Comments on: Shootings At Va. Tech Spark Gun Debate

Two Experts On Opposite Side of The Spectrum Appeared On "The Early Show" To Talk About Gun Policy

[reball-lv]

In an ideal world, crime would not exist. And yet... it does. No matter how many laws are passed, some anti-social type will wreak havoc for some reason known only to he/she. In the Hebrew myth the first son of the first man killed the first brother, which is an interesting metaphor explaining the reality of murder from the outset of mankind's journey through life.
Gun control? Congress can pass all the laws they want and make everything under the sun illegal and it won't change a thing in the day to day if someone finds a way to make money thru' the black market or feels a need to take someone's money or life.
That is a sad reality.
I do know that the Police cannot be everywhere at once, all the time... omnipresent.
I do know that the Supreme Court has ruled more than once that Police Agencies have NO OBLIGATION to protect the citizens.
Where does that leave a law-abiding citizen?
With a choice.
To either protect themselves from evil or to do nothing and suffer from it.
What was the last thing going through Abel's mind when his brother Cain decided to get some jealous payback? Why, the rock held in Cain's hand, of course.

[drlindahf]

THERE IS A CURE FOR SCHOOL VIOLENCE....RECONNECT AND HEAL THE ROOT CAUSE

CAUSE of ALL School Violence: Inability to manage Anger/Rage/Stress (Lack of emotional management skills)

SOLUTION: HEAL the ROOT CAUSE of this RAGE which is the students%u2019 Distorted self talk (I%u2019m not good enough, smart enough%u2026loved, accepted by peers/girlfriend etc.) which is incubating unchecked in an emotionally disconnected hi-tech culture.

SOLUTION: RECONNECT - Implement a systematic, ongoing training program (delivered by mentor/teachers/community) which can easily identify and heal the distorted self dialog and THEN through a full year, gripping curriculum, teach stress/anger/emotional life management skills school wide.

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[netadmin1-2009]

usbrit

Ms. Hupp watched her parents gunned down as she held their hands. She would have at least had an opportunity to stop Mr. Hernard. Were you there that day, at Luby's on US Hwy 190 in Killeen? Unless you were - you have no idea what it was like - keep any comments about Luby's to yourself.

Thanks

[wiccantexan]

SOLUTION: HEAL the ROOT CAUSE of this RAGE which is the students%u2019 Distorted self talk (I%u2019m not good enough, smart enough%u2026loved, accepted by peers/girlfriend etc.) which is incubating unchecked in an emotionally disconnected hi-tech culture.
Posted by drlindahf at 04:57 PM : Apr 17, 2007
_________________________

How about revising the trend that doesn't prepare kids for real life, aka "everyone's a winner, etc" pablum that teaches them that disappointment is abnormal rather than the norm. To not have any skills whatsoever to deal with life's obstacles, leading them to more extreme emotional reactions than should really be there.

[charlesdjohn]

I have a better cure for school violence! Let's take away all the emotionless killing, gore and violence that today's youth learn from video games. These games teach kids to kill without the emotional attachment.

I don't hear any congressman calling for tighter controls on violent video games.....

Where do you think these young people learn this ***?

[drlindahf]

There is a cure for school violence
HEALING THE ROOT CAUSES
Please help us inform interested parties about this valuable resource. Healing and empowering youth has been our mission for 15 years.

CAUSE of ALL School Violence: Inability to manage Anger/Rage/Stress (Lack of emotional management skills)

SOLUTION: HEAL the ROOT CAUSE of this RAGE which is the students%u2019 Distorted self talk (I%u2019m not good enough, smart enough%u2026loved, accepted by peers/girlfriend etc.) which is incubating unchecked in an emotionally disconnected hi-tech culture.
SOLUTIION: NATIONAL CURRICULUM (TOUGH CHOICES%u2122) utilizes hard hitting videos with Grammy winning rapper, Harlem Globetrotter and real teens from all walks of life.
The only program that heals the root causes of mismanaged emotions that lead to rage and violence.


SOLUTION: RECONNECT - Implement a systematic, ongoing training program (delivered by mentor/teachers/community) which can easily identify and heal the distorted self dialog and THEN through a full year, gripping curriculum, teach stress/anger/emotional life management skills school wide.


