So what's the excuse of mass murders before video games and violent TV was out to corrupt the children? Stuff like this has happened throughout human history. There are some that aren't able to function like the normal masses and their way of coping is to kill, maim or go into seclusion.
Why? It is too easy for mentaly unstable people to obtain extermely lethal and portable weapons in a short timeframe to carry out their impulsive desires. In addition: there is no law that can be passed and enforced that would eliminate the hundreds of millions of weapons in the U.S., so we are stuck with a being a gun country. Stronger regulations may help somewhat in preventing such easy and convenient access to the most lethal of the weapons, however they come at great cost in money and loss of liberty. Stronger regulations poorly implemented (the only way the goverment tends to operate) will have the effect of disarming more of the sane, law-abiding citizens who are afraid of running afoul of laws that could ensnare them. The more disarmed the general populace is the more shootings succeed. See article here which discusses regulations and an armed public. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine...se-for-more-guns-and-more-gun-control/309161/ It would seem sensible to keep easy access to firearms from mentally unstable people - for their own protection and ours. That runs into conflict with privacy laws and ethical conduct of doctors. How do you balance that? http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/12/what-can-we-do-to-stop-massacres/266300/ And one issue that you seldom see mentioned, but which I brought up in the Blazer board after Columbine: Antipsychotics. One of the known side-effects of anti-psychotics drugs is creating extreme thoughts of suicide and violence. (Ironic no?) Most of the Rampage murderers turn out to have been on antiphychotics. Some say that is damning evidence. I think it is a good chicken/egg question. Howver, that fact that strong feelings of violence/suicide are reported by non-violent users suggests that for some who are deeply troubled, taking antipsychotics pushes those feelings to the forefront until they explode. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20305596 http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/colorado-mass-murder-linked-to-prescription-drug-use/ http://www.cchrint.org/2012/07/20/t...senseless-shooting-another-psychotropic-drug/
I enjoyed this post,although I see lost innocence as much to fault. Quantified by todays real time bombardment of information.
And this kid that actually did this horrible thing. I wonder if that was even his guns? I wouldn't be surprised if it was his dads or he got it from the streets. But what we could do is possibly have gun licenses and bi-annual psych evaluations? Who knows really.
I agree. I think the claim that violent media/games creates violence is pure horsepucky. There is no evidence for it. Look at Japan with its popular culture of very violent movies, comics, games, etc. Doesn't turn them into crazed killers.
Yep, I think there are just way too many factors to even pin point. Maybe something that set off one was completely different than what set off the other.
I firmly believe one factor is the upsurge in apocalyptic BS floating around. Everyone from some fundamentalist groups to extremist political groups to fans of ancient Mayan calenders are ranting about how the end of the world is nigh, and nothing can be done about it. Even a moron knows the difference between TV/video games and real life. This stuff, however, is coming from supposedly "respectable" authority figures. You pour that nihilistic crap into the ear of a mentally disturbed person - and what do you expect?
Just a thought but would it do any good to make people more responsible for their own guns? I mean the Clackamas guy stole his gun from a friend, should'nt the friend have some liability in not properly locking up and keep his gun safe? If you drink and drive and kill someone you get manslaughter, if you overserve at a bar and they kill someone you get charged also.
There is a belief that just being born in the United States gives you some inalienable right of uniqueness and that you're wonderful and special and going to be whatever you want to be and that has been transformed into a culture of spoiled brats, self-entitlement and denial. Then they blame something like "bullying" or a "personality disorder" and go get medicated and someone tells them that its ok. However, when the loser finds out that they're a loser, they can't handle it and go batshit insane and decide to take everyone out with them.
I think there needs to be more "hands on" parenting. Parents need to be around more...... not letting kids sit on the fucking internet and play video games all the time. In moderation of course. Get in their business and see what they are doing in their spare time and who they are hanging out with. I had to have a talk with my son who is 11 about the Clackamas shootings and how there are just some flat out bad people out there. I realize parents can't be around all the time, but I think it would help.
My wife is in Hawaii for work this week, and I'm holding off on discussing the week with the kids until she gets home tomorrow. Does that mean she was a shitty parent this week because she had to work her ass off away from home?
Agreed. I quit my job to stay at home with our girl when she was born a couple of years ago. It's a big financial struggle, for sure, but worth it, IMO.
I hope you know I was being sarcastic, HCP! Parents do whatever they can to provide their kids with a better life than they had. If that means traveling for work, then that is just part of providing for your family.
