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Here is the latest selection of your views:
Murray M
An absolute tragedy, beyond comprehension, and unspeakable grief for those involved, but sadly, so American. Banning guns in America will not solve the problem. The solution lies in a complete change of philosophy and lifestyle. It is sad for the millions of Americans who are in reality lovely people, but they bear the brunt of something over which they appear to have no control.
Barbara
I am amazed how all Americans are lumped together as if we are mindless, can't think for ourselves, or ever lived anywhere else. As Lisa in Va said, not all of us voted for Jr. or even approve of the decisions that have made in our names. Few of us really carry guns.........unfortunately, those that do have the very powerful lobbying force, the NRA. And how easy it is to sit back and judge events from a distance. Hindsight is always 20/20. What will be said now that it is known that the killer was a legal alien - not an actual American?
Edgar
Tena Kota kotoa! The VA Tech shooting is indeed a massacre and tragedy am so sorry for the parents of those students killed. After reading your previous posts, I find your anti-American rhetoric amazing. Gun control is needed for far too many felons and visting student/workers with visas (yes the shooter was not a US citizen and felons/visas cannot bear arms) have access to firearms. America was founded and protected by our call to arms for WE believed in self-government and not tribute to a king. The right to bear arms is to protect our homes and families as stated in our contstitution. Despite the fact that this student was not a citizen, nobody cannot predict when an individual will "break" and commit such an atrocity.I find your left wing opinions entertaiinng but remember that the computer you are typing on, the tele in your home, the radio in your car , the planes you fly on and the car you drive, was created by us so called "imperialistic yanks" and we never hear anything bad about the aforementioned. Maybe we should stop granting student Visas from other countries but wait a minute.... we gladly have students receiving an education sent from New Zeland? So, stop the US hate game because when all is said and done, you will be glad to have us on your side. Remember WW2 and how most of you are not speaking German! Have a good day, best wishes from the greatest nation on earth!
Gurunath Dhend
Still bad days will be seen by USA as policy of spreading arms in third world & African countries.
April
The fact that it is so easy in America for anybody to retain a gun permit.
Sung Wujung
The killer lived in America for most of his life, he's more American the South Korean. Having "S Korean student blamed for US shooting rampage" as the headline does nothing for the image of Koreans and is simply bad press. Why not "Male Christian student blamed for US shooting rampage"? It should simply read "Student blamed for US shooting rampage".
Richard
This whole thing makes me sick. But what is worse is George Bush pouring out he's sympathies to the families of those that have lost their loved ones. Why not take the gun out of the equation and simply ban the sell of them. Granted it won't stop organized crime, but it would stop this unnecessary loss of life.
Peter Mathys
Americans are obsessed with themselves and have lost the ability to behave in a socially acceptable fashion towards each other and the rest of the world. It seems they have lost humanity. This latest shooting is just a symptom of that. But why all the fuss? For the last four years, Americans have been carrying out shootings like this every day in Iraq. They should be used to it by now.
Charlotte
How can we say who's to blame, whether it was the lax gun laws, violent video games or whatever, when we have no idea of the gunman's motivations, mental state or anything about him at all??? We can't play the blame game until we know all the facts, and at the moment all we really know is that someone went crazy and killed 30 people.
Nita
The person who carried out the shootings of course! Don't blame the government or the system like many people do here.
Richard
To be honest, I don't care. What I care about is that I load up the Herald site, and this is the top story. How about the fact that the health system is in a crisis being the top story? That thousands of people are going without their operations because of strikes. That millions of dollars are being wasted by SOEs while this is going on, that could go to pay equality in the health system. Come on, there are more important things going on in New Zealand that directly affect kiwi's that should be the top stories.
Paul
This incident is so sad and tragic! But before anyone starts bagging the U.S.A or whoever for their gun laws etc, remember this. The mongrel responsible for this is a product of the "PC" inhibited western world we live in today. Also here is a fact-- Quoted from a recent British Police media release. Murder assault and crime with guns is on the increase. This is in a country that banned all lawful right of its citizens to own or use firearms some years ago after a similar horrific incident. Go figure!
Thom Grey
This, ladies and gentlemen, is the vicious backwash of the great wave of the American Dream. That core rainbow ideal that just over the next hill lies a pot of gold. The heart of every American beats a winner's pulse, a blind "can-do" resolve, that the world is essentially right and just, and you WILL reap what you have sown. A tremendous sense of God's blessing; an overwhelming patriotism, is America's boast, rife in movies, foreign affairs, and etched in the nation's history. Americans are not psychologically programmed to handle being wrong. George Bush was re-elected. And this, I think, is the key, the achilles heel, as America continues to walk that fine tightrope above the gaping jaws of disillusionment. That some fall is the price of a nation's dream.
