Comments on: Of university massacres, & gun control

By: Think Tank

Think Tank — Wed, 02 May 2007 14:42:11 +0000

We currently have a Government that is pretty fond of following the U.S. including in economic policy. Where will we end up?

By: Inspirio

Inspirio — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:26:33 +0000

Mental health is a huge issue, but we must not be daunted by the magnitude. The more we can all do to help the mental health and well being of ourselves and those working in the field, the better - every bit counts. From what I can gather the mental health system in US is quite outdated and in need of some serious work, as is the current general health system.

By: Think Tank

Think Tank — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:10:21 +0000

I hope for the US’s sake that they do not concentrate on gun control alone but also, and primarily, on mental health. I remember the aftermath of Port Arthur and how for a brief moment the subject of mental health services and criticism of previous government cut backs hit the front page. Sadly the political spin doctors entered the scene and switched the attention to gun control. Perhaps reduced access to semi-automatic weapons may have prevented a few deaths but Martin Bryant would still have killed many many people.

No problem of this size has one single fix. Yes, in the U.S. gun control is a large problem, though they must equally face mental health issues, a school system that grossly failed in it’s duty of care as well as a Korean community living in fear of reprisal attacks.

If we concentrate solely on the act itself we may miss the path taken to arrive at that point. Change the path and you will change the destination.

By: Audrey

Audrey — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 06:46:59 +0000

I was on my way to uni when I heard the news, so the reality of it kinda hit home really hard. I got really choked up..

I think people may find this a bit extreme but I really do not like guns in any context. I think they’re just as bad when used for hunting as in a playstation game.

One of the most powerful pieces of performance art I have ever seen is U2’s ‘bullet the blue sky’. They use a clip of Charlton Heston - the then president of the National Rifle Association - saying something along the lines of “A gun in the hands of a good person can do no harm”, at the same time a there is a clip playing of a toddler in a home who stumbles on a hand gun and begins to play with it.

I’d be all for tightening of gun laws to extreme levels.

By: Inspirio

Inspirio — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 23:54:44 +0000

I totally agree, the fact that this was so carefully carried out is frightening. What is more chilling is that ‘freedom and liberty’ has gone so far as to allow people the temptation of a semi-automatic weapon in their homes, and therefore gives the option of using it when they’re least rational and their anger or hatred spills over.
Any thoughts on firearms laws on our country, or others?

By: godBoy

godBoy — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 04:18:43 +0000

It was Shocking

It actually reminded me of a line in “Collateral” - In this city a man dies on the train, sits there for days, doing loops of the subway - and no one notices him.

In the case of Cho Seung Hui - It was a case of no-one interceding while a disturbed young man lost his grip on reality. The pre-meditation of the attack is what I find the most unsettling - Stopping after a couple of murders to send taunting videos to the NBC is particularly chilling.