I am aghast by the footage.

Apparently this doesn't qualify as a "mass shooting" but it is a problem that is increasingly more unique to our beautiful country, The United States of America. 

"American exceptionalism is exceptionally American."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/american-exceptionalism-and-the-%E2%80%98exceptionally-american%E2%80%99-problem-of-mass-shootings/ar-BBm9m4V

Our high expectation of our own selves and the hubris it entails is finally catching up with some of us.  I say "us" because he was a US citizen, and they were US citizens.

Using this specific case I frame my argument that:  The U.S.'s high incidence of mass killings, specifically those perpetrated by 2 or fewer people with the use of guns, is a result both of American culture of individualism and America's freedom to bear arms.

Americans should stand together, but our culture of individualism makes it impossible for everyone to achieve the glory and success we are brought up believing we will each achieve.  In the process, we fail to teach each other that anything less than hard work will not result in success, and how to deal with failure and rejection.  This creates imbalance in the American psyche. 

The firearm and goPro were the methods he used to execute an act of pent up frustration and anger.  And that pent up frustration and anger is what he and every other "mass shooter" ( specifically mass killings perpetrated by 1 or 2 people using firearms) had in common.

The source of the stress is the disappointment in failing to achieve "The American Dream".   Whereas, the access to firearms was ingrained into American culture at our country's conception via The Constitutional Amendments. 

The American Dream evolves, it changes.  It changes as American culture shifts.  American culture has shifted toward snitchery and scandal effectively fostered by social media, an information highway that is breeding a generation of Americans who have a great taste for unsavory gossip, especially about fellow Americans[/i], and who cannot resist minding their own business, like their parents used to.  We used to value honor and the advancement of science and the spreading of knowledge. 

However our right to bear arms is a fundamental pillar of The Constitutional Amendment, it is constant.  And the only thing that is truly constant, is change. 

I believe in keeping our right to bear arms, because I believe in The Constitution and Its Amendments.

The Constitution does not specify how we should treat each other as humans, goodness is implied, but it allows for badness to occur.  I understand it is intentionally, vaguely worded, and the wording is one of the things I respect about it. 



We need to treat each other with respect, with gratitude, with patience.

That is what Americans do.

Find a way to teach "respect, gratitude and patience" to the mentally ill and evil of the world, and you'll be well ahead of the gun control advocates looking to ban as many guns as they can.

This particular person obviously had mental issues as well as anger management problems.  He was fired for his angry outbursts. 

Until you can teach peace, love, and understanding to that segment of the population, you're just preaching to the choir.

*WARNING: OPINION ALERT. DO NOT BE ALARMED

This guy, and the others like him, are the end result of the state sponsored blurred lines, everyone wins a prize, it's not your fault, type of upbringing that has taken over this country since Dr. Spock wrote his idiotic book. The results are predictable, identity confusion, inability to cope with failure, unrealistic expectations, emotional instability and, ultimately, violent behavior.

This is the core of the issues we face today, and the reason we see so many people embracing the liberal "I should be taken care of" ideology. When they reach the "real world" and things are not as they have been taught to expect, the mentally weakest among them blow a mental gasket, and take their frustration out on those around them. Because they assume it's not their fault, and the rest of us must be punished.

Even if we were to change the way kids are raised today, we will still face years of increasing violent acts by those that feel entitled to something more than they've earned. In the end, this is what will need to change in order to turn the country around. The real challenge will be getting people to admit they were wrong, in order to begin the process.

Find a way to teach "respect, gratitude and patience" to the mentally ill and evil of the world, and you'll be well ahead of the gun control advocates looking to ban as many guns as they can.

This particular person obviously had mental issues as well as anger management problems.  He was fired for his angry outbursts. 

Until you can teach peace, love, and understanding to that segment of the population, you're just preaching to the choir.

Americans always find a way.

But this guy was not born evil or mentally ill, he probably wouldn't be labeled those things prior to him perpetrating the murders.

It is his fault, not saying it isn't, but American culture laid the frame work for Americans to feel marginalized in a country where every amenity that provides comfort is available.

I'm calling on each individual American to be good, to respect, to be thankful, to be patient. 

Americans always find a way.

But this guy was not born evil or mentally ill, he probably wouldn't be labeled those things prior to him perpetrating the murders.

It is his fault, not saying it isn't, but American culture laid the frame work for Americans to feel marginalized in a country where every amenity that provides comfort is available.

I'm calling on each individual American to be good, to respect, to be thankful, to be patient.

There is no way you can possibly know that.

