Elementary school shooting blame game

[Phillip V]

'The New York Times published an analysis in 2000 of what was known about 102 people who had committed 100 rampage killings at schools, job sites and public places like malls.

Most had left a road map of red flags, plotting their attacks and accumulating weapons. In the 100 rampage killings reviewed, 54 of the killers had talked explicitly of when and where they would act, and against whom. In 34 of the cases, worried friends or family members had desperately sought help in advance, only to be rebuffed by the police, school officials or mental health workers.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/sandy-hook-shooting-forces-re-examination-of-tough-questions.html

[Razgovory]

And how many fit the profile that don't commit any crime?  Millions?  Odd they mentioned the 1920's Michigan thing.  That was more anti-tax then anything.  Guy should be a hero for Libertarians.

[11B4V]

'The New York Times published an analysis in 2000 of what was known about 102 people who had committed 100 rampage killings at schools, job sites and public places like malls.
In 34 of the cases, worried friends or family members had desperately sought help in advance, only to be rebuffed by the police, school officials or mental health workers.'

Choppy waters there.

[Martinus]

I love it when people blame the authorities for "ignoring the warning signs" in situations like this, yet bitch whenever authorities overreact and lock up some kid for posting on Facebook he is going to kill his teachers.

You can't have it both ways.

[Caliga]

Says the guy who cosplays as a Roman Soldier.

I don't have time for that anymore.

[dps]

There was a psychologist on NPR that was saying that the most effective way to end these kinds of tragedies isn't to ban guns, but rather for the media to refuse to agrandize the situations when they occur. Tell the story, but don't name the killer. Give no attention to him/her at all.

People don't do these things for the media attention.  Doesn't matter if it isn't covered, or the shooter makes the cover of Time magazine.

I agree.  I've always been skeptical of the theory that mass killings like this are motivated by a desire for media attention, especially in cases where the killer offs themselves and isn't around to actually see the attention.  Of course, the idea that it is done for media attention is going to be popular with the media, since it pumps up their already overinflated view of their own importance.

[Malthus]

It sounds to me from what I read that he was basically a weird nerd.  Solution:  Put all weird nerds in prison.

Says the guy who cosplays as a Roman Soldier.

More like: says the guy posting on Languish.

Lets face it - if it is open season on weird nerds, the lot of us would be in peril. 

[OttoVonBismarck]

There was a psychologist on NPR that was saying that the most effective way to end these kinds of tragedies isn't to ban guns, but rather for the media to refuse to agrandize the situations when they occur. Tell the story, but don't name the killer. Give no attention to him/her at all.

People don't do these things for the media attention.  Doesn't matter if it isn't covered, or the shooter makes the cover of Time magazine.

Money is spot on . This guy killed his mom before he went to the school and killed the kids. There is something gravely wrong with a person who kills their own mother, this is someone who is simply no longer mentally sound and I doubt very seriously his actions after that are designed to get us talking about him post-mortem.

[crazy canuck]

It sounds to me from what I read that he was basically a weird nerd.  Solution:  Put all weird nerds in prison.

Says the guy who cosplays as a Roman Soldier.

More like: says the guy posting on Languish.

Lets face it - if it is open season on weird nerds, the lot of us would be in peril. 

[DGuller]

And how many fit the profile that don't commit any crime?  Millions?

Very good point.  Analyzing Type II error without analyzing Type I error is worse than useless.

[Razgovory]

I'm glad you agree with me, but I have no idea what you said.

[DGuller]

I'm glad you agree with me, but I have no idea what you said.

Is Wiki down or something?  Type II error is failing to stop a future mass murderer who showed red flags.  Type I error is stopping people with red flags who would have never amounted to anything.

[The Minsky Moment]

Connecticut: NRA Haven par excellence.

Or is it?

http://www.montereyherald.com/politics-national/2012/12/connecticut-gun-laws-among-the-toughest-in-the-u-s/

Connecticut is a lot more lenient than New York, Mass, or New Jersey.  Also in NY the counties can have more strict laws than the overall state laws - and the laws in the NY counties closest to Fairfield County - Westchester - are among the most strict in the entire state.

[Legbiter]

Why not just repeal the second amendment? Or modify it so that it only applies to flintlock muskets?

Give the US a sane gun policy where the military, the police, rural folk/hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts can get a gun but everyone else can't.

Just be like Canada.

[Razgovory]

I'm glad you agree with me, but I have no idea what you said.

Is Wiki down or something?  Type II error is failing to stop a future mass murderer who showed red flags.  Type I error is stopping people with red flags who would have never amounted to anything.

I don't get statistics.