The gunman, identified as Ryan Lanza, 24, of New Jersey, was killed inside of the school.
In addition to the casualties at the school, a dead body was also found in his home, officials said. Sources said Lanza was armed with four weapons and wearing a bullet-proof vest when he opened fire in the elementary school.
Among the dead was the gunman's mother, found in the school, sources told ABC News.
"The shooter is deceased inside the building," Connecticut State Police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance said at a news conference.
Mick....Most likely until our society starts paying attention to the mental health issues in this country.
ReplyDeleteMany many years ago mental issues were swept under the rug by both health insurance companies and politicians.
It is not the guns it is the people who cannot cope with the pressures of our complex society.
Guns are tools. Philosophy is a tool. The constitution is a tool. Laws are tools. Capitalism is a tool. Ultimately, what matters most is the collective vision of society before picking them up to use them. Tools wielded in anger are more likely going to be used to tear down then build up.
DeleteFucking horrible and horrifying ...
ReplyDeleteHere in Australia we woke up to this story this morning (8.57am now in Tasmania).Can I offer my condolences to all those involved, including the surviving members of the perpetrators family.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time the media in Australia has taken up the question of gun control in your country and of course there is inflated opinion both for and against. Many, just as I did in the early stages pf my own opposition to firearms ownership, simply want a blanket ban which can never work. Some want a system similar to that operating in Australia where military style and auto and semi auto weapons together with hand guns are totally banned. This perhaps has merit, it is certainly better than blind reliance on the second which is now totally redundant as a viable part of your constitution.
What many do not realize here is the lack of border security, particularly along the Mexican border which would need closing totally to prevent importation of illegal firearms.
Whatever is done, and something surely has to be done now before you have another Columbine or worse, the events of today, it is going to cost money and perhaps even bring down a government at the next election. However, to do nothing is surely not an option even for the NRA who preach the edict that guns kill, not people.
So long from an old and very sad Aussie
However, to do nothing is surely not an option even for the NRA who preach the edict that guns kill, not people...
DeleteI know that you would like that subconsciously inscribed in the minds of the readers here.... but it is People Kill People... not guns because, as we all know... a gun has never pulled its own trigger.
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DeleteScott my thanks.
DeleteI worded the post as something to discuss, for too long the NRA have indoctrinated the people that "People Kill not guns”. You illustrate the point that people kill BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A GUN. Take away the gun and if nothing else, they have to find another way
Cheers from Aussie
That's alright to blame guns... a Chinese guy just went through a school with a knife and and a guy in the UK got the government to seriously consider outlawing knives when he hacked 16 kids and a teacher. A man drives an SUV into an airport terminal building loaded with propane bottles.... It time to stop blaming the implement and start trying to figure out why people 1) have a hard time coping in this modern complex society and 2) why people have moved so far away from the respect for human life.... Theirs your problems and the only solution brought forward by our modern way of thinking is to put everyone in a straight jacket... Yeah, that will do it. Millions own guns in the US and never shoot them in anger.... many people in society do a lot of things in anger and will use whatever weapon is handy....
DeleteI told my GF I bet he was on ADHD drugs. Now it's coming out he is autistic, has a personality disorder, possibly OCD, possible Aspergers syndrome.
ReplyDeleteA few decades ago, mentally ill persons were locked up but that was deamed cruel and unusual and unconstitutional and now they are on the streets.
Probably much more information will be forthcoming.
I hate that this happened.
why was Obama wiping his eyes? They were dry.
ReplyDeleteReally LS? In the wake of this horror, gotta make sure you get the obligatory Obama jab in, eh. Keepin' it classy, I see ...
DeleteI wondered how long it was going to be before this got politicized. It's the same pattern every time - A terrible gun-related incident occurs, the gun debate starts, then everyone starts speculating about the politics of the assailant, then it gets forgotten until the next inevitable incident.
I don't have any answers, but can we, as Jimbo suggested, at least wait until the bodies have cooled before we start tossing around political potshots?
First off, Ryan Lanza killed no one.
ReplyDeleteThank you for clarifying that.
DeleteWhat is almost as disgusting as the act itself is the use of dead kids as martyrs for the cause.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that there are 100 million American gun owners who have never committed a violent crime in their life explicitly means that the 2nd is not the root cause of such occurrences. I think if you want to start flirting with real solutions, the progressives need to start critically examining what they see in the mirror.
At a minimum, can we at least wait for the bodies to cool before we proclaim Hagelian checkmate?
"What is almost as disgusting as the act itself is the use of dead kids as martyrs for the cause."
Delete" I think if you want to start flirting with real solutions, the progressives need to start critically examining what they see in the mirror."
The irony of these two statements together in one paragraph is likely lost on you.
And yet another non-actionable useless comment. But I am thankful that you kept that one short.
DeleteNothing worse than overly verbose non sequitors, which is your MO.
Verbose yes, non sequitor, no.
Deletehttp://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_School_disaster
ReplyDeleteBetter solve the real issues, 'cause banning guns ain't gonna mean shit.
Of course, there is the school of thought that certain types don't really care about guns in the context of an individual right, but rather view an armed citizenry as an obstacle to a greater agenda.
CT DID have gun free zone law for schools.
ReplyDeleteI'm certain if that was posted on the front door of the school this tragedy could have been averted.
Crazy is crazy.
DeleteIf someone wants to hurt others, they will find a way.
First of all, if you think being armed with rifles and pistols will protect you from a modern army, armed with aircraft, artillery, rockets, chemical and biological weapons, nuclear weapons, tanks, napalm and nuclear weapons, you are as insane as the killers. Second of all, if you maintain that guns don't kill so we should accept this and do nothing, then you are more insane than the killers.
ReplyDeleteI guess if you frame it in terms of nukes vs pea shooters, your argument from incredulity might have merit.
DeleteAnd who said we should accept whackos shooting kids?
I don't accept that, nor do I accept your preposterous solution.
The counter-revolution is but one single catalyst away from beginning. Any sort of gun ban might just be it.
A LITTLE GUN HISTORY
DeleteIn 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. >From 19...
29 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
Oh...just for fun.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.examiner.com/article/libor-scandal-grows-as-the-fathers-of-two-mass-murderers-were-to-testify