Connecticut

[Grazz]

Morgan Freeman's brilliant take on what happened yesterday :

"You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here's why.

It's because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine? Disturbed
people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he'll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.

CNN's article says that if the body count "holds up", this will rank as the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the killer's face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer's identity? None that I've seen yet. Because they don't sell. So congratulations, sensationalist media, you've just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.

You can help by forgetting you ever read this man's name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news."

He's probably right naste, forget the killer entirely and never mention their name, concentrate on the victims only. Even our own news services have alot to answer for, 20 young children were stabbed by some nutter around the same time in China yet barely a ripple of this on the news . Double standards everyday everywhere, as Morgan said what makes one any worse than the other, numbers, how it was achieved. What makes American children more news worthy than Chinese children. Nothing. We live in a strange somewhat sad world these days where money is often the biggest contributor. American deaths sells and Chinese deaths dont, this is disgusting.

[Fletch74]

The best comment I've read on this by far...

The world is shrinking, day by day, we hear about the most disturbing news from places that 50 years ago, we would never have heard of, why because it's NEWS, and we watch it...

Freeman summed it up perfectly when he said;

You can help by turning off the news.

Ratings and revenue are what drive TV channels, and if they didn't report it, then maybe these might happen less, but it's hard to see that happening as everyday we, as society, become more and more engrossed in these disasters, that's including the nurse in London.

I agree these things are terrible, but we got by before TV & radio without knowing all of this. Also, guess what, these things didn't happen back then because of no MEDIA scrutiny. We can blame guns, but the Media have to also realise that the more they emphasise the statistics of these occurrences, then the more someone will try and outdo the next person.

The most amazing statistic I heard this morning was from New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg;

“It’s time for the president, I think, to stand up and lead and tell this country what we should do â€" not go to Congress and say, ‘What do you guys want to do?’” Bloomberg said on NBC’s “Meet The Press.” “This should be his number one agenda. He’s president of the United States. And if he does nothing during his second term, something like 48,000 Americans will be killed with illegal guns.”

:o :o WTF!!

It's not just about getting rid of guns though, it's about changing the attitude of Americans, the people!!

[Fletch74]

Morgan Freeman's brilliant take on what happened yesterday :

"You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here's why.

It's because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine? Disturbed
people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he'll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.

CNN's article says that if the body count "holds up", this will rank as the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the killer's face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer's identity? None that I've seen yet. Because they don't sell. So congratulations, sensationalist media, you've just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.

You can help by forgetting you ever read this man's name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news."

He's probably right naste, forget the killer entirely and never mention their name, concentrate on the victims only. Even our own news services have alot to answer for, 20 young children were stabbed by some nutter around the same time in China yet barely a ripple of this on the news . Double standards everyday everywhere, as Morgan said what makes one any worse than the other, numbers, how it was achieved. What makes American children more news worthy than Chinese children. Nothing. We live in a strange somewhat sad world these days where money is often the biggest contributor. American deaths sells and Chinese deaths dont, this is disgusting.

This is a real bug bare of mine. Over 1,000 people are dead in the Philippines, with 2 million people displaced and without a home. This has received very little publicity compared to the US saga.

Why, because they're a first world nation and they have the media to generate this to the rest of the world. It's disappointing, but our media still focuses on Anglo-Saxon points of views rather than the multicultural way that our country has become.

I wouldn't be hesitant in believing, without checking the stats, that there are many more Philippino ex-pats here than US ex-pats.

[LF]

You won't change the attitude of the Americans towards guns.They are going by a law in their consitution that was written 200yrs ago when they did need to be armed to defend themselves and their land.

They need to get rid of all these auto and semi auto weapons.They also need to have better screening as to who can own a gun.They obviously need to have their guns better stored in their homes.

In regards to the incident in China that is terrible but the only reason I can see that the media did not give it the coverage it deserved is that the children apparently didn't die.That in itself is still disgraceful by the media the parents and people in China still are just as emotional and saddened by what had happened there.But of course America gets all the news coverage like usual and everything else just get pushed away.

[Master Q]

I'm kinda on both sides on this - I think that it is the people that are in the wrong, but guns shouldn't be legal anyway.

You can't really say you need a gun for self defense. This is bull$$$$. If someone like a robber comes and you pull out your gun - he'll shoot you first.

