Althouse: "An official with knowledge of a shooting at a Connecticut elementary school says 27 people are dead, including 18 children."

December 14, 2012

"An official with knowledge of a shooting at a Connecticut elementary school says 27 people are dead, including 18 children."

I'm afraid the intense news coverage of these shooting sprees leads to more of the same, but I can see in the comments that people will keep referring to it off-topic if I don't make it a topic, and the fact that so many are dead and so many of the dead are children makes it harder to look away, even though if we look because so many are dead and because so many of the dead are children and if looking leads to more shooting sprees, then we are saying to the future killers that they should aim for children and keep shooting. Obviously, it's very easy to know where and when to find concentrated populations of children.

AND: Isn't it wrong for media to display photographs of the faces of terrified children?

234 comments:

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edutcher said...: Roger, your point about institutionalization is not without merit. The good news is any court finding can always be overturned in the future.

The Demos thought Plessy was forever, too.

LoafingOaf said...

This reminds me more of the Beslan terrorist incident than the incidents where kids shoot up their own schools.

That was political, moron.

shiloh said...

as long as I remain in your memory forever, it's all good.

To the little weasel, it's all a joke.

I guess Ann's right (my apologies, Madame, if needed). The troll badge should be a dick.

RJ, during my one month ((( well deserved ))) :) vacation from Althouse before the election, I occasionally peaked in to see what nonsense Althouse con lemmings were spewing.

Of course, everybody takes their vaca in October.

So where were you hiding after the Koskidz poll came out?

Vacationing in Tahrir Square?

And the word is "peeked", idiot.; 12/14/12, 4:09 PM
Alex said...: there is no evidence that re-institutionalization would prevent these massacres. Not one iota of proof.; 12/14/12, 4:12 PM
Unknown said...: OT
edutcher
He could have meant peaked as in the top moment of his online life. He peaked as an observer in October and it's been downhill ever since.; 12/14/12, 4:15 PM
shiloh said...: Althouse #1 doting, trained seal reads all my posts religiously ...

bless his little heart as my pet's obsession persists!; 12/14/12, 4:16 PM
Alex said...: shiloh - you odious creature. Any tragedy is just more grist for your mill.; 12/14/12, 4:18 PM
DADvocate said...: So in order to maintain unlimited access to guns you want to lock up anyone who may be a hazard to others.

Did I say that? What are you, a mental health professional? Should we stomp on the rights of millions because of the actions of the 0.0000016%?

We can lock up for two weeks anyone who is deemed a danger to himself or others right now. Guns or no guns. Just get a psychiatrist to sign the papers. But, too many of these people seem to be slipping between the cracks.

Or, we could trample on the rights of millions to be able to protect themselves and, after that, start confiscating matches so no one can burn to death 198 people at once in a subway.; 12/14/12, 4:24 PM
Alex said...: Why are people against profiling? Who is committing these mass shootings? It's white males between the ages of 18-30, that's who you profile.; 12/14/12, 4:25 PM
DADvocate said...: there is no evidence that re-institutionalization would prevent these massacres. Not one iota of proof.

You're probably correct. BUT, who's investigated the issue? Anyone? You don't find evidence if you don't look for any. Did this kind of stuff happen in the 1950s and 1960s? Yes, some. We had plenty of guns. If you look at "notable school shooting," the list doesn't even start until 1974.; 12/14/12, 4:39 PM
Alex said...: When did semi-automatic pistols became widely available? Oh yeah only in the last 20 years.; 12/14/12, 4:42 PM
Alex said...: Also a typical Glock can hold 15-18 rounds. Now imagine this shooter had a dozen clips, 180-200 total rounds easily available. It only takes a few seconds to swap out clips.; 12/14/12, 4:43 PM
edutcher said...: sis, you have a point there.

shiloh said...

Althouse #1 doting, trained seal reads all my posts religiously ...

Hardly, I just like to stick a harpoon in the little weasel when he says something ridiculous.

Which is almost always.

bless his little heart as my pet's obsession persists!

Gee, he sounds just like Diamond.

The lithium must have finally kicked in.

So, tell us, what specifically do you find so amusing about the slaughter of an entire kindergarten class that you think it should be a springboard for your narcissistic drivel?

You must have been in stitches when you heard about Ma'alot and Kiryat Shmona.; 12/14/12, 4:47 PM
edutcher said...: Alex said...

When did semi-automatic pistols became widely available? Oh yeah only in the last 20 years.

Ever hear of the M1911 .45 ACP?

Guys from WWI through 'Nam brought them home.; 12/14/12, 4:50 PM
Alex said...: Ever hear of the M1911 .45 ACP?

When did gun shops start carrying semi-automatic pistols?; 12/14/12, 4:51 PM
Alex said...: I've never seen a single school massacre committed with a revolver. Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know?; 12/14/12, 4:52 PM
Bob said...: Alex, gun shops stared carrying autos in the 1920s when a number of service 1911s became available. The Chinese crazy this week used a knife. The Columbine shooters used a shotgun and bombs. The methods used by the the single biggest domestic terrorist was a bomb, foreign terrorists was planes, and biggest mass murderers was gasoline. All this tells me the crazies have lots of options for killing innocents.; 12/14/12, 5:00 PM
Bob said...: What wasn't used this time: an Assault weapon. Though sounds like it was in his car.; 12/14/12, 5:01 PM
Unknown said...: Outside of designated law enforcement people what logical response does anyone have?
"Be still and tell your loved ones that you love them" sounds like good advice.; 12/14/12, 5:07 PM
edutcher said...: Alex said...

I've never seen a single school massacre committed with a revolver. Doesn't that tell you everything you need to know?

