Propose Solutions to Avert Spree Killings Here

Oh, right, right...you're gonna get those nuts that won't take their hooker-blowjob on some tedious religious grounds...whelp, ban religion.

There you go.

Problem solved, on to other business.

This is an incredibly interesting article, and deserves to be much more than a footnote in your post.

There is nothing that can be done about a situation like what happened last Friday.

The school had a high degree of built in security measures. The police responded promptly. The school staff acted heroically.

The guns were purchased legally by an adult. There was nothing remotely illegal or unusual about the weapons.

The murderer had never been arrested and had nothing (that we know of) in his background that would justify govt. intervention.

Nothing the outside world could've done would've made a difference.

Why can't people just accept that?

Because people are stupid.

I don't know what the answer is. But I know what some of the answers aren't.

Why can't you accept that there is a routine problem of these sorts of events in America that simple doesn't happen elsewhere.

Pratically, and taken by itself, you may be right in respect of Newtown. But, how do you know that in a society where these sorts of incidents are getting to be routine, Lanza may not have been influenced in his choice to off himself in this manner?

We have a documentary here last night about the massacre, and people were saying that his mother was extremely pro-gun (hence the amount she owned) and had been known to scream (literally) in defence of her guns on more than one occasion. Would it be wrong to suggest that society influenced her atttiude towards guns and, through her, her son's? Surely that is not to be dismissed out of hand as at least a possibility?

Well in terms of mental health issues, there are obviously no easy solutions.

But we can still try better.

Anyone remember that freak up here that beheaded a guy on a greyhound bus and starting eating him? He's a mental hospital near where I work, and was recently allowed to go outside because his doctors felt he was doing much better. People freaked out, but you simply can't deny that the guy had serious, serious mental problems, and given the right treatment or whatever, we can make him better.

Of course, AFTER the fact it is a lot harder to justify mental healthcare for someone who commits such an atrocity.

I think gun control is a quick fix solution that people are jumping at simply because it seems like the easy thing to do. Write a law, and boom, guns banned. No more guns = no more problems. Of course anyone with half a brain knows that already, but hey....when we're emotional like many of us are right now, we all want to quick fix it.

As for schools, I know after Columbine, our school changed all the doors on the classrooms to something what was considered pretty secure. Can't remember specifically what they were made of, but there were no windows, and it had a dead bolt that was easy to lock.

We had a couple lockdowns, and our teacher simply locked the door and made sure we were all inside. I suppose if someone tried blasting away at it, they 'might' be able to get through. I think all schools should have that, plus bulletproof glass at the entrance. It wouldn't be that expensive to implement.

Pretty sure I read something yesterday about the mother claiming she was losing her son. She knew he had issues. You can't control parenting, but I would tend to think that a better educated populace would probably be able to deal with mental health issues a lot better.

I have seen many examples of parents not knowing what the hell to do with their child who has mental health issues.

"I have a son that has mental health issues. I love him dearly but he terrifies me." Heard of that?

One example specifically sticks out to me. The guy is about 25 year old now, but for basically all of his life he has temper issues, and other mental issues. ADD, ADHD, whatever you call it. Hard to teach, hard to control...and it didn't help that his father is a useless piece of shit. His mom isn't much better. Issues on top of issues, and it got to the point where he apparently 'abused' a little girl. At least the girl claims that. Was arrested, cops and medical examiner did what they did and never found an evidence of sexual or any other kind of abuse, but the judge still ruled in the end that the guy, who was about 23 at the time had to go to a specialist of some kind of a minimum of 10 sessions that the family had to pay for themselves. This was a big deal for them because they never saw the need for it. Same old story of the parents not being able to admit that there is something wrong with their kid and they can't help him. After the therapy was over, the guy came back and has been MUCH better. Hasn't had a single blowup, no fights.....better to control, teach and even help. Treats people with more respect and most of all? He seems to understand that there are barriers he can't cross in terms of being around kids and such.

Know what the therapist said? His brain hasn't developed much further than that of a 10 year old, so he often sees himself on the same level as 10 year old kids. Or in this case a 10 year old girl. And suddenly you had a 23 year old guy wanting to 'hangout' with a 10 year old girl because he saw himself as being equal to her. Nothing bad happened, but it was a recipe for disaster. All the therapist did was teach him about what is right/wrong in terms of being around kids, and the guy, now FINALLY understanding what is going on.....hasn't had a problem since. Which isn't surprising because the guy was probably never ever taught about sex, and what is right/wrong about it. Suddenly his hormonal instincts are confusing him and he has no clue what the fuck is going on. Address that, which the therapist did, and you can come to some sort of solution.

Do the parents understand that? Hell no. They still don't. His dad is still a dumbass, and his mom still doesn't believe there is anything seriously wrong. There were a million and a half signs all the way through school that he needed help, and despite the school division OFFERING assistance they choose to deny it.

The point here? That we can help people with mental health problems. It just takes time and money.

