NationStates Jolt Archive

I am sure you all have heard about the tragedy that has occurred here in Omaha, Nebraska.

However, if you have not, a 19 year-old male took an automatic weapon into Von Maur, a more upscale Dillards, and started shooting. He had written a suicide note to his family that he was living with, not his actual family. In the end nine deaths resulted, one of them being the teenager himself. Five people have been injured and two were in critical condition as of last night.

The teenagers suicide note had one bit of disturbing news. He told his family in the note that he wanted to go out with style, and that is what he believed he did. He said he would be famous, and ultimately that is what he is now.

So i end with two questions,

1) Should the media try to pry information out of the family and friends of the teenager? Because in turn that is what is making him famous.

2) What drives a person to say to themselves, "Oh, today looks like a good day to die, lets go shoot some people."

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=544636
Already a thread on this topic, on the first page.

Also, for future reference, when you're making a thread on a recent news event, you should post a link to an article about it from a news site of some kind, preferably the one from which you got your facts, and preferably a reputable one.

I am sure you all have heard about the tragedy that has occurred here in Omaha, Nebraska.

However, if you have not, a 19 year-old male took an automatic weapon into Von Maur, a more upscale Dillards, and started shooting. He had written a suicide note to his family that he was living with, not his actual family. In the end nine deaths resulted, one of them being the teenager himself. Five people have been injured and two were in critical condition as of last night.

The teenagers suicide note had one bit of disturbing news. He told his family in the note that he wanted to go out with style, and that is what he believed he did. He said he would be famous, and ultimately that is what he is now.

So i end with two questions,

1) Should the media try to pry information out of the family and friends of the teenager? Because in turn that is what is making him famous.

2) What drives a person to say to themselves, "Oh, today looks like a good day to die, lets go shoot some people."

1. Already posted in another thread...
2. It was a SEMI-automatic weapon; an SKS rifle... Typically when one refers to "automatic weapon" it's to refer to a FULLY-automatic weapon...

Okay that is a thread on the topic but it is going on about gun control I want to talk about the actual effect on people.

This is a different actual topic.

No, it's not. Seriously, just let this thread die and post in the other one.

You'll end up with two threads about gun control. It just goes that way.

I kinda agree that the media, by doing it's job, enables desperate fame seekers in horrible acts like this.

The guy who shot Reagan got far more fame. Did he deserve it? Of course not.

EDIT: Ifreann's right of course. I just need somewhere my posts will actually post.