TOUGH CHOICES%u2122, beyond anger management %u2013 An affordable, full year curriculum kit with DVD/Video lessons that jump start over 150 processing activities that provoke insights and provide practice for life skills that heal the root causes before teaching the life skills.

[charlesdjohn]

I would like to see Dr. Hupp run for president!

[charlesdjohn]

Actually, the shooter is the only one to blame! However, the gun ban crowd want us to believe that the gun did the killing!

If he had chained the doors closed and used 2 gallons of gasoline to set fire to all the exits he could have killed a lot more people. I wonder if there would be a congressman or senator calling for tighter control on the sale of gasoline?

[usbrit-2009]

In an ideal world guns would not exist. Thus no-one would be killed by one (or the person holding one). This is the only way that such a horrible incident could be 100% avoided. Unfortunately that Pandora's box has long since been opened. With or without the country's much misplaced adherence to the 2nd amendment, 200 million guns do exist in this country and (unfortunately) they will not go away. Thus the problem is how do we ensure that ownership is more exclusively reserved for "responsible and legal gun-owners." Now one of the mantras of the NRA is "If guns are outlawed etc." and they and their followers are the ones decrying the usual "liberal" reaction to this and other similar disasters. I would think that it would do their causes no end of good if they could just come up with one idea to stop the criminal class getting a hold of weaponry so easily. What say you guys - you can do it!!!

[charlesdjohn]

This massacre is the direct result of the gun ban laws. These laws disarmed the entire student body and faculty at the university. These laws enabled this wacko to gun down those students like turkeys at a turkey shoot.

[finn2056]

You'll never ever take away my guns, NEVER. Get it!!! The US CONSTITUTION states that I can have them and no one, and I repeat, no one will ever take them away from me. You wanna try? Go right ahead.
Posted by MIpapaof4 at 02:13 PM : Apr 17, 2007

What a strange comment...your love of guns is certainly disturbing...a fascination with guns and firearms is one of the warning signs to look for in perpetrators of this kind of violence.

Personally, I don't give a rat's hairy butt whether you want to own guns or not...but I don't want them to be easily obtainable, and I certainly don't want people carrying them around concealed- there are just too many angry people and dim bulbs out there.

And for those who want to make this a red/blue issue, or blame the liberal media for sparking anti-gun sentiments- I think you're way off...
the Gun Debate is not just the libs sparking this with calls for increased gun control- it's the gun nuts too, with their "If everyone was armed, this wouldn't happen" cr*p. They all sound like junior Harry Callahans: "Yeah, well, if I were there, with MY gun, it would be like, you know, go ahead, make my day." (Said with an obvious erection).

And before we go pointing fingers, I think the only one to blame is the shooter. If someone is going to shoot 32 people, and then shoot themselves, why don't they just do it the other way around and save us all the trouble?

[phoenix1218]

"States with strict waiting periods for guns purchases just run your name in a cross reference to make sure your not a felon or have a restraining order. Its the same electronic check that states with the instant back ground use, you just wait an extra ten days before taking it home. Its not like they call people to check up on your stability...."- Posted by saneman944

I don't know about VA gun laws, only Massachusetts where you must take a gun safety class, bring the certificate to your local police and apply. In some MA cities you must also get a letter from your doctor stating you are mentally capable of carrying a gun.
When I got my LTC there was no such letter from the doctor required. I think the letter is good to be able to keep people who are not mentally capable from carrying a weapon. I applied, gave my certificate to my local police & waited.I was apporved. Of course I was working in security at the time which is why I applied for the LTC, to get a better security job.
One thing I learned in my gun safety class is that some cops cannot carry a weapon outside of work for some small crime (such as stealling a hub cap when they were teens) they committed.
I agree that better laws need to be set regarding gun ownership laws. But people saying that no one should be able to own a weapon, that is just wrong. People need to be able to own a weapon for work and or to protect themselves and or family.

