Originally Posted by TheWacoKidd

actually the world has never been less violent and more civilized.

Which makes our society more susceptible to the "lone crazed gunman" attack because so few people in a crowd are willing or able to try and protect the rest, and meanwhile we have people constantly drumming the beat of "be docile, don't try to be a hero, let the cops handle it". We're (the West) probably at a local minimum of violence right now; as weapons get more powerful and cheaper, and the damage an unimpeded madman can do goes through the roof, this societal weak spot will widen. Not to mention worsening economic conditions exacerbating the whole thing.

I love Steven Pinker, but his book isn't an excuse to stand around and pat ourselves on the back, as though the trend is inevitable and monotonic.

 

Originally Posted by niptuck

Willie, you are one of the clearest thinkers and communicators on this board. Prob number one. I agree that a potntial shooter needs to be recognized and helped. Obv his doesn't happen enough.

I know you are against gov't banning almost anything and therefore you may be biased. But are you saying that if someone is raised around and constant exposure to violence they are Not more prone to becoming violent?

Perhaps limiting any gov't ban on anything like kiddie porn or violent games is less of an evil than banning them to reduce illegal acts - but that isn't your point above. You say it ISN'T video games.

I don't think video games really have anything to do with this sort of stuff other than someone with an antisocial personality disorder might also be the type to hole up and play video games, but I don't see the cause and effect. Mass shootings have been around longer than violent video games and music lyrics. This doesn't mean that constant exposure "real" violence doesn't cause a person to engage in generational type violence like spousal or child abuse, etc., but I think most people realize that video games are not real and if that line does get crossed it is more a result of mental illness rather than playing the game.

 

Originally Posted by niptuck

why are child porn video games illegal but murder video games arn't?????? Waiting....

Source that child porn in video games is illegal? Not aware of this.

 

Originally Posted by kellykip

Different cultures respond differently to external stimulii; I think it would be hard to make any conclusion about it's effects here based on Japan.

Then its not the violence in the games but the culture that leads to the shootings? I'm in the camp that a video game doesnt cause people to go on shooting rampages( it might give them a blueprint of how to carry out an attack, same as a movie would). Just like going to a combat zone and coming back doesnt lead people to be extremely violent upon their return. I'm sure there are a small amount of people that combat and video games can influence their actions but for them to act on it is actually caused by something else. What that something else is i have no idea, but it isnt video games and not the act of being in Combat. Oh well, just my opinion.

 

Originally Posted by Popperhead

I agree it is but I see it every single day on here and with all my american buddies its a shoot first ask questions later menality. Somebody breaks into your garage Shoot the fucker, Someone robbing a store Kill that prick, Like look at responses on 1st pages of saying if people were shooting back # of fatalities would be lower. It's absolutely mind boggling to me that the mindset of getting into a firefight with a crazed gunman in a public place is a feasible resolution

And clearly its takes different kinds of people to do this shit it's one thing to say kill a cat or torture an animal. To escalate it to this level is a vry severe case of a whole bunch of shit gone wrong.

Canada has had its share of this type of violence. In fact, there have been two such incidents in last couple months, right?

 

Originally Posted by Popperhead

I agree it is but I see it every single day on here and with all my american buddies its a shoot first ask questions later menality. Somebody breaks into your garage Shoot the fucker, Someone robbing a store Kill that prick, Like look at responses on 1st pages of saying if people were shooting back # of fatalities would be lower. It's absolutely mind boggling to me that the mindset of getting into a firefight with a crazed gunman in a public place is a feasible resolution

And clearly its takes different kinds of people to do this shit it's one thing to say kill a cat or torture an animal. To escalate it to this level is a vry severe case of a whole bunch of shit gone wrong.

what is a better resolution than defending yourself?

 

Originally Posted by Popperhead

It's absolutely mind boggling to me that the mindset of getting into a firefight with a crazed gunman in a public place is a feasible resolution

LOL Canucks... I mean seriously- if you have trained for hours at a range and know how to handle a firearm, there is a chance, allbeit small, that you could have stopped him. And, for every one person that's carrying, your chances continue to go up. Are you seriously trying to claim that you need some "feasable resoultion"? The resolution is: don't let the asshole kill people. So, yes, a firefight with a crazed man is a good idea in this case...

And, let's be honest, part of this shooters strategy was aimed at controlling someone who was carrying a concealed weapon. He knew that diversions (tear gas and smoke) would allow him more a chance to conceal himself from counterfire and obviously knock down peoples defenses.

Guns have been readily available in the US for quite some time. What's your opinion then Waco on why more US teens and 20 somethings are going on these shooting rampages?

While if I was in that theater I would have wanted to be armed, I'm not sure if everyone in theater was armed it would have been that much safer. I would think that a theater full of potential vigilantes would result in some accidental shootings as well.

Very sad event and prayers to all the victims and their families.

I do not understand why people need anything more than a handgun, hunting rifle, or shotgun. Machine guns are made for war.

At the same time, theres no way you're stopping crazy people from doing shit like this. I wish we had more gun control laws, but there is no way to enforce it, only good guys would give up their guns. Arguing about things that arent enforceable is a waste of time.

I agree with the others that said we need to do a better job, as a society, identifying people capable of these acts

 

Originally Posted by slizza420

Guns have been readily available in the US for quite some time. What's your opinion then Waco on why more US teens and 20 somethings are going on these shooting rampages?

Simple numbers game? More crazy people because there are more people in the world????


And wtf? You act like this is happening a lot? So fucking rare. lol cmon people.

 

Originally Posted by slizza420

The advancements in technology has become a bit of a deterrent for certain types of criminal activity in the United States. That's the main reason why crime rates have dropped in the last couple decades.

Not trying to spin anything just stating facts.

no, your original post was an opinion, one that is NOT backed up by the facts of history or the present. FFS, not sure why I even bother to engage you, your head is made of cement.

 

Originally Posted by voorh33s

survivor
http://imgur.com/a/vtMhj

Obv Jesus was goin to survive

So we can blame video games for mass shootings but not for making every gun owner think they're dirty harry? I am not even against gun ownership but the fact that almost every pro-gun guy thinks they are some sort of crack shot combat vet who can save the day is scary to me. A firefight in an enclosed room with smoke grenades seems like a good idea? Really?

Yay guns! We dont need anymore stinkin regulations!