forgive me for asking this question at this point in time....?

Question

although there may be similar cases in other countries, why is it that school shooting rampages like what happened now and in columbine seem to happen frequently in the US? we need to know how to address such issues..... and fast

Answer 1

I'm not sure I have the answer and I am wondering too. However, I have a brother who was hospitalized due to a mental breakdown in january and I have been pulling my hair out trying to get him help since they discharged him only 2 weeks after admission, without even medication. The county mental health had some 8 month waiting list for their counseling but we finally got bumped to the top of the list after a hospitalization, but now they discontinued him (they said he was on a program that follows for 3 months after a major hospitalization). He still hasn't got meds worked out and balanced. He's trashed my place and I'm having a breakdown now too!

I know in our country we have insufficiently funded the mental health systems and hosptials and social workers that follow people with mental problems. People that call and ask for help are put on year long waiting lists.

I think it is safe to say that most of these people probably have undiagnosed and untreated mental problems. We need to step up the availability of mental health care in this country, and treatment should be easier to get. That doesn't mean all the perpetrators will ask for help before they blow up, but if they do ask for help, it should be easier to get.

Answer 2

I don't know how easy it will be to address. I think these kids are dealing with painful, intense problems that they don't know how to handle. Either they do not have proper role models at home or they are finding bad role models in movies - but even the postal blow ups we have had in the past seem to be emotional social issues that send an individual out of control.

I think our schools are an unrealistic social environment and the peer pressure, temptation for drugs and ostracising those who are different all contribute. Then they get out of school and into a cubicle (a similar environment as school) and still don't get past the labels and the stigmas.

Personally I think homeschooling will help as children get to see on a daily basis how their parents deal with stress. If nothing else, it's a safer bet that they will not be shot up by some random act of violence here at home.

Peace!

Answer 3

There are times when, if I had a gun in easy reach, I would be tempted to use it on others or myself. These times pass but the fact that the gun is not there makes the issue hypothetical and therefore unrealistic. In a country where the right to bear arms is enshrined in its constitution and the myth of the wild west is still glorified, such violent acts are always an option.

The US takes great pride in its military force. Pride is a counter to shame so what is an individual living is such a culture, going to use to counter a perception of social shame?

I agree with the point of your question. The myths and perceptions need to be replaced with a clear acceptance of the danger of seeing weapons as a source of social dignity.

On a lighter but poiniant note, in the film Crocodile Dundee, the hero, confronted with a mugger, simple had to pull out a bigger knife. The knife had a glory all of its own. It sums up the common fantasy but we know that 'shives' in jail populations symbolise just how desperate human existence can become.

Answer 4

It is a sad day for our country,when our youth, our future,is being attacked, and school, a place for learning seems to be the focus. I feel that many of our youth have been desensitized by violent video games,( emulated for fun.) Violence in their music, violence in movies,even their dances-(mosh pits?) hatred spread over the Internet etc.. Guns don't kill people, people kill people and it is very tragic! I believe it happens in other countries, we just don't see much media coverage from around the world. These are perilous times,and we must come up with answers to help our troubled youth. I believe dialog's between students about differences & respect for life must be going on now. Not just grief counceling after the fact of a tragedy at school. We need to make our students feel safe within the walls of academia. If that means metal detectors, survilance camera's in schools, campus security increased, whatever it takes, however much it costs to save one life, should be spent. The youth of this country must not be ignored any longer.
My heart & prayers goes out to the families who lost, loved ones in this tragedy.

Answer 5

We don't yet know what was in the mind of the person doing the shooting in Virginia but I know that some school shootings are due to people being picked on by others. This is in no way a reason or excuse. People are too unkind and often cruel to others. There seems so little compassion or understanding.

Answer 6

this time it was not an American, he was Chinese, so, it would happen all over the world, the reason it happens more in the USA b/c guns are easy to get, I read a lot of world news and there are killings everywhere, we need to teach people that there are rights and wrongs and have stronger penalties for things like this, stricter gun laws will not help, some countries collected guns for money and spent like 5 million dollars destroying them and crime went up 500% in the first year

Answer 7

It's a combination of social isolation, excessive violence in popular culture and the easy accessibility of firearms. I live in Hong Kong now and whenever American programs are aired on TV-- 24, Sopranos, Prison Break, CSI, Six Feet Under etc., it's just non-stop violence with people being shot, their heads bashed in, etc.. That said, the kids here are also into violent video games, but fortunately there are strict prohibitions on gun ownership.

Answer 8

When you consider what happens in Iraq, day in and day out, this is a walk in the park by comparison. We hear about our own atrocities the most because those are the things that interest us, our own dirty laundry, so to speak (shades of Don Hedley). But when they mention between commercials about 400,000 slaughtered in Darfur, we flip the channel to check out what Bart and Homer are up to.

Answer 9

Plain and simple, the world is full of sick devious individuals who feel it necessary to impose their will on people in violent ways. If its not in the blatant manner of weapons then, these sick individual take a subliminal manner of attacking people in cyberspace by hacking people computers/phones. People like this need to be locked up and don't need to be in society.No one should have to tolerate with sick people like this at all.

Answer 10

The Word of God says that in the last days perilous times shall come. And not only that we should realize that we are not in a battle with flesh and blood but with principalities and rulers of the dark things of this world. Unfortunately this will not be the last of tragedies that will befall America. Our job is to stand strong and be faithful unto God who is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. May God Bless U.