NYT editorial: "What is needed is stronger controls over lethal weapons that cause such carnage."

[DeepModem Mom]

Editorial
Eight Years After Columbine
Published: April 17, 2007

Yesterday’s mass shooting at Virginia Tech — the worst in American history — is another horrifying reminder that some of the gravest dangers Americans face come from killers at home armed with guns that are frighteningly easy to obtain.

Not much is known about the gunman, who killed himself, or about his motives or how he got his weapons, so it is premature to draw too many lessons from this tragedy. But it seems a safe bet that in one way or another, this will turn out to be another instance in which an unstable or criminally minded individual had no trouble arming himself and harming defenseless people....

***

Our hearts and the hearts of all Americans go out to the victims and their families. Sympathy was not enough at the time of Columbine, and eight years later it is not enough. What is needed, urgently, is stronger controls over the lethal weapons that cause such wasteful carnage and such unbearable loss.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/17/opinion/17tue1.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[havocmom]

1. More & better resources for mental health would go a long way too.

As would a culture that nurtured and supported rather than the sick one we seem to have in operation.

Things always get worse when there is a bush in the WH.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. We spend 50% of our national budget on the military. If cut out out 75% of that, we'd

have a lot less guns.

[havocmom]

4. Work on less VIOLENCE

and the gun issue will go along for the ride ;)

Mental health care and resources for people dealing poorly with too much stress would make a bigger difference than any legislative response.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. I agree completely.

[frazzled]

3. $25 to the first candidate who advocates for such controls

Obama seems to have at least come close to it today. Edwards missed the mark with his prayer message (though I'm sure as a parent who lost a child, this was his first reaction, so somewhat understandable). I haven't seen what Giuliani said ... wasn't he for stricter gun control when mayor? And I don't know what Clinton has said.

But my money is on all of them avoiding the issue altogether. A rare thanks to the NYT for laying it on the line, whether or not it turns out to be the main issue in this particular case.