Michael Earley
There are many people calling for increased regulation to stop this from happening again. And apparently a few people offended by my point regarding "Gun Free Zones" Does anyone really think that harsher gun laws will prevent this from happening? This person murdered 33 people. He quite clearly holds the law in contempt, anyone who has no problem with breaking the law in killing 33 innocent people is going to have no problem in breaking the law in acquiring, and possessing illegal firearms - regardless of the law. All heavier restrictions will do is prevent ordinary law abiding citizens from possessing firearms and defending themselves. While criminals continue to purchase black market arms (apparently the going rate for a illegal handgun in the USA is about $30 USD). To argue for harsher restrictions on firearms is in essence arguing against these 33 people who were brutally murdered to have the capacity and ability to defend themselves in this sort of situation. When someone is intent on killing people, in a fashion like this, just as with Burton in NZ - only one thing is going to stop them, and thats a bullet. This is very hard, when the law prevents people from doing this. Apologies to the liberals who are offended by this, but sadly its the cold hard facts of the situation.
Graeme
You cannot say that because in video games you get to kill and run over people... Yanks are notoriously idiotic (look who's in charge) and if you combine an idiot with an easily accessible weapon sooner or later they're always going to hurt either themself or someone else. As for deciding to massacre a load of innocent people, they'd just have to be one very troubled (insane? pathetic?) person that probably should have had help (or attention?) a long time ago.
Amanda K
Living overseas, I am often asked why NZers are becoming "anti-American." I think we can safely say that nobody in NZ hates Americans; it's the American culture we find so insane, upsetting and alarming. Here is yet another horrifying result of it. Sure, it's people who kill people, not guns, but guns certainly make it offensively easy. Unfortunately I imagine if the government tried, for once, to do the sane thing and get rid of the horrid things once and for all, they'd have a civil war on their hands.
D Willetts
Who on earth would know the reasons for the shooting? It is a dumb question to ask - verges on some weird form of infotainment, not serious journalism.
James Marks
To the people who blame video games and TV for violence, here is a newsflash for you. People have been slaughtering each other for centuries before video games and TV came along. Take WW1, the most violent war in history with millions killed, or look at the hundred years war in medieval Europe - an incredibly violent time.
Ure Kismet
It's karma really. Although the young victims may not have done anything to further America's imperial ambitions, their parents have watched their nation's armed forces invade, rape and plunder other countries and done nothing to stop it. Whenever America drops a bucketful of bombs on a school in Iraq, or more recently, Somalia, killing a lot more than 32 students, the story barely makes the global media. The usual justifications are trotted out. The school was teaching it's students to resist the American empire or it was just collateral damage. Yet just as a child who is beaten by their parents is more likely to abuse their own children, America's murderous intent upon the 3rd world has rubbed off on it's own young people, many of whom now believe that the correct response when something irks you is to irrationally lash out killing anyone who gets in the way. If that seems harsh consider this. If Americans were truly distraught about this pointless slaughter which occurs with mundane regularity in it's so called 'heartland' they would learn from these episodes and demand changes to the sick society which engendered them.That won't happen but it will be a good time to own stocks in security industries particularly metal detector manufacturers as Americans appear to believe the problem can be solved by treating their young people as potential threats to national security. If you made a movie of this madness back before it began no one would go. It would seem too outrageous and unrealistic.
Symon
I can't help but wonder if media violence has once again influenced another unstable person in his decision to shoot up his school. We are horrified by such a tragedy and condemn such evil (and rightly so), while at the same time we turn a blind eye to violent computer games such as Gears Of War (cutting up people with chainsaws!?), and countless others which glorify such violence? Where are our brains?
Mike Green
Who's to blame isn't the question anyone should be asking right now. After the Columbine massacre America seemed intent on finding a suitable scapegoat instead of asking what needed to be done to prevent a similar incident from happening again. Incidents like this are a direct result of America's 'freedom' to bear arms. The country has never been good at addressing their problems in front of the rest of the world, especially when there are issues of constitutional right involved. At some point America will need to decide if it will tolerate incidents like this as a necessary consequence of the right to bear arms, and sadly I don't think they will make the logical choice.
Kent
This just proves that the "terrorism" threat in the US is a load of rubbish. If it is so easy to conduct a campus slaughter, why aren't all the Islamic terrorists lining up to commit these massacres? Because terrorism in the US is a myth used to create a climate of fear so that the US government can invade countries with carte blanche.
Crash
Why is it such a big deal that 32 civilians die in the US, when the war that they created in Iraq is killing more than this number of civilians each day?
Roslyn
My deepest thoughts and sympathy go out to the students of Virginia Tech, and family of those killed and injured in yesterday's attack. May all of New Zealands prayers be with them, through this senseless and sad time.
