Omaha contingent please check in ...

[JerseyMike]

I just heard that there's been a terrible shooting at a mall in Omaha. My thoughts and prayers are with anyone who has been touched by this tragedy.

I hope that no one from the Applianceville family has been affected by this.

Mike

 

[dalangdon]

No one from my family was anywhere near Westroads (the mall where the shooting took place) but wow - what an awful thing to have happen.

 

[gansky1]

We're here and OK. I was working an appliance repair call today when I heard about the shooting, just minutes after it happened. I listen to satellite radio in the car so was isolated from the local events.

Eight innocent people and the shooter dead, plus five injured - some critically. The city was eerily quiet during rush hour - people we saw were dazed and quiet. The shock and horror of it all is more than anyone ever thought possible "here" in our safe and secure little city. One radio commentator stated that there for every 100 people in this country, there are 90 guns so the statistics will catch up to everyone eventually.

 

[Brent-Aucoin]

Wow!
Glad to hear you guys are safe!
Scary world we live in....
No one is really safe these days.
Brent

 

[fonografmaniac]

there's no such thing as a safe place these days.

 

[sudsmaster]

Just heard about this on the evening news... I shuddered when I heard the death toll. How do people get so crazed?

 

[dalangdon]

What I don't get is why Von Maur (which is really a nice store - right up there with Nordstrom, as far as I'm concerned) and why a Wednesday morning? Although I suppose we should be thankful he didn't choose a weekend. Westroads is one of Nebraska's biggest malls - it's crazy on December weekends.

I'm glad to hear you're OK Greg. You live so close to Westroads!

 

[~sudsshane]

Hi Greg~

I am glad you are ok..I had just left Nordstrom at our local mall when I heard the news on SIRIUS. We really don't realize just how vulnerable we are until something like this happens.

What can we do in this country to prevent this?..
Personally, I believe the world would be a better place without guns in it period!

Just my opinion.

 

[vinvac]

Greg,

So glad to hear that you are all right.... I was at work when I saw the news bulletin on the internet..

My prayers go out for the people of your city...

Morgan

 

[peteski50]

Omaha

I am glad you guys are safe. This is a terrible thing.
Peter

 

[rocketwarrior]

Me and mine are safe

...and taking precautions.

 

[eluxomarty]

Greg and Mark

Greg i called your house and it rand and rang then i called Morgan! I didn't know what else to do LOL!! I am so glad you are alright. You too Mark!!

Take Care Everyone, Marty

 

[rocketwarrior]

Victims and families

I feel so bad for those innocent victims -- and those poor families, just hanging at a nearby hotel command post as the system processes the crime. Horrible. Horrible.

...and I am always upset with whoever left an assault weapon around for a messed up kid to execute such a tragedy.

Folks, if you just have to own those ugly things, at least lock them up for heaven's sake.

 

[tlee618]

I am so very thankful that you are all OK, I too find this so hard to believe. It is so scary when you stop and think about all the "sick" ones out there.

 

[chromacolor]

I'm fine on this end. I can't "deal" with packed stores, especially around Christmastime, so I wasn't near there.

 

[rp2813]

I'm with Shane. My first thought on seeing the news reports on this tragedy was, "Who needs terrorists when it's OK to own assault weapons in this country?"

 

[Maytagmom]

Glad to hear you are all safe!

Was thinking of you both yesterday, Greg & Jaime!

I haven't talked to Brenda yet, but she's not much of a mall rat either, so I'll chat with her later.

I loved Omaha and thought to myself, what a nice peaceful beautiful mid west city.

And then all it takes is one psychotic depressed teenager who wants to go out with a bang, and be famous for his actions.

What a sad society we live in.

Someone take me back to the 60's & 70's!

MM/C~

 

[frigilux]

Glad our Omahans are safe & sound. Once again, the shooter got it wrong; SHOOT YOURSELF FIRST, DAMN IT!!!

Shooting other people to make a statement, then shooting yourself so you don't have to deal with the aftermath is the ultimate, pinnacle of cowardly acts.

 

[~sudsshane]

I am with MaytagMom

It is sad society today!..

This nutjob wanted to " go out in style" and "now he will be famous". Direct quotes from the madman himself.
So what does the media do?? talk about this story non-stop,showcase hysterical women, and glorify a mentally disturbed, sick young man. This is EXACTLY what he wanted and the mainstream media, CNN,MSNBC,FOX,ABC,CBS delivered it on a silver platter. I have said this a million times... 24 hour cable news is the downfall in many ways of our society today. Cable news cannot and would not exist without controversy. Sadly, this has even spilled over into once greatly respected programs like NBC Nightly News and The Today Show. The days of Cronkite,Jennings & Brokaw no longer exist. All we have now are just talking heads looking to spin every story to suit their need.
When I was in college, my major was communications/political science. I am so glad I never decided to pursue a career in journalism.
I pray Americans will one day wake up and not buy into what the mainstream media feeds them on a daily basis. If we don't watch, they can't exist.

**Sorry for the rant**