Omaha contingent please check in ...

[rp2813]

Well-stated Shane.

One local all-news radio station here in town used to provide feeds from CNN Headline News. Basically just the sound from the TV broadcasts. They dropped HN after it became all Anna-Nicole all the time and switched to CNN Radio News which is much more professional and generally only covers "real" news.

These days, ratings matter more than reporting actual news.

We wouldn't have incidents like what happened in Omaha yesterday if the deranged NRA lobby didn't have Congress neatly contained in their respective holsters.

 

[hoover1060]

oh boy...here is my soap box!

I certainly feel for the victims of this tragedy, and even for the young man.
However, here again we have a case of someone who can't handle life so "Let me go shoot up a mall and everything will be right with the world and I will be famous!"
PUHLEASE!
Where are this kid's parents? Do parents these days stop taking responsibility for their kids actions once they are past the age of 18?
How did this kid get to be 20 years old and be so ill-equipped to handle life?

 

[oxydolfan1]

Glad you guys are all okay.

Let's face it, these are just the manifestations of all the evil there is in the world today. This goes beyond any sort of mental or emotional breakdown or disturbance....you have to have total contempt for human life in general to march into some public place and begin mowing down people you don't even know.

 

[rp2813]

There is just no such thing as real parenting anymore these days.

Now it's more about catering, and there are very few kids out there that have a feeling for the value of a dollar because they get everything on a silver platter, or for the value of a human life since video games have them blowing up virtual humans when they should be doing their chores or homework.

This kid in Omaha was apparently a problem child, his parents threw up their hands and had kicked him out of the house, so he was a lost cause early on I am sure. The stupidity in this case lies not only with the parents who didn't know how to do the job they signed up for one passionate night in the bedroom, but also with whomever provided access to the assault weapon.

 

[~sudsshane]

agreed~

you are a wise man Ralph.
Now, what can we as Americans do about this craziness?..I believe the breakdown of the American family contributes to this. We are all products of our upbringing and the values our parents instilled in us.

 

[gansky1]

The family-unit certainly has a lot to do with the crumbling of many children's values and common sense, but let us not overlook the schools in this country and the drift away from high quality education as a core national value and goal. The schools that are fully funded and graduating kids who are ready for college and technical schools are few and far between. ACT conducted a study a couple of years ago that found only two in five graduating students will be able to get a passing grade in a college algebra class. China is emerging as one of the greatest world powers that has ever existed, yet only 50,000 students in this country are studying Chinese at the high school level while in China, there are more students learning English as a second language than there are English speaking people in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. combined. In this country, we never tire of schemes and programs to improve our educational system and spend millions of dollars that is largely thrown into the wind, showing little or no result. If a program to really overhaul our education system and provide a free, high-quality primary and secondary education to every student in the country were devised, who would pay for it? We have spent 600 billion dollars in Iraq, but if we tried to raise property taxes to pay for quality education, we'd see the vehement and militant property owners marching in the streets against any increase proposed. I think this shooting, along with so many other tragedies of this kind that have occurred in the past are just symptoms of a broken system that sadly, will take a crisis on a national scale to wake up the people and come together to repair and move forward.

 

[runematic]

"deranged NRA lobby didn't have Congress neatly con

I can't let that one pass. The NRA is not deranged. They are protecting a right guarranteed to us by the 2nd amendment. The NRA didn't shoot up the mall, my LEGALLY owned guns did not shoot up the mall. A NUT JOB DID! This a-hole was bent on destruction, regardless of the weapon of choice. If he didn't have a gun, he could've used a knife, club, or hell, even a fertilizer bomb. I do not see people lining up against fork & spoon manufacturers for the obesity problem (or Fox & Jeff Foxworthy because they are not smarter than a 5th grader!). Look, I really feel for the victims of this tragedy, but taking/banning of lawful citizens firearms is wrong and would not help. I agree that more blame, or scorn, as it were, should be directed towards the media. The glorification of this crap should stop. Must we have 24hrs of constant coverage of these tragedies?

--After I finished typing this, I found this story on Yahoo. Apparantly, he STOLE the gun from his step-father.--

This was a troubled kid kicked to the curb with no support system. We need to see what is causing kids these days to resort to this sort of violence. When I was growing up, people got into fist fights. Now, it's whip out a weapon (gun, knife, etc) and end it that way. Video games? Movies? Old washers? (just kidding on that last one)

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news.yahoo.com

 

[~sudsshane]

Very true Greg..

