School shootings: A new form of domestic terrorism

You know Jason, I really think this rash of shootings comes from an emptiness within our society and our students. We live in a society that values only the most shallow of virtues. Where does it all end, and where are we going? To a young person learning about society, it can all seem rather hopeless, empty, and meaningless. Have you ever known a person who was tolerable, but so shallow that they drive you up a wall? This kind of person can't be bothered with serious issues, conversations, or contemplation of any issue outside of the latest music videos. We are, as a nation, that person...and our kids are suffering for it. More and more children are realizing how hopeless their situation is, and they are desperate for something real. Now, most kids will accept the society that they have been born into, but there will be those who want more. There will be those who feel isolated and alone in their desire for some kind of meaning. They are desperate for an escape from Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. They can't relate to their parents, probably because their parents are busy watching the latest incarnation of CSI. Today's parents, on the other hand, are flat out DEAD BEATS. Too strong? I don't think so. The general consensus seems to be that parents need only provide their children with basics, (that includes an ipod) provide for their education, and make general whiny comments about "kids these days" etc. We are not raising our children any more. As soon as it stops being fun, we shut off, allowing our children's friends and society in general, to raise our children. To make matters worse, everyone in this country is in the "me zone". We each have our own car, driving to and fro all on our lonesome, allowing very little contact with the outside world. Parents and children alike are incredibly wrapped up their personal electronics and technology. The gaps are widening, and each individual is disconecting more and more from each other, and from the society around them. School shootings are the drastic and realized incarnation of these increasing trends. For that reason, litigation will do little to help. You made the point that metal detectors won't work, because there are other ways to sneak weapons in. That's a great point because the guns really aren't the problem, they are a symptom of the real problem. That's not to say that we shouldn't have legislation regarding the safe storage of weapons; we SHOULD. But, again, guns are not the problem; our culture is. Shut off the power in your house for one day a week, and spend that time with your kids. If we all did this simple thing, I'll bet we would see a decrease in school shootings. In addition, I submit that it just may be the students with incredible potential, those who have particularly special minds, who end up snapping. It takes a bright child to see the world for what it is, to find no value in the trappings of childhood, and to see no hope in the American dream. Sometimes reality is radical.

All valid points, except that maybe the kids doing the shootings are the enlightened ones. Yikes. You can't blame the same institution (e.g. the American Dream) for failing these kids when you're saying it doesn't exist.

The question is, why do these kids feel the need to take out their aggression on strangers instead of those neglectful parents? It can't all be the video games and I-pods.

Don't take my ideas out of context. I'm not blaming any one thing...instead, I'm blaming the lack of meaning in our lives. In terms of my reference to the American dream, this can be looked at in an abstract way. You have the American dream of yesteryear which has been raped by corporate interests and our own greed, thereby creating TODAY'S version of the American dream; all consumerism, with little room for actual dreams or options. I'd HATE to be grouped with the people who blame video games for violence; that is NOT what I am suggesting at ALL, although I doubt that the glamorization of violence helps matters. What I AM suggesting is a disconnection from others in general; a void where human interaction, contact, and empathy should reside. Now, as for suggesting that it MIGHT be some of the brightest (I never said "enlightened") children who "snap", I am suggesting that it takes a more sensitive instrument (brain, mind, etc.) to go against the grain and notice what is wrong with one's environment, or to feel in some way unsatisfied with the world that one is presented with; PARTICULARLY IN CHILDREN. That's not to say that these children are not also suffering from some degree of mental instability; I think that's obvious. I understand that my assertation is radical, but does that make it inplausible?

"...Today's parents, on the other hand, are flat out DEAD BEATS. Too strong? I don't think so. The general consensus seems to be that parents need only provide their children with basics, (that includes an ipod) provide for their education, and make general whiny comments about "kids these days" etc. We are not raising our children any more..."

I couldn't agree more. I can tie this statement to every tragedy is today's news. Parents are so disengaged of their children and they think it is the internet, chat room, cell phone, or social issue. It is their issue. No parent wants to spend the time it truly takes to raise a child properly. That means no nannies, not working/or as much/ great sacrifice of your own life, money, and love. You spend the four hours after school with your child, not letting the t.v., internet, chat room, Barney, Hannah Montanah teaching your children the world. It is a parent's responsibility.

One a child knows that this world is not perfect, and that their life is 90% better than the globe's world; they will never feel like these teens and future adults do. Left out, unwanted, not good enough, not smart enough, LOVED.

