Why do American children become killers??

I wanted to address the question that has been rattling around in my head for some time now....

With the proliferation of mass shootings in America at present, and even over the last 2 years or so, one thing strikes me as strange...

You see, we have our shootings in the UK as well, we had Dunblane, perpertrated by a 43 year old man. We had the shootings in the Lake District, perpertrated by 52 year old Derrick Bird. We had Hungerford, perpertrated by a 27 year old. Can't think of any other UK one's right now...

Recently we also had the shootings in Delhi, of which most of the gunmen were over 25... and the mass shootings/bomb attack in Finland, perpertrated by a 33 year old man...

All these shootings we carried out by men....

For some reason mass shootings in america are being carried out by children...

Why is this? What is America doing to its children that makes them resort to these extreme measures while still at such a young age?

Surely feelings of societal ostracism are partly to blame, which we all have in all countries in varying degrees... but why do we not see shootings by children in any other country...?

I believe it is because America's children grow up with weapons... they are taught how to use them from a young age, for them having guns around is normal... and that my friends, is a sad, sad state of affairs.... children need to be taught that guns are dangerous, and not necessary in civilised society... whatever happened to "The pen is mightier than the sword"? Children growing up in a society with a prevalence of guns breeds children that accept them as part of everyday life... and acceptance of such a dangerous tool is not healthy...

Whatever you gun loving folks think about the UK, if a normal person in the UK wanted to get hold of a firearm here, it would take at least 3-4 days... and that is if you know the right people, which most people don't... that means that you have a 4 day cooling down period in which to consider your actions...... how many shootings in America could have been avoided if the perpertrators were given this cooling off period...

I concede, these particular shootings probably wouldn't have been stopped.. they were planned for some time... but the number of impulse shootings based on emotional response would be decimated...

I also concede that there are countries with higher gun ownership per capita than the US, such as Switzerland and Canada, where this problem does not occur with anywhere near the frequency it does in the states... which tells me that it is a two-fold problem... a prevalence of guns in a society of disillusioned people is dangerous.. match that with a a seemingly unique problem with the American Psyche, and you have one hell of a problem...

Any thoughts?

PA

I think you need to read this blog over the sad mental health state of the US:

I am Adam Lanza's Mother

reply to post by PerfectAnomoly


you know, its not just american children that can become killers. seems a bit one sided thats all.

I believe it is the degredation of our society as a whole as apposed to the gun issue. As you pointed out, there are many other countries where firearms are prevelant and they don't seem to be having as many issues with their young people. America has an extremely morally bankrupt society these days. When our children idolize the crap they do nowadays it's no wonder we are headed down the toilet.

I am 30 years old yet I grew up very old fashioned compared to most my age. I was raised with good morals and never had a chance for that to be comprimised with technology or the current trends of my time. I was too busy working like a slave on the farm. I see many of my peers very different in our outlook on life and some people are extremely corrupt when it comes to morality.

The majority of our citizens no longer care about contributing to the betterment of our nation. Instead they allow greed and power to consume them until it eats away any humanity that is left within them. Our current state of affairs combined with our artificial food and drug industry is bringing about more mental health problems than ever before.

Sure firearms may play a part, but there are much greater issues that need addressing before the firearm issue in my opinion. Until the root issues are addressed, addressing the other minor issues will do little to create positive change.

1) Psychotic drugs (serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs with dangerous sui- & homi-cidal side effects).
2) Too much violence on tv and especially interactive video games (killing simulations).
3) Ten Commandments and moral guidelines removed from the schools.
4) Lack of adequate mental health facilities for children.
5) Permissive and busy parents.

reply to post by PerfectAnomoly


Pretty good question and I am asking the same. I am from Europe and live in Canada since a good 3 decades. I personally see it as part of the abyssmal education system. Naturally the many drugs kids get at early ages. Any problem and the kid of on prescription drugs.
However with observing my own kids an comparing it to my childhood, I found something leess obvious but it could ba a cause: NO FRIENDS.
With this I mean that America and Canada as well is a very mobile society. Families move constantly! So the solid friendships from the sand-box to graduation as I experienced is totally "foreign"to my kids. Each new school year was a parade of new freinds in our house. But none of them ever became "solid best friends". Yet my kids are surprised when we go for vacation to Europe and I see MY old friends in a fashion as if I had just gone for 10 minutes - not 10 years.
Another topic I had never seen addressed is the common practice of "Routine Infant Circumcision" RIC among American boys. It is now slowly going down in number s but still hoovering around the 65%. Canada is begiining to reduce this number already considerably since some decades. Alos it should be noted, that till just about a decade ago this operation/mutilation was done pretty much without anastetics.
In Many anti Circ circles, doctors speak out about the not yet understood psychological trauma enflicted on the baby boy. To underloine it that RIC is common and not tied to religion is notable for the following: If ajewish baby boy is circumcised on the 8th day as prescibed. The he also grows up mostly in a solid community. Religious support and so forth. For the jew as well for muslims who do this at a later age, the circumcision is a part of their Heritage and Identity. With a solid community support, a "belonging" to a comunity, religious centre and so forth, this trauma is offset with pride to belonging. But for the average American boy, the reason why he has been mutialted is pretty open to discussion. You will note that all mass shootings or most of them have been comitted bey WHITE boys!. So the general vilolence and murder rate among hispanics and black on an average body count might be higher, their violence is poverty and drgus related and pretty much on a one on one basis against competing gangs. Both ethnic groups are for most part "Intact" meaning not circumcised.
So this is just an idea I throw out in combo with the many prescriptiondrugs added to the daily life of our kids.

reply to post by PerfectAnomoly

Playing along with your premise (which is incorrect), I would say that its a combination of the poisons in the food/water, psychotropic drugs administered at a young age and following the example of a government which has engaged in endless wars for nearly a century.

