I am sorry if this has been posted in the past few days and that I have just missed it but it is really bugging me!

What is with all of these disgusting threats going on across the country????? It's totaly SICK! The terrible massacre that took place at VT has stirred up an explosion of hostility across the nation! We had a community college in Phoenix shut down because of threats, last night 6 kids in Phx were arrested and caught making a bomb, this morning there was rumor of a shooter at our little po-dunk high school and right now our State Capitol is evacuated because of a bomb threat!!! I was at the State Capitol all day yesterday for meetings and it was a calm, serine day! Now chaos!!!

I know that these events aren't just starting because of VT, I know that it has been going on forever but everytime there is a high profile tragedy the violence seems to rekindle itself!

It is a sick world that we live in nowaday, what in the **** can we do to put a stop to this?

Sorry guys, just venting once again!

The shootings at VT only illustrate my point about gun control. If this person had been unable to obtain a gun, this event never would've happened. It's almost impossible for a crazed knife wielding individual to go into a public place and stab to death 32 people without being overtaken by SOMEBODY.

When the right to bear arms was established, people had to hunt for their food. These days there is absolutely no reason for the average American citizen to own a handgun. I don't know about any of you but I'd gladly give up a little civil liberty to stop drive-by shootings and such.

Honestly AMY,

I'm not meaning to stir up controversy..since we really try to steer clear of political controversy on this site. (it always goes bad, and there are other forums for that)

But the 2 most Heinous crimes with the most loss of life in this country's history were done without guns.

911, and OK City Bombing ( fertilizer bombs).

that's all I'll say.

I have no idea what we can do to stop it. I'm on the fence when it comes to whether or not to have stricter gun laws. I figure even if we make it really hard for someone to get a gun, a pyscho is a pyscho. Change all the laws you want but it won't change people's mental state. Personally I think a lot of it starts at home, not ALL of it but a lot of it. I don't know if anyone has ever read Raising Boys, but it's a very insightful book with lots of research behind it. It's amazing how the first two years of a child's life effect who they become. Anyways I don't know what we should do to try and prevent these things in the future. But I can't wait to see what other people think.

That's a pretty great book GM.
There are a few others like that, that I have. I'll see if I can find them and list them out.

Well I'm sure the mother of the 3 y/o that I once picked up having been the unintended victim of a drive-by thinks the death of her daughter is equally as horrible.

Both of those tragedies were epic in purportion and I'm really not trying to make them any less significant but do you have any idea how many people are killed by guns in this country EVERY YEAR? In 2004 alone there were 29,569 nationwide. That number is staggering to me. Not all of those deaths were completely preventable can you imagine how many people would still be alive today if guns were made unavailable?

In my opinion I do not think that gun control has anything to do with it. I do believe that people have the right to bear arms. I believe that it is the "person" behind the gun that needs to be watched out for. If the "person" had no gun they would STILL find a way to murder if that was what they were setting out to do....(ie: PJ's point)..... If guns were outlawed there would STILL be violence and killing, how in the world would the government recall the millions of guns that are out there? They could NEVER do it! And, if they tried, what then???? The law abiding citizens would relinquish their weapons and the criminals would go wild! It would be pure anarchy (worse then it already is).

That whole "person behind the gun" **** is just that, ****. How many drive-by knifings happen every year? How many knives accidently go off and kill innocent people?

I'm not saying that we should take all guns away immediately but much tighter restrictions would be a start. I'm all for melting every damn one of them down but I realize that's just not practical at this time. There has to be a way to gradually rid the country of the majority (notice I say majority and not ALL) of guns. I mean what's the alternative? Arming EVERYBODY and having shoot outs at high noon on Main Street?

Mashey and PJ, I think you're right. If this sick sad s.o.b. couldn't have gotten firearms he'd have built some bombs....or set some buildings on fire...or whatever. Craziness usually finds a way.
But....
Amy, I think you're right too. I believe in the right to bear arms, got some myself. There's already a bunch of gun laws out there. The thing is it's basically state by state. Don't like the gun laws in your state, wanna plunk down your 500.00 and buy an M-16 but can't? Just drive a few hours to another state and, VOILA! problem solved. Sidearms too. I carried both in the military for years and no matter what the NRA says they're not for deer hunting. Just people hunting.

I know that we both have very different opinions on guns, but getting back to the thread subject, which is all of these threats. They are not always (thank god) carried out....I just don't understand why it keeps happening an WHAT the **** is going thru these peoples heads? Is it kids, just wanting to get the dya off from school??? What is it???

I think maybe:

• people with just too much time on their hands, and kids with too few options life-wise, no sense of self-worth
  
• people have no real conception of the consquences of their actions
  
• we live in a society where people are too disconnected from each other, sense of community just isn't there for so many people
  

quote:

we live in a society where people are too disconnected from each other, sense of community just isn't there for so many people

I think that you just hit the nail on the head Bin.

I have another theory too......some may agree, some may not. I think that alot of the people out there that are threatining or carrying out their threats may also be victoms of being bullied themselves. I am in NO WAY condoning their actions, but looking to what may have driven them to their actions. Alot of these kids have been bullied to the end of their rope and then they snap. I am constantly talking to my girls about the way they treat other kids. I show them these examples when violent acts occur and hopefully that will help them not to bully or belittle other kids at school.

quote:

Originally posted by Mashell:
..... Alot of these kids have been bullied to the end of their rope and then they snap. I am constantly talking to my girls about the way they treat other kids. I show them these examples when violent acts occur and hopefully that will help them not to bully or belittle other kids at school.

