Shooting at Sandy Hook. Many dead.

[BridgeTroll]

ok... anyway... I have no doubt we will focus on the easy and simplistic "gun issue" while the real cause is much deeper and sinister.

Bridge Troll.  Perhaps you can answer the question with a cooler head than our dear Pinky.

Why does anyone in a city need to be able to kill hundreds of other citizens within minutes at will?

I couldnt help but notice the words "in a city".  Could you clarify?  Also... "need to be able to kill hundreds of other citizens within minutes" seems to be intentionally inflammatory.  Are you questioning the number of weapons one should own?  The types of weapons?  The number of magazines at their disposal?  The number of rounds one should be able to own?

[ronchamblin]

From Bryan Fischer, a Christian person, perhaps on the media somewhere, said this about the shootings, via Huff Post.

The question is going to come up, where was God? I though God cared about the little children. God protects the little children. Where was God when all this went down. Here's the bottom line, God is not going to go where he is not wanted.

Now we have spent since 1962-- we're 50 years into this now--we have spent 50 years telling God to get lost, telling God we do not want you in our schools, we don't want to pray to you in our schools, we do not want to pray to your before football games, we don't want to pray to you at graduations, we don't want anybody talking about you in a graduation speech...

In 1962 we kicked prayer out of the schools. In 1963 we kicked God's word out of ours schools. In 1980 we kicked the Ten Commandments out of our schools. We've kicked God out of our public school system. And I think God would say to us, 'Hey, I'll be glad to protect your children, but you've got to invite me back into your world first. I'm not going to go where I'm not wanted. I am a gentlemen.

Is this guy okay? Is he insane? 

[bill]

It always seems to be the liberals who go wacko and start shooting people. Why don't we just ban them and then the problem is solved. 

[ronchamblin]

Agreed Stephen.  Supported by the first and second condition of my post 70.

FIRST: The ease at which guns can be obtained by individuals.  Although the decades have made it more difficult for individuals to obtain guns legally, it must be made much more difficult, so that the frequency of sales and distribution decreases.  Currently, the curve might show this attribute to be at the high, or danger end.

SECOND:  The control and security of guns by owners must be increased to prevent others, who normally could not purchase them, from obtaining them.  This means the establishment of firm rules about locking guns in secure environments, especially in families.  This relates also to the thousands of guns stolen from automobiles and homes by thieves.  Currently, this attribute too is at the high end of the curve, thereby contributing to the higher probability of increased shootings.  Education and enforcement of this factor is the key to its movement to the lower end of its curve.

[carpnter]

"Scott said the shooter likely used hollow point bullets, “"The bullet is meant to open up like a flower ... The nose of the bullet and spreads open, creating a devastating wound through tissue and organ that sends the victim into almost immediate shock."

The most common rounds sold to the general public are hollow point rounds.  They are less likely to over penetrate the target and ricochet if the target is missed.  The majority of police departments also use hollow point rounds. 

[carpnter]

If one were to inquire of the primary determiners of the frequency of shooting massacres such as the one we’ve just witnessed in Connecticut, one might look to at least six attributes or conditions of our society, each as placed upon a curve or graph, noting that as the realities of each approaches the end of the curve which promotes, or causes with greater pressure, these horrible acts, then we might see why and how these acts occur, and perhaps too, what can cause their much needed decrease.  Our objective should be to move each attribute from the “danger” or “enabling” end of the curve, to the end which lessens the likelihood of the shootings.

Obviously, as all of these six attributes or conditions are allowed to gravitate to or remain at the danger or enabling end of the curve, we have an accumulating effect, which only insures that the massacres increase.  Indeed, as shown below, we’ve seen each curve approach the high or danger end of the curve.  Some attributes are not easy to decrease or influence immediately, but some, especially the first three, are within our ability to change, and therefore to lessen the frequency of the shootings.  Can anyone add another one or two attribute or condition to the group of curves?   

The six attributes or conditions: (my opinions)

FIRST: The ease at which guns can be obtained by individuals.  Although the decades have made it more difficult for individuals to obtain guns legally, it must be made much more difficult, so that the frequency of sales and distribution decreases.  Currently, the curve might show this attribute to be at the high, or danger end.

SECOND:  The control and security of guns by owners must be increased to prevent others, who normally could not purchase them, from obtaining them.  This means the establishment of firm rules about locking guns in secure environments, especially in families.  This relates also to the thousands of guns stolen from automobiles and homes by thieves.  Currently, this attribute too is at the high end of the curve, thereby contributing to the higher probability of increased shootings.  Education and enforcement of this factor is the key to its movement to the lower end of its curve.

