31 Students killed at Virginia Tech

[Clp727]

RoadClosed provided some very good factual information and I agree with his point of view as do many Americans. During the 1990's when the "Assault" weapons ban was passed, it was highly controversial because in essence they were nothing more than a semi automatic firearm that had the intimidating appearance. That ban passed by a handful of votes. Most of those who supported the ban felt that it was OK because conventional firearms weren't being considered. Statistics have shown that they were not popular weapons of criminals. The simple hand gun is used in nearly all crimes as well as home defense. I think it is sad that the politicians are trying to forward their political agenda through this tragedy.
We can't legislate this behavior out of our lives. No way. I think that we as a country need to take a deeper look at ourselves and try to figure this out once and for all. Games, Movies, Music, and Guns are always being blamed for these events. I say the problem is bigger than that. We need to look at what has changed in the last 20 or so years that may be contributing to the mass violence that we have just seen. Up to about the late 1980's or early 1990's, Americans seldom saw such acts of violence. This behavior was unheard of! The gun laws were less prevalent as they are now. Machine guns were legal in America up to the 1960's. We all played "Army" or "Cowboys and Indians" or arcade games, and we all watched violent movies and TV shows. The cartoons were even violent! The music was just as heavy. Yet these mass murders weren't happening.

I think we need to look beyond the usual political debate and find the real problem in our country.