With all the "recent" shootings by children the past two years? Name one major mass shooting the past two years that was carried about by a "child"
Holmes wasnt a child and neither was Lanza.
In fact, all of the major shootings in the recent past have been male adults

Just more American bashing, gets pretty tiresome too.

reply to post by CosmicCitizen


7) A trophy for the loser
8) Indoctrination instead of education
9) No spanking when they act up
10) Hatred of Capitalism,resulting in high unemployment for our youth
11) Rap music that romanticizes violence
12) A society that breeds thugs through entitlements
13) No respect for the wisdom of their elders
14) Parents that use X-Box for a babysitter instead of getting involved in their lives
15) No prayer in schools
16) No pledge of allegiance in schools
17) Coddling

Originally posted by Juggernog
With all the "recent" shootings by children the past two years? Name one major mass shooting the past two years that was carried about by a "child"
Holmes wasnt a child and neither was Lanza.
In fact, all of the major shootings in the recent past have been male adults

Just more American bashing, gets pretty tiresome too.

edit on 1/15/2013 by Juggernog because: (no reason given)

Well with due respect to the OP. If an american kid can go to the army at 18 but stilol not permitted to drink in some states till age 21, is this not "Childish"? If the insurance rates on cars and so are prohibitvely high till age 25, is this not "Childish". If a nude picture of a 17yo is considered "CHILD-porn" is this not "childish"? If america treats its young adults like "Chuldren" then why is the OP wrong in calling them this?

Simple ... because of the broken child support laws in the country .. where families are intentionally broken and children are left with mental scars, depression, hopelessness, for life .. what else do you expect .. everything happens at the grass roots level .. mark my words .. in nations like USA/Canada/Europe .. where divorce rates are a staggering almost 70% .. yes 70..not 50 anymore ..! and the evil 'family destruction' laws are busy at work minting every ounce of humanity ..livelihood from ordinary citizens..reducing them to suicide and death ..

This is now officially the # 1 killer in America .. not guns, drugs, alcohol, or anything ..! this is also a fact not well known to people ..not given public air time ..a society, a state, a government, are all extensions of a basic family unit .. when you destroy a family ..it doesn't take a genius to see that the children are the ones that suffer ! multiply that by millions of families .. and you have a recipe for disaster .. these children grow up with no social skills.. a lot of anger .. and reliance on drugs to cope .. this is exactly what the government wants .. and I am frankly surprised hardly anyone sees this .. or even wants to fix this ..!

Mark my words .. years from now .. people will look back at the barbaric laws we had in place ..all for political greed .. this is indeed the # 1 killer ..right at the most basic level ..this is what will kill America and Western nations .. if anything .. their own stupid corrupt laws.. just google and read for links ..

reply to post by Guenter


A 20 year old MAN is not a child and Holmes is 24.. Is he a child as well?
This shouldnt even be debatable.

Originally posted by Juggernog
reply to post by Guenter

 

A 20 year old MAN is not a child and Holmes is 24.. Is he a child as well?
That shouldnt even be debatable.

edit on 1/15/2013 by Juggernog because: (no reason given)

At 20 ye still not allowed to drink in many states till 21 so = CHILD

reply to post by PerfectAnomoly


What a bull # thread title. Its deliberately wrong and misleading, trolling to get reactions.

The rest of the thread is... how would say it in the UK?

Utter tripe. Yes, I think that fits well.

And this:

Location: Oxford. Uk.

What a shock... someone whose clearly absolutely clueless about American issues and has most likely never even been here, feels the need to give their ignorant opinion on some matter, and phrase it as if they knew what they were talking about, when its clear they dont.

I believe thats called "talking out your ass".

reply to post by CosmicCitizen


What a good little NRA automaton you are. Think for yourself instead of letting the NRA think for you.

reply to post by jimmiec

Agreed but what was #6?

reply to post by nixie_nox

What? I dont even belong to the NRA. I think for myself....what about you? Do you subscribe to AlterNet news? I actually do as I am open minded to all sides.

Originally posted by Guenter

Originally posted by Juggernog
reply to post by Guenter

 

A 20 year old MAN is not a child and Holmes is 24.. Is he a child as well?
That shouldnt even be debatable.

edit on 1/15/2013 by Juggernog because: (no reason given)

At 20 ye still not allowed to drink in many states till 21 so = CHILD

Whatever dude.. Your probably the OP on a different account.. Done with you

reply to post by nixie_nox

Oh I get it.....GUNS make children killers. My son has a BB gun, does that make him a potential killer?
(What about non-gun killings? What about suicide by hanging or intentional overdose?)

I think it's because they're poorly raised. I think it's because parents today let them have their way and tolerate their tantrums when they don't get what they want.

As these children get older they have a sense of entitlement and the tantrum extrapolates into more extreme forms.