And if they don't have the time, guess what? DON'T HAVE ANY MORE CHILDREN. IT WILL NEVER GET EASIER....

I agree with you jenna. I'm glad someone gets it. ..."I can tie this statement to every tragedy is today's news. " ...I couldn't agree more.

That's an easy way out. You can 'blame parents' the same way others blame hip-hop or the media, but sitting back and blaming people does the same as doing nothing at all. Pumping your fist and saying 'the world is a horrible place' just doesn't do much. It never has.

People, including parents, have always been shallow. This is nothing new. If anything it's the perceived fragility of the adolescent mind that does America's youth more harm than anything.

The big problem is that we don't have a good support system for people who are a danger to them selfs and others. In a way there is almost a don't ask don't tell policy when it come to troubled kids. Teachers know a lot more than they let on and don't do anything because some times taking action can make it worse or create a huge hassle that may or may not result in help for the kid. In the end it is not only the parent's responsibility but the teacher's and the class mate's and the friend's. So really I think that we just need to be more aware and offer people a helping hand. These kids who go and shoot up their schools have been screaming for something and for a long time. Why hasn't any one asked them what they want.

War on weapons. Not drugs. Get them off the streets. Out of Wal-marts. Off the internet.

Kids wont be able to go through black market avenues to get guns.

The right to bear arms is an archaic law that was perhaps OK when the most effective killing machine was a MUSKET.

Im paraphrashing a rant. But thats the jist.

Guns should not be available on the Internet period. It's too easy to get them. I think the publicity given to the people helps to give twisted people the incentive to go for their fifteen minutes of fame. I'd kind of like to see the news start failing to give the name of the people that do these things.

I'm with Social Fuzz, Marilynn Murray, and Jason Sereno.

If you want to read my argument in favor of banning guns, refer to these threads:

http://current.com/items/88842937_northern_illinois_kil...

http://current.com/items/88841977_15_year_old_killed_by...

Guns, banned??? Y? now that i was thinkin of learning how to use one.....

This point in history is exactly WHY we have the right to arms. Imagine living in a police state, and not having the right or ability to protect yourself. In my house, we are discussing the purchase of both guns and tasers for the sake of preparedness. I pray to god that I NEVER need a gun, or a taser for that matter. But, should that day come, I'd like to be prepared. America is in a malleable state right now, and things can go in a lot of different directions. You can't trust your government, you can't necessarily trust your neighbor; especially when lives are on the line. If/when things get desperate, we have the right to protect ourselves. Self-defense is a natural right. The thing is, it's all besides the point...because GUNS are NOT the problem here. People around the world have guns...lots of them. But do they have the shootings and violence that we suffer in epidemic proportions? NO. So, being the intelligent people that we are, I think we can all agree that there is something else afoot here. I WILL agree that access to guns should be MORE restricted than it is now, in that WALMART should NOT carry them, and it CERTAINLY should not be easy to get a gun online, if at all. All in all, kids shouldn't have access to guns, especially during these times of social evolution. It's funny, because I'm writing this, and I just looked over to my left where the newspaper is sitting on a side table. The paper is lying just perfectly, so that I can see only an add for a rifle; a bargain at only $129. That's irony for you.

Well all of those in favor of keeping guns available for purchase by civilians should agree that it is a lot simpler to kill some one when a gun is in your reach. Maybe if these kids had no experience with or access to guns they would have never shot up their schools. But i do agree that guns are not the only reason things like this happen. Kids could just as easily bring any sort or weapon to school including home made bombs but bombs are not quite as romantic as a 45.

As far as the legislation of firearms goes, why not ammunition? I don't believe we can make firearms illegal, but we do have waiting periods and background checks, which is a step in the right direction. However, this isn't true for ammunition. Guns are quite common, and so long as you already have a gun, you can put as many rounds through it as you like without ever having to wait or go through an updated background check. I think a wait period on each purchase of ammunition would be helpful.

As far as the individuals themselves, there seems to be a lot of discussion about how they became what they are, and who is at fault, which are important issues, but I also feel that it is important to discuss how these individuals can be helped. Many of those behind random public shootings are people who feel they have been trampled, who feel their dignity has been taken from them, to the point that they are reduced to negative absurdism and misanthropy, to the point that they feel the only appropriate response is violence, against themselves and others. I think the proper approach to these individuals is not to merely set out to stop them from acting, but to help them process and understand the world and themselves, so that they don't feel driven to violence. The only way to disarm a violent mentality without resorting to violence is through compassion, understanding, and compromise.

