Another shooting by a student in a school in Minnesotta where 9 people are killed and more injured. This is an event that seems to recur ever few years in the States (dont really hear of students doing this elsewhere). What do you think is behind this?

Guns are too readily available in the States .... to me thats the only reason, other than the fact the kid who did it must have been very mentally disturbed.

He also shot his grandparents before he went on the rampage.

The news correspondants are saying that he was a 'goth' who liked violent playstation games ... as if thats a reason :mellow: I mean, i was a goth at school and i havent killed anyone, and millions of kids play violent video games but they dont all turn violent.

Guns are too readily available in the States .... to me thats the only reason, other than the fact the kid who did it must have been very mentally disturbed.

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In Bowling for Columbine, Michael Moore demonstrated that guns were very available in Canada without the big school shootings. I wonder if it is a process of desensitisation through the break down of families, teenage angst, influence of media, community violence etc etc

Just a thought and tear it down if you wish but......

I think a big problem with the US is their belief that whoever you are you have the potential to be the President...or at least acheive great things.....this is so indoctored into their belief system that the more an individual starts to realise that they will only ever be a low paid factory worker they become disallusioned...start to blame society for their own 'genetic' short comings and become more and more angry about the things they cannot control....

In some I imagine this can build up to an ultimate rage and boom....they lash out!

More value needs to be put on those who are simply not going to achieve greatness but who do the little jobs which put togther make every ones lives better! If the factory worker didn't pack the box then the box would not be delivered to the store and the buyer would not have those goods available etc....

Certainly a thought Coastie, and I think that attitude certainly exists amongst some Americans. The belief that they will succeed come what may has brought them many good things - great wealth being one, but it could also bring despondency to those who couldn't achieve the American dream.

No one seems able to give a motive at this early stage, other than he was a member of a neo-nazi website, which on it's own doesn't stack up to much - certainly not a crazed murderer.

From what I can gather this was a small community of North American Indians who'd probably never imagined they'd experience anything remotely like this. However, they had taken precautions and had a metal detector on the main entrance and a security guard who was unfortunately shot dead. Short of having the place surrounded by barbed wire and manned with armed guards, there probably wasn't a lot else they could do to avoid this tragic incident.

Bonnie's right - the only way to stop this happening is take away the right to bear arms. The trouble is if some crazed individual wants to create mayhem, not having legal access to a gun isn't going to stop him. Then when you're faced with a person brandishing a weapon, it's probably better if you have your own. It's a tough one and not something I think the politicians are likely to address while it gets them votes.

Coastie - interesting point. What do you do if you are faced with a life of failure?
Nox - again, not sure about the arms element as it is a factor but why someone pulls the trigger is also significant.
The neo-Nazi element that is interesting as well. What is the attraction? Dominance? Power? Scapegoating? Standing out? Who knows?

This is a terrible tragedy so sad
how the parents of those dead children must feel
To send your child off to school in the morning and because of some lunatic there never coming home again



I am with Coastie on this one
It’s the presser produced but the American way of life and the need to be the best

They are a sick nation totally unhinged

A short time ago 39 American citizens committed suicide so that they could get on board a space ship that didn’t exist



I watch a film called cabin fever it was about some American teenagers

I was reported to be reprehensive of American youth today and how they would really deal with a live threatening situation

There morals where discussing and the attitude of how to deal with the situation was appalling

If this film was anything to go by there all insane and out of control