Elementary school massacre: 20 children among 28 killed in Connecticut slaughter

The massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School shook everyone in Newtown, Conn., including the first responders, who will be undergoing counseling. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.

Updated at 10:04 p.m. ET: A teacher's son, clad in black and carrying two 9mm pistols, rampaged through a Connecticut elementary school Friday, killing 20 small children and six adults, a tragedy President Barack Obama said had broken the hearts of America.

Undated photo confirmed by government officials to be Adam Lanza, who apparently killed himself after killing more than two dozen others, including 20 school children.

The gunman, identified as Adam Lanza, 20, was found dead at the scene of the slaughter, Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, law enforcement officials said. The body of a woman believed to be his mother was found at their home in Newtown, authorities said.

Officials initially misidentified the shooter to NBC News as Lanza's brother, Ryan. But a senior official later said that Ryan was nowhere near the shooting, is not believed to be involved, and is cooperating with the investigation.

Ryan told police that Adam has a history of mental illness, according to the senior official. Yet the motive for the mass killing — the nation’s second-worst school shooting — was a mystery.


The weapons used in the attack were legally purchased and were registered to the gunman's mother, two law enforcement officials said. Two 9mm handguns were recovered inside the school. An AR-15-type rifle also was found at the scene, but there were conflicting reports Friday night whether it had been used in the shooting. 

Police believe Lanza fatally shot his mother in the face, then drove to the hilltop school and unleashed a blizzard of bullets on children and staff in two rooms before apparently taking his own life.

"Evil visited this community today," Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy said Friday evening. "We are all in this together."

Adam Lanza, the man who allegedly committed one of the worst shootings in U.S. history, was 20 years old. He entered the Sandy Hook Elementary School carrying two handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, police said. NBC's Pete Williams reports.

Some young survivors — ages 5 to 10 — described the terror of the shooting and a massive police response that included SWAT officers going room to room to search for victims as students huddled in classroom corners.

More coverage: NBCNewYork.com and NBCConnecticut.com 
BreakingNews.com's coverage of the incident

Robert Licata said his 6-year-old son was in class when the gunman burst in and shot the teacher.

"That's when my son grabbed a bunch of his friends and ran out the door," he told The Associated Press. "He was very brave."

One student told NBC Connecticut she was in the gym when she heard “seven loud booms.”

“The gym teachers told us to go in the corner, so we all huddled,” she said. "And I kept hearing these booming noises. And we all … started crying.

"All the gym teachers told us to go into the office where no one could find us," she added. "So then a police officer came in and told us to run outside. So we did and we came in the firehouse.”

The high death toll and the tender age of many victims sent shock waves all the way to the White House, where the flag was lowered to half-staff.

President Obama, his voice cracking at times, said he reacted to the tragedy first as a parent.

“Our hearts are broken today,'' he said. “The majority of those who died today were children. Beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old.”

Authorities in the small bedroom community 60 miles from New York City were alerted to the unfolding carnage by a 911 call around 9:30 a.m., and then reached out to state police and neighboring police departments for help.

An elementary school student recalls the terrifying moments following sounds of shots fired at her Connecticut elementary school, saying "teachers told us to go in the corner so we all huddled."

Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance said troopers fanned out across the school and searched “every door, every crack, every crevice” of the building.

Most of the bodies were found in two rooms in one section of the 600-student school, which goes up to the fourth grade. Late into the night on Friday, the bodies remained in the school during the investigation. 

Two children were taken to Danbury Hospital, but they died. A third person was being treated at the hospital, which went into lockdown mode and cleared trauma rooms as doctors waited for an influx of survivors that never came.

After police finished searching the school and determined there was only one gunman, they led the children outside, telling them to close their eyes, apparently to avoid seeing anything gruesome.

At a staging area ringed by police vehicles that raced to the school from across the state, the dazed and crying kids were reunited with worried loved ones.

The shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that killed more than two dozen, 20 of them children, left the quiet community of Newtown, Conn., desperately trying to understand what happened. NBC's Kate Snow reports.

Brenda Lebinski, mother of a third-grader, said she found a “horrendous” scene.