Mashey I tend to think you're both right (U and Binarian) But just as we come on this forum and say the people here are not the norm, but more caring, thoughtful, etc....in general society at large, parenting leaves a lot to be desired and I, personally believe that these are some of the effect of that 'LACK" of parenting. The school systems are not set up to be parents or daycare...there set up to teach educational minimums.

If the majority of parents taught the now "abnormal" skills of politeness, thoughtfulness and (now) uncommon courtesy, we could return to the days when it was normal to smile at a person walking down the street.

It all goes back to everyone doing their job to properly raise kids. And as we can see by this site alone...to many of us know that the majority of "those" parents out there, dont.

Yes, there is that small minority that no matter how they parent, ends up with a bad seed, but that is "few" and far between.

Common courtesy, decency and civility taught at an early age would go a long way torwards healing our world. And I do believe I heard one of the VT shooter's dorm mates mention that he was bullied by other students.

Here is my thought, People are disconnected from each other. There is no respect for others and life in general. I don't know about other places but in Philadelphia, how I see it, Moms used to be home with their kids and everyone knew everyone in the neighborhoods. Now a days...everyone works, kids are in daycare being raised by 18 to 25 year old kids with no parenting experience. When you get home from work you go right inside and stick to yourself. I have lived on my street for 5 years, a street with row homes, lots of neighbors and I don't talk with any of them. No one talks to anybody, no one looks out for anyone....everyone is in their own little world...no connection. And everyone is stressed out and uptight....parents do not spend enough quality time with their kids because they are not around them enough. I see Isaac for about 4 hours a day during the week Of which I am getting ready for work and him for school in the morning and at night I am cooking, cleaning, doing laundry etc. We spend barely any time together. Our only alone time is in the car and I am not facing him since he is in the back seat. That is when we talk, and on the weekends I am doing all my running around...it is hard. Where is he getting his main guidence from???? School and daycare. It is not right. But in this day and age you can barely make it on 2 incomes especially if neither one of you has a college degree.
There is no emotional connection and people just generally don't care....about anyone or anything. Then add the stress and well....there you have it. The world is just so different, it makes me sad. I wish Isaac could grow up the way I did. With me home and a neighborhood that cared. My opinion only. Jen.

Let me make one more point about guns then I'll shut up about it. If I hadn't had this aversion to firearms and ever felt compelled to purchase a gun, I wouldn't be here today. If I had had access to a gun just ONCE during all my botched suicide attempts then they wouldn't have been botched. Nothing will ever get rid of violence altogether but gun control would certainly take a big bite out of it.

Here in Oklahoma, OU campus was locked down for a couple of hours the other morning because some blonde sorority girl called campus police and said she thought she saw a guy carrying a rifle. Turns out, he had an umbrella. HELLO, IT WAS RAINING!

People are panicking now. It's putting the entire world on edge, and it doesn't help that half of the country is war-crazed and those are usually the ones who own the most guns! (My bf's parents have a small arsenal in their safe and they blindly follow Bush like sheep. It's pathetic.)

and now we've actually turned the corner into a political discussion.

Which is what leads me to my next comment:

Please, ...this forum is for Single Parent issues...as there tons of forums for other discussions such as politics.

I, personally wont continue this line of discussion, at least as far as it pertains to politics. I value you friendships far to much to argue with you.

I completely agree Paul this is a forum for single parenting issues but sometimes politics reflect directly on parenting. Gun control, health care, child care. All these are political issues and all these are also parenting issues. The whole child-care issue sparked a huge debate which I for the most part abstained from since I don't have any child care issues.

How about this. We can agree to disagree on the subject and still be friends. If everybody in the world had the exact same views and opinions, it'd be a pretty boring world wouldn't it?

quote:

Please, ...this forum is for Single Parent issues...as there tons of forums for other discussions such as politics.

Many of the forums, posts, threads on this site have nothing to do with single parent issues...Yet I believe this one kinda does...I understand not liking the topic but it is scary and bothersome that we are raising our children in todays society.
What difference is there if someone is discussing guns or should they be in a relationship or not???? If it means something to them at the moment they should be able to post right????? Just Curious. This stuff that is happening today in the world is scary for any parent let alone a single parent. We are facing it alone.
I agree that the topic is hard to agree on...everyone has their own opinion that is why I said in my post that this is just my opinion. This is the first time I have ever read you getting frustrated with a post Paul...What is going on with you?????
Touchy subject huh????
If a pedophile can harm our kids we can post about it right???
Then why is it that if a murderer with a gun can harm our kids there would be any problem?
No hard feelings please, I am really not trying to start a debate, I am just curious. Some people may be offended that they are told not to write on any specific topic.
Once again...Just my opinion. I love this site and harbor no hard feelings at all. and

Nope..not hard feelings and actually not a touchy subject.

Just that I will absolutely steer clear of arguing a point that will have no agreement. And if there were agreement..there would be no reason really for in depth discussion. Certain topics only serve to inflame and cause controversy. As for myself, I choose not to see what I term as "wasting my time" and energy trying to state a case "for" a subject someone else is adamanantly "against"...at least for the most part.

Did it once, didnt like it, not likely to do it again.