I'm so sorry...

[Mickster]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

Mickster..thank you..

The European rate of suicide (I'm note sure if its higher or lower than US)really gets a high due to the Nordic/Scandinavian Countries rate, really. They do pretty much most of the suicide in Europe, and has been proved it has to do with a Chemical release due to the lack of Sun.

Southern Europe Countries hardly have any suicidal rates, or are very very low.

Actually, it tends to be in more of the Eastern European countries and in some western European countries such as France. You can find the data via WHO, or I could dig it up. *shrug*.

One of the problems though is trying to get some actual stats from the EU as a whole. They are still working on that Or, should I say most of the EU isn't that really forth coming in publishing that type of data.

Do you really think it's lack of sun? Cause I pretty much asked you the question to show how it's all subjective.

The UK has mostly banned guns, yet the rate of violent crime has increased along with assaults. Don't you find it rather silly that they are talking about banning knives because of the recent up tick in stabbings?

When looking at the raw stats, you will find (where you can get them) that the US has a lower incident of violent crimes, burglary etc than Europe. I think the biggest problem I have with Europeans is that they don't seem to grasp the whole fifty state union thing that we have going on here.

Hopefully, the EU once taken as a whole (as in stats) will help them realize that they are no better off than we are and in some cases worse off.

- Sorry for the engrish, it's not my first language.
-- Not a Euro bashing post. Just that I find it disturbing that many Europeans have this dysfunction.

[tdw]

It saddens me to see this happen. I'll make no comment on the whys and wherefores, the maybes and maybe nots. It's not the time and place. Giu, it was good of you to bring this up cos I reckon no could accuse you of making political capital from a tragedy whereas some of us could be seen to be pushing our various barrows.

I don't know if any of our group here hails from Virginia or if anyone has been personally touched by this tragedy but if so, keep your chin up and know that tomorrow the sun will still rise and life goes on. Sounds pretty trite I know, but it's not meant to.

Sad , very sad indeed, that anyone so young could be so unbalanced that they feel the need to resort to such insane action. Sad indeed that so many young lifes are so senselessly shortened.

I'm sure in the fullness of time we will "discuss" the issues, but not for now . I was particularly impressed that no one brought the subject up yesterday, it showed an uncommon degree of sensitivity.

[Mickster]

Being as you are from Portugal I can see why you might have a skewed view, given your low rate.

But, places like France/Germany the rate is much higher ~20



- I was probably arguing with some French over this, seeing as they like to compare France to all of the U.S. That is, of course when it suits the argument

[dorourke]

This is my opinion only, not based on facts or any supporting data of any kind. I am 47 years old now, when I was in grade school bulling wasen't tollerated and a child had the right to defend himself. These days a bully can pick on whoever they want and not be repremended, therefore the tormenting goes on without check. The "sticks and stones" attitude stands in most schools I know of. Violance will not be tollerated, if you cant take the badgering, you are at fault. This is very wrong! Not all childern devolope the same, all have diferances. Now days there is no one to support the more sensitave and precious souls called our children, corporal punnishment is banished from our educational structure and the anger builds. As far as gun controll goes, in my opinion again; If crime intensifies so should the defence! In these times when criminals and the disturbed use hand guns then why doesn't someone on the campus have the equal defence? When a coward is confrunted by the same means he uses, he will receed. If he is trully disturbed and is hell bent on killing, he should be stoped by the most effective means possible to protect the innocent, that's not to say he should be killed but stoped. My heart and prayers truelly go out to the familys of the lost and wounded.

God bless them all

[werebeagle]

I personally think that a lot of the problem lies with the fact that we can't discipline kids anymore. I grew up in a time that I'd get my ass whipped if I wasn't respectful. It didn't matter if my parents were around. Other adults, including teachers could and would do it if warranted, and if someone else had to discipline me, then I'd get it again when I got home.

At least half the vehicles in the school parking lot would have guns in them, there were guns in most houses, without gun locks, and we all knew how and when to use them. And everyone carried knives.

But I don't recall one fight at school where guns or knives were used. We used our fists, then the teacher or principle used the paddle, and then it was over.

Now if there's a fistfight at school, the kids get expelled, and probably have criminal charges filed. So all the angst gets bottled up until it comes out with disastrous results.

[cardiacpaul]

now if theres a fight in school, the kids get up to 3 days in school suspension, the parents and kid have to go to anger management classes, and what really jerks my chain is the "feel good about yourself" counselors aren't there to say, "dumbass, you had that one comin'"

[SimonV]

Charlie.
I agree with you whole-heartedly. As a soon to be retired Cop, I have seen the changes in society from the front line, late 70's mid 80's if a kid played up the Police officer would give him a clip under the ear and take him home, his father would give him another. Now days the kids stand there and abuse the Police, they have rights they have all these tree hugging politically correct social mamby pambys backing them up, its not their fault they were not breast fed as babies, society has made them arrogant or ignorant of the property and freedoms of the normal law abiding citizen. If you manage to get them before a court, the court over and over, slaps them on the wrist saying "you poor child". Giving the misfits of this world permission to re-offend in the sound knowledge that until they do something really bad, the warm and fuzzy do gooders will stand up for them, while the rest of society cowers in their homes.

To the mothers, fathers, brothers and sister and all persons touched by this sad and tragic incident my hart goes out to you. God bless.

[RickBowman]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

I have been watching the news here in the US...

What drives young people to go to a school and shoot people like that??? And its not the first time either...

God help America....this is so crazy.....


Why???? why????? why so much violence?

Is it because you guys have too many guns??? too many laws??? why??please???

I don't really understand...we have none of this in my little place...its soo confusing...

My prayers and condolences go to the families of the victims...

Giulietta, after reading your blog it is now Mr. Giulietta,

Mr. Giulietta,

Thank you for your kind and reassuring words.

Basically, it's lack of a workable plan to prevent or at least curtail this type of an emergency.

We now have air marshalls on aircraft that we didn't need before 9/11. Look at the hassle it took to arm the pilots? Shame on us.

40 out of 50 states in the US now have given its citizens the right to conceal/carry a sidearm, including Virginia. What about the ten states that don't trust it's own law abiding citizens? Shame on them.

All it would have taken is one trained and experienced patriot on that campus in range to stop that perp. Why not train and arm the willing teachers? They have already proven that they are trainable by their degrees. Self defense is not rocket science, but it must be learned.

The world lost talent and ability on this dark day. What will it take for us a free society to step up to the plate and protect our children? This terrible event could just do it.

Rick

[sailortjk1]

Because we live in a free society, everyday we put our trust in our fellow man. We believe that we are safe because for the most part people are good. The good far out ways the bad, however, when things like this happen, unfortunately, when our safety is violated, that trust in our fellow man does not hold much credence and it certainly does not protect the victims of violence. Can it happen again? Yes it can. Can we prevent it from happening? Short of living under marshal law or communism, I don't know that we can.

[sailingdog]

Unfortunately, the criminals seem to have far more rights than the public or the victims. Look at how we treat our criminals when they're in prison: room and board, free access to educational facilities, weight room, health care, cable or satellite TV in many cases... Is it any wonder that prison isn't a deterrent to these people.

Rick's point is a valid one. Viriginia has a concealed carry law, but they made it illegal to carry a licensed concealed gun on campus. That really didn't do a damn thing... the bad guys are going to carry guns whether it is legal to do so or not... the laws only really affect the upright citizens.