“Everyone was in hysterics -- parents, students. There were kids coming out of the school bloodied. I don't know if they were shot, but they were bloodied,'' she said, according to Reuters.


One parent picking up his 7-year-old son said the shooting was “the most terrifying moment a parent can imagine." He went on to describe the anguish of waiting to find out if his son was a victim and then running to his child when he saw him.

“It was the greatest relief in my existence,” the father said. “I’m just happy that my kid’s OK.”

The FBI was assisting with the widening investigation, and authorities said there were many unanswered questions, including the motive.

“There is a great deal of search warrant activity…in and out of the state,” Vance said, without giving specifics.

Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy was meeting with grieving families.

“As you can imagine, the governor is horrified by what’s happened,” said aide Roy Occhiogrosso.

The death toll is the highest from a school shooting since a gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech in 2007. At Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, two teens killed 13 people and wounded 24 in 1999.

Parent Stephen Delgiadice, whose 8-year-old daughter was not hurt, said he never could have imagined such bloodshed in the quiet town of 27,000, where the police force has only three detectives.

"It's alarming, especially in Newtown, Connecticut, which we always thought was the safest place in America," he told The Associated Press.

Obama said Friday’s shooting, following the massacre at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., and other murder sprees, showed the need for “meaningful action…regardless of the politics” to prevent more blood from being spilled.

New York City Mayor Bloomberg, who has been pushing for tougher gun laws, called for Washington to act immediately.

“Not even kindergarteners learning their A, B, Cs are safe,” he said. “We heard after Columbine that it was too soon to talk about gun laws. We heard it after Virginia Tech. After Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek. And now we are hearing it again.”

Michelle Mcloughlin / Reuters

The second deadliest school shooting in U.S. history sent crying children spilling into the school parking lot as frightened parents waited for word on their loved ones.

Related content from NBCNews.com:

Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

 

 

 

Discuss this post

Jump to discussion page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 189

Bibles are allowed in prisons but not in schools. Maybe they should be allowed in both.

  • 1 vote
Reply#54 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:22 AM EST

Only if they're armor-plated. At least then they'd have some use.

  • 2 votes
#54.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:31 AM EST

right, because christians don't kill people.

  • 2 votes
#54.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:48 AM EST

Actually try searching for the religious demographics of prisoners. Recent Pew research study says that 50.6% of prisoners are protestants, 14.5% are Catholics, and the next highest demographic is Muslim at 9.4%.

So yeah, those indoctrinating people with Bibles is really going to help solve our crime problem. Thanks for playing...you can pick up your consolation prize on the way out.

  • 2 votes
#54.3 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:43 PM EST
Reply

Wow, incredibly irresponsible reporting to announce the death of anyone prior to an official confirmation!
Shame on them!

    Reply#55 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:22 AM EST

    this is awful. Regardless of what happened...how it happened or why. There is no place for guns in schools. I hope that all that were injured will make full recoveries. I have 3 daughters and my heart brakes for all that are involved in this.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#56 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:23 AM EST
    Comment author avatarPat Shanevia Facebook

    Are you gun nuts going to claim that if the students and teachers had guns this wouldn't have happened?

    Mass shootings = proof that gun regulation is necessary.

      Reply#57 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:24 AM EST

      How well has it worked in Chicago?

      • 3 votes
      #57.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:35 AM EST
      Reply

      This is probably because of a child custody disagreement. Want to know why teachers can't be as effective as they want to be? Try dealing with some of the home lives of these children.

        Reply#58 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:25 AM EST

        I am tired of seeing the comparisons between a car and a gun. First, cars were developed to get around places, transportation purposes. Cars were not developed to kill but they do because we have careless people who do not care for the lives of those around us. So now I ask, why the hell were guns developed? For showcasing?? I doubt it. Someone please answer this question.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#59 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:28 AM EST

        Guns are useful for self defense. They beat the heck out of a pocket knife.

        • 1 vote
        #59.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:02 PM EST
        Reply

        NOOOOO!!!!! WTF!!!!!! AGAIN!!!! These are young, innocent, precious little angels!!!! You retarded M-F#@!^%'s that do this or thinking about it, you will have yours!!! Either via prison justice hopefully a slow & very painful one!!!!and or fry in HELL for eternity you BASTARDS!!!!!!!

