Mormon HS student shooter wanted to "kill sinners"...

[Viking]

...per press reports.

http://m.nydailynews.com/news/crime/oregon-school-shooter-wrote-plan-kill-sinners-cops-article-1.1829711

There have been 74 incidents with guns at school since 2012. I don't blame guns...I blame violence in video games and in the media that certainly warp reality of young kids.

[Diehard Ute]

...per press reports.

http://m.nydailynews.com/news/crime/oregon-school-shooter-wrote-plan-kill-sinners-cops-article-1.1829711

There have been 74 incidents with guns at school since 2012. I don't blame guns...I blame violence in video games and in the media that certainly warp reality of young kids.

Blame parents. That's where it starts and ends. Parenting is becoming a lost skill for many. Discipline is lacking with many kids, and parents often ignore the warning signs because that could never happen with my kid.

Also, blame the news for turning the shooters into heroes. Their names should never be uttered. Yet can any of you name the victims at Columbine or Trolley Square? Bet you can name the shooters.

And frankly, as someone who uses a gun as a tool, guns carry some of the blame as well. Not the actual object, but our societies lack of concern and respect for them. It's made access easy for most anyone who wants one, even if they should never have one.

There's a lot to debate about this issue. In terms of large scale mass killers, there has been no statistical increase in 40+ years....but the coverage and information about them has increased greatly.

[LA Ute]

Blame parents. That's where it starts and ends. Parenting is becoming a lost skill for many. Discipline is lacking with many kids, and parents often ignore the warning signs because that could never happen with my kid.

Also, blame the news for turning the shooters into heroes. Their names should never be uttered. Yet can any of you name the victims at Columbine or Trolley Square? Bet you can name the shooters.

And frankly, as someone who uses a gun as a tool, guns carry some of the blame as well. Not the actual object, but our societies lack of concern and respect for them. It's made access easy for most anyone who wants one, even if they should never have one.

There's a lot to debate about this issue. In terms of large scale mass killers, there has been no statistical increase in 40+ years....but the coverage and information about them has increased greatly.

Good post.

[Viking]

I agree with the parents comment.

We don't allow any violence in the house be it TV, video games or movies. The kids know not to even ask if they can buy a violent game.

If one lets kids play shoot em up games, you have serious parenting problems.

[Diehard Ute]

I agree with the parents comment.

We don't allow any violence in the house be it TV, video games or movies. The kids know not to even ask if they can buy a violent game.

If one lets kids play shoot em up games, you have serious parenting problems.

Maybe maybe not. Many well adjusted kids play games, but they have good discipline and the understanding of what is and isn't "real".

Blaming video games is the easy way out. I can't tell you how many kids I deal with who've never played such games yet still have anger and rage issues.

Frankly I think our kinder and gentler society is a bigger issue.

We don't teach kids about consequences and respect anymore. We don't teach them that you're not always going to win....in fact we teach them participating is great.

By doing that we rob children of the ability to deal with adversity and disappointment. As I've heard from a couple legendary athletes "If you never learn how to lose, you will never learn how to win".

We don't teach kids how to lose anymore....so when life hands them a loss, they don't know what to do.

I would also venture that the Internet and cell phones are as much of an issue as anything. When I was a kid I wouldn't have had any way to research bomb making in my bedroom etc, my world consisted of the kids in my school and neighborhood and those I knew from my family.

Now kids have access to people all over the world, to any information they want, from the comfort of a phone.....and many parents, be it due to time, apathy or any other myriad of reasons, have no idea what their kids are doing.

It's certainly a societal problem. I think for some kids exposure to things like violence is an issue, for many others it isn't.

And there is no easy fix.

[Diehard Ute]

I hadn't read the article until now, but I'd say it speaks to my point.

First that picture. Why? Why give this kid so much attention? Why aren't there pictures of the victims?

Secondly, I'd love to hear the backstory to his idea to kill sinners. That's not something that just crops up. That's something that has been festering, or even taught.

It's entirely possible there weren't any warning signs, but it's highly unlikely.

[Diehard Ute]

Yes, I think violent entertainment works like any other vice (alcohol, gambling, drugs, pornography, politics,...). Many or most people can participate without harming themselves much, but the unfortunate minority will absolutely wreck themselves and possibly others. That alone should be enough for us to abstain.

The same can be said for lots of things....including religion.

[Diehard Ute]

Yes, except for the abstain part. Some things are necessary off at least good in moderation. Vice is not necessary at all. I guess that's what makes vice vice.

Guess that all depends on your point of view.

I think there are millions who would say religion isn't necessary, and when those who can't handle it in moderation get it, it does no good (the examples are quite long)

The idea that everyone should avoid everything which has the ability to be "bad" is rather extreme