WE: After school shooting in Connecticut, Piers Morgan blasts America’s ‘gun madness’

[RiggosMohawk]

I believe the best way to stop these kinds of incidents would be to remove the driving factor. Stop with the non stop instantaneous coverage. This is only feeding the frenzy. There is only one reason for committing this type of mass crime. Attention. It's a shame they're not getting the proper attention before they snap.

Except these have been happening long before our media became realtime - Charles Whitman in 1966 for example.

I completely agree with you that the entertainment industry in general is part of the issue though - it glorifies the notion of dying in a hail of bullets, and that only gives these fools their dangerous cause to focus on... but I still think the solution is to make it more difficult for everyone to own a firearm. Nowadays it takes far less skill to kill alot of people b/c of the advances in weaponry available to the general population, whereas Whitman needed his military training in order to pull off his massacre.

[FanboyOf91]

Um, no. Similar to a much lesser degree maybe, but same, no. Just my opinion though.

Um, yes. You should read up on the concussion lawsuits facing the NFL or poor Mike Webster.

[Stadium-Armory]

Um, yes. You should read up on the concussion lawsuits facing the NFL or poor Mike Webster.

You watch the NFL because you like to see people get concussions? That's sick man.

[FanboyOf91]

You watch the NFL because you like to see people get concussions? That's sick man.

You like to watch the NFL because you like to see people try to knockout other people of a game? That's sick man.

[The Evil Genius]

There was some interesting commentary by someone on CNN saying that the USA has gone too far with patient "rights" and have made it far too difficult to incarcerate people for mental illness. I don't know a lot about that but she made some interesting points.

I still think we need to take a hard look at violence portrayed in our society. I would start with all of these video games. Guns have been available since 1790. These school shootings have begun in the modern Information Age. I challenge anyone who thinks that is coincidental.

Why isn't the same level of gun related violence occuring in Japan or other first world nations then? They watch the same level of violence and play the same games, don't they??

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

The fact that these perpetrators seem to consistently be young men of this same generation shouldn't be lost on anyone. IMO.

We've got a real problem in our society. We are ill and we keep swallowing more poison. Wonder how many kids are going to get the new COD under the tree this Christmas

it has nothing to do with video games.

I know you said society, but gun violence has been around well before video games were created.

Should I blame Yosemite Sam for the University of Texas Massacre?

This country has a serious problem with gun control. It has always had a problem with gun control. No one wants to do anything about that problem.

---------- Post added December-14th-2012 at 05:57 PM ----------

Why isn't the same level of gun related violence occuring in Japan or other first world nations then? They watch the same level of violence and play the same games, don't they??

exactly.

[maxiumone]

Our nation was founded on the backs of slavery as well. Shall we return to that route?

That was ended by a citizen Army many who provided their own firearms. Good thing the feds did not ban guns back then.

And I think Blue touches a a very true issue, it is how many define themselves. I am pretty sure that no other Constitution states in it the right to bare arms.

I agree with obtaining should be much harder. But a ban on all is ridiculous.

[2v2nv]

I think if you ask anyone they will tell you that in any given incident like this the person is more to blame than the tools used to carry out his/her sinister machinations. Gun control is just an avenue of prevention that can be applied to all of these situations whereas psychological solutions are both more complex and tend to vary on a case by case basis, making them harder for the average layperson to discuss.

I would agree with you on this and now understand where you were taking your argument.

Do you have an answer of what to do from a psychological standpoint? Would you agree with having every gun owner submit to a psychological evaluation before buying any gun, and as part of a gun license renewal on a yearly basis? Is there any doubt that the NRA would lobby the defeat out of that bill on some sort of "take our guns away/socialism/brainwashing from the government" campaign.

I do. Its called the parental watch program. It involves parents being held accountable for watching and raising their kid. Thus, when there is a problem that arises, get them help when their kid signs their name with a "?" (the VT shooter). Also, if their child is showing signs of schizophrenia or obsession with death, DON'T BUY THEM COD OR SHOOTER GAMES.

