It isn't always guns, it's people

chic

chic

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This past Sat. morning, a 23 year old man stabbed a 22 year old female medical student to death in a library one town over from where I live. A 77 year old man witnessed the attack and rushed to her assistance and was stabbed too, but he lived and is in the hospital.

This is getting to be ridiculous. The community in question is a really nice town with almost no crime. ( My friend lived there and I always wanted to as well because of its beauty and safety). It seems you can't go anywhere in America anymore without risking your life. I've been really shaken since this event. People blame guns, but it's not guns. It's people. Something is really wrong or lacking in young people these days. I don't have any answers. I guess it was lucky the assailant didn't have a gun or the library could have been shot up and the casualty list high. This is just getting sick. I'm emotionally exhausted by violence to the extent we are experiencing it in America these days. Are you?
 

Murder exists everywhere, Chic. Also random violence. Criminals go to war with each other and carry out drive by shootings at each others houses and also execute each other Godfather style. It is not just America BUT the easy availability of semi automatics does make it easier to stage a massacre to make a statement.
 
Spent 35yrs working in it. IMHO it has become worse, even north of the border. I try my best to avoid watching the news, or reading the news. I've chosen to stick to my own little piece of paradise and block out what I can. I'm doing my best to be an ostrich.
 

Crime happens every day,every where, we just don't hear about all the atrocities that go on. It hits home when it's close to us. It's a sad thing... I agree it's people. So much is not on "the news" but it goes on every day every where. We hear about it more today because of technology. So many people are losing loved ones that never goes reported on "the news". I am sick of it..yes.
 
Shootings and murders are becoming so common that most of these actions never reach the daily/evening news, unless there are multiple victims. In most cities, one almost has to go to the local police report statistics, online, to see how frequent these actions are becoming. There are "zones" in many cities where the Real Authorities are the drug and street gangs, and the majority of the murders are committed by and among those thugs.
 
In my 37 years as a State Policeman, I knew that I "never saw it all." I worked in major crimes the last 18 years of my job. I investigated many murders and none are more hurtful than seeing a toddler that has been killed by the father, either by shaking or punching them. To see an 8 month old baby lying on a floor dead because the father shook the baby to death because he/she wouldn't stop crying just breaks my heart. I once saw a 14 month old baby girl lying dead on the parent's bed because she was beaten to death with the man's fists only because he couldn't take the crying anymore.

Then, we go to court and he gets 10-14 years for voluntary manslaughter after his attorney strikes a plea deal with the DA. After serving 5 years, he become eligible for parole and unless the family objects, he is more than likely to be out in the five. That's the cost we put on a life. It just sickens me.
 
911 said:
In my 37 years as a State Policeman, I knew that I "never saw it all." I worked in major crimes the last 18 years of my job. I investigated many murders and none are more hurtful than seeing a toddler that has been killed by the father, either by shaking or punching them. To see an 8 month old baby lying on a floor dead because the father shook the baby to death because he/she wouldn't stop crying just breaks my heart. I once saw a 14 month old baby girl lying dead on the parent's bed because she was beaten to death with the man's fists only because he couldn't take the crying anymore.

Then, we go to court and he gets 10-14 years for voluntary manslaughter after his attorney strikes a plea deal with the DA. After serving 5 years, he become eligible for parole and unless the family objects, he is more than likely to be out in the five. That's the cost we put on a life. It just sickens me.
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That is so sad to read. I didn't bother me at all when a baby cried but apparently it drives some people to murder.
 
I have spoken with many murderers over my career. Regardless of their age or gender, very few suspects have been able to comprehend just what taking of a life means. If you have watched any of the crime shows on TV, you already know that there are three main reasons why people kill; money, sex or revenge.

When we sit with a suspect in an interview room, our first priority is to find out if we are speaking with a witness or a suspect. Generally, a seasoned investigator can place a label on the person that they are interviewing within 15-30 minutes. Of course, there is always that uncertainty where we aren’t completely sure, so we sometimes label them as “a person of interest.”

It is a policeman’s objective to bring closure to the case ASAP before it goes cold. In today’s world, forensics have been a real game changer with aiding the investigator to “get their man.” With the inception of using DNA, many cases are now able to be solved sometimes within days. And, I would be amiss if I didn’t mention that cameras have also become a huge helper in catching a suspect.