My aunt and 1st cousin were held gun point a few years ago (Not in the USA or Aus)... thankfully nothing happened to them  :-\  I am unsure if they owned a gun back then, but if they did - things may of been different  :-X

[ossie85]

You won't change the attitude of the Americans towards guns.They are going by a law in their consitution that was written 200yrs ago when they did need to be armed to defend themselves and their land.

The American constitution once said that slaves only counted as three fifths of a person. It can be changed.

[Nails]

I'm kinda on both sides on this - I think that it is the people that are in the wrong, but guns shouldn't be legal anyway.

You can't really say you need a gun for self defense. This is bull$$$$. If someone like a robber comes and you pull out your gun - he'll shoot you first.

My aunt and 1st cousin were held gun point a few years ago (Not in the USA or Aus)... thankfully nothing happened to them  :-\  I am unsure if they owned a gun back then, but if they did - things may of been different  :-X

Not really going to shoot you first... I think guns for self d is good :X

Like in that town where every household has to own a gun and ammo. I know I'm less likely to break into a home if I were a criminal if I knew it had a 98% chance of having a gun w/ ammo in it for self defence than go to the next town over where they're not as likely to have a gun.

[Grazz]

I'm kinda on both sides on this - I think that it is the people that are in the wrong, but guns shouldn't be legal anyway.

You can't really say you need a gun for self defense. This is bull$$$$. If someone like a robber comes and you pull out your gun - he'll shoot you first.

My aunt and 1st cousin were held gun point a few years ago (Not in the USA or Aus)... thankfully nothing happened to them  :-\  I am unsure if they owned a gun back then, but if they did - things may of been different  :-X

Not really going to shoot you first... I think guns for self d is good :X

Like in that town where every household has to own a gun and ammo. I know I'm less likely to break into a home if I were a criminal if I knew it had a 98% chance of having a gun w/ ammo in it for self defence than go to the next town over where they're not as likely to have a gun.

Creates a double edged sword though nails, those willing to risk it will almost certainly shoot you before you wake or immediately upon seeing you. Forcing people to own guns in order to achieve a better number statistically and then increase the threat of robbery in nearby towns because of this isn't a good thing. Really don't like this tbh.

[LF]

You won't change the attitude of the Americans towards guns.They are going by a law in their consitution that was written 200yrs ago when they did need to be armed to defend themselves and their land.

The American constitution once said that slaves only counted as three fifths of a person. It can be changed.

Yeah it can Ossie but they won't do it because of their attitude towards gun ownership and the NRA.

[Dudge]

All i know, is this tragic event has really affected my soon to be 17y/o daughter, as her favourite cousin has just turned 5. Like the rest of us, she just can't understand, why someone would take the lives of 20 beautiful innocent children and 7 women for no reason. If life gets to hard for someone, just take you're own life. The saddest thing is,27 families are now devestated for the rest of their lives. So-so sad and unessasary

[ossie85]

You won't change the attitude of the Americans towards guns.They are going by a law in their consitution that was written 200yrs ago when they did need to be armed to defend themselves and their land.

The American constitution once said that slaves only counted as three fifths of a person. It can be changed.

Yeah it can Ossie but they won't do it because of their attitude towards gun ownership and the NRA.

I agree unfortunately luvfooty :(

[Ringo]

One interesting statistic that I have read in all of this that there are an average of 2million guns sold in America every month. Going to be very hard to change an attitude with this as an underlying factor.

Hope it can be done though as when you look at 20 children aged 6 or 7 killed hard to not be emotionally involved, Also when you consider the emotional scars on survivors as well.

[Maca24]

It's unfortunate that it takes an incident like this to spark a debate about gun laws  ::)

[Tominator]

Thank flower this hideous monster killed himself

To kill your mother is one thing, to look into the tearful and fearful eyes of innocent children and still shoot them is incomprehensible

If this does not bring about significant change in America's right to bear arms, nothing will.

[Bill Manspeaker]

i disagree Tom

i'm a vengeful barbie and if this prick wants to go around killing his mother, shooting children and ruining their mum and dad's lives, then commiting suicide is the easiest way out for him. a coward's way out of copping the punishment and spending the rest of his life in prison.

he knows he would have spent his whole life in prison where he will be the 'dog' of the prison, most prisoners don't take harming children lightly. they would have flowered this guy up E V E R Y single day and THAT'S what this guy deserved.

if i lived there i know i would be pissing on this guy's grave every single day.