As a gun owner, I would feel that a psychological mini test held once every 10 years or so (i don't know the exact amount, that's why I pay politicians) would help alleviate this type of situation and not be too much to feel like I'm being called a psycho just for owning a gun.

[Stadium-Armory]

You like to watch the NFL because you like to see people try to knockout other people of a game? That's sick man.

Certainly there's some element of contact in football but for me at least, it isn't about deriving enjoyment from watching them bloody each other or constrict airflow to achieve a submission.

[zoony]

it has nothing to do with video games.

I know you said society, but gun violence has been around well before video games were created.

Should I blame Yosemite Sam for the University of Texas Massacre?

This country has a serious problem with gun control. It has always had a problem with gun control. No one wants to do anything about that problem.

http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Psychological-Cost-Learning-Society/dp/0316040932

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure plenty of other countries have kids that play COD and other violent video games.

I could be naive but I don't see these countries having the same problem with gun violence.

[Larry]

it has nothing to do with video games.

I know you said society, but gun violence has been around well before video games were created.

Should I blame Yosemite Sam for the University of Texas Massacre?

Just observing that you chose the standard of "gun violence existed", as opposed to "gun violence existed at the same level".

But then, that does raise a question, to me.

Is gun violence in this country increasing?

I get the impression that people feel it is. (I confess that I feel it is.)

But is it? Really? Or do we just see it a lot more?

I confess that I don't know. (And I wonder if what I'm going to get are a bunch of talking points designed to imply whatever one side wants to say.)

[maxiumone]

it has nothing to do with video games.

I know you said society, but gun violence has been around well before video games were created.

Should I blame Yosemite Sam for the University of Texas Massacre?

This country has a serious problem with gun control. It has always had a problem with gun control. No one wants to do anything about that problem.

---------- Post added December-14th-2012 at 05:57 PM ----------

exactly.

No but you may have hit on something here. I saw that there have been 12 mass shootings on school grounds and 6 have happen since 2007 (I think that was it) I think with the desensitizing of youth to gun violence and then there ability to obtain easily does play a role in why it happens here more often.

And if you are comparing the reality of violence shown on COD and the level on violence on Yosemite Sam are the same then I dont know what to say

[Bacon]

I agree with obtaining should be much harder. But a ban on all is ridiculous.

It can't happen. It won't happen.

If an all-out gun ban is enacted, there will be a revolution in this country that will divert attention away from the good it would actually do. Our economy is tied into the NRA. Slow, subtle attempts to make gun ownership more difficult is the only way, and even that will be fought (it's too expensive to integrate! I might fail because I'm bat**** insane!)

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

No but you may have hit on something here. I saw that there have been 12 mass shootings on school grounds and 6 have happen since 2007 (I think that was it) I think with the desensitizing of youth to gun violence and then there ability to obtain easily does play a role in why it happens here more often.

And if you are comparing the reality of violence shown on COD and the level on violence on Yosemite Sam are the same then I dont know what to say

yeah, at least people die in video games whereas Yosemite Sam shot Bugs or Daffy and all they had was black smoke on their faces.

My point in mentioning Yosemite Sam is that images of gun use has BEEN in our country. Video games are nothing new to this. I am not saying violent games help, but its a lot bigger than those. From cartoon and humorous versions of Looney Tunes cartoons or spaghetti westerns, to the what we see in our movies and video games today.

And mass shootings have been an long term problem in America. It is not just this generation.

[zoony]

Just observing that you chose the standard of "gun violence existed", as opposed to "gun violence existed at the same level".

But then, that does raise a question, to me.

Is gun violence in this country increasing?

I get the impression that people feel it is. (I confess that I feel it is.)

But is it? Really? Or do we just see it a lot more?

I confess that I don't know. (And I wonder if what I'm going to get are a bunch of talking points designed to imply whatever one side wants to say.)

There's gun violence... But this is mass murder of a very specific type done for very specific reasons that are far outside the norm of drug deals gone bad or crimes of passion, etc

These crimes are consistently perpetrated by desensitized young males of the same generation using advanced weaponry, body armor, and techniques.