For the investigator, using forensics and the dynamics associated with them, it is almost impossible to create a perfect murder. That’s not to say that there aren’t some murders that go unsolved, but compared to just 20 years ago, they have become few and far between. As technology in forensics continues to advance, I would hope that in another 20 years, getting away with a murder will be a thing of the past.

And lastly, those that commit this heinous crime need to be prepared to serve the time or whatever justice the court decides fits the crime.
 
James said:
Spent 35yrs working in it. IMHO it has become worse, even north of the border. I try my best to avoid watching the news, or reading the news. I've chosen to stick to my own little piece of paradise and block out what I can. I'm doing my best to be an ostrich.
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While I understand your reason....

Is that the attitude that has brought us here ?

Before any wrong can be corrected , it must first be identified. Only those that refuse too see are truly blind.
 
A relative was telling me about an incident when she was in the car with her (grown) daughter. Daughter was driving. A car pulled up beside them at a traffic light....loud music, foul language. Daughter is the type who would normally mutter something under her breath or roll her eyes. But she said to daughter "Don't say anything, don't even look at them." You never know when someone will pull out a gun or follow you home. Just wait for the light to turn green and keep going.
 
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Yall ain't come to the conclusion YET of why so much is happening.
WHY? because society has broken down! Look to the history of the downfall of the great civilizations of the past to understand.




p.s. IMHO can the situation be corrected, I don't think so. It has gone to far!!!
 
Deucemoi said:
Yall ain't come to the conclusion YET of why so much is happening.
WHY? because society has broken down! Look to the history of the downfall of the great civilizations of the past to understand.




p.s. IMHO can the situation be corrected, I don't think so. It has gone to far!!!
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I tend to agree with this to an extent. The news doesn't bother me. Adults need to stay informed. It's the extreme violence young people are exposed to through video games, films and television violence. These things didn't exist when most of us were youngsters. There was only so much violence allowed at those Saturday afternoon movies we used to go see. Censorship was stricter and it was a good thing. We knew the difference between cowboys and Indians and spies and double agents; that this was not a reality but a diversion, not something to emulate. We played with toy guns, but many of us had real ones at home which were never to be used without an adult present. We respected that. What has changed? How can we help to fix that which is so severely deranged now? Killing people is not the answer. If young people don't understand this, something needs to be done in a hurry to help them to do so.
 
chic said:
I tend to agree with this to an extent. The news doesn't bother me. Adults need to stay informed. It's the extreme violence young people are exposed to through video games, films and television violence. These things didn't exist when most of us were youngsters. There was only so much violence allowed at those Saturday afternoon movies we used to go see. Censorship was stricter and it was a good thing. We knew the difference between cowboys and Indians and spies and double agents; that this was not a reality but a diversion, not something to emulate. We played with toy guns, but many of us had real ones at home which were never to be used without an adult present. We respected that. What has changed? How can we help to fix that which is so severely deranged now? Killing people is not the answer. If young people don't understand this, something needs to be done in a hurry to help them to do so.
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For sure....what today's kids face is far different from the world I grew up in. We had "real" friends" and relationships....instead of nonsense on Facebook. We played together, and if we had an argument, we punched each other, and became even better friends after our spat. I've almost given up on going to the movies because most of them are full of violence and special effects which "infer" that such nonsense is acceptable behavior. Half the video games out there are brainwashing these kids into thinking that shooting someone is the best way to settle an issue. Kids brains are being filled with everything but common sense and responsibility. It's no wonder that this senseless violence continues to occur.
 
911 said:
I have spoken with many murderers over my career. Regardless of their age or gender, very few suspects have been able to comprehend just what taking of a life means. If you have watched any of the crime shows on TV, you already know that there are three main reasons why people kill; money, sex or revenge.

When we sit with a suspect in an interview room, our first priority is to find out if we are speaking with a witness or a suspect. Generally, a seasoned investigator can place a label on the person that they are interviewing within 15-30 minutes. Of course, there is always that uncertainty where we aren’t completely sure, so we sometimes label them as “a person of interest.”

It is a policeman’s objective to bring closure to the case ASAP before it goes cold. In today’s world, forensics have been a real game changer with aiding the investigator to “get their man.” With the inception of using DNA, many cases are now able to be solved sometimes within days. And, I would be amiss if I didn’t mention that cameras have also become a huge helper in catching a suspect.

