What's the Cause of All the Recent Gun Violence?

February 11, 2008

With at least three violent shootings in the past four days — school shootings in both Tennessee and Louisiana, and the City Hall shooting in Missouri — lots of you have been commenting on this sad trend. I'm curious: Do you think increased instances of reports of violence are spurring copycat crimes? Or is the crime rate the same and we're just more attuned to tragedies, making it appear like a trend? Does it make you feel differently about gun-control laws? What do you think is behind the violence?

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58 Comments

sarah_bellum 5 years

If guns are the problem, someone please explain to me why we don't see these horrible shootings at places where guns are everywhere, like gun shows or NRA conventions. They only seem to happen at "gun-free zones", like post offices or schools, where law-abiding citizens have been legislated out of protecting themselves.

LiLRuck44 5 years

Dana, that is ridiculous, and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. By saying nobody but law enforcement should have guns, you are assuming that officers of the law are moral, competent, honest people, and that civilians can't be trusted.How many times have policemen, marines, etc. been accused or suspected or convicted of crimes? ALL the TIME! I personally know a few policemen who should have no business enforcing the law on other people, when they are breaking laws on a constant basis. How can you be so quick to just give up a Constitutional right?!

LiLRuck44 5 years

Dana, that is ridiculous, and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. By saying nobody but law enforcement should have guns, you are assuming that officers of the law are moral, competent, honest people, and that civilians can't be trusted. How many times have policemen, marines, etc. been accused or suspected or convicted of crimes? ALL the TIME! I personally know a few policemen who should have no business enforcing the law on other people, when they are breaking laws on a constant basis. How can you be so quick to just give up a Constitutional right?!

piper23 5 years

Take my gun and I'll kick your butt! Ok, we don't even own a gun but if we did...

The Grizz 5 years

OK Virginia bans all guns on any campus. That did a LOT of good. The bad guys are going to get guns regardless and maybe if the there wasn't that in VA one of the GOOD guys might have had a pistol or something on him and could have quickly shot the guy before he killed 30 some ppl. I know plenty of guys and girls who keep a small gun on them for protection. I see why people think that. ANd you know, it would be great if it worked. But its not, and then there will be only shady people who have guns.

The Grizz 5 years

luvthebosox 5 years

Also, if you really think that only law enforcement needs guns, what do you say to the many women out there who are terrified of ex boyfriends or husbands when the police say there is nothing they can do? The shooting last year at the University of Washington was that type of situation. Should women be sitting ducks just because they dated someone who snapped? If I was in that situation I would have a hard time accepting that I was not allowed to protect myself.

luvthebosox 5 years

Study after study after study has shown countries that ban guns actually see an INCREASE in crime, Australia probably being the best example of that. I understand the impulse to blame the guns, but if you look at the issue rationally that is not the answer. I've been characterized as a bleeding heart liberal, but I realize that banning guns will do NOTHING to solve the problem. These sorts of things have been happening for a very long time now. It's just that now it's white suburban people being shot, so NOW we all care.

luvthebosox 5 years

Study after study after study has shown countries that ban guns actually see an INCREASE in crime, Australia probably being the best example of that. I understand the impulse to blame the guns, but if you look at the issue rationally that is not the answer. I've been characterized as a bleeding heart liberal, but I realize that banning guns will do NOTHING to solve the problem.These sorts of things have been happening for a very long time now. It's just that now it's white suburban people being shot, so NOW we all care.

mymellowman 5 years

Sorry, I meant 2nd Amendment.

mymellowman 5 years

"i also do not know how to spell...lol" - Luckily it doesn't seem to be a requirement for owning a gun. :)

mymellowman 5 years

" If you are not a police officer you do not need a gun." - First and foremost, not being a Police Officer or member of the government is an even larger reason to own a gun. The right to protect yourself from a government that no longer is listening to its people or abiding by the rules is a right given to us by the first amendment."If people did not have them, death by violent weapons would drop." - Let's ban cars too, that way no one else will die in car accidents.

mymellowman 5 years

" If you are not a police officer you do not need a gun." - First and foremost, not being a Police Officer or member of the government is an even larger reason to own a gun. The right to protect yourself from a government that no longer is listening to its people or abiding by the rules is a right given to us by the first amendment. "If people did not have them, death by violent weapons would drop." - Let's ban cars too, that way no one else will die in car accidents.

Dana18 5 years

The main cause for violent acts toward others is the lack of gun laws nation wide. If people did not have them, death by violent weapons would drop. When some loose their temper they would not have a gun to reach for. If you are not a police officer you do not need a gun. To0 many accident happen when civilians have guns!

foo_mf_foo 5 years

i also do not know how to spell...lol

foo_mf_foo 5 years

i am a gun owner. i know that when people are irresponcable and haven't had proper training with firearms, they are more likely to be stupid with them. it is our right to have a gun, but not everyone is smart enough to own one. everyone should have to take a manditory class if they are going to purchase a firearm. also, if you have children you should have to have a gun safe. all guns should be sold with a mandatory gun lock on the trigger. guns are not bad. they have many uses. it is ignorance that has made them look bad. and dumbasses trying to be hard and look cool. come on, gangster is so stupid. i live pretty much in detroit. it's a beautiful city, but i hear gun shots every single day. it is stupid gangs and other people that are too lazy to get a job and work for their money. and when it comes to the media, sick people would rather hear about death and destruction then something good happening. so....yea

