I'm so sorry...

[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...

[T34C]

Very good questions G-, I wish someone had the answers. It is scary being the parent of small kids these days.

[jrd22]

It's so sad, so senseless, no one has the answers. Would gun control stop it, I don't think so, anyone can get a gun if they want one badly enough. My heart goes out to the families and friends of those killed and injured, and all the students at the school that are trying to make any sense out of it when none exists.

[Neises]

I blame the war on drugs. When I was that age we sat in the park smoking pot & laughing at squirrels.

Don't get me wrong, I know it's no joking matter. My 9-5 is updating news websites for a rather prominent Rifle Association, and I've been overexposed to both sides of the 'what if' debates. My personal opinion is that there aren't too many guns, but in this case 33 too few. Only one law will stop a whackjob like that, and it's nature's eldest law - self defense.

[SailorMitch]

Giu -- If any of us knew how to fix it all we would! Yes, too many guns that are too easy to get. Too many troubled people in this world. Too many, too much of so many things both good and bad. And in this country, the country that has so much, no explanations -- none of those.

I was born and raised in Roanoke, VA, where that young man bought his guns. My father and brother still live either in or near Roanoke, along with many relatives scattered all around there. Southwest Virginia and the Blue Ridge mountains are beautiful -- peaceful. It always lifts my spirits when I go back home to those mountains. I have been to Blacksburg many times, know tons of people who went to Tech. My parents moved to the Richmond area when I was in high school, and I graduated from William and Mary in Williamsburg, where I met and married my wife. Even though I have lived in Maryland for 36 years, I am still a Virginian. My heart goes out to the people there.

And professionally, I am the director of physical security for a large federal agency. You can bet that we are taking another look at our security plans. Sad times indeed.

[sailaway21]

As if we needed another reminder that there is no defense against senseless madmen.
I will pray for those oh so lonely parents. I can do nothing else.
Soon the chattering classes, and cheap politicians who milk any tragedy, will start their din. I will endeavor to not pay too much attention, continuing to pray for those who've sustained such a senseless loss. They deserve it and need it.

[Mickster]

Hi Giulietta,

Thanks for your condolences and nice job on that magazine spread thread

In the U.S we commit twice as many murders via gun violence as in Europe. However, Europeans commit suicide twice as many times as Americans.

I'm curious if you know why the incidents of suicide are so prevalent in Europe as compared to the United States. As for gun violence in the United States, my person view would be:

1) Breakdown of family structures.
2) Stronger streak of individualism.
3) Sink or swim mentality.

Only the first do I consider a negative value.

/Long time lurker here at Sailnet.

[hellosailor]

Too much stress, too much confusion, and the new "approved" societal and corporate cultures are designed to add more stress instead of relieving it.

In that kid's case, so far the only news is that he can to the US from S.Korea at about 9 years of age, and apparently he really didn't like the culture he found at Virginia Tech. Which brings up questions of culture clash and perhaps the all too typical US parents ignoring the children, or a different culture clash in his house. There are questions about whether there was a stepfather involved as well.

Right now the news says that everyone knew he was "troubled" "a loner" and badly in need of counseling, but apparently the school can't compel that and since he is incredibly old for a college student--they wouldn't be allowed to say that to his parents. Age 23 years old, he's about two years older than most 4-year college grads. And, oddly enough, an English major at a leading technical university. Many of us only thought Virginia Tech turned out engineers.

[Giulietta]

Originally Posted by Mickster

Hi Giulietta,

In the U.S we commit twice as many murders via gun violence as in Europe. However, Europeans commit suicide twice as many times as Americans.

I'm curious if you know why the incidents of suicide are so prevalent in Europe as compared to the United States.

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.

But still...they exist...

This all story is so chocking...I have kids and am a real family man...this happening to me would trigger a lot of hidden violence on my part...add that to a real Latin vengence minds...I'd kill the guy...

[Guesser]

Obviously access to guns, family breakdown, TV violence, video games and the like, all play a role in these types in incidents. But one reoccurring theme that doesn't get a lot off attention is the use of antidepressants with most of these school shooters. Everyone thinks the antidepressants keep kids happy and in a normal state so they don't feel depressed, but what they actually do is detach these kids from reality to the point they can go on shooting rampages and not even have a clue that they're affecting the lives of real people. It basically transforms the world into a video game that these kids play out. Now I'm not saying antidepressants are the root cause, but it sure seems that they are playing a role.