Lisa in Virginia
I was surprised to find the coverage of this was on the front page of so many news services around the world. However, after reading the messages here, I'm angered that so many people are painting Americans with such a broad brush. The reality is that half of this country of 300 million are against guns, the Iraq war, and the US policing the world. Half of us never voted for Bush, gun control or many other issues you are so disgusted with. This country is, and has been, horribly divided. The election results of last fall were a positive step for those of us trying desperately to take control away from Bush and his followers. That said, I am heartsick over what happened at Virginia Tech. I spent hours today frantically trying to locate my niece who is a student there. Luckily for our family, she is okay. However, there are many families here that are not so lucky. Right now the last thing on our minds is social/political issues. This is our home and these are people we know and love. Maybe after we stop crying we'll be able think about the big picture.
Phil
Tragedies such as this are the vehicles for people to justify their point of view not the impetus to change of an impractical or inhuman take on the world, so no one is gonna have an epiphany over this senseless killing. That said I have no doubt that some young people really struggle to integrate into the real world once they reach adulthood. That happens everywhere around the world and has been happening since long before TV, movies or violent video games. So why do young Americans act out more violently than just about anywhere else? It has to be the readily available weapons. However treasonous Americans may believe a movement to reduce the freedom to own a killing machine such as a semi-automatic is, nothing will change until young psyches unable to face the real world cannot access guns. That isn't going to happen any time soon. Now these self-hating young wannabes have a whole new number to beat, 32, it won't be long before someone tries to beat it.
Grant H
While I do sympathies with those people that lose their lives, again I have to agree with most peoples comments. People shouldn't be able to have the right to carry guns and weapons, it's only asking for trouble. Again after this is all over, I'm sure again nothing will be done to make these rules tougher, and in a few more years time there will possibly be another one, you think that the government would have learnt that something needs to be done. Also can someone please explain to me why is this still been covered all over CNN as breaking news,it's been going since I saw it at 7am, we know what has happened,and we are seeing the same pictures over and over again, even Dr Phil was on. If this happened anywhere else in the world I'm sure it wont be getting the same coverage and indepth interviews. It happened in Iraq a couple of weeks ago didn't it?
Ben
What can you say about a one of the worlds most developed countries that makes it easier for a crackpot to get a gun than a drivers license? Truly honour the dead students by taking the millions of readily available guns off American streets and out of the hands of such unbalanced people.
Jane
The USA is to blame for all of this they are inadvertently supposed to be "mentors" for every other country and most countries like NZ adopt their way of life and way of thinking either through the media or entertainment. Everyone wants to do what the Americans do live how the Americans be rich and famous like them, but do we really want to be like them? Look at the war in Iraq and especially the high school killings not a good move if you ask me.
Lulu
It's no one other than the killers' fault? How can you not blame him? Helloooo... This always happens with situations such as these, where people will turn around and ask "Who Is There To Blame?" Every one of us has the power to kill, but it is our common sense and good judgment that allows us to make the right choice and to not kill. No one forced him to pull the trigger on those poor students. People can blame it on his upbringing, his parents, his girlfriend etc. I say blame him, Blame the person who committed the act, blame the person who is supposed to be blamed. Don't blame anyone else because you did not see any of those "other people who are to blame" guiding him through the school grounds aiming the gun at the unsuspecting students and pulling the trigger.
Tom
When do we change our gun laws? The right to bear arms is from a by-gone era...our right to assemble and free speech...free elections...are a much more important weapon against oppressive government.Wake-up America! Easy access to guns present the opportunity for disaster. Look at the little school house in Lancaster, PA. The list continues to grow.
Wanhing Siew
Can the killer kill 33 people so easily and quickly with bare hand or a knife or even a sword? It has to be a retarded to believe that "Guns don't kill people, people kill people"
Brendon
inger pointing always seems to arise in times like these, however I believe that the question is not what party to blame but what causes a person to have such anger inside that they would do this. Maybe its a result of an ever increasing atheistic culture in western society? If there is no God why have justice, why love, what makes one mans view more valid than anothers. If a person is angry who is to hold him accountable for 33 lives? If theres noone bigger than us - why not?
Peter
It is so sad to hear this appalling news. but after that, it seems this incident is inevitable in US. Guns are just like other products, which are flooding in the market. Everyone has his/her right to carry a gun with various purposes. Someone may say this is the way that American to show their democracy and freedom, but I did not see there is any relation between those things. We are alright here in NZ, but we have strict weapon policy. Someone may say you can kill without guns, but the question is that how often would this happen and how many would you be able to kill in one single incident. It is ridiculous to talk about the freedom and democracy where the basic human life is jeopardized by the uncontrolled gun's presence.
