Colorado Shootings

[Ken Carman]

Curious what others feel about Colorado. What a mess. Might be interesting to have a running thread on the topic as the story develops. To me it's indicative of how we seem to think guns solve our problems, like all the guys fired who go back and shoot up the place, or Oklahoma, or Doctor Tiller like shootings, or...

To me this goes beyond the usual pro-gun, pro-gun control issues. Too many of us seem to have the concept that just using them will solve problems. Here's more on what I feel, if interested.

[Charlatan]

Guns will always be a problem, they can be bought illegally as well!

[barts]

Slightly askew of topic, but what the shooting reminds me is that how hollow is the "terrorist" threat promoted by politicians and government agencies.

The Colorado killing shows how easy it is for anyone in the US to acquire formidable weapons and kill many people with absolute ease. Yet these are remarkably rare events. So rare that the notion that Muslim extremists are lurking in every neighborhood planning to kill Americans is shown to be pure nonsense.

If there were, indeed, nests of Muslim extremists everywhere planning terrorist acts they'd be happening weekly in theaters and malls throughout America.

At any rate, in my view, the only rational way to view the event in Colorado is with the same perspective that we might consider a bus accident, a hurricane, or any other natural event where people die. It would be wrong to read anything into it about anything beyond the individual who did the killing.

[finder]

Curious what others feel about Colorado. What a mess. Might be interesting to have a running thread on the topic as the story develops. To me it's indicative of how we seem to think guns solve our problems, like all the guys fired who go back and shoot up the place, or Oklahoma, or Doctor Tiller like shootings, or...

To me this goes beyond the usual pro-gun, pro-gun control issues. Too many of us seem to have the concept that just using them will solve problems. Here's more on what I feel, if interested.

True, this culture will never give up their guns and they are not always the answer to a problem. It's a sad testimonial of humanity that we not only have them, indeed they have become necessary deterrents. Banning guns makes about as much sense as banning rocks when they are used in deadly assaults. Sometimes guns are the answer to a problem considering they exist and bad people use them. If just one other person had a gun the tragic events in Colorado would have been far less tragic. Soon as the gunman fired his first shot he could have been taken out. Guns, individually or part of a military's arsenal, can and do prevent many crimes. The rack of a shot gun stops an intruder from entering a home. A very useful tool.

[Thanatos]

I'd be interested to know what his motive was and what kind of person he is. The man is some kind of online ghost and he skipped the usual step of writing and publishing a manifesto.

[SoylentGreen]

The problem is that these kind of shootings are so horrible that it is hard to believe that sanity was involved. As the latest example unfolds.

Gunman turns Batman screening into real-life 'horror film' - CNN.com

It is not the guns that are the problem or that which should be banned. But instead it is the mental state of the user.

[Ken Carman]

Guns will always be a problem, they can be bought illegally as well!

Of course. This is one of the many problems that make me think most regulations in the US are pretty much a dead issue. I wish the "good luck," but, eh, mostly not. To me this has more to do with attitudes.

b

Slightly askew of topic, but what the shooting reminds me is that how hollow is the "terrorist" threat promoted by politicians and government agencies.

Absolutely. We make people go through all kinds of crud due to 9/11 and terrorism in general when we our leaders had just been paying attention... and to be honest the same applies here. SOMEONE had to know this guy was on the edge and had a boobytrapped apartment... or house. (Not sure which.)

F

If just one other person had a gun the tragic events in Colorado would have been far less tragic. Soon as the gunman fired his first shot he could have been taken out.

Maybe someone did, maybe not. The problem is such happenings usually occur when the perp gets the drop on everyone and this was A/in the dark B/he threw out some gas grenade or something like that. So even if there was a gun present maybe someone did the smart thing and not try to shoot at what they could not see, or out of panic. Can anyone imagine what would happen if everyone had had a gun? As the column says, more would probably be dead.

OK, I'm a bit confused here. "rack of a shotgun?" Do you mean a gun rack someone sees through a window? I tend to think of a shotgun rack as more of a truck thing... but that's mostly because of the way it's phrased. Ironically someone in my neighborhood years ago found out I did have guns and I had two stolen. They broke in FOR the guns, and stole nothing else. So there are no sure bets.

[Ken Carman]

I'd be interested to know what his motive was and what kind of person he is. The man is some kind of online ghost and he skipped the usual step of writing and publishing a manifesto.

So would I.

SG

If you haven't read the column, I essentially say that at the end... though more graphically.

[finder]

OK, I'm a bit confused here. "rack of a shotgun?" Do you mean a gun rack someone sees through a window? I tend to think of a shotgun rack as more of a truck thing... but that's mostly because of the way it's phrased. Ironically someone in my neighborhood years ago found out I did have guns and I had two stolen. They broke in FOR the guns, and stole nothing else. So there are no sure bets.

It's the sound that a pump action shot gun makes when you prepare to fire it. And no, there are no sure bets.

[minorwork]

A man at a restaurant fires on robbers.

[Ken Carman]

Ah, you mean pump action. Gotcha.

[Angry Citizen]

Curious what others feel about Colorado.

I guess someone didn't like talkers?

No, but seriously. Why are we discussing this? It's a tragedy - yes. But there are worse tragedies every day. Women are being raped. Prisoners are being raped. Animals are being systematically abused. Gang violence. Drug violence. Drug addiction. All of these pass under the radar - but to paraphrase the Joker, twelve little people die in Colorado, and EVERYBODY LOSES THEIR MINDS!!!

Explain this to me.