From today's NYT: The repercussions were felt far beyond Colorado. In Alabama and Florida, the school shooting led lawmakers to postpone consideration of bills that would prohibit cities and counties from suing gun makers for the cost of gun violence. The bills, similar to others passed around the country, were introduced at the behest of the National Rifle Association to protect the firearms industry from liability suits. Also Wednesday, officials of the N.R.A. said they had decided to scale back their national membership meeting, scheduled for May 1 in Denver. In a letter, the association's president, the actor Charlton Heston, said the group was canceling a gun show along with all other "festive ceremonies normally associated with our annual gathering." The group was nevertheless going to hold its annual members meeting at the city's convention center. The event was modified "to show our profound sympathy and respect for the families and communities in the Denver area in their time of great loss," said a letter signed by Heston. "Our spirits must endure this terrible suffering together, and so must the freedoms that bring us together," said the letter. But Heston and some politicians said that the violence might have been averted if someone else had been armed at the school. "Had there been someone who was armed, in this particular situation, in my opinion, it may have stabilized," said Gov. Jesse Ventura of Minnesota, who supports loosening restrictions on concealed handguns.... And Heston said the incident showed that there should be armed guards in the nation's schools. "If there had been even one armed guard in the school, he could have saved a lot of lives and perhaps ended the whole thing instantly," he said today in in Los Angeles. There was, in fact, an armed guard at the school.

and manson is banned from having a concert there....

Please notice Gun Culture topic in Philosophy Conference.

Paul... is there any way we could change the title of this topic? If not, I understand but (hemming and hawing) it's rather upsetting. Besides making me physically ill... I don't want other people to get the impression we are not a sensitive group I've never objected to semi-sensationalized titles before but, then again, this has never happened to people I know and live with before either

i completely agree

Sure, I'll change, what do you want it to be, Stace?

I object to the goth-part as most likely not being correct and the "waste" thing as something rude (while in this case - judging from what can be reconstructured of their mindset - "wasting" was exactly what these two sorry creatures were out to do). Not that you meant to offense.

Everyone here just refers to it as Columbine. period the end. But, for the benefit of others perhaps Columbine High School Tragedy would be expressive enough.? (Thanks Paul...)

Over here, it's "Littleton". That would make it "Littleton, Col.: Columbine High School Tragedy" or "Columbine High School Tragedy (Littleton, Col.)". And the more I hear about this, the more I wonder. The poor crazed creatures who did this! Imagine what pain you must feel to grow so much hate and ignorance, and how closed up you must be, if there's no other way to vent your feelings and voice your thoughts. They in the end weren't losers. They won. They transferred the sadness and frustration of their short sorry lives into a multitude of other peoples lives; this is the true gruelty of the event. So, to not let them win, one should laugh and look at what remains with love. Quite the tall order, no? Just shows how naive I am in some respects.

I'm not sure the goal was something as well thought out as transfer of sadness... if it were then you are indeed 100% correct and yes it is a tall order... ... but it's just about the best possible means for growth... look at, respect and nuture what remains

I changed the name. There was a piece on tv about gun shows last night. This is where guns change hands freely, there are absolutely no restrictions. Anything goes. Want yer uzzi, ak47, whatever you need, no matter how old you are, no matter what your record, it can be had at one of over 8,000 gun shoes in this country.

(thanks for changing the name Paul)

that can't be a good thing, terry

Billary came out with some major anti-gun measures today, giving our Austin morning talk show hosts, Sammy and Bob, a hernia. But they want to limit buys to one gun a month, raise the gun totin' age to 21 from 18 and require background checks at gun shows. Trent Lott also had a fit over this.

One a month? My, you guys sure use 'em up fast!

Yep, they'll be a gun of the month club now.

From an MSNBC report: PEOPLE'S LIVES are at stake here," Clinton said at a White House ceremony after joining first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and lawmakers from around the country in a moment of silence for the community of Littleton, Colo. Clinton's gun-control package would require mandatory child-safety locks on all guns sold; require purchasers of weapons at gun shows to undergo background checks; impose a lifetime ban on gun ownership for people who commit violent crimes as juveniles and institute a three-day waiting period for all handgun purchases. The Brady law's five-day waiting period lapsed last year. The package, which the White House called "the most comprehensive gun legislation any administration has put forward in 30 years," also proposes banning juvenile possession of semiautomatic assault rifles, halting imports of all high-capacity ammunition clips and limiting an individual's handgun purchases to one per month. Republican leaders and even some Democrats, however, were not impressed. After Clinton made his remarks, Senate Republican leader Trent Lott called the plan a "typical knee-jerk reaction" and said he understood that 17 laws were broken by the two teens who murdered fellow students and a teacher. The rest is at http://www.msnbc.com/msn/262926.asp

well, it sounds like common sense to me. america has a gun problem - that's a plain and simple fact. as much as I support freedom there can be too much of it. over here in the UK it's now completely illegal to hold any kind of weapon above .22 calibre. you can't even have them in gun clubs. the UK olympic shooting team has to train abroad because they're not allowed to keep weapons. now *that* is over the top. checking whether someone is a psycho before you sell them a very good murder tool is not ver the top.

I prefer the English philosophy, Mike--conservative to a fault. That's why the pickpockets are so artful there! Not like here, where they just stick a gun in your ribs and demand your wallet.

hehe....that's right. you've got to respect someone who can bump into you, apologise politely *and* make off with your wallet ;))

Hey, what's that! Where IS my wallet?

Oh, it's you again, Mikey! How are ya, ladddie! Goin' strong on tha' bankin' thang? Might 's well give up the ol' 'abits, wot! (Pickpocket inna suit? Can't have that around here!)

LOL at the cockney, Alexander!!

I've heard police are about to make arrests concerning this here tragedy. How are these people involved?