported that the killer was not Amish. Everything that Trouper Miller has been stating on the news is that this was premeditated. He wrote suicide notes to his wife and children. You can't tell me this guy did not know that taking Amish children hostage and killing some of them would not get him attention. We should care about people like this. It has now become not just disgruntled students. There are people that just want to hurt our children and get the attention for it.

[angel66mm]

I don't care what the motive is - this is a tragedy all around. We need to realize that this kind of thing can happen anywhere - that now is obvious. All I know is that I have a wonderful 16 year old daughter and the thought that she could be gone tomorrow frightens me and makes me hold her tighter tonight. We as parents need to let our children know that we love them and treat each day as if it could be the last. This is not being cryptic - it is being honest - you never know what the day will bring - from a car accident to a psychotic person coming into their life. I know that I will treasure every day with my daughter like it could be her last.

[inlancaster]

this thing has cut my heart out

it has nothing to do with anybodies politics

hell is a journey into the human heart

there is plenty of suffering to go around

[katsmeo]

Normally I would not comment on an insult from a chat about a tragedy. But, I am going home so I thought I would throw this out there. janem4 it is people that are insulting with no regard for others and their opinions that today's society has really deteriated. I do believe the Bush administration from Bush 1 to Bush 2 has made a horrible impact on our society today. I do believe that President Clinton even with his faults made a large impact on improving society today.

Good night

[inlancaster]

"I bet this perp may have been in an Amish community at one time"

he lived in the community, just down the street from the school he attacked

[bravo95-91]

"I am very appauled by the media that they think it is ok to go around and put this Amish community pictures on the news. "

The Amish have put themselves in the limelight of their own volition. They openly advertise in Iowa and Missouri for husbands (outside their communities) for their female members because the gene pool has become so small.

Like any group, religious or otherwise, all is not as moral as it appears on the surface.

[listener2-2009]

I cannot believe you allowed the Columbine parent to attack public schools (their teachers in reality) and link them with immorality, suicide, and abortion in this commentary. This is my last Katie Couric broadcast. Very poor judgement at CBS to turn this tragic story into a tirade against public schools. Untrue and unfair.

[kschreiman]

I cannot believe that you allowed the father that lost his child at the Colombine massacre to editorialize without an opposing viewpoint. It goes without saying, to lose a son to such a tragedy is incomprehensible. However, to only present one side of the issue is poor reporting. I have watched CBS for more than 30 years from Walter Cronkite to your current programming. I am disappointed in your current approach at reporting the news and if you cannot become more unbiased, I plan to go to a more newsworthy network. Please comment.

[bravo95-91]

"Back in the 1950's we ignored the problems of drugs and family break-up amongst blacks and Puerto-Ricans and look at the price we have paid for that!"

Geeeeeeeeeeeeez roach9703, don't start the race card ***. There is absolutely no comparison of the 50's to current attacks within our schools.

Too many kids today (adults too) have no morals and simply don't care about anything beyond their hedonistic drives.

[kwlambi]

Katie and CBS did a nice job tonight on the issues surrounding this day's horrific event in Lancaster county. One thing is for sure there is no closure on this type of event.

[hermit22]

We are living in a culture of violence.

Where does that culture come from?

[hudwaypam]

I am very appauled by the media that they think it is ok to go around and put this Amish community pictures on the news. This is a very sacred culture in our society and you have no right to do that. These poor families have to grieve the loss of thier children and we have no right to be in the middle of their affairs. Let us give some respect and pray for this community

[inlancaster]

Sorry you waisted your time on this lot, tkb; I appreciated your gesture.