I completely agree.

I won't have a hand gun in my house. They are made to kill people. A hunting rifle is different, and more than enough to protect your home. Don't want one of those either. A metal baseball bat is about as mean as I want to get. I have one of those.

LoL I keep a metal baseball bat under my bed... ;-)

No one's going to take it away from you and shoot you with it. No little kid is going to shoot himself or another kid with it either.

You guys are right, guns are dangerous, and those who keep them have a tremendous responsibility. Guns need to be kept in locked gun safes so that children cannot gain access. But you know what? In some of these school shootings, the PARENTS bought guns for the kids! Not even just one, but a FEW. -I want to go back to an earlier comment made by JASON..."That's an easy way out. You can 'blame parents' the same way others blame hip-hop or the media, but sitting back and blaming people does the same as doing nothing at all. Pumping your fist and saying 'the world is a horrible place' just doesn't do much. It never has. People, including parents, have always been shallow. This is nothing new. If anything it's the perceived fragility of the adolescent mind that does America's youth more harm than anything. " JASON, I'm not blaming anyone. If it sounds like that, then I have not properly clarified my point. I think parents are falling short of their responsibilities, but that's a far cry from "blaming" them. If I WERE going to blame "someone", I would blame the economy. THAT'S RIGHT. Chew on that for a minute, and after you tell me how crazy I am, I'll explain why I feel that way.

I am very, very concerned about the future of our society. Angelina, you are exactly right.

The only think I know for sure is that this is going to get WORSE before it gets better.

I do however, blame TV and Video Games, NOT the content, but the SYSTEM.

TV and Videogames are an ESCAPE for lazy parents. One of the saddest things to see is TVs in the BACK SEATS of cars to shut the kids up.

TV and Videogames are Saturated Stimulus and Illusions of Grandeur, causing normal life to be boring and meaningless. And we wonder why there are so many KIDS WITH A-D-D

It isn't domestic terrorism, it isn't because of the media, it isn't because of the parents, it's a blend of all of the above, but moreso due to the fact we have continued to neglect the importance of mental health. We have also refused to take a proactive approach in diagnosing and treating mental illness, some from fear of the stigma and others from the fear of misdiagnosis and overmedication as in the instance of ADHD or ADD. The problem is, we have only been properly researching mental health and illness effectively for the past 20 or so years, and as a result we have not made enough advances or strides in how we deal with those who have been diagnosed as such. Many (those facing mental illness) face a stigma due to the lack of understanding as to what causes their mental illness and the taboo that is associated with those taking medications. ADHD may be caused directly or indirectly by the consumer culture that has enwrapped our society and larger global community but we also can attribute that to the fact that we feel our children need to be saturated with a multitude of information that sometimes can't be processed because we can't even effectively stimulate the minds of our children beginning from birth. Well, it seems that we have so many things to learn about in how we deal with mental illness. Gun control is obviously another issue that needs to be revisited as well as the illegal sales of firearms, because that trade alone is what causes so many problems in how gun laws are passed. There are many issues that contribute to the current epidemic of mentally troubled individuals who are resorting to ending their strife so publicly and violently. However what we need to focus on is not the tragedy and the obsession with the victims, I understand that they were victims and didn't deserve how their lives ended, but it makes more sense to focus on preventing these incidents than on what makes them so tragic. It would mean more to these victims if from their tragic loss, we find a way to effectively treat and remove the stigma from mental illness and problems facing young America today. And I say young America because the younger people seem to be more driven by the celebrity factor of people who shoot up schools than an adult who is mentally ill, usually they have a "cause".

Remember, we are talking about this in the context of college students... "Intellectuals".

As for our other social ills, there are on average 31 gun homicides EVERY DAY. (usdoj.gov)

i dont think people realise how truly bad war and guns really are... you could buy a gun off the internet so easily now no wonder there is havock in this world!!
people are selling guns from past wars just to gain profit that is all its about these days : PROFIT..PROFIT..PROFIT!! we need to change before it is too late.

lonelyness... that is the reason for everything in my oppinion, when i was in school there were some very nasty evil girls and because i was different, because i didnt wear the latest trend or have that much money i was tortured for it. socioty is a cruel place and that is the reason for all shootings by younger people. they are left to feel isolated and like they are worthless, like they truly dont mean anything to anyone because of the fact that they dont adjust and join in with socioty rules.
especially girls... i should know i am one lol. if your not orange and dont wear layers and layers of make up then you wouldnt be part of any gang you get bullied for being the odd one out. in my oppinion its awful what can happen in school and that is wher guns come into it.
you then try to get even and unstable thinking... you look on the internet and there it is a gun to shut your worries away, no more people thinking they are better than you.

its awful to think that people actually think this way... but be assured i could never shoot anyone i would be awful taking someones life away!!