          Reply#60 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:30 AM EST

          Put the blame where it's due....the NRA is the enemy not some nutcase who isn't getting help with his mental problems.

            #60.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:31 AM EST

            @Joan,

            Dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops, Union veterans Col. William C. Church and Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association in 1871. The primary goal of the association would be to "promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis," according to a magazine editorial written by Church.

            After being granted a charter by the state of New York on November 17, 1871, the NRA was founded. Civil War Gen. Ambrose Burnside, who was also the former governor of Rhode Island and a U.S. Senator, became the fledgling NRA's first president.

            An important facet of the NRA's creation was the development of a practice ground. In 1872, with financial help from New York state, a site on Long Island, the Creed Farm, was purchased for the purpose of building a rifle range. Named Creedmoor, the range opened a year later, and it was there that the first annual matches were held.

            Political opposition to the promotion of marksmanship in New York forced the NRA to find a new home for its range. In 1892, Creedmoor was deeded back to the state and NRA's matches moved to Sea Girt, New Jersey.

            The NRA's interest in promoting the shooting sports among America's youth began in 1903 when NRA Secretary Albert S. Jones urged the establishment of rifle clubs at all major colleges, universities and military academies. By 1906, NRA's youth program was in full swing with more than 200 boys competing in matches at Sea Girt that summer. Today, youth programs are still a cornerstone of the NRA, with more than one million youth participating in NRA shooting sports events and affiliated programs with groups such as 4-H, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, U.S. Jaycees and others.

            Due to the overwhelming growth of NRA's shooting programs, a new range was needed. Gen. Ammon B. Crichfield, Adjutant General of Ohio, had begun construction of a new shooting facility on the shores of Lake Erie, 45 miles east of Toledo, Ohio. Camp Perry became the home of the annual National Matches, which have been the benchmark for excellence in marksmanship ever since. With nearly 6,000 people competing annually in pistol, smallbore and highpower events, the National Matches are one of the biggest sporting events held in the country today.

            Through the association's magazine, The American Rifleman, members were kept abreast of new firearms bills, although the lag time in publishing often prevented the necessary information from going out quickly. In response to repeated attacks on the Second Amendment rights, NRA formed the Legislative Affairs Division in 1934. While NRA did not lobby directly at this time, it did mail out legislative facts and analyses to members, whereby they could take action on their own. In 1975, recognizing the critical need for political defense of the Second Amendment, NRA formed the Institute for Legislative Action, or ILA.

            Meanwhile, the NRA continued its commitment to training, education and marksmanship. During World War II, the association offered its ranges to the government, developed training materials, encouraged members to serve as plant and home guard members and developed training materials for industrial security. NRA members even reloaded ammunition for those guarding war plants. Incidentally, the NRA's call to help arm Britain in 1940 resulted in the collection of more than 7,000 firearms for Britain's defense against potential invasion by Germany (Britain had virtually disarmed itself with a series of gun control laws enacted between World War I and World War II).

            After the war, the NRA concentrated its efforts on another much-needed arena for education and training: the hunting community. In 1949, the NRA, in conjunction with the state of New York, established the first hunter education program. Hunter Education courses are now taught by state fish and game departments across the country and Canada and have helped make hunting one of the safest sports in existence. Due to increasing interest in hunting, NRA launched a new magazine in 1973, The American Hunter, dedicated solely to hunting issues year round. NRA continues its leadership role in hunting today with the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC), a program that allows youngsters to build on the skills they learned in basic hunter education courses. YHECs are now held in 43 states and three Canadian provinces, involving an estimated 40,000 young hunters.

            The American Hunter and The American Rifleman were the mainstays of NRA publications until the debut of The American Guardian in 1997. The Guardian was created to cater to a more mainstream audience, with less emphasis on the technicalities of firearms and a more general focus on self-defense and recreational use of firearms. The Guardian was renamed America's 1st Freedom in June of 2000.