This is even beyond the old guy who loses his mind and holes himself up with a rifle. This phenomenon is something different entirely, and I don't think we should even look at statistical buckets like gun violence

[AsburySkinsFan]

No but you may have hit on something here. I saw that there have been 12 mass shootings on school grounds and 6 have happen since 2007 (I think that was it) I think with the desensitizing of youth to gun violence and then there ability to obtain easily does play a role in why it happens here more often.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting

Go to section 4 "Notable School Shootings"

[zoony]

No but you may have hit on something here. I saw that there have been 12 mass shootings on school grounds and 6 have happen since 2007 (I think that was it) I think with the desensitizing of youth to gun violence and then there ability to obtain easily does play a role in why it happens here more often.

And if you are comparing the reality of violence shown on COD and the level on violence on Yosemite Sam are the same then I dont know what to say

There is no doubt that the availability of guns in our country makes these crimes more possible. I don't know anyone who would argue that.

The larger point, what nobody really wants to talk about, is the illness of our society that is clearly getting worse. It is manifesting itself right in front of us for the past 10 years.

[Larry]

As a gun owner, I would feel that a psychological mini test held once every 10 years or so (i don't know the exact amount, that's why I pay politicians) would help alleviate this type of situation and not be too much to feel like I'm being called a psycho just for owning a gun.

Uh, there are, I believe, people on ES who actually have professional expertise in psychological assessment. (I am NOT one of them.)

But I suspect that they will tell you that any test that the government is likely to buy from the proverbial Lowest Bidder is probably worth about as much as a Driver's License exam.

[2v2nv]

Uh, there are, I believe, people on ES who actually have professional expertise in psychological assessment. (I am NOT one of them.)

But I suspect that they will tell you that any test that the government is likely to buy from the proverbial Lowest Bidder is probably worth about as much as a Driver's License exam.

Then what do you do? Blame the parents and move on? That's about all you can do. You can't ban guns. Now what...

I tell you what might help is putting locking doors on all schools and having no visitors but by appointment. Also metal detectors at every school. That would greatly help protect the children at least. There are not any high ranking government buildings that deal with this so why should the schools not get that type of protection?

Also how about a law forcing people to go through an FFL whenever selling a gun. Even to a relative. Then that forces the purchaser to be required to take a background check. All of these things are merely things that help. There is no great answer to this.

[Bacon]

As a lover of psychology, I would be VERY curious to see what gun-restrictive psychological assessment the government cooks up. What would they be screening for? Suicidal ideation? Instability? Antisocial personality disorder? Schizophrenia? Just being a crazy nutbag who wants a gun?

[The Sisko]

You guys are arguing about the wrong thing altogether. It turns out not having prayer in schools is the root cause.

Huckabee: Schools ‘A Place Of Carnage’ Because We ‘Systematically Removed God’

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee attributed the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in part to restrictions on school prayer and religious materials in the classroom.

"We ask why there is violence in our schools, but we have systematically removed God from our schools," Huckabee said on Fox News, discussing the murder spree that took the lives of 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, CT that morning. "Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage?"

...He said those suffering from a crisis from faith should look to God in the community's response to the violence. But he added that "Maybe we ought to let [God] in on the front end and we wouldn't have to call him to show up when it's all said and done at the back end."

[zoony]

Ugh, huckabee, now is not the time. Your not helping your ministry or anyone else's right now

[2v2nv]

As a lover of psychology, I would be VERY curious to see what gun-restrictive psychological assessment the government cooks up. What would they be screening for? Suicidal ideation? Instability? Antisocial personality disorder? Schizophrenia? Just being a crazy nutbag who wants a gun?

I would have to say that darn near anything "should" help. Its also sad that we can't trust our government to do something like this without mocking how bad they'd mess it up. That's another big reason that people need to pay attention to who they vote for.

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

You guys are arguing about the wrong thing altogether. It turns out not having prayer in schools is the root cause.

Huckabee: Schools ‘A Place Of Carnage’ Because We ‘Systematically Removed God’

lol, he is such a clown.