Amish School Shooting

[Izulde]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15105305/?GT1=8618

Makes you wonder just how pervasive violence is in our culture when a freaking Amish school gets hit by something like this.

[Eaglesfan27]

Yeah, violence is pervasive without a doubt. However, this isn't a typical school shooting. This was done by a non-student, an adult. Furthermore, he let all of the boys go, but kept the girls in. Very atypical for a school shooting, but nonetheless very sad. :(

[Wolfpack]

Looks like we're going through a rash of them like we did back in the late 1990s, with the media feeding the beast in some respects. Not that I fault the media too much here, they're just reporting the story, but as I recall, they had to cut down on details and reporting during the last breakout because it was being perceived that getting attention was just what these individuals wanted. I think the same thing is happening again here, especially because this case turned out very much like the Colorado incident last week (boys released, girls kept, etc). This was probably a copy-cat of that attack.

[Logan]

That was a good edit Izulde.

[panerd]

Looks like we're going through a rash of them like we did back in the late 1990s, with the media feeding the beast in some respects. Not that I fault the media too much here, they're just reporting the story, but as I recall, they had to cut down on details and reporting during the last breakout because it was being perceived that getting attention was just what these individuals wanted. I think the same thing is happening again here, especially because this case turned out very much like the Colorado incident last week (boys released, girls kept, etc). This was probably a copy-cat of that attack.

Yep. The fact that they come in groups is because nutcases see the attention it gets and want to get their share of the limelight. (School shootings of the 90's, mass restaurant shootings of the 80's, postal shootings, anthrax scare, etc) Not sure what to do though as the media pretty much has to report it and since these people almost always end up dying they are 100% nuts to begin with. I do think that they could leave out details though to stop another one from happening tomorrow.

With that said, I don't understand these teachers. I am a 6th grade teacher and if a gunman entered the room and told me and the boys to leave either the gunman or myself would end up dead. Even before this incident or last week's I am not leaving the girls alone in my room with some nut. I don't consider myself to be brave by any means, but I don't see how I could live with myself if I didn't try to do something.

[MizzouRah]

Been catching some of this today on CNN, sad news indeed. Does anyone know what this nutcase was talking about when he called his wife and said he couldn't stand it any longer and wanted revenge for something that happened 20 years ago?

[Easy Mac]

Not trying to be too cruel here, but I've got to say what everyone is thinking:

How did they call the police?

[Cringer]

Not trying to be too cruel here, but I've got to say what everyone is thinking:

How did they call the police?

No joke, probably hopped on the horse and buggy and hauled ass. Many Amish communities are pretty close to normal towns, or even mixed in with (neighbors of) normal folks.

[Mustang]

Been catching some of this today on CNN, sad news indeed. Does anyone know what this nutcase was talking about when he called his wife and said he couldn't stand it any longer and wanted revenge for something that happened 20 years ago?

I'd love to know WTF the Amish could have done to him 20 years ago when he was twelve.

[Easy Mac]

No joke, probably hopped on the horse and buggy and hauled ass. Many Amish communities are pretty close to normal towns, or even mixed in with (neighbors of) normal folks.

I thought I read today that someone called 911... I thought from a cell phone.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Not trying to be too cruel here, but I've got to say what everyone is thinking: How did they call the police?

And people call me a sick puppy ;)

That hadn't actually crossed my mind until you mentioned it.
Of course, now that you did bring it up ...

[MizzouRah]

I'd love to know WTF the Amish could have done to him 20 years ago when he was twelve.

Yeah, me too. I mean.. talk about holding a grudge. :confused:

[Easy Mac]

they said on the news it wasn't a grudge against the Amish, just a crime of convenience. although they also said he's been planning this for months.

[JPhillips]

Today I learned that the Amish dress funny and farm the land.

[Buccaneer]

No, we are far less violent than in the past. It's just we hear about everything, everywhere now.

[Drake]

Today I learned that the Amish dress funny and farm the land.

I learned once again that none of the women have Kelly McGillis's boobies.

[Craptacular]

There are a lot of sick people in this world, and I hope we focus on the sources of the problems. Of course, I can't wait to see what kind of useless "security" comes out of this again. Do people not realize that almost no matter what we do at school in the name of "security", sick bastards are going to accomplish what they set out to do anyway? Unfortunately, one of these recent shootings happened 30-40 miles from my home. The school is now going to have a sheriff's deputy at the door for as long as it takes. So, if another nut comes along wanting to shoot a principal or teacher, he'll just do it in the staff parking lot.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

This is fuking making me sick. Could these fuking bastards shoot some adults for once. Seriously. This mass killing of kids by adults in schools is beyond comprehension.