[phoenix1218]

I HAVE CAPITALIZED MY COMMENTS, AS WELL AS PUTTING MY COMMENTS INSIDE OF PARENTHESIS, INSIDE OF THE COMMENT MADE BY samael2014

"...These sociopathic freaks just don't seem to realize yet, it is the gun-toting and concealing self-protection people that are doing all the killing, (ME SO NOT TRUE) the one's our society needs to worry about and protect itself against. All it takes is a little motivation, opportunity and a gun in your hand; can you imagine how many people in a given day would act on a grievance if they were armed (ME YEAH MAYBE IF THEY ARE DERANGED, PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN LTC HAVE IT FOR RECREATION SUCH AS HUNTINGhave OR FOR PROTECTION, MAYBE THEY LIVE IN A BAD AREA OR HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BEFORE)? I'm not talking about people who have a criminal record ( ME YOU MUST NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT EX-CONS WHO OWN GUNS OR GO BACK TO JAIL FOR VIOLATING PROBATION/PAROLE FOR BEING IN POSSESION OF A FIREARM), or a record of violence (ME I HAVE A COUSIN WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH, AND HE LIVED IN A SAFE AREA), or anything that would prevent them from getting a gun in the state of Virginia the minute they start feeling no way out.

I guess what amazing me most is the use of words like 'shocked' and 'stunned' for a country that should least of all be either of these.
Posted by samael2014 at 03:30 PM : Apr 17, 2007

[wiccantexan]

From CNN: "Flinchum said ballistics tests show that one of the two guns recovered at Norris Hall was used at Norris and at the dorm, both located on the 26,000-student campus. (Watch police disclose new information about the shooter)"

[saneman944]

States with strict waiting periods for guns purchases just run your name in a cross reference to make sure your not a felon or have a restraining order. Its the same electronic check that states with the instant back ground use, you just wait an extra ten days before taking it home. Its not like they call people to check up on your stability.

Prohibition didn't work with alcohol. The simple fact that guns do exist means bad people will get ahold of them legal or not just like drugs.
If an individual wants to hurt alot of people they will still find away be it a fire, explosion or whatever the imagination can devise.

[phoenix1218]

Actually they had the building where the first shootings happened in lockdown. The police cannot get there lighting quick and even campus security cannot get there RIGHT away so this guy probably had a few moments where he was able to get out where he did more damage across the campus IF it is the same guy. They are not saying one guy did both shootings, although there is much speculation that he did.
Posted by Phoenix1218 at 03:17 PM : Apr 17, 2007

It looks likely he did both, since ballistics link at least one gun with both locations. Also, a two-hour time lapse is hardly "lightning fast" reaction.
Posted by WiccanTexan at 03:34 PM : Apr 17, 2007


What I meant by lighting quick response is that people, after the fact, seem to have this unrealistic mindset that the second something terrible like this happens that someone (security/police)needs to be there. And the two-hour time lapse...who knows, maybe (if the 2 shootings ARE connected) the kid got out before they put the first crime scene into lockdown. As for the guns being linked to both shootings, I have not read about that, although I wouldn't be surprised to read it at some point.

[phoenix1218]

"One law enforcement official said Cho's backpack contained a receipt for a March purchase of a Glock 9 mm pistol. Cho held a green card, meaning he was a legal, permanent resident, federal officials said. That meant he was eligible to buy a handgun unless he had been convicted of a felony."-Associated Press

I have seen people type that he should not have had a hand gun and I agree, because of this kids emotional issues he should not have had one. However, unless he has a felony on his record he is legally able to own a gun. Some cities (although not all) require a letter from your doctor saying you are mentally capable of carrying a weapon. That does not seem to be the case here.

[usbrit-2009]

The only thing that would have been different if Ms. Hupp had had her gun at Luby's is that she'd be the first one shot.

[wiccantexan]

It comes from the same root Abrahamic sources as Judeo-Christian.
Posted by WiccanTexan at 03:32 PM : Apr 17, 2007

Just a quick note before that degenerates into a religious debate. My point is, we are an increasing separatist society. Why was the shooter a loner? Why was he isolated? Was he lumped into some category? This needs to be addressed if resolution is to come about in stopping such tragedies from occurring again.

[wiccantexan]

Actually they had the building where the first shootings happened in lockdown. The police cannot get there lighting quick and even campus security cannot get there RIGHT away so this guy probably had a few moments where he was able to get out where he did more damage across the campus IF it is the same guy. They are not saying one guy did both shootings, although there is much speculation that he did.
Posted by Phoenix1218 at 03:17 PM : Apr 17, 2007

It looks likely he did both, since ballistics link at least one gun with both locations. Also, a two-hour time lapse is hardly "lightning fast" reaction.