1986 Northern Illinois Grad
3 1/2 years earlier I sat in that very auditorium in Cole Hall for a 100 level elective class.

Unbelievable. When is this sh*t going to stop.
How do you keep guns out of the hands of unstable people? I haven't a clue.

I have a niece that is a senior there. She's fine. Thank God. But my heart and prayers go out to those who weren't as lucky. And as a nation we have to go through this again.

I'd be scared as hell if I had a kid in college.

I hope this is the last time we have to watch a scene like this on the news.

Peace

From the same area as you, have many friends at NIU, It is unfortunate and my thought go out to all the families of those injured.

the criminals will always have guns, when more responsible gun owners are able to carry them, then, and only then will the criminals be afraid to pull a weapon.

Spiral,

Glad to hear your niece is safe and thoughts and prayers to all involved.

I know it must truly hit home as an alum of the school.

As a Dad with one in college, my heart skips a beat each time.

This is a horrible tragedy.

And what's most depressing is that nothing is going to happen because of it. Everyone will be shocked and angered for a few days, and talk about gun control, and then things will go back to the way they were. Until the next school shooting.

I used to be a fairly strong gun advocate, but I've seen too many of these tragedies over the years to think that having more guns in people's hands is a solution.

That being said, I don't think that the Second Amendment protects the right to bear ammunition. Ban all the ammo in the country, and I'll concede your right to bear arms. You can use that rifle as a club...

As the father of a child that will be going off to college in '09, this scares the hell out of me.

NIU is a very large school that draws heavily from this area as it's only a 30 minute drive from my town. My daughter is very upset because she has many friends that go to NIU.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and students.

Sad story.

Rothko, extremely poor taste in politicizing a tragedy. Shame on you.

Actually, Instant Access, I was responding to 1badbird's comments.

Secondly, I disagree that "politicizing" this (whatever that means - I assume you mean having a discussion regarding gun control) is inappropriate.

My son and daughter are both students at NIU.
In fact, my daughter just dropped the class a few weeks ago where the shooting occured. I just can't think about it.

My thoughts and prayers are with the NIU staff, student base, friends and family.

Glad your children are safe, Jamie. Anyone who has kids has got to feel a chill down their spine every time something like this happens.

PH

NIU peeps, hang in there. Let's hope this is the last one of these.

We should arm the ROTC.
Texas A&M University, 1979

quote:

Originally posted by 1badbird:
the criminals will always have guns, when more responsible gun owners are able to carry them, then, and only then will the criminals be afraid to pull a weapon.

Yep. The only reason that guy didn't do any more damage than he did at the New Life Church in the Springs is because somebody else was packin. When enough people start carrying, the crooks will have to start thinking twice about where they decide to do their thing. Unfortunately, there are always going to be too many "gun-free" zones in the country that the criminals can target.

Was a nice small school on 1968 when I got 1/2 my MBA there. [other 1/2 was at Mich State]. Nice small clean campus.

Agree, these things are going too far. 34 at VT!!!

This is indeed a terrible tragedy. What a shame.

Part of me wishes we / the media didn't pay so much attention and give so much air time to these sorts of things. It seems that all these derranged people want to have is their 15 minutes of fame, and we give it to them. Times 10! Just like your government doesn't negotiate with terrorists, it seems to me that we also should have a policy to not glorify these senseless acts with hours and hours of media coverage and plastering the shooter's photo everywhere. Just a thought...FWIW.

Be Well!

quote:

And what's most depressing is that nothing is going to happen because of it. Everyone will be shocked and angered for a few days, and talk about gun control, and then things will go back to the way they were. Until the next school shooting.

I used to be a fairly strong gun advocate, but I've seen too many of these tragedies over the years to think that having more guns in people's hands is a solution.

That being said, I don't think that the Second Amendment protects the right to bear ammunition. Ban all the ammo in the country, and I'll concede your right to bear arms. You can use that rifle as a club...

Very well stated Rothko. If the 1st Amendment is the most protected, the 2nd Amendment is certainly the most argued. Situations like this bring an opportunity to gain some clarity over this epidemic.

This time it happens in my town...

We had a shooting a few days ago at a local Wendy's. A 60 year old unemployed man went into the restaurant and starting firing a 9mm Glock. He killed a fire-rescue officer who had just left the Wendy's with his family but was going back inside to get a toy for his son (who was outside with his wife when the officer was killed).

The gunman wounded 4 other people and then turned the gun on himself. So "only" two people died. The police think he would have killed more but he apparently had the wrong type of ammunition in his gun, so the gun wasn't working properly.

No one knows why the guy did it.

The U.S. government enforces safety guarantees on consumer goods. If ANY product is shown to be harmful during its use, it's off the market. Period.

If there is a legitimate legislative need somewhere, laws are passed to mandate it. Want an example? Seat Belts....because they save lives.

I'm almost to the point that I feel I "need" a gun to protect myself when I go out, even though I know I'd probably be better off using my mouth. Statistics, would show that the odds of me using a gun to save myself would pale in comparison to the same gun being stolen and used in a crime, used against me, heat of passion shooting, accident, etc.