            Law enforcement training was next on the priority list for program development. Although a special police school had been reinstated at Camp Perry in 1956, NRA became the only national trainer of law enforcement officers with the introduction of its NRA Police Firearms Instructor certification program in 1960. Today, there are more than 10,000 NRA-certified police and security firearms instructors. Additionally, top law enforcement shooters compete each year in eight different pistol and shotgun matches at the National Police Shooting Championships held in Jackson, Mississippi.

            In civilian training, the NRA continues to be the leader in firearms education. Over 55,000 Certified Instructors now train about 750,000 gun owners a year. Courses are available in basic rifle, pistol, shotgun, muzzleloading firearms, personal protection, and even ammunition reloading. Additionally, nearly 2,800 Certified Coaches are specially trained to work with young competitive shooters. Since the establishment of the lifesaving Eddie Eagle® Gun Safety Program in 1988, more than 21 million pre-kindergarten to sixth grade children have learned that if they see a firearm in an unsupervised situation, they should "STOP. DON'T TOUCH. LEAVE THE AREA. TELL AN ADULT." Over the past seven years, Refuse To Be A Victim® seminars have helped more than 15,000 men and women develop their own personal safety plan using common sense strategies.

            In 1990, NRA made a dramatic move to ensure that the financial support for firearms-related activities would be available now and for future generations. Establishing the NRA Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, provided a means to raise millions of dollars to fund gun safety and educational projects of benefit to the general public. Contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible and benefit a variety of American constituencies, including youths, women, hunters, competitive shooters, gun collectors, law enforcement agents and persons with physical disabilities.

            While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the NRA has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly four million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs. As former Clinton spokesman George Stephanopoulos said, "Let me make one small vote for the NRA. They're good citizens. They call their Congressmen. They write. They vote. They contribute. And they get what they want over time."

            NO WHERE DOES THE NRA'S INFO PAGE SAY THEY ARE FOR KIDS BEING SHOT. They fight for your rights, and the rights of everyone else in this country. You really should know and understand the target of your BS blame game before you post something completely idiotic.

            • 5 votes
            #60.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:36 AM EST

            I agree other countries are not having monthly mass shooting and daily person-person shootings because of their gun laws.

            • 1 vote
            #60.3 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:37 AM EST

            It's not the NRA's falut that some sicko doesn't get proper mental health treatments. A whacko who wants to do damage will find a way. Joan you even mention in a later post that the highjackers on 9/11 used boxcutters. Is that the NRAs fault too? Of course not. Damn near anything can be used as a weapon.

            • 3 votes
            #60.4 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:45 AM EST

            what nonsense - the nra doesn't fight for anyone's rights other than the right for gun manufacterer's to make more money. you dawg, are disgusting.

            • 1 vote
            #60.5 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:50 AM EST

            arch - and all the gun control freaks are hypocritical. They're all up in arms of this senseless slaughter of children and adults, as well they should be, but I guess the lives of private citizens without any means to defend themselves other than a gun are meaningless? Come on in Mr. Robber. Go ahead and kill me and rape and kill my wife. Gun control freaks say I shouldn't be able to defend myself. Wouldn't want to infringe on your rights as a criminal.

            • 1 vote
            #60.6 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:08 PM EST

            shut the @!$%# up with your politics.........its time!.........go @!$%# yourself

              #60.7 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:55 PM EST
              Reply

              I remember watching the blood pool around Robert Kennedy's head... I wonder what terrible catastrophy it is going to take to wake the American people up to the fact that guns are not necessary for their protection and that they are being used to randomly kill our citizens, our children, our leaders..... 9/11 didn't require a weapon bigger than a box cutter - we don't need guns.

                Reply#61 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:30 AM EST

                So what should we use to protect ourselves? We should all learn how to use box cutters for self defense? Why don't we just put signs on our houses that say, "come on in and kill me now"?

                  #61.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:10 PM EST

                  "-9/11 didn't require a weapon bigger than a box cutter -"

                  That's a little simplistic, isn't it, Joan? You don't remember the multiton aircraft full of flammable fuel hurtling into the buildings at several hundred miles per hour?

                  Here are the facts, people. Humans are greedy, arrogant, territorial, aggressive little naked primates. Throughout history, we've slaughtered each other savagely with whatever came to hand, from rocks and clubs, through swords, spears, trebuchets, fire, disease, and starvation. Guns are just our latest tools.

