Post by malxscfc on Apr 16, 2007 22:59:52 GMT
Happened to have listened in to almost every 'significant' bit of this event today, though only by chance.
Have always had a passing interest in these events, since my sister happened to be in Hungerford in 1987 when Michael Ryan lost his temper...
Clearly this phenomenon is nothing new in a Nation where Gun Control is minimal - indeed is outlawed by an outdated constitution about lifestyle - but these freakish events WILL continue, and NO DOUBT, the bar has been raised once more today, and there will be 10,000 young men in the US fantasising about waxing "more than 50", or maybe reaching the 3-figures, before they are gunned down for media immortality....
A couple of early points of interest: Yes, clearly the University was unprepared for this kind of event. Their communication was no better than any other town-sized entity of 10,000+ souls.... [That is NOT news, but will be dwelt upon by the blame-seeking Media].
The Police failed to get a grasp on the situation, and arrest, suppress or prevent the gunman from getting away with his cheap grudge and ammunition still on his shoulder [That is also NOT news, but will be dwelt upon by the blame-seeking Media].
For me, the staggering fact yet to emerge is the sheer volume of ammunition the bloke carried about with him. The weaponry was a subject avoided in the Press Conference, but it had to be an assault rifle (e.g. M16 etc) at least, and probably a hand gun too, but a weapon's easy to carry alone - it's carrying something like 100-300 rounds of ammo which is the tough thing - it's weighty and cumbersome, and needs a bit of pre-meditation...
Because this happened in the US, and not (say) Russia, this will continue to be big news for weeks, and eventually the Police will piece together a few facts for the Inquest to sift through.
It's a strange country where guns are so prevalent that these social events are conducted on a monthly basis, though the Americans smile and deny it usually. While passing through the authority metal detectors.
When 18, I spent a few days in New Orleans, and was horrified to read in the paper that there'd been as many homicides by black men on black men from January 'thru' June in that one city as there had been murders in Britain the whole previous year (about 500). Yet such is their way.
I found it especially repugnant for Bush to jump on the bandwagon this afternoon and express his shock, sorrow and prayers for this event - a man who ignored the plight of New Orleans almost completely throughout and after its near dismantlement 2 years ago....
Double standards. It's the American way!
There are 160,000 Americans involved in operations in Iraq.
A year ago, ironically, there was a period when the death-rate from gunfire was lower on Americans in Iraq than it was in Washington D.C., the U.S. Capital.
Make of that what you will....
P.S. Can't recall the "movie" which dealt with this issue, but until the relatives/legates of victims of killings by handguns are awarded compensation by the ARMS MANUFACTURERS or the U.S. Government {due to faulty Law-making}, there will always be a ludicrously high rate of murder in what ought to be the most contented, prosperous and well-resourced nation on earth.
Soap Box stashed. Coat-time.
P.P.S. Forgot to add, of course, that it's Monday...
Have always had a passing interest in these events, since my sister happened to be in Hungerford in 1987 when Michael Ryan lost his temper...
Clearly this phenomenon is nothing new in a Nation where Gun Control is minimal - indeed is outlawed by an outdated constitution about lifestyle - but these freakish events WILL continue, and NO DOUBT, the bar has been raised once more today, and there will be 10,000 young men in the US fantasising about waxing "more than 50", or maybe reaching the 3-figures, before they are gunned down for media immortality....
A couple of early points of interest: Yes, clearly the University was unprepared for this kind of event. Their communication was no better than any other town-sized entity of 10,000+ souls.... [That is NOT news, but will be dwelt upon by the blame-seeking Media].
The Police failed to get a grasp on the situation, and arrest, suppress or prevent the gunman from getting away with his cheap grudge and ammunition still on his shoulder [That is also NOT news, but will be dwelt upon by the blame-seeking Media].
For me, the staggering fact yet to emerge is the sheer volume of ammunition the bloke carried about with him. The weaponry was a subject avoided in the Press Conference, but it had to be an assault rifle (e.g. M16 etc) at least, and probably a hand gun too, but a weapon's easy to carry alone - it's carrying something like 100-300 rounds of ammo which is the tough thing - it's weighty and cumbersome, and needs a bit of pre-meditation...
Because this happened in the US, and not (say) Russia, this will continue to be big news for weeks, and eventually the Police will piece together a few facts for the Inquest to sift through.
It's a strange country where guns are so prevalent that these social events are conducted on a monthly basis, though the Americans smile and deny it usually. While passing through the authority metal detectors.
When 18, I spent a few days in New Orleans, and was horrified to read in the paper that there'd been as many homicides by black men on black men from January 'thru' June in that one city as there had been murders in Britain the whole previous year (about 500). Yet such is their way.
I found it especially repugnant for Bush to jump on the bandwagon this afternoon and express his shock, sorrow and prayers for this event - a man who ignored the plight of New Orleans almost completely throughout and after its near dismantlement 2 years ago....
Double standards. It's the American way!
There are 160,000 Americans involved in operations in Iraq.
A year ago, ironically, there was a period when the death-rate from gunfire was lower on Americans in Iraq than it was in Washington D.C., the U.S. Capital.
Make of that what you will....
P.S. Can't recall the "movie" which dealt with this issue, but until the relatives/legates of victims of killings by handguns are awarded compensation by the ARMS MANUFACTURERS or the U.S. Government {due to faulty Law-making}, there will always be a ludicrously high rate of murder in what ought to be the most contented, prosperous and well-resourced nation on earth.
Soap Box stashed. Coat-time.
P.P.S. Forgot to add, of course, that it's Monday...