THIRD:  The reduction of guns in the population by aggressive programs for buyback.  Obviously there are many thousands of guns which could be removed from circulation, thereby reducing the ease with which others could obtain them by theft, borrowing, or simply, finding them.

FOURTH:  The ethical or moral habits as engaged by our political and corporate leadership is shameful.  As these habits descend to the bottom of the curve, to gross materialism, greed, and “anything for profit” attitudes and actions, the message to youngsters and adults is one which might promote, allow, or encourage similar behaviors of a lack of responsibility, or disrespect for all adults and rules of society.  Positive examples from above can promote by subtle pressures, the enhancement of mental stability, focus, and moral habits of those who are developing, and of those who are engaged in trying to survive in a poor economy.  In my opinion, our political and corporate leadership has over recent decades descended to shameful habits of mind and purpose, thereby offering to children and others little or no real leadership which might otherwise bring stability and attitudes of hope and confidence in the future.   

FIFTH:  Poor or stressful economic times wherein jobs are scarce, and unemployment is high.  A quick look at the statistics of mass shootings will allow one to see that a steep climb began in 2007 and 2008, the beginning of stressful economic times, stabilizing to the current uncomfortable rate.  Obviously, the more individuals without jobs, without the ability to save their homes, and sometimes without the ability to raise their children, and even to save their marriages, then the more individuals who might, as a last resort, seek relief or revenge by performing some desperate act such as a mass shooting.  As the curve representing the economy reaches the high end, the stressful end, it only contributes to the overall pressure for senseless acts to those inclined by other factors to commit them.

SIX:  Momentums of these desperate acts might ease the decisions to perform copycat acts.  The momentum is difficult to control, given the efficiency of the mass media.  The momentum will be the last item to descend to the bottom of its curve. 

In any case, the first three factors or attributes can respond to direct action via legislation.  The remaining being less controllable.  I’m sure I missed a factor or two, but I must get to work.

Summation:  As the attributes on this list are brought to their low end of their curves, we will see a considerable decrease in mass shootings.

You failed to mention anything about the piss poor parenting by too many parents today or perhaps the society being desensitized to violence through mass media's glorification of it. 
There have always been guns in the US and it is more difficult for a law abiding citizen to obtain one now than it was in the 50's and 60's.

[Adam W]

If one were to inquire of the primary determiners of the frequency of shooting massacres such as the one we’ve just witnessed in Connecticut, one might look to at least six attributes or conditions of our society, each as placed upon a curve or graph, noting that as the realities of each approaches the end of the curve which promotes, or causes with greater pressure, these horrible acts, then we might see why and how these acts occur, and perhaps too, what can cause their much needed decrease.  Our objective should be to move each attribute from the “danger” or “enabling” end of the curve, to the end which lessens the likelihood of the shootings.

Obviously, as all of these six attributes or conditions are allowed to gravitate to or remain at the danger or enabling end of the curve, we have an accumulating effect, which only insures that the massacres increase.  Indeed, as shown below, we’ve seen each curve approach the high or danger end of the curve.  Some attributes are not easy to decrease or influence immediately, but some, especially the first three, are within our ability to change, and therefore to lessen the frequency of the shootings.  Can anyone add another one or two attribute or condition to the group of curves?   

The six attributes or conditions: (my opinions)

FIRST: The ease at which guns can be obtained by individuals.  Although the decades have made it more difficult for individuals to obtain guns legally, it must be made much more difficult, so that the frequency of sales and distribution decreases.  Currently, the curve might show this attribute to be at the high, or danger end.

SECOND:  The control and security of guns by owners must be increased to prevent others, who normally could not purchase them, from obtaining them.  This means the establishment of firm rules about locking guns in secure environments, especially in families.  This relates also to the thousands of guns stolen from automobiles and homes by thieves.  Currently, this attribute too is at the high end of the curve, thereby contributing to the higher probability of increased shootings.  Education and enforcement of this factor is the key to its movement to the lower end of its curve.

THIRD:  The reduction of guns in the population by aggressive programs for buyback.  Obviously there are many thousands of guns which could be removed from circulation, thereby reducing the ease with which others could obtain them by theft, borrowing, or simply, finding them.

FOURTH:  The ethical or moral habits as engaged by our political and corporate leadership is shameful.  As these habits descend to the bottom of the curve, to gross materialism, greed, and “anything for profit” attitudes and actions, the message to youngsters and adults is one which might promote, allow, or encourage similar behaviors of a lack of responsibility, or disrespect for all adults and rules of society.  Positive examples from above can promote by subtle pressures, the enhancement of mental stability, focus, and moral habits of those who are developing, and of those who are engaged in trying to survive in a poor economy.  In my opinion, our political and corporate leadership has over recent decades descended to shameful habits of mind and purpose, thereby offering to children and others little or no real leadership which might otherwise bring stability and attitudes of hope and confidence in the future.   