                  You can believe that we don't need guns. I have no illusions about what humans (including myself) are. I'll keep mine.

                  Perhaps it's time to have a national conversation about access for all citizens to mental and physical health care.

                    #61.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:21 PM EST

                    Joan myself and my family are alive and well because I own a gun. Would you be happier if we had been killed in our home the night 3 men armed with knifes broke in? They were not there to wish us a Merry Christmas. It's your choise not to own a firearm it's mine to protect my family.

                      #61.3 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 5:37 PM EST

                      shut up you phoney mother @!$%#er! nobody came to your home! get @!$%#ing serious!!

                        #61.4 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:57 PM EST
                        Reply

                        It seems that at Christmas time, those who are not stable mentally come out of the woodwork. II is a sad state of affairs.

                          Reply#62 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:30 AM EST

                          We have an epidemic of copy-cat shooters in this country trying to one-up eachother.

                            Reply#63 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:30 AM EST

                            You just may have something there.

                              #63.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:36 AM EST
                              Reply

                              @One really fed up boomer

                              I totally agree with you. If there were swifter punishments for these psychos this would happen less. Instead if these loonies survive the attack they almost become celebrities. They appear on all news channels, people do stories on them, their friends are interviewed. Then they go to prison or the psycho ward for 10-20 years to be 'fixed'.

                              In a situation like this the attacker should get a fair/speedy trial and then if/when found guilty get the death penalty. End of story. Stop all the useless reporting that in the end makes these people famous.

                              • 2 votes
                              Reply#64 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:32 AM EST

                              I agree. The Aurora shooter should be executed publicly on all the national networks. Tomorrow.

                                #64.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:23 PM EST

                                your right quit with the news media! kill them and be done with it

                                  #64.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:58 PM EST
                                  Reply

                                  I've got a better solution...condoms...the shooters parents should have been more careful.

                                    Reply#65 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:32 AM EST

                                    Ever notice how all of these school shootings occur in "Gun Free Zones"?

                                    Perhaps an armed society is the answer.

                                    Maybe that's why the Second Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights.

                                    Humans have the right to defend themselves and guns are an effective choice.

                                      Reply#66 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:32 AM EST

                                      Sorry "Bill o' FRIGHTS"... We already HAVE an armed society... Not workin' out too well, is it ?

                                        #66.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:33 PM EST
                                        Reply

                                        Can we have a discussion about gun control NOW?????????????????

                                          Reply#67 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:32 AM EST

                                          Sure

                                            #67.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:37 AM EST
                                            Reply

                                            Articles like this really get on my nerves. Firstly because another nut job went on a rampage for god knows what stupid reason. WTF?!? Secondly because there is no information. Why must news outlets constantly give us only a portion of the story? It's OK to wait until you have a detailed story to report. WTF?!? There was a shooting at a school. OK but what happened? Was it a whacked out teacher? A disgruntled parent? A kid? WHAT HAPPENED?!?!

                                              Reply#68 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:33 AM EST

                                              The rabid-assed, wild-eyed, insanely knee-jerking reactions must stop over the gun control issue! No one is saying "We have to get rid of all guns" or, if they are, then they are being equally as unrealistic as those who shriek mindlessly that "everyone needs to go buy a gun". Guns serve a useful purpose in our society. If we did not have responsible gun owners who are hunters for example, you all would have a hell of a lot more deer in your yards eating all your flowers and veggie plants. What DOES need to happen, ASAP, is vigorous screening of those who attempt to buy guns. Guns are a sought after commodity but their ownership must include background checks and other forms of vetting before a dealer wantonly sells a firearm to the guy who rushes to their shop to buy one. My question is: If all of you are truly responsible gun owners then why would it upset you to have to be screened prior to your gun purchases? It's no different than being required to have a driver's license. Do you pitch a big tantrum at the DMV when the people who work there say you need that license in order to drive a car?

                                              • 1 vote
                                              Reply#69 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:33 AM EST

                                              I completely agree. I am the responsible gun owner you mention. I own several guns and each purchase for me did come with a background check. I don't know how thorough that check was. For instance I bought a handgun at a gun show. The vendor had to place a phone call to get a quick background check and I had to sign some documents giving the vendor the OK to do this. I have no problem with a background check.