Whether the guy was born evil or became evil, the problem remains that prior to perpetrating the murders, the guy would likely pass every fair test or check that could be done on him. We all agree with blaming the individual and not the weapon, but I don't really agree with the attitude of labeling him as "mentally ill" and saying he should have been incarcerated beforehand, or prevented from legally possessing a firearm.

There is no way you can possibly know that.

Obviously.


Oh MD you have a discerning eye for fallacy 


Yes I am preaching to the choir.  And I'm proud that its a positive message that I'm preaching: treat each other with respect, gratitude, and patience.

There is irony in the paradox that these shootings have a certain level of predictability and unpredictability.  There is a clear trend of individually motivated acts of violence against random citizens that makes these shootings predictable.  The unpredictable aspects are who? and when?  I can say without a doubt that a similar act of violence will again occur in this country.  Call that assertion a fallacy now and I'll tell you "i told you so" after the next mass shooting makes headlines.  Its like an earthquake, we know it will happen, we just don't know when. 

I'm done trying to find a reason for heinous murders, aren't u tired of trying to find an explanation? Knowing that shitty news will make the headlines again? 

That is why i will try to be a good person.  I will try to denounce negativity and jealousy in every aspect of life. I will be respectful, gracious (by saying thank you for even the smallest things means I don't take it for granted, its a wonderful feeling to thank somebody), and patient. 

Here I go again...preaching to the choir...at least its a positive message.

You guys are all wrong.
The shooter was a product of affirmative action and PC.
He was not crazy.  I have worked with a lot
of different races. there are two that scare me,
Affirmative action blacks and white liberals.
I know these are not races, they are a result
of Democrats existing in positions of power.

The father of slain television reporter Alison Parker, after taking aim at the gun lobby, now worries he might need a gun of his own.

Andy Parker acknowledged he might exercise his right to bear arms after unleashing yet another withering attack Friday on the National Rifle Association and timid politicians.

“I don’t own a gun,” Parker told reporters outside the Roanoke television station where his daughter Alison worked.

“We don’t have a gun in our family. I’m probably going to have to get one. I mean, sad to say, but I — unfortunately, that’s the world we live in.”

                 

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/father-slain-reporter-alison-parker-gun-article-1.2341114

This is insanity. The NRA had nothing to do with this murder - but yet this man is hell bent on going after them as if the NRA perpetrated the crime.
I'm the NRA. SOrry for your loss but I had absolutely nothing to do with your daughter's murder.
See this is the type of campaign the NRA needs to launch after every tragedy like this - when irrational emotions take over the victim's relatives thinking.
We are the NRA - then show them the millions of innocent gun owners who had nothing to do with the tragedy.

This is insanity. The NRA had nothing to do with this murder

No shiite, they could as well blame the Black pampers, revrunt Al, Obunga, or any combination of agitators feeding this guy's racist paranoia.......but that will never happen as long as the liberals have their hated conservative boogieman to try and go after.

And liberals wonder why the nation is so divided, they refuse to have the slightest bit of introspection or ability to accept blame for anything.  Certainly not thier own rhetoric and baiting.

This is insanity. The NRA had nothing to do with this murder - but yet this man is hell bent on going after them as if the NRA perpetrated the crime.
I'm the NRA. SOrry for your loss but I had absolutely nothing to do with your daughter's murder.
See this is the type of campaign the NRA needs to launch after every tragedy like this - when irrational emotions take over the victim's relatives thinking.
We are the NRA - then show them the millions of innocent gun owners who had nothing to do with the tragedy.

Hey Ren,

I remember about a year ago there was a white cop shooting a black teenager. Everyone came out of their caves like Sharpton and his ilk. My progressive cousin started attacking the NRA on Facebook. When I pushed him about what the NRA had to do with it he said the NRA supported white cops shooting blacks. After some discussion he backed down from that and started blaming the NRA for not training the cop better. After more discussion he finally backed off that. And to this day he has not attacked the NRA on Facebook. I can't say whether it was true brainwashing or if he just wanted something to blame knowing the NRA would never defend themselves on his Facebook page. But sometimes I think it is just easier to blame a someone or something that won't fight back directly. Oh, and he has drank the progressive kool aid.

Black
Homosexual
Liberal

How many different ways can a person be inundated with messages that he's a victim before he is convinced there is no way out other than suicide, taking those he blames for making him a victim with him?

Black
Homosexual
Liberal

How many different ways can a person be inundates with messages that he's a victim before he is convinced there is no way out other than suicide, taking those he blames for making him a victim with him?

Mebbe he could have added in that trans thingee that liberals are all so a-twit about these days.

In reality, this really needs input from the H2A liberal members that seem to be AWOL these days.............

Not that anyone is missing the Obutthole voters..................

I read some of the things the shooter called racist.  What a idiot. He's a idiot liberal period.