For the investigator, using forensics and the dynamics associated with them, it is almost impossible to create a perfect murder. That’s not to say that there aren’t some murders that go unsolved, but compared to just 20 years ago, they have become few and far between. As technology in forensics continues to advance, I would hope that in another 20 years, getting away with a murder will be a thing of the past.

And lastly, those that commit this heinous crime need to be prepared to serve the time or whatever justice the court decides fits the crime.
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I worked in criminal law for many years and found the same thing to be true. Many, if not most, felt that they were justified in killing someone because of some slight -- "he looked at my girl wrong" or "he disrespected me." I am still dumbfounded to realize that there is such a cavalier attitude toward the taking of a life. AND the worst ones of all, those who do it for kicks (and there are more of them out there than you'd believe).
 
Butterfly said:
I worked in criminal law for many years and found the same thing to be true. Many, if not most, felt that they were justified in killing someone because of some slight -- "he looked at my girl wrong" or "he disrespected me." I am still dumbfounded to realize that there is such a cavalier attitude toward the taking of a life. AND the worst ones of all, those who do it for kicks (and there are more of them out there than you'd believe).
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Oh geesh! How many times have I heard someone tell me that he shot a dude or punched him out because “He disrespected me.”

I was called out to a bar in the sticks that had a band playing country music. The call came in from my dispatcher and she told me that all the caller told her was that there was a shooting at this bar and then the caller hung up. Three units were dispatched. I was the first on the scene and immediately located the shooter and cuffed him. The person he shot was sitting on the floor and against a wall. It appeared that he was shot in the left side below the heart. The weapon was a .25 magnum pistol.

After the ambulance arrived and tended to the injured man, the EMT told me that he was probably going to live. As I was escorting the suspect to my car, he started telling why he shot the man. All that he got out was that he went to the bathroom and when he came back, he found his girl dancing with the injured man. I told him not to say anymore until we got to the Barracks and I was able to read him his rights.

The shooter was over the limit at 1.4. Alcohol can make dumb people even dumber.
 
Don M. said:
For sure....what today's kids face is far different from the world I grew up in. We had "real" friends" and relationships....instead of nonsense on Facebook. We played together, and if we had an argument, we punched each other, and became even better friends after our spat. I've almost given up on going to the movies because most of them are full of violence and special effects which "infer" that such nonsense is acceptable behavior. Half the video games out there are brainwashing these kids into thinking that shooting someone is the best way to settle an issue. Kids brains are being filled with everything but common sense and responsibility. It's no wonder that this senseless violence continues to occur.
Click to expand...

It's true perhaps that young people spend way too much time in the virtual world and not enough in the real one. It leaves them completely lacking social skills and respect for people.
 
Reading all of the above posts gives me hope that there is some sanity left in the world.

In my opinion, dramatic change is needed. And I do mean, dramatic. My advice for anyone raising children today is to place FAR, FAR less importance on the accumulation of "things" and FAR, FAR more importance on proper care and supervision of the children. In a two parent family, one of the parents absolutely must be at home when the kids come home from school.

Secondly, the parents must constantly be aware of what the child is viewing on the P.C. Perhaps the P.C. could be used exclusively in the kitchen/dining/living rooms.

Third, the parents must absolutely forbid the use of violent games.

When I was a kid and I asked mom if I could go to a friends house, she ALWAYS called the other kid's mom and asked if that was convenient.
 
My wife gave up a great career when our first was born and she remained a stay at home mom for all four of our children.

We had them involved in sports, church clubs, did family vacations and so on. There wasn't much time for TV or video games.

Even though I was away a fair bit because of my job, my family still came first and I made sure that I was home for special occasions, school plays and as many sporting events that I could get coverage for.

Even with all of that we still had a child go south. Granted he isn't a serial killer (that we know of) but it goes to show that even if you do the right things and you do your absolute best, there is no guarantee.
 
On the subject of who should and shouldn't have a gun, consider this article about a 22 year old woman who obtained her first gun last November and has since had it taken away for shooting at another car in a road rage incident.

She announced her purchase on social media and her friends replied indicating that they did not feel confident about her owning one.

Read the whole story and consider whether background checks are a sufficient filter to stop irresponsible people from buying firearms.

https://yesplz.co/safe-gun-owner-po...r&tse_id=INF_c0c870a024a711e8960f8120478e6c53
 

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