                                              On the same note, a friend of mine had his identity stolen. He has court papers that he has to carry with him at all times to prove who he is if he gets pulled over or something. He went to buy a handgun and an rifle. Because the stolen identity stuff came up on his background check he was not able to buy the handgun but they let him get the rifle. Makes no sense.

                                              • 1 vote
                                              #69.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:01 PM EST
                                              Reply

                                              A milestone in Florida - 1 million guns, yet we still turn a blind eye. It's not the availability of guns, we have our 2nd Amendment right. Too bad the 2nd Amendment was related to forming a militia, since we had just finished a revolution. not semi-automatic weapons and collecting stockpiles of guns. This NRA foolishness is ridiculous.

                                                Reply#70 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:34 AM EST

                                                1 million that are known. How many others are out there that aren't documented?

                                                The 1st amendment sure as hell wasn't written to protect flag burning, clothing with profanity worn in public, or vulgarity in print or fllms

                                                  #70.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:10 PM EST
                                                  Reply

                                                  another hero who wasn't breastfed enough by mommy. a pathetic and disgusting grab for attention perpetuated by the media. Need them ratings and dollars. Ever thought to maybe take a higher road and help to eliminate this behavior and not report garbage like this to not encourage others to follow? Similar to not televising idiots that run onto a sporting field

                                                    Reply#71 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:34 AM EST

                                                    If you don't like NBC's news reporting... why do you come to this site for your news? Just wondering...

                                                    I agree that breaking headlines are often incomplete and rushed to get the news out. TV does it. Radio does it. News sites do it... nbcnews.com does this and is guilty as charged. I don't like it either.

                                                    Guess it all depends where you prefer to get your news, whether you can trust the source and if you are willing to wait for a complete story.

                                                      Reply#72 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:35 AM EST
                                                      Comment author avatarMarc Masonvia Facebook

                                                      This is ridiculous; how many more shootings must occur before we change our gun laws? But of course, there are way too many gun loving morons out there who will impede any reform. You people want to help these kids? Stop putting your hands together in prayer and actually go out and encourage the government to take action!

                                                      • 1 vote
                                                      Reply#73 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:36 AM EST

                                                      Someone also walked into a school today and slashed 22 kids with a knife. Was in China, but should we start looing to outlaw knives as well?

                                                      • 2 votes
                                                      #73.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:55 AM EST
                                                      Comment author avatarMarc Masonvia Facebook

                                                      By your logic, we should start a discussion on sharp objects. But the problem in THIS country isn't knives, it's guns.

                                                        #73.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:18 PM EST

                                                        The problem in this country is people.

                                                          #73.3 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:26 PM EST
                                                          Reply

                                                          I have a quick question for the folks who continually advocate stricter gun control. Where do you stand on the violence glorified in Hollywood? How about stricter gun control in the filthy movies they produce?

                                                          Do I blame Hollywood for the shooting in Ct? Of course not. But as we're moaning about our "gun culture" and all the violence, shouldn't we perhaps take a bit of a stronger stance on the violent movies Hollywood produces ad nauseum? Stop going to them. Stop supporting them. Stop letting your kids see them, and letting your kids play the violent video games produced. Stop supporting and continuing the violent culture in all ways.

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          Reply#74 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:36 AM EST

                                                          We have ingrained in the youth of our society that murder, killing, dismembering, blowing up, each other as entertainment. Take a look at some of the top selling video games.

                                                          • 2 votes
                                                          #74.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:40 AM EST
                                                          Comment author avatarMarc Masonvia Facebook

                                                          I get what you're saying, and you do have a point to some extent. But the problem here isn't the amount of violence on tv. Other western countries have access to the same media we do, yet the amount of gun violence in those countries is far less troubling. So what's the difference? The "crazies" in our country have easier access to guns.

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          #74.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:48 AM EST

                                                          I think some of that falls on parenting. Hollywood movies and video games aren't real. If parents don't teach this to kids there is a problem. The kids also need to be able to handle that type of information. If a kid can't differentiate between reality and make believe then perhaps you shouldn't let your kid watch violent movies or play violent games.