I agree with everything you said..

Runematic- I agree with you also, imagine that! The glorification of violent crime by the media contributes to this greatly!
However, not to get into another political debate with you..I have a question..

What are you going to do if Pro-Gun Control Rudy Giuliani wins the GOP nomination? After all, as mayor or NYC, he sued gun manufacturers. I am seriously wondering what your thoughts and the thoughts of NRA members are on Giuliani and his record.

 

[runematic]

Shane, imagine that. We agree on something! I'm not sure about Rudy. He's as much a bs artist as any politician on either side of aisle. If he wants to win the Repub nomination, he's probably going to have to moderate his views on that issue. Suits against firearms manufacturers have already been denied and tossed from court. I am not sure if he could advance that particular agenda. Currently there are much bigger fish to fry than gun control. The deficit, eventually bringing troops home, fuel prices, inflation, etc. The thing that pisses me off about Bush is that he became a drunken sailor with the nation's checkbook. Spend Spend Spend. He reminds me of a Democrat (ha ha ha ha).

 

[~sudsshane]

well actually....

We had much more fiscal constraint under the Clinton Administration and he was a Democrat.
Rudy Giuliani is a phony. The best thing that ever happened to him was 9/11. Prior to 9/11, the only thing he was known for were the scandals involving his mistress, now current wife. Ny'ers have his number. It is only a matter of time before the rest of the country discovers it also.

 

[~sudsshane]

I also think it is a shame...

John McCain has been brushed aside by the GOP. He is by far the most qualified and deserving person to win the nomination.
I don't agree with McCain on policy, but any person who can serve our country in a war and be held captive and tortured for 6 years deserves admiration and respect.

 

[rp2813]

Bush is just doing what he's done to any other entity he's ever been in charge of--sending it careening into bankruptcy and then leaving the mess for someone else to clean up.

I am not going to get into it about gun control and the NRA since it's such a 3rd rail item with people who love their guns. I would though, appreciate an explanation around why ANYONE needs to own an assault weapon. Last time I checked, that's not what people use when they go duck or deer hunting so what exactly is the purpose of possessing such an item? You can't "enjoy" using it like you can an old washer. Might someone enlighten me?

As for the school system, that all goes back to the parenting issue. These days, far too many parents think their kids can do no wrong. If the kid gets in trouble with the teacher, the parents blame the teacher and will often go to great lengths to seek disciplinary action--against the teacher! More than likely, the teacher is a lame parent his or herself, and can't control a room full of unruly kids. Until parents drill it into their kids that they need to respect the teacher and behave in class, our schools will continue to turn out legions of morons that can't get past flipping burgers. Catholic schools largely excepted. I think even though they are mainly using lay teachers now, the nuns have left an indelible imprint in how things are run. And they did fine just using a ruler or yardstick, not a bazooka.

The handwriting is on the wall, folks. This nation is heading towards socialism because the entire concept of freedom going hand in hand with personal responsibility is being ignored, and I dare say even mocked, especially by high profile wealthy heiress or pop star types as seen on TV each and every day. Now it's all about entitlements and what the government can do for its people. We're headed down a slippery slope as long as people invoke the "F" word when justifying and/or defending their bad parenting practices.

In my opinion this all started with my own boomer generation and its hippie dippie approach to child rearing. It's been downhill ever since.

 

[dalangdon]

I've heard (but don't know for sure) that this kid was on anti-depressants, which can have a disasterous effect on young people. There's been a lot of studies that show that AD drugs can lead to psychotic and/or suicidal behaviors in some kids and young adults. They think it has something to do with brain development, as the brain is still growing into your early twenties.

One of my mom's neighbor kids who was just out of high school was put on AD drugs, and she ended up killing herself. Fortunately, she did not try to take anyone with her, but it was such an awful thing to have happen to her family and friends.

Obviously, this kid in Omaha had a lot more going on than bad prescriptions, but it's still something to be aware of. If you have children and they exhibit symptoms of depression, please pay careful attention to whatever prescriptions they might be given.

 

[runematic]

You can't "enjoy" using it like you can an old

You've obviously never been target shooting. I "enjoy" it immensely.

 

[rocketwarrior]

The guns.....

