Shooting at Northern Illinois Wounds 17; Shooter Dead

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Dear Sebastian,
Never once did I say Force God on anyone. All I was saying is back in the day, this kinda stuff didn't happen. Yes, there was crime... but never did you have to go to school in fear that someone was going to kill you.
This type of behavior will continue until there is CHANGE!! Real Change!

Tiffany of WI 11:35PM February 16, 2008

It is clear to everyone that if there were no guns there would be no shootings. However, guns are an integral part of American Society and are so ingrained in our culture that they are never going away. So, the question is how do we live in a society were some disputes are going to be settled by shootings? The answer, more security like we have at airports so in areas where there is no need for a gun, i.e. on an airplane, in a shopping mall, in schools, churches, stadiums, etc. there will be security check in lines before you can get in. Big Brother is going to have to protect us from ourselves. Another inconvenient truth if you want to live in an armed society, which America is.

John Godre of FL 8:45AM February 16, 2008

"Maybe we should bring God back into the schools.... Bring back the morals and the values that use to be in place. Until society changes, this type of behavior WON'T change."
Stressing morals and values doesn't mean we need to bring God back into schools. Forcing God to children and teenagers in schools? Hmm... As for gun control, yes, people kill people - but trying to figure out what the problem is for everyone is near impossible. Everyone has their own issues that sometimes cannot be fixed. How come guns are allowed almost everywhere else including overseas, Japan, and Canada, but the United States is so incredibly high with Crime and Murder. What's the deal?

Sebastian of VA 1:04AM February 16, 2008

I wounder if there isan"t more bout the ocean science class for held,in a lector hall for too.Most of been loud!and know one id. the guy,OR Girl,
If shooter is dead who is he/she were is he/she from,why ,what for i Wonder.Sounds like a set up.how Big was this person,

of AZ 9:07PM February 15, 2008

Steve of NY,
You don't need to be leary of "white people". I don't agree that the "white killers" are often passed off as "great guys". At least, that's not my impression at all. Whites who kill are killers, just like all other killers.
My concern is that shootings of all kinds happen in the communities of our American minorities (particularly blacks and latinos) very frequently. How often do those incidents make the front page? Nobody seems to care!
However, when these things happen in communities or schools that are predominantly white, it suddenly becomes a real concern. Front page news around the world....literally! Have you ever thought about that one? Shootings, in general, don't seem to be a serious problem unless white people are somehow involved.

Seth 8:34PM February 15, 2008

The neat thing about humans is, they are extremely resourceful. When they are determined to do something, they have the power to make their imagination a reality. This has allowed us to do some really awesome stuff, like open heart surgery, space travel, and put peanut butter and jelly in the same jar.
Unfortunately, even if you successfully ban and destroy all guns, there are still going to be people that desire guns. Mostly, these are going to be people who want to use them to bring harm on others. These people are going to find ways to acquire guns, even if they have to hand make them.
And so, by removing all mass manufactured guns, all you've effectively done is taken them away from people who have no interest in doing others harm by using a gun.
What do u have left then? A bunch of criminals with guns who have free reign over those law abiding citizens who don't have guns. What will the criminals have to fear then?
I'm not advocating everyone "strap up", but it doesn't hurt to keep criminals guessing. "Do I really want to pull out my gun and start blasting when others might have guns they'll use to take me down?"

Ken of MO 4:20PM February 15, 2008

Its funny how when a shooter is white, its spun how he's a great student, great guy... and how well he didn't take his medications that's why this happened. I find it funny how white people always get a free pass for doing horrible things such as what happened at NIU. Note when the shooter is asian or another minority, he is pictured as being a loner, disturbed, and they start questioning his immigration status. Honestly, I am always leary of white people because history shows they are more prone to being serial killers etc.

steve of NY 3:48PM February 15, 2008

This is not about social isolation or about the ability to purchase guns, it is about the medication this unfortunate man was taking and then abruptly stopped taking. Although the medication he took was not named, it was likely either an atypical anti-psychotics (SSRI's) used to combat depression or the new anti-smoking drug any of which can induce hallucinations in some people and make those people completely crazy, as in gun toting crazy. Most, if not all of these school shooters have been taking these drugs before this bizarre shooting behavior occurred. These drugs cannot be abruptly stopped, either, without severe psychosis being a real possibility. This man, Stephen, was revered by others and probably would never have done what he did if not but for the medication he took. I am not trying to minimize what he did to destroy the lives of others, or to justify the slaughter of innocent people, but to advise everyone that certain commonly prescribed drugs are very dangerous, and we need to be aware of this frightening new common problem in our society. People are becoming killers due to these medications.

New Jersey Resident of NJ 3:41PM February 15, 2008

American Society Sucks
Social isolation causes people to hurt other people.
In a small town, one cannot do anything without 200 people knowing.
We have lost that sense in this country where $ and beauty are worshipped.
So, we all compete against one another, and fear one another.
Makes for a happy place, you know?

Shawn of OH 2:29PM February 15, 2008

"We have the right to bear arms" is outdated, and needed to be removed from the constitution. It will fix the problem. Comparing US to Canada and European countries can tell.

ALex of VA 1:26PM February 15, 2008