could tighter gun control have prevented the

[wernecke]

could tighter gun control have prevented the Virginia Tech tragedy? I know that is a way oversimplified question but I am interested in peoples' thoughts on this.

[mishler]

the only way to answer that question is to find a country with similar demographics to ours and tighter gun control...and then look at their long term stats. country nominations? we're kind of an anomaly...

[crim]

good point. I think lapses in the mental health care system contributed a lot to the tragedy.

[gula]

like the UK may I direct you to slides 8 & 9....

[guttmann]

Didn't he scrap the serial #'s off of the weapon Where did the guns come from?

[montgomery]

yes he did but he had purchased them legally

[Rubetta]

I don't think so I wish it were that simple though. I think it's more of a cultural problem than a simple passing-of-a-law problem. We're fed violence and fear every day through tv shows, news programs, films etc. We're also a very independant people and not inclined to trust our government to take care of things (for good reason). The problem with tighter gun laws, from what I've noticed, is that the people who are going to do bad things don't care so much about breaking the law. As long as they can buy a gun on the street for $200, they're going to be armed. It's the law-abiding person that will have a harder time buying the gun. Personally, I don't think anyone but a cop or a soldier really *needs* a 9 millimeter hand gun, but that's just me. So, tighter gun laws might make us feel better, but I think it would do more good to address the underlying cultural and helathcare issues that lead to this kind of violence in the first place. Of course, that's ultimatly a lot more involved than passing a law.

[stackpole]

do you think that the culture of violence exists only in the US??? impossible. so why are we the only ones with killing sprees?

[Toyanne]

We're not the only country with killing sprees. That happens in other places too. But, yes I do think there is something about American culture specifiy that lends itself to violence. Maybe it's the "cowboy", sort of attitude. Maybe it's that we're always being told how dangerous it is outside of our own front doors. I'm not an expert in sociology. I do think that gun laws alone won't solve a problem this complex, though.

[imhof]

I completely & totally agree Our society and culture contributed enormously. It all goes back to the dang Bobo doll. Excellent cartoon:

[saxe]

Go women's movement. I think that's where we come in. Why is a movie suddenly rated R when a woman has an orgasm, but rape is PG x? We need to bring talk about this stuff, bring it up in schools, write books, write to magazines and newspapers. Culture-busting is a massive undertaking, and this is the perfect time to talk about it.