She could have controlled whether guns were in her house.

Best argument yet that no human being, outside of very special circumstances, should be entrusted with anything more dangerous than blunt-nosed scissors.

Gotta love the "It's all hopeless, nothing will ever change, there's nothing anyone can do!" perspective.

Careful, now. Don't step out of the cave or a sabertooth might get you.


There's one solution so obvious that only a handful of people here can see it: Change the conversation around mental illness in this country. Make it no more stigmatizing than physical illness. Then instead of the slapdash treatments currently available - or not available - there might be some headway in recognizing and properly treating it.

But, no. Let's just keep yammering about guns.

Which is easy to say after the fact. Any parent should control firearms, and teach their kids gun safety.

But like I said, you can't force good parenting.

She could have sought help for him too. She choose not too. Maybe there was none available? Maybe she didn't really understand what was going on? Who knows.

The only solution is to take off and nuke the planet from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.


Smartassery aside, I like Nautica's ideas on the matter. Also, addressing mental health issues will go a long way to preventing future tragedies.

First of all, it's not true that it doesn't happen elsewhere. Norway comes immediately to mind, as well as Canada and several European countries. And then there's China, where it's not an uncommon occurence...

Set it up like Vermont or New Hampshire or wherever: everyone is allowed to concealed carry--no paperwork needed.

Norway has had one incident in it's history. You are having mass killing sprees multiple times a year. Your gun crime is vastly in excess of Europe.

It's nonsense to say that societal attitudes play no part.

The comments about President Obama meeting the victims families said that it was the "fourth time since he has been in office".

That would be about once a year on the average.

School shootings are like child abductions, statistically the amount hasn't changed, however media coverage has led people to believe that the amount is massively on the rise.

And the vast bulk of "child abductions" are by noncustodial parents.

That is, when a biological and legal parent of a child who does not have legal custody either takes their child with them or fails to return them from visitation.

But people hear "child abduction" they think molesters and/or serial killers.

And if Norway was part of the US, it would be ranked 23rd in population and 40th in population density. But let's continue to make comparisons of unlike things, would you like to compare apples and oranges next?

In responce to Nautica: Of the first five things you post, the 4th is the only one that isn't already in place. :/

Your sixth point is ludicrous, as it seeks to put forth the premise that we have some sort of problem with carry holders abusing their permits or making foolish decisions.

Here's the solution: a classroom full of armed six year olds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUg4-PUnPUw

Go see who it was made the comparison, dickhead.

As an outsider, it's so screamingly obvious you have an issue with societal attitudes towards guns,a nd that you have an issue over all.

I most of you are in denial about it. You don't want to accept that for all the good that your country has achieved, it also may have one or two ugly sides that need facing up to.

I'll leave you to put your heads back in the sand.

Our country does have attitude problems, not just guns but education jumps to mind as well, and mental health.

There I admitted our problems what are your countries problems.

I hope that "you" was used as a general term, because of the things I could be accused of, glossing over America's problems is certain not one of them.

For reference, my sixth point:

Actually it seeks to promote the promise that CC permit holders be well-trained. Which I believe is necessary. Because right now I have no idea if Joe Blow CCW permit-holder has ever fired a weapon, much less done so in a high-pressure situation. Does he have good aim? Does he have trigger discipline? Will he fire at a perp when innocents are directly in the background?

You may trust yourself, or implicitly trust others with Concealed-Carry permits, but I think a little external verification would be a good thing in such a serious subject.

Also, I refuse to believe that there is already a national database set up to handle anything near like what I've proposed (7th point). The NRA has been screaming bloody murder for YEARS whenever anyone even suggested it.

To your last paragraph, I said "the first five things you post."

CC holders have to take a shooting test. And they abuse/misuse their weapons much less than the police do.

You have a solution in search of a problem.

Also, I propose that we ban guns in schools.

The CCW holder who drew on the Clackamass mall shooter did it right. He said he couldn't see a shot at the bad guy without people behind him, so he held his fire.

Here's a thought, let's give the same attention to the success stories.

Remember Bartlesville, Oklahoma, just last Friday? The authorities noticed the warning signs, and arrested a wannabe school shooter who was dreaming big. How many satellite trucks do you think there are in Bartlesville right now? How many were ever there? You think the nationals did anything but take in the local feed for a few news cycles? Do we have Senators pointing out the heroes in that case? Will we see in depth talking head analysis on Meet The Press this or any Sunday? Is there pending legislation to bolster whatever measures were they took in that case to prevent the tragedy? Do we know the kids name? Are there facebook tributes to the authorities?

Nope, doesn't fit the narrative. There are no grieving parents to put on TV, no aerial shots of ambulances and disgusted first responders. Above all, there are no political points to be made.

The NFL doesn't show streakers in order to prevent copycats, why are we doing the opposite?

Just curious, but how often have CCW holders drawn on a perp and accidentally shot innocent bystanders?

The list I was talking about was just CCW holders.