A lot of good stuff on here. Some of it I'd consider 'stretching' a bit (e.g. one could probably list all of these factors into nearly every problem plaguing the United States if he or she tried) but it's nice to talk about things once in a while.

If anyone has any ideas for a solution - or perhaps a form of legislation that could be passed - I'd love to hear it. That was the purpose of the blog anyway.

For instance, what if we were to make every gun owner responsible for his or her own gun if it's used in a violent crime? That way, if someone's kid were to steal a gun to shoot a classmate - the negligent parent would be responsible as well his child.

Just an idea. A forward-thinking idea. Let's here some more of them...

"If anyone has any ideas for a solution - or perhaps a form of legislation that could be passed - I'd love to hear it. That was the purpose of the blog anyway. For instance, what if we were to make every gun owner responsible for his or her own gun if it's used in a violent crime? That way, if someone's kid were to steal a gun to shoot a classmate - the negligent parent would be responsible as well his child. Just an idea. A forward-thinking idea. Let's here some more of them..."

How you people seem to think that legislation can just whisk away our problems like the snap of a finger. Do you already know how many gun laws are on the books? 20,000 at the federal, state, and local levels!! Murder is already illegal as is rape, assaults, etc. and yet it still happens!! It is called personal responsibility! Something that this country and society has forgotten. Your right it is the "me" mentality that has taken over and from that we are so lazy to actually do something about it we rely on the government to do it for us which breeds tyranny. When someone buys a gun, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE hence why they bought a gun in the first place and there are already laws on the books at the federal level about reporting stolen guns. There are already laws on the books making gun locks mandatory, child-protection laws about firearms, etc. and yet I have to see ONE that actually does something unless you plan on infringing the 4th and 5th Amendments which will bring about a police state. Criminals are the only ones who use guns irresponsibly because they are criminals. Law-abiding citizens do not. They know how to use their guns. If a child gets a hold of a gun and misuses it it is the parent's fault for their negligence and bad parenting not the gun. There are laws against this yet it still happens but rarely for that matter since most parents who own guns know how to use them and teach their kids respectively. The fact that you place the blame solely on an intimate object makes me laugh and shows how insane you people are that you would rather blame the inanimate tool rather than the human element behind it. Guns are here to stay whether you like it or not. No restriction will stop them from getting in the hands of humanity. Britain, Japan, and other countries have outright gun bans yet criminals still get them and deaths are on the rise? Hmmm I wonder why? Maybe it is because CRIMINALS DON"T OBEY LAWS and will get their guns no matter what you do or say!! And whoever made that ignorant comment about how guns are so easy to get on the internet, they have to be shipped to a federal firearms license dealer and the buyer must go through a background check before they even can touch it. Depending on where you live they won't ship the gun at all based on the 20,000 so gun laws that are already out there. But that is the LEGAL way which Kazmierczak and Cho went through to get their guns. They could have easily found someone who knew where to find illegal guns to get them even if they couldn't get them. Steve Hawkins stole his gun from his father even after he was barred from buying a gun. You can keep living in your ignorance and "feel-goodness" thinking that gun laws do something when they do not nor will they ever. The CDC, Harvard Medical School, John Lott, Gary Kleck, and many other studies have proven that gun laws have no correlation or effect on stopping gun crimes. People intent on doing harm will get their weapons to do it whether you like it or not. The only solution is to a) repeal all gun laws because they do NOTHING to stop these individuals but only create more deaths and 2) allow law-abiding citizens the right to defend themselves with their guns when these murderers are afoot.

TO: Social Fuzz, Let the witch hunt begin, maybe after you take away everyones right to defend our families you can start confiscating all the ammonia and bleach and moth balls and everything else that can be used to by any highschool student to commit terrorism.

Thank you AngelinaH. I can sleep a little better knowing we have a few people out there that can think for themselves.

TO :Marylin_Murry Yeah! Metal baseball bats can't kill without 2 good hit's. Not bad.

TO: Marilynn_Murray, Gun control should begin in the home , your kid,s should have better thing's to do than search their parent's room.
r

TO: nolanpro, How many assaults with knifes,bats,fists.