FIFTH:  Poor or stressful economic times wherein jobs are scarce, and unemployment is high.  A quick look at the statistics of mass shootings will allow one to see that a steep climb began in 2007 and 2008, the beginning of stressful economic times, stabilizing to the current uncomfortable rate.  Obviously, the more individuals without jobs, without the ability to save their homes, and sometimes without the ability to raise their children, and even to save their marriages, then the more individuals who might, as a last resort, seek relief or revenge by performing some desperate act such as a mass shooting.  As the curve representing the economy reaches the high end, the stressful end, it only contributes to the overall pressure for senseless acts to those inclined by other factors to commit them.

SIX:  Momentums of these desperate acts might ease the decisions to perform copycat acts.  The momentum is difficult to control, given the efficiency of the mass media.  The momentum will be the last item to descend to the bottom of its curve. 

In any case, the first three factors or attributes can respond to direct action via legislation.  The remaining being less controllable.  I’m sure I missed a factor or two, but I must get to work.

Summation:  As the attributes on this list are brought to their low end of their curves, we will see a considerable decrease in mass shootings.

You failed to mention anything about the piss poor parenting by too many parents today or perhaps the society being desensitized to violence through mass media's glorification of it. 
There have always been guns in the US and it is more difficult for a law abiding citizen to obtain one now than it was in the 50's and 60's.

Is that true? I wonder (honestly) when considering the cost of weapons today vs then and the amount of disposable income people have today vs then.

[Pinky]

I think that modern video games, particularly the enormously popular "first person shooter" games like "Call Of Duty" and "Modern Warfare" play a huge role in influencing some of these kids.  We now have kids immersed in incredibly realistic violence for hours a day, where violence is rewarded and encouraged, and real consequence doesn't exist.  It's difficult to not see the behavior modeled in these games playing out in these mass-shootings.  I'll bet the farm that a lot of these little knucklehead shooters were huge gamers.

(One of my sons is 13, and has a PS3. We have a "no shooting humans in video games rule" in our house; aliens, robots, asteroids are all fair game, but nothing that models pointing a gun at another human.)

[Pinky]

Lol- do you fog up your screen with all that hot air?

Yes Stephen, I separate the action from the tool.  Guns have been in our society for a long time, but these rampages are new.  What changed?  Perhaps it's the hours of explicit and sensationalized violence that gets programmed into these little screwheads??  Are you really discounting the obvious programming effect??? 

[Pinky]

"Early warning signs began to surface in 1996, when Eric Harris first created a private website on America Online. Harris had initially created the site to host gaming levels of the video game Doom "

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre#section_1

[Pinky]

"A former classmate, Breanna Hath, said Mr Holmes was extremely quiet, "really sweet, shy" and "didn't have any creepy vibe about him at all".

"There were no real girls he was involved with," she told the Washington Post. "It seemed he was really into a video game group that hung out together."


http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18937513

[ronchamblin]

If one were to inquire of the primary determiners of the frequency of shooting massacres such as the one we’ve just witnessed in Connecticut, one might look to at least six attributes or conditions of our society, each as placed upon a curve or graph, noting that as the realities of each approaches the end of the curve which promotes, or causes with greater pressure, these horrible acts, then we might see why and how these acts occur, and perhaps too, what can cause their much needed decrease.  Our objective should be to move each attribute from the “danger” or “enabling” end of the curve, to the end which lessens the likelihood of the shootings.

Obviously, as all of these six attributes or conditions are allowed to gravitate to or remain at the danger or enabling end of the curve, we have an accumulating effect, which only insures that the massacres increase.  Indeed, as shown below, we’ve seen each curve approach the high or danger end of the curve.  Some attributes are not easy to decrease or influence immediately, but some, especially the first three, are within our ability to change, and therefore to lessen the frequency of the shootings.  Can anyone add another one or two attribute or condition to the group of curves?   

The six attributes or conditions: (my opinions)

FIRST: The ease at which guns can be obtained by individuals.  Although the decades have made it more difficult for individuals to obtain guns legally, it must be made much more difficult, so that the frequency of sales and distribution decreases.  Currently, the curve might show this attribute to be at the high, or danger end.

SECOND:  The control and security of guns by owners must be increased to prevent others, who normally could not purchase them, from obtaining them.  This means the establishment of firm rules about locking guns in secure environments, especially in families.  This relates also to the thousands of guns stolen from automobiles and homes by thieves.  Currently, this attribute too is at the high end of the curve, thereby contributing to the higher probability of increased shootings.  Education and enforcement of this factor is the key to its movement to the lower end of its curve.

