VuRocksMySox wrote: Yeah, blame the gun nuts for this. They obviously influenced the killer when he was deciding to murder children. How dare you.

We keep giving ourselves downtime to grieve and then promise to get to having actual potentially productive discussion after that. But then, before we're even done grieving, there's another mass murder, and we do the same thing.

There's never a time to have the conversation, because we are always in the wake of a mass murder.

There will be nothing done because the cycle is perpetual, and as a result there will be more dead children. How dare I.

Oh, and hell yes it's sad. But people giving the generic "our thoughts and prayers are...let's have perspective" spiel will do nothing beyond maybe (maybe) giving some (some) people a spiritual peace of mind. It will do nothing to help curb this gun fetishism so many Americans have. And as a result, our next massacre is just around the corner.

VuRocksMySox wrote: Yeah, blame the gun nuts for this. They obviously influenced the killer when he was deciding to murder children. How dare you.

Gracchus wrote: 

Yeah, what the gun nuts influenced was the fact that this dude had an assault rifle when he decided to kill children instead of a sharp object.  Difference = mass killing.

MATheta wrote: Too true unfortunately. This has really rocked me, I am sitting here in my classroom in tears. There are no explanations, only so many questions that really aren't seeking answers, only rage with question marks. Why? Why? WHY?!?!

As a teacher, a parent of an elementary school teacher, and grandparent of an elementary school student I am so caught by this . . . .

VandyBruin wrote:

Gracchus wrote: 

Yeah, what the gun nuts influenced was the fact that this dude had an assault rifle when he decided to kill children instead of a sharp object.  Difference = mass killing.

Yes. Maybe at some point, Americans will decide that .223 caliber assault rifles should not be privately owned.

Reports are the shooter was able to get off 100 rounds.

1. Anyone can pray any prayer they like at anytime in any school they wish.
2. Every gun in the U.S., of any type, must be licensed, registered and equipped with a GPS locator.

I keep thinking about those little children who died and how scared they must have been - it makes me sick.  My heart especially goes out to victims' parents, who have to bury a child and "celebrate" Christmas within a few days. 

A former FBI psychiatrist was on CNN and said it best.  This country has no way to put someone who is in a mental crisis and potentially a violent threat into a hospital.  You can only put yourself in the hospital, or the police can do it if you are talking about suicide. 
I can't call the police and say "My sister is severely depressed and is angry and talking about doing something for which she will be remembered."  Plus, we have to do a better job of making sure guns do not get into the hands of people with mental illness.  

VUGearhead wrote: FYI, the assault rifle in question was found in the perpetrator's vehicle, and was not used in the shootings. So, logically, any discussion about further validation for assault weapon's bans, based on this incident is incorrect...This suspect, apparently, was just very experienced with handguns, which he used in committing this crime...Any meaningful discourse on preventing similar future tragedies should focus on people being more cognizant of potential mental health issues in those around them, and being able to get aid and treatment to those individuals...

vebiltdervan wrote:
He committed most of his murders with semi-automatic handguns. Are those semi-logically off-limits, by magic? I don't think so.