                                                          I watched my fair share of violent movies and played violent games as a kid. Perhaps I shouldn't have been watching those movies but I understood that it wasn't real. I understood that in real life I should not kill another person or steal anything. To this day I love to kill things in video games. It is a good release of frustration after a bad day.

                                                          • 1 vote
                                                          #74.3 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:11 PM EST

                                                          AMEN

                                                            #74.4 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 12:39 PM EST

                                                            very correct

                                                              #74.5 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:08 PM EST

                                                              Save your breath. The same people that want the 2nd amendment done away with would argue to the nth degree about their rights under the 1st amendment to do and say whatever they want.

                                                                #74.6 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:13 PM EST
                                                                Reply

                                                                Bozo MI lawmakers passed new law, Now "Highly trained gunmen can take guns to school, daycare, church, workplace..etc". Don't know when one of these highly trained crazy morons will start shooting..and results will not be similar to Oregon or Connecticut..How these people can live and call themselves as lawmakers..just beoynd any human reasoning..

                                                                  Reply#75 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:37 AM EST

                                                                  You will all be happy to know that it is confirmed that "The shooter is dead!"

                                                                  There, now stop complaining about guns. They work!!!

                                                                  • 2 votes
                                                                  Reply#76 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:37 AM EST

                                                                  Tell that to the innocent people who were shot (and maybe killed) during this event. And tell that to the children who have now had their safety shattered because someone had the right to own a gun!

                                                                    #76.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:39 AM EST

                                                                    Are both dead? One is dead and one got away. Are you sure?

                                                                      #76.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:43 AM EST
                                                                      Reply

                                                                      There seem to be a lot of very angry people in this country who, for whatever reason, have decided to take their anger out on innocent citizens. This is not just a problem that there are some really whacked out people out there. It's that these whacked out people have access to weapons that allow them to act out their anger.

                                                                      For those of you who want to insist that this is a people problem, I completely disagree with you. Yes, the people who do these horrible things have a choice and the ultimate decision is theirs. But without access to all of these weapons, maybe tragedies like Aurora, Colorado, Portland, Oregon, Columbine, and now an elementary school in Connecticut wouldn't be so common.

                                                                      There is really no difference to these incidents here in the USA than there is to what is going on in Syria right now. The weapon of choice may be different, but the fact is that the people most affected by these acts of violence have only done one thing wrong....they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

                                                                      Yes, the legal documents that our forefathers wrote said that we have the "right to bare arms." But that was written in the context of what was happening way back then in our nations fight for independence and equality.

                                                                      I think it's about time we change the meaning of the "right to bare arm" to mean that you can go sleeveless even in the dead cold of winter. That way instead of calling these mass murderers deranged criminals, we can just call them idiots.

                                                                      The needs of the many don't always outweigh the needs of the few. The families of the victims of these tragedies probably understand that the rights of all of you NRAers out there and those who think that packin' a weapon is their God-given right don't trump the rights of their loved ones to feel safe in a theater, a mall or at school.

                                                                        Reply#77 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:38 AM EST

                                                                        And your paranoia should not require me to give up my only means of defense.

                                                                        • 1 vote
                                                                        #77.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:17 PM EST

                                                                        If it's not too personal, Yoda, please tells us of the times you needed to resort to your "only means of defense".

                                                                          #77.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 9:07 PM EST
                                                                          Reply

                                                                          why the heck weren't these kids all wearing bullet proof vests when they arrived at school? if these parents don't start making sure that these kids are packing heat before heading off to school, they should lose their parenting rights and be thrown in jail or deported.

                                                                          • 2 votes
                                                                          Reply#78 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:38 AM EST

                                                                          My father had a comment for people who said things like you just wrote about....it's called talking out your rear!

                                                                          • 1 vote
                                                                          #78.1 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:19 PM EST

                                                                          shut the @!$%# up you stupid mother @!$%#er!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                            #78.2 - Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:59 PM EST
                                                                            Reply
                                                                            Jump to discussion page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 189
                                                                            You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
                                                                            As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.