THIRD:  The reduction of guns in the population by aggressive programs for buyback.  Obviously there are many thousands of guns which could be removed from circulation, thereby reducing the ease with which others could obtain them by theft, borrowing, or simply, finding them.

FOURTH:  The ethical or moral habits as engaged by our political and corporate leadership is shameful.  As these habits descend to the bottom of the curve, to gross materialism, greed, and “anything for profit” attitudes and actions, the message to youngsters and adults is one which might promote, allow, or encourage similar behaviors of a lack of responsibility, or disrespect for all adults and rules of society.  Positive examples from above can promote by subtle pressures, the enhancement of mental stability, focus, and moral habits of those who are developing, and of those who are engaged in trying to survive in a poor economy.  In my opinion, our political and corporate leadership has over recent decades descended to shameful habits of mind and purpose, thereby offering to children and others little or no real leadership which might otherwise bring stability and attitudes of hope and confidence in the future.   

FIFTH:  Poor or stressful economic times wherein jobs are scarce, and unemployment is high.  A quick look at the statistics of mass shootings will allow one to see that a steep climb began in 2007 and 2008, the beginning of stressful economic times, stabilizing to the current uncomfortable rate.  Obviously, the more individuals without jobs, without the ability to save their homes, and sometimes without the ability to raise their children, and even to save their marriages, then the more individuals who might, as a last resort, seek relief or revenge by performing some desperate act such as a mass shooting.  As the curve representing the economy reaches the high end, the stressful end, it only contributes to the overall pressure for senseless acts to those inclined by other factors to commit them.

SIX:  Momentums of these desperate acts might ease the decisions to perform copycat acts.  The momentum is difficult to control, given the efficiency of the mass media.  The momentum will be the last item to descend to the bottom of its curve. 

In any case, the first three factors or attributes can respond to direct action via legislation.  The remaining being less controllable.  I’m sure I missed a factor or two, but I must get to work.

Summation:  As the attributes on this list are brought to their low end of their curves, we will see a considerable decrease in mass shootings.

You failed to mention anything about the piss poor parenting by too many parents today or perhaps the society being desensitized to violence through mass media's glorification of it. 
There have always been guns in the US and it is more difficult for a law abiding citizen to obtain one now than it was in the 50's and 60's.

I knew there was at least a seventh factor which I had forgotten while doing my post.  And you've hit it right on carpnter.  The "mass media", in films and television.  So.... one might suggest that the degree to which the media continues to glorify the killings and shootings in films and television certainly has the effect of placing the killing options in the minds of anyone with a grudge or a psychological problem.  This aspect too, should be brought to the good end of its curve by some kind of influence upon the media to back off a little, or a lot, on the blood and guts and shootings.  After all, the media is, in its efforts to make the movies exciting, exaggerating the violence and the shooting events; that is, as compared to what actually exists in our society.  And this action unfortunately inclines more use of violence and shootings in real life.

[Pinky]

"He was also a technical whizz kid, keen on computers and video games, and part of a group who would meet up for computer programming get-togethers."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9747682/Connecticut-school-shooting-Troubled-life-of-Adam-Lanza-a-fiercely-intelligent-killer.html

[Cheshire Cat]

Newtown, Connecticut (CNN) -- Authorities have released the names of those killed during the Connecticut school massacre. Here is a list of the victims and their ages, as provided by state police. This list includes full names of children only when parents have spoken publicly:

Charlotte, 6

Daniel, 7

Rachel Davino, 29

Olivia, 6

Josephine, 7

Ana, 6

Dylan, 6

Dawn Hocksprung, 47

Madeleine, 6

Catherine, 6

Chase, 7

Jesse, 6

James, 6

Grace, 7

Anne Marie Murphy, 52

Emilie Parker, 6

Jack, 6

Noah, 6

Caroline, 6

Jessica, 6

Avielle, 6

Lauren Russeau, 30

Mary Sherlach, 56

Victoria Soto, 27

Benjamin, 6

Allison, 6

[spuwho]

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

Some good can come from this through the Cassie Bernall Foundation. A teen who died in the shootings at Columbine HS.

For more information, please contact the Cassie Bernall Foundation at the following address:

The Cassie Bernall Foundation
P.O. Box 270054
Littleton, CO 80127-0001

"Now I have given up on everything else--I found it to be the only way to know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought Him to life again, and to find out what it really means to suffer and to die with Him. So, whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead."

(Phil. 3:10-11 TLB)
Scripture written on a scrap of paper found in Cassie's room after her death.

I am sure there are other foundations that provide support for these kinds of events to support families. Consider a gift to them this Christmas to help those who are suffering from their loss.