Comments on: Student Held In Fatal School Shooting

Teenager Shot To Death In Tacoma, Wash. High School Hallway

[jimkun]

I am not sure who/what is the cause but it definitely seems there is less tolerance and more of a tendency to take the law in one's own hands these days. Not only with school shootings but with all the violence going on these days. Michael Moore asked a reasonable question as to why is it that Canada has the same guns per capita as we do in the US, but we have a disproportionate higher incident of murders than other countries. As long as we don't get into find the answer to that, the problem will continue to get worse, not better. Considering kids are becoming involved in such actions, they are obviously getting these ideas from their role models.

[kozanne]

"You cannot begin to imagine what shame, heartache, sorrow and pain that family continues to go through, right along with the families of the murdered students."

To clarify, I didn't mean that the families of the slain students experienced any shame. My point was that there was lots of pain on both sides, and I apologize for not being clearer when I originally posted.

[kozanne]

I guess we could blame a million things, availability of guns, societal pressures, parenting...I just don't know. I never get over the shock I feel when these things happen. The Columbine school massacre woke me up in a horrible way that I've never gotten over.

You see, I was not very far from Columbine that day, and I saw the parents waiting, waiting, waiting into the night to hear about their children. An acquaintance of mine had two kids in that school that day. My husband was sitting right next to him on their lunch break when he got the phone call.

Those who are so quick to focus on parenting skills or lack thereof as the reason for today's tragedy, stop to think. I know a close relative of one of the Columbine shooters. You cannot begin to imagine what shame, heartache, sorrow and pain that family continues to go through, right along with the families of the murdered students. I personally am not sure I could live with the shame, and I don't know how they do it.

Today, just as in Columbine, the person murdered was not the only one whose life was ruined. The shooter, another young person, somehow believed that this act of violence was the only solution to his problem, and his life is now ruined, as good as dead. Both sides parents, well, I can't wrap my mind around what they must be experiencing right now.

God help us all.

[terry321654]

Montanaman, I personally am not a Christian at all, I agree that there are groups that breed the intolerance you refer to, but not all religion does this, CERTAINLY not all priest "jollie" boys. It is equally intolerant to stereotype the Christian doctrine with evil incentive as it is to accuse the doctrine of segregation and even potentially condiment of extermination. Far more people seek comfort and peace through religion than are insinuated to feel it is ok to kill because God does.

[montanamom]

As far as I'm concerned, Religion is to blame. The religious right teaches nothing but intolerance for other people's lifestyles, beliefs and even gender. What is the cause of most of the conflict around the world? Protestant vs Catholic, Sunni vs *****, Muslim vs Christian, Christian vs Jew. Wars and genocide all in the name of religion.
So what's a teenager to think? Parent's and churches teach that it is a sin to be gay. No female priests are allowed, while male priests get their jollies abusing little boys. Other's blow up abortion clinics -- in essence, providing violent role models for our kids. To them, it's okay to kill innocent people if that person doesn't believe the same way they do.
The dead student probably did something the shooter didn't like, so in his mind, it was okay to eliminate him in this way -- after all, this IS the way God punishes us for our Evil ways. Just remember -- He still loves us.....???

[terry321654]

*corporal* typo

[montanamom]

As far as I'm concerned, Religion is to blame. The religious right teaches nothing but intolerance for other people's lifestyles, beliefs and even gender. What is the cause of most of the conflict around the world? Protestant vs Catholic, Sunni vs *****, Muslim vs Christian, Christian vs Jew. Wars and genocide all in the name of religion.
So what's a teenager to think? Parent's and churches teach that it is a sin to be gay. No female priests are allowed, while male priests get their jollies abusing little boys. Other's blow up abortion clinics -- in essence, providing violent role models for our kids. To them, it's okay to kill innocent people if that person doesn't believe the same way they do.
The dead student probably did something the shooter didn't like, so in his mind, it was okay to eliminate him in this way -- after all, this IS the way God punishes us for our Evil ways. Just remember -- He still loves us.....???

[ljburnell]

Dear Terry,Please could you clarify your answer sir or madame? I am not quite understanding your meaning.Do you mean to tell me that the way I was firmly raised years ago is to be classified as "Capital punishment?"If so ,I do think there should be more of it.

[terry321654]

"What happend to the loving hands of steel (not abuse) that most of us were raised with?"

It turned out a generation that made capitol punishment illegal.... I wonder why.

[ljburnell]

Here here Sassylass56,I applaud your line of thinking. It wasn't too many years ago,(15 to be exact) that I was quoted at my daughters school saying "If I cannot discipline my children today without the fear of being brought up on child abuse charges" they will become the children of tomorow that will offend, rob, rape and steal(not to mention shoot)any and all in there path.What happend to the loving hands of steel (not abuse) that most of us were raised with?Parenting begins with parents.Preferably with two but can be managed by one.