I, too, won't get into the 2nd amendment thing. But I would like to know where guns in crime come from and would like to see a little more care taken by gun owners. Is it really offensive of 2nd amendment rights to ask owners to refrain from leaving them so accessible? A grade shool friend of my son took him up to his parents bedroom and showed him his father's loaded M-16.
The shooter here in Omaha yesterday was known to be a problem kid, so why didn't his stepfather keep his AK47 type locked up? I think that is negligence - and probably criminal negligence. Is it okay to ask gun owners to lock them up?
In most gun crimes I hear about the weapon ended up in crime because someone was careless and let that happen. But those people usually seem to get a pass.

 

[rocketwarrior]

Word from a 'first to enter'

I received this message from a friend this morning:

"I'm getting an abundance of much appreciated e-mail and several phone calls, so I decided to put out a quick note addressing what happened at Westroads Mall and my involvement in the incident. I've been a cop for twenty years, but nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced yesterday afternoon.
Myself and two of my officers were first to arrive at Von Maur. It was surreal.
Cordite hanging in the air.
Blood, bodies, and empties from the suspect's rifle everywhere you looked.
People frozen and cowering under displays and in fitting rooms.
Abandoned baby strollers, ladies' handbags, dropped cups of coffee and Christmas shopping bags littering the floor throughout the mall.
Alarms shrieking from speakers in the ceiling, "Emergency! Depart the mall immediately!"
Christmas music playing in the background.
And all the while, you're searching, guns at the ready, certain the bad guy is going to pop up from a clothing rack and kill one of you before your buddies can react and fight back.
Scan, drive forward a short distance with your fire team, pray. Repeat.
I will write more when I have time, [...] three hours of broken sleep. Please pray for the victims and the ever-widening branch of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and public safety personnel who will be forever impacted by this horrific event."

This is tough on my friend. Heavy for me. I am sure glad we have people like him who will go in when others are running out. I will be thinking about him a lot.

 

[mickeyd]

So glad you're all okay

Stunning-- how precious and fragile is this thing called life

 

[~sudsshane]

Hi Mark~

I am so glad your friend is Okay. He is one Brave Man! Cops, like Teachers, are not given the proper respect in this country. They are underpaid and undervalued and I think that is a damn shame. The media glorifies celebrities and athletes, most of which do NOTHING for their fellow man except serve their own selfish needs. Take Britney Spears for example, she make $700,000 a month! and can only manage to donate a mere $500.00 to charity! DISGRACEFUL! Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are an exception, not to mention role models for others

 

[tolivac]

In my gun collection-yes I collect them just as I do appliances and vacuum cleaners--yes you can "enjoy" your "assault weapon" as your washer,car,or anything elese.Take mine to the range or sandpit for an afternoon of shooting.And by the way in some areas AK-47 and similar guns CAN be used for hunting-they have to be equipped with the 5 shot magazine.Such a magazine comes with the gun when you buy it.The 7.62X39 round is capable of taking down a deer with a well placed shot.Yes I am a card carrying member of NRA-the 2nd amendment is the most important we have-take it away and you can take away the others.Remember the 2nd amendment means balance of powers.The "assault weapons" we need to get off the streets are folks such as Robert Hawkins that did the shooting.The more of these are let loose the more trouble we could have.also in some of these malls that prohibit conceled carry the more worried I become.someone packing heat could have saved the day.They could have pinked Mr Hawkins before he took out more people.Stay away from our 2nd Amendment rights--please.I wish to keep things open on gun ownership and use.and be able to purchase what gun I want.I do store mine unloaded and locked up.I feel keeping guns loaded around the home is asking for trouble.It doesn't take that much longer to put a loaded magazine into the weapon if needed in an emergency.Besides visiting the appliance and vacuum stores in my area--I go to the gun store too-there is one by one of the vacuum stores I go to.I like to check out what he has.I have bought there too.

 

[dalangdon]

I'm about as liberal as you get, but I am also a big supporter of the 2nd amendment.

With that said, I'm not convinced that everyone having a gun would prevent something like this - I think it would probably increase the fatality rate, as people tend to lose their heads, and would be too frightened or keyed up to shoot straight.

I know I wouldn't be courageous enough or calm enough to take out some shooter that was performing a premeditated killing spree. I'd be hiding somewhere and needing new underwear.