modernbombshell 5 years

I get upset when I see all this talk about violence in the media. Perhaps it's because I'm a girl and therefore not supposedly "predisposed to violence", but I played first person shooters in my early teen years and maybe earlier. I watched violent movies. I was a goth. I've listened to all kinds of music, including metal. Have I ever killed someone? Nope. Have I ever seriously considered it as a viable way to solve problems? Not yet.Some people are just sociopaths and murders. What of those people who were "such nice people" until they snapped and lost it? I do agree that raising responsible children is important, for not just this but in so many ways, but some people are just bug nutty. We all have our limits and some people's are just naturally lower than others. Someone mentioned the Virginia Tech shooter. If you look at his manifesto and read up a bit on the issues he had before the shooting, the boy was clearly not right in the head. And as for stricter gun laws, all they do is make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to protect themselves. Yes, perhaps it makes it more difficult for an impulse purchase, which probably saves some lives. However, we've seen through several of these big news stories that it can be quite easy to get a gun from other venues if you truly want one. In a society where guns are outlawed, only outlaws have guns. True criminals aren't going to give up their firearms. We shouldn't be turning average citizens who want to protect themselves or their families into criminals as well.

modernbombshell 5 years

I get upset when I see all this talk about violence in the media. Perhaps it's because I'm a girl and therefore not supposedly "predisposed to violence", but I played first person shooters in my early teen years and maybe earlier. I watched violent movies. I was a goth. I've listened to all kinds of music, including metal. Have I ever killed someone? Nope. Have I ever seriously considered it as a viable way to solve problems? Not yet. Some people are just sociopaths and murders. What of those people who were "such nice people" until they snapped and lost it? I do agree that raising responsible children is important, for not just this but in so many ways, but some people are just bug nutty. We all have our limits and some people's are just naturally lower than others. Someone mentioned the Virginia Tech shooter. If you look at his manifesto and read up a bit on the issues he had before the shooting, the boy was clearly not right in the head. And as for stricter gun laws, all they do is make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to protect themselves. Yes, perhaps it makes it more difficult for an impulse purchase, which probably saves some lives. However, we've seen through several of these big news stories that it can be quite easy to get a gun from other venues if you truly want one. In a society where guns are outlawed, only outlaws have guns. True criminals aren't going to give up their firearms. We shouldn't be turning average citizens who want to protect themselves or their families into criminals as well.

LiLRuck44 5 years

"When a child is exposed to that much violence, and their parents are allowing them to be raised by electronic devices, I don't wonder where the violence is coming from, but when people are going to wake up and stop blaming the guns and gun control, and start taking responsibility for raising their child." Excellent point, couldn't have said it better myself!! The answer is not tighter gun control laws. We have the privilege of living in this country and if the people responsible said we should have the right to arm ourselves, we should. Kids are surrounded at an early age with movies that depict violence as a normal thing, and video games where it's fun and natural to shoot people. And we wonder where they get these ideas?! It's also (in my opinion) important to note that every recent school shooter was either on or had recently been on anti-depressant drugs. I think that's too strong of a connection to ignore. These kids are imbalanced to begin with, so lets throw in a few artificial chemicals and hormones to see if we can fix it... Where are these kids' parents? Why aren't they in counseling?

LiLRuck44 5 years

"When a child is exposed to that much violence, and their parents are allowing them to be raised by electronic devices, I don't wonder where the violence is coming from, but when people are going to wake up and stop blaming the guns and gun control, and start taking responsibility for raising their child."Excellent point, couldn't have said it better myself!! The answer is not tighter gun control laws. We have the privilege of living in this country and if the people responsible said we should have the right to arm ourselves, we should. Kids are surrounded at an early age with movies that depict violence as a normal thing, and video games where it's fun and natural to shoot people. And we wonder where they get these ideas?! It's also (in my opinion) important to note that every recent school shooter was either on or had recently been on anti-depressant drugs. I think that's too strong of a connection to ignore. These kids are imbalanced to begin with, so lets throw in a few artificial chemicals and hormones to see if we can fix it... Where are these kids' parents? Why aren't they in counseling?

demeter 5 years

Not everything is the media's fault. Nobody is telling you to buy your children action movies or games. Nobody is telling you to buy your children toy guns. If you don't like it, STFU. Other parents don't care, it doesn't matter if you do. Just walk right past it in the store.

Bettyesque 5 years

I agree with ellip, I am so sicking of media portrayal of these crimes. Notice they always stress the gun type used, usually wrong on first coverage. Its as if people believe that the gun made the decision. Guns do not kill people, people kill people. Violence is everywhere not only the media, but in video games, computer games etc. We are all exposed to it day in and day out, but are we all killers? No. There are many factors, mental stability, parental roles, peers and media combined are can affect someone to commit such heinous crimes ...but the gun does not just appear and say use me. An in adamant object can not be blamed. I shoot for sport, and will continue to do so.

Bettyesque 5 years

I agree with ellip, I am so sicking of media portrayal of these crimes. Notice they always stress the gun type used, usually wrong on first coverage.Its as if people believe that the gun made the decision. Guns do not kill people, people kill people. Violence is everywhere not only the media, but in video games, computer games etc. We are all exposed to it day in and day out, but are we all killers? No. There are many factors, mental stability, parental roles, peers and media combined are can affect someone to commit such heinous crimes ...but the gun does not just appear and say use me. An in adamant object can not be blamed. I shoot for sport, and will continue to do so.