Grant Diggle
This tragic event is a reminder of how individual responsibility individual ethics and individual morality has largely disappeared from our society. Instead it has been replaced with a selfish me me me I I I that wants everything for nothing.The babyboomer generation has itself produce a generation of ethical and moral pygmies all rushing to blame someone else for their own failures.
Noguns
Firstly what a needless waste of life.. However It amazes me how the Americans hype these things, which seems to be self propagating for future "copy cat" events. Give it a week and there will be made for TV movie and people talking to Diane Sawyer all for a quick buck, all the while creating a "pop hero" out of the gunman amongst like minded loose units. If this happened anywhere else in the world, would it get the same attention? Say somewhere like Baghdad? Wouldn't get a mention if you lived in the States!
Chris
I can't believe how many people blame these shootings on the fact that anyone who isn't a felon can easily get a gun in the USA. If you weren't so ignorant, you would notice that shootings like this almost always occur in places where it is illegal to carry a gun. The fact is, if guns were made illegal, the only guns on the street would be illegal ones, and honest citizens would be walking targets. If honest citizens aren't allowed to carry guns in self-defence, criminals take advantage of that, crime rates rise, and more defenceless people get robbed/ murdered/ raped/ etc. So stop wasting your breath and my time talking about how gun laws need to become more strict in America, and think about the consequences of what you preach. You are lucky that there are honest citizens like myself who carry a gun just in case; maybe one day I'll save your life from a violent criminal, and then you might think about what I'm saying, but hey, I guess it's just one more innocent dead body if you don't listen.
Candice
Is the issue here really America's gun laws? Or is it more the blatant segregation of students in schools? The jocks, the cheerleaders, the debate team, the chess team, blacks, hispanics to name a few. Students develop personalities according to the group they are put under, it's no wonder they are repressed and angry. The problem isn't the ability to acquire the weapons, but the need to use them at all.
Leonie
There's the saying that guns don't kill people, people kill people, but if that is the case why don't we allow citizens to have rocket launchers or grenades? It's a ridiculous argument and no civilised society should arm its population as if we were back in the day of cowboys and shoot em ups. If you no longer have faith in law and order to protect you isn't it better to address this rather than cowering in your home with a handgun under your bed? A violent culture breeds violence. It certainly doesn't help matters when this is crossed with poor social services and support, especially in areas of mental health. NZ shouldn't feel smug either as it isn't out of the realms of possibility of happening here. A tragic and horrible day, but more tragic if nothing comes out of it and it's allowed to repeat itself once more.
Hilary
The person with the gun. 2. A society that doesn't have the principle "be prepared". Look at past stupid advice given: Nuclear explosion, get under your desk, and cover your head with your hands. Chemical attack: plastic sheeting and duct tape. After Columbine, wouldn't you have thought that just maybe, every class in the country would have had a "plan" for just such an occasion as this? Something like: If a lunatic comes in class and is determined to kill, some will die. But if we all get up en masse, rush forward, tackle, take down, and hold down, then just maybe some might die, but the majority might live. But because each student behaved as individuals, instead of working collectively as a group unit, every single kid was either killed or wounded. 100 years ago, collective nouse wouldn't have 'allowed' such a result.
Helen
Yes it is tragic that a large number of people have died in the States today. I find it interesting however that this makes massive headlines yet the 35 Thai people who died in floods yesterday or the 40 who were killed by a suicide bomber in bus shelter in Iraq now seem like distant and irrelevant news. Have we become that desensitized as to no longer notice others not in the Western world who also suffer and grieve for innocent deaths? Now that is really tragic.
Adam
t the time when Americans were given the right to bear arms, black people were slaves and women couldn't vote. There have been about twenty seven amendments to the constitution since it was first written, maybe the right to bear arms should be the next one.
Stan
Who's to blame? Obviously the woman for cheating on him. Nicholas Alexander University shootings are not new. Terrorism is not new. If there was an answer to prevent this type of tragedy, it would indicate the blame.The authorities not taking the initial killing of two people very seriously because it looked like a "domestic" and the killer had "left the scene" sounds a little hollow. Apathy due to the US spending billions on "homeland security" while enshrining gun laws that normalise the carrying of a weapon - this could well be a factor in the lack of adequate response?
Jason
Americans are just stupid people and when they can't be killing the people of another nation they have to kill each other to keep themselves occupied.
Albert
The American society is to be blamed as it looks like a random attack and not a planned attack which terrorist do. So if there was more gun control then probably even in the fit of anger that guy may have stabbed or fisted his girlfriend and the advisor but couldnt have hurt 32 people with a knife or a fist. They have to stop gun access so easy. Its ridiculous and unbelievable that such a society exist in 21st century where every second person has a gun. God help America.
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