[Wolfpack]

Actually, there's an interesting detail. In the spate of shootings that happened back in the 90s, it was kids killing other kids. Two of the last three have been adults killing kids (though my copycat notion has apparently been disproven in this new case), and specifically adult men killing young girls. Probably just a statistical comment with no psychology behind it, but something to note.

Anyway, I guess the puzzle to be solved is why he waited 20 years for his revenge and why take it on kids who had absolutely nothing to do with whatever humiliation he suffered back then? Regardless of the answer, I'm sure his current accomodations are rather toasty.

[Subby]

These are the type of events that make me question the existence of a christian god the most...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Of course, I can't wait to see what kind of useless "security" comes out of this again.

Then again, the security can only be as good as what they do with the information. The early published reports on the incident last week indicated that a review of security camera tapes showed the shooter on campus for more than a half hour before he entered the building. I scratched my head about that one for a little while before figuring that the cameras were probably unmonitored, which rendered them useless in this instance.

So, if another nut comes along wanting to shoot a principal or teacher, he'll just do it in the staff parking lot.

Although in a perfect world this wouldn't happen either, isn't it still better to have a shooting incident occur in an open area where potential victims have more chance to escape & where the shooter has fewer targets to choose from?
I have to admit that I don't understand your criticism of this part.

[Cringer]

I thought I read today that someone called 911... I thought from a cell phone.

What I read last night said the teacher snuck out when he let the males and other adults out, and she ten called police. Doesn't say how though, so maybe the teacher isn't Amish herself (which would surprise me a little).

Like I said though, chances are there was a house nearby, or perhaps someone driving by who had a phone/cell phone. Amish communities are not out in the middle of nowhere and are just integrated in with 'normal' comunities usually. I know driving through the Amish communities in Indiana or Iowa, that you will often see a Amish farm across from a 'normal' farm or next to one.

[Klinglerware]

And people call me a sick puppy ;)

That hadn't actually crossed my mind until you mentioned it.
Of course, now that you did bring it up ...

Okay one more -- "at least they won't blame myspace for this one"

[molson]

What I read last night said the teacher snuck out when he let the males and other adults out, and she ten called police. Doesn't say how though, so maybe the teacher isn't Amish herself (which would surprise me a little).

Like I said though, chances are there was a house nearby, or perhaps someone driving by who had a phone/cell phone. Amish communities are not out in the middle of nowhere and are just integrated in with 'normal' comunities usually. I know driving through the Amish communities in Indiana or Iowa, that you will often see a Amish farm across from a 'normal' farm or next to one.

Yup, every adult Amish person knows exactly where the nearest phone/neighbor is, and they'll use it for emergencies smaller than this one (fire, sickness, etc). The rare Amish farm that is particularly rural usually even has a emergency phone on the premises.

[Anthony]

I thought I read today that someone called 911... I thought from a cell phone.

well, the Amish, contrary to popular belief, don't really shun *all* technology. i need only point to Al Yankovic's docu-video on the Amish culture (Amish Paradise) to show how pervasive technology is in Amish life. as you can see in the below picture, they are not completely devoid of technology:


http://thoughtdistillery.com/img/WeirdAl/WeirdAl-Images/7.jpg

[Anthony]

and before some of the mods here with sissy trigger fingers get their nipples all pointy, i feel bad that little girls were targeted and killed in this manner. i wish people would just point the gun at themselves first before going on a rampage like this. i don't like hearing stories like this when it comes to kids.

still, the Amish are a weird, funny lot.

[Craptacular]

I have to admit that I don't understand your criticism of this part.

My point is that I think people are going to flush taxpayer money down the toilet to do things that make them feel more secure, without actually doing much to improve safety. I also feel that the more we treat kids like prisoners, the more likely they are to act like them. How much are we going to spend to make it harder for someone to enter a school to kill a teacher or kids? Does it make them that much safer? Do we do the same at all daycare centers, McDonalds, civic centers, art museums, libraries, and shopping malls? A kid could pull a gun on his school bus and have 30 kids trapped. I'd rather spend money on counselers and advocates, and trying to encourage kids to report suspicious activities (like the kid in Green Bay). This doesn't deal with adults who commit atrocities such as in Bailey and Paradise, but there are plenty of places that are just as "convenient" for those bastards to go as schools.

[st.cronin]

No, we are far less violent than in the past. It's just we hear about everything, everywhere now.

I concur with the grumpy troll from Colorado.