Not necessarily. The old Colt percussion revolvers allowed the shooter to slip fresh cylinders into the weapon as easily as a clip in an automatic. You negotiated Indian or bandido territory with a Navy .36 and several cylinders, not the other way around.

And we've all seen photos of Butch Cassidy or whomever with 4 or 5 six shooters in holsters or stuck in their belt.; 12/14/12, 5:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Rhhardin aptly calls this entertainment. It is served up as entertainment, and we need to examine our own souls.

Ann: I keep wondering what you mean by "soul" in comments -- not to argue about it, but to understand.; 12/14/12, 5:15 PM
Anonymous said...: I suspect it's too much to expect the media and all its tentacles to keep from puffing this stuff up. But is it too much to ask that politicians at the national level keep their sanctimony to themselves on these occasions?

I don't care if they have an R or D after their names.; 12/14/12, 5:22 PM
Paul said...: chickelit,

In 1927 a guy put three bombs in a school and killed over 47 people here in U.S. So how will banning bullets and powder stop that? Or use of poison or knives?

Alex,

A 12 gauge shotgun puts out 9 OO buckshot. 6 shots has 54 rounds. And a 10 shot pistol can have 10 mags or two pistols and 5 magazines each (yea 100 rounds.)

You and chickelit concentrate on the weapon, I concentrate on the nutjob. Easier to get the nutjob out of the picture than all the different weapons that can be used.; 12/14/12, 5:32 PM
Paul said...: Hey and Alex,

Why would the nutjob stop at a revolver? Gasoline bombs? Blackpower pipe bombs? Acid?

Again, you concentrate on the weapon. There are MANY ways to kill in mass.; 12/14/12, 5:35 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Patrick, best flash mob EVER! Thank you so much for that.; 12/14/12, 5:36 PM
Anonymous said...: I spent yesterday evening at my grandchldren's Holiday school concert, all the happy children in their Holiday garb, the families, parents, siblings and grandparents lucky to see happy healthy children's singing, joyful, full of life.

We don't realize how blessed we are on a daily basis, to be able to hold our loved ones in our arms, to have them go bed, warm, happy, and being able to look forward to tomorrow.

What these parents must be feeling tonight, no words.; 12/14/12, 5:43 PM
Alex said...: Vigils, prayers, lighting candles have no meaning for me.; 12/14/12, 5:46 PM
chickelit said...: Paul falsely chides: You and chickelit concentrate on the weapon, I concentrate on the nutjob. Easier to get the nutjob out of the picture than all the different weapons that can be used.

Althouse also needs a badge for the sarcasm challenged. I would occasionally win that too.; 12/14/12, 5:59 PM
DADvocate said...: When did semi-automatic pistols became widely available? Oh yeah only in the last 20 years.

Are you just trying to prove how stupid you are? the Colt 1911 is called a 1911 for a reason. That's the year it was first manufactured. Until 1934, you could buy a fully automatic submachine gun. Ever heard of the Tommy gun? Please continue to demonstrate you ignorance.

I see others have covered this, but it bears repeating.; 12/14/12, 6:21 PM
Tari said...: "Rhhardin aptly calls this entertainment. It is served up as entertainment, and we need to examine our own souls."

Amen. The fact that millions of people are watching and watching this coverage is just more evidence of how sick our society has become. It seems as if everyone on FB is having some sort of orgy out of the disaster as well: "let me change my picture to a lit candle, so people will know I care." It's a million times worse than gaping at the accident on the freeway. Ugh. Turn away, folks.; 12/14/12, 6:54 PM
Unknown said...: It seems to me people tell people they love them, have moments of silence, have prayer circles and similar things in an effort to understand and process shock and grief. Being with people you love and telling them that you love them is a way to try to recover our equlibrium.; 12/14/12, 7:41 PM
Paul said...: In 1927 a man used three bombs to kill 45 people and injure over 50 at a school in the U.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_School_disaster

And in NYC a man firebombed a nightclub killing over 80 people!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Land_fire

So nuts don’t need guns to mass murder.

Guns are actually inefficient at such.

So be thankful this nutjob didn't think ahead and really TRY.; 12/14/12, 9:36 PM
Paul said...: "When did semi-automatic pistols became widely available? Oh yeah only in the last 20 years."

BULLSHIT.

Browning High Power was invened in 1938 (14 shot 9mm) and Broomhandle Mauser something like 1896 and by WW2 they had 20 shot models.

And 20 shot rifles were made in the 1920s on (Frank Hammer used a .35 Remington Model 8 with 15 round magazine to shoot Bonnie and Clyde (well with help from some BARs.); 12/14/12, 9:40 PM
HT said...: It is very very very very wrong to use those images of children. Not only that, but so SOON after this happened. It was like those images were waiting to go. It's all so processed now. It's like the narrative has been written and delivered and 'healing' is the last word, 3 hours after the shooting happened. Disgusting.

Ban guns.; 12/14/12, 9:47 PM
Kirk Parker said...: rhhardin is right about this. Y'all who object are using to cramped a definition of "entertainment".

Read the whole syllogism again, it's very short:

1. Entertainment pulls audience.

2. Audience pulls advertising dollars.

I happened to have spend about 9 hours today at the hospital, first in an interminable waiting room, then in recovery, then in my Dad's room (2nd heart attack for him, but 3 new stents later he seems to be doing well, thank God!)

As a result I've seen what I almost never see: some news channel running for hours. I don't remember know which news channel it was that the hospital had available, and thankfully the sound was off, but it just ran the same sequences of video over and over and over and over.; 12/15/12, 1:57 AM
Kirk Parker said...: "When did semi-automatic pistols became widely available? Oh yeah only in the last 20 years."

Alex, you foolish moby--Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated by means of a semiautomatic pistol. I'll let you work out how many years ago that was...; 12/15/12, 12:12 PM