Another tragedy....
 

...another grieving family in the world.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/...ire/7050288.stm

It must be a catastrophe for the other members of the family. One wonders what changes can be made to society to reduce the frequency of such disasters. :(

Kids are cruel and seek control, power. Guns in the hands of kids is my worst nightmare.

The tragedy of all those recent shooting is sad enough by themselves. The fact that even the stringent gun regulation of England can not prevent them is equally disheartening. :(

I'm with you, Lil. First funeral I ever went to was for a 3rd-grade classmate of mine, and that was an accident. 2 boys, playing with a gun, and my friend got the worst of it. Enough already. I can't stand it.

Exactly the point, PantyFanatic. I think we need to tackle the issue of kids WANTING guns.....the fact that they are so attracted to them (probably for the reasons Lil mentions) means that they'll get hold of them whether legal or not. Perhaps angry young men who feel that they have no control in any other aspect of their lives, need to be empowered in other safer ways rather than by turning to crime.

I don't have the answer, I wish to God I did.

You would be god if you had the answer.

As OF pointed out referencing the opening setting of '2001', there seems to be a barbaric basic instinct of the species equal to the capability to perform inconceivable accomplishments and acts of compassion. Perhaps we have to look beyond the tools and the environment of culture to the denied balance deep in our core. Do we become most alarmed when what we consciously consider the negative extreme shows in our young and dashes the hope we are becoming something better? :shrug:

At least that approach has a reasonable chance to succeed.

I think that was the probably the main purpose/benefit of National Service.