You may think I'm against hand guns. I'm not really, but I'd feel a lot safer if these self-loathing phychos didn't have one. I know thousands each year would too, if they were alive, that is.

I don't believe this is a "political" argument per say, except that the NRA has made it one. Think about it. Everytime these senseless dealths occur, I wonder why...then wonder what the solution is. If you have any rational thoughts on the matter, I'd sure like to hear it. These shootings are hitting to close to home...and probably your home too.

I think that the biggest problem with restricting legal and proper firearm ownership is simple. For the most part, those that would follow a such a law are rarely the type of person committing these crimes.

We are also not dealing with product liability. That row has already been hoed. Though some manufacturers have been found negligent in distribution practices the majority of the problem lies with illegal trafficking. This is not stymied by laws against legal and legitimate ownership. The statement may be cliche but, " guns don't kill people, people kill people." Psychos bent on killing will find a way to kill.

Simply legislating away an issue does nothing. Let's pass a law against the sale of meth, cocaine, and other illicit drugs, they're bad for people, so let's tell them they can't use them. Underage drinking is a real problem, let's limit the age you can legally consume alcohol and require id checks.

Passing laws do nothing but make people feel good. That is one problem we face. We can't take personal responsibility for anything, so instead we enact legislation to "protect" us.

It is deplorable that these things happen, I morn the loss of lives and for the families' suffering. But legislating a ban that only affects the law abiding is not the answer or cure.

Background checks and screening can go far, but privacy junkies will go crazy. I do not mind waiting periods either. Certain things can be done, stripping a people of a constitutional right is not one of them.

I personally am licensed to carry a concealed firearm. I do on occasion. More so lately with the rash of these things happening. I should be able to protect myself from those who choose to completely disregard the sovereignty of law and life.

As far as it being a political argument. I don't think it gets more political than constitutional rights.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Curt,

quote:

I personally am licensed to carry a concealed firearm. I do on occasion. More so lately with the rash of these things happening. I should be able to protect myself from those who choose to completely disregard the sovereignty of law and life.

So was I. But I found that just because you can conceal and carry, most folks do NOT know the safety rules, how to maintain, or are even at a low level of proficency with accuracy, or really knowing WHEN to use force VS run. There are tons of cases where licensed folks killed someone by accident.

I was in the field once with a licensed hunter, and was shot at in close range cause he heard a noise. Bullet missed me by 3'.

Hunter safety & possession safety MUST be provided, and tested, and that is BEFORE you obtain a license. You fail, you don't get it.

Other point: we need a federal law for purchase, possession and carry. Individual states allow outsiders to come in, buy and return home. Such as DC and MD>

I agree, federally mandated regulations and databases seem to be fair and with present technology affordable. However, with this should come the lifting of bans established on the state and city level. (NYC, California, etc.) Perhaps with a federal database tracking of mental health treatment and other prohibitory conditions would help prevent those unqualified from obtaining weapons.

I have lived in 3 different states, all required residency to purchase a weapon. The only exception is military members permanently stationed in the state while maintaining residency in another state. Even then orders and military id are required, as well as the standard background check.

The state I live in requires both classroom and practical examinations prior to concealed license issue. Though not as trying as I think they could or possibly should be, they do offer a screening process.

As for me. I have carried a weapon off and on for the past 6 years. I have never even thought about using it. For the most part I don't even think about it being there. I would walk away from any situation I could. However, I don't want to be caught in a position where I can not walk away and have no way to protect myself.

As far as accuracy. Let's just say I don't miss, ever. But with the responsibility of carrying comes the responsibility of proficiency. At least once a month I go to the range and practice at various distances. I think recurring exams to test such should be mandated as well, as often as every 6 months.

Our system is not perfect. However, restricting the rights of the law abiding citizen is not the answer.

A federal system can reduce certain individuals from obtaining weapons. The point is, though, that those criminals which want weapons will always get them. If you go door to door collecting all of the legal firearms in America there will still be tons left. What's more they'd be left in the hands of the criminals.

quote:

Originally posted by flwino:
Other point: we need a federal law for purchase, possession and carry. Individual states allow outsiders to come in, buy and return home. Such as DC and MD>

Citation needed.

PH

The reality is that laws don't typically have an impact on the behavior of criminals bent on crime, nor on nutcases.

The Maryland laws are found in the Public Safety Article, Section 5, but there are also lots of regulations. I see nothing (on a quick glance) prohibiting the sale of a weapon, after the investigation into the purchaser and our 30 day waiting period, that would restrict our law to instate purchases.

Interestingly, there is a specific provision permitting Marylanders to buy guns from out of state, through dealers here, having them shipped here.
(But you can't freely do that with wine!)

quote:

Interestingly, there is a specific provision permitting Marylanders to buy guns from out of state, through dealers here, having them shipped here.
(But you can't freely do that with wine!)

Now that is stupid!!! Guess the gun distributors don't suffer a financial loss as do wine distributors