Terrible things have happened in Finland today. An 18-year-old with a gun ... yes, you know the rest -- 7 people are reported dead.Finland for Thought has a discussion. Could it happen in Estonia? I guess the message here is that it can happen anywhere.
Yikes.
18 kommentaari:
Nothing EVER happens in Finland (see Aki Kaurismaki films to get the idea).
That nation needs to be inspired somehow. Looks like we got ourselves a volunteer here.
That wasn't exactly tasteful of you, Blogaddict... Do I need to say why?
I read about this earlier in the day, but a friend of mine sent me a link about it and said "I thought this stuff only happened in the USA."
So I sent this link back showing all the major school shootings globally, according to Reuters anyway.
http://www.tiny.cc/sADnd
His reply was "wow." He didn't realize that the US doesn't have a monopoly on the mass murder of young people.
Now you can spin the numbers however you want. Out of 15 only 7 were in the US. That's less than half, but more than any other one country.
You asked if this could happen in Estonia? I would answer that I would think this kind of thing is more likely to happen here than in Finland. But clearly, you never know.
Do tasteful jokes exist?
i rahter not gloat and i truly am sorry for all those involved but the finns had it coming. that is why gun control is neccessary. being the world number 3 country in terms of handguns per persons it was bound to happen sometime. some call for even laxer gun laws, the solution is less guns not more. if something like this happens with 8 dead, one could only wonder if an auditorium full of inexperienced shooters all locked and loaded return fire.
You asked if this could happen in Estonia? I would answer that I would think this kind of thing is more likely to happen here than in Finland. But clearly, you never know.
Well .. Finland does have four times as many people .. and thus, a four times larger chance to come up with a complete nutcase like this. And all you need for this kind of thing is one nutcase.
Yes, it can happen in Estonia. Fortunately, it's not very likely.
I mean .. statistically, the odds or so much more likely for you to die in a car accident, to be hit by lightning, or god knows what than to die in a freak incident like this, as terrible as it is for those in any way involved.
But everytime something like this happens, I start worrying about .. more stupid kids seeing it, starting to idolise the shooters, and starting to think that this kind of crap is a nice way to get some quick fame. Eugh.
I imagine that knowing that your fire will be returned will serve as a deterrant. Criminals always seek out soft targets.
Is it in Oregon where teachers are now petitioning to carry concealed weapons? Makes sense.
Being slaughtered without any chance to defend yourself is the worst scenario in mu view.
if you don't get to carry the gun odds are that the lunatic does not get also. Not only school massacres but other gun related violence such as murders ang gang shootouts are caused by the availability of guns. if you don't believe check the statistics, apart from abvious warzones, USA is one of the world's leading in terms of gun related violence that is massacres, armed robberies, murders etc. and we all know how sacred the idea of privately owned guns is to americans.
obviously this does not get rid of the crazy folks though they have a harder time commiting these horrible crimes. some madman runing amok with a big knife is probably easier to deal with than one with several fully loaded machineguns.
As a Mother, I always want to ask the same question.
"Where were his parents."
In the last USA shooting, the mother , purchased for her son one of the guns he used.
This shooter in Finland, put this on UTube and no one said a word....
He must have told someone...
We have this message posted all over the New York area.
If you see something , say something..
This kind of senseless murder can happen in your country, your town, and in your schools.
No one is immuned.
The world is now way too small a place to feel safe from this.
We are watching you blogaddict.
Could it happen in Estonia?
Ever seen "Klass" by Ilmar Raag?
All the major school shootings globally according to Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_shooting the well knowns at least.
I am sure something like this happened in Lithuania in 1997 or 1998. I'll have to look it up.
However, it was given little media coverage. The killer turned the gun on himself and Everyone seemed to accept that it was the work of a "maniak" or "debil," RUssian words I am sure you all know.
As a Mother, I always want to ask the same question.
"Where were his parents?"
Out huntin', of course.
On a serious note. I realize this sort of thing prompts an immediate reaction and outpouring of sympathy -- one has to write about it -- but I think the policy of YouTube is more effective. And that policy is: deleting all virtual trace of the shooter within a couple hours.
Copycats hate that sort of thing. It's no fun to "work offline".
And that is why I think part of the solution is counterintuitive, even insensitive-seeming. Be respectful of the dead, but don't make a big deal about it.
After all, probably eight teenagers burn to death in school fires in Russia every week. While terrible, school shootings are still pretty rare, like an airline disaster.
Kari said...
i rahter not gloat and i truly am sorry for all those involved but the finns had it coming. that is why gun control is neccessary. being the world number 3 country in terms of handguns per persons it was bound to happen sometime. some call for even laxer gun laws, the solution is less guns not more.
Since you are not gloating, or being triumphal for your stance on gun control (actually when you are doing both) "the Finns had it coming because of their laws ...", can you explain why three of the school shootings on Trek's list are in Germany, which has some of the EU's most restrictive laws?
Hmm. Maybe you should think about that.
I don't know, if I sold a handgun and 500 rounds to an 18 year old, it would set off alarms in my head.
During the gun control years of the Clinton administration, Bill made some good points, such as ... you don't need a semi-automatic rifle to go hunting.
I don't see why it is such a drama to come to the collective conclusion that there could be some stricter controls on selling handguns and 500 rounds of ammunition to 18 year old dorks with "Humanity is Overrated" t-shirts.
Giustino said...
I don't know, if I sold a handgun and 500 rounds to an 18 year old, it would set off alarms in my head.
Really? Did those events happen together?
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