Gunman kills 10 at school in Finland, then himself

buying guns at 15...?

That incidents like these keep happening, and especially in places like Finland, with the perpetrator(s) copying Columbine style, should make all people scared and worried about world youth (and the internet/media's influence).

anyway... gotta be 20 here for a beer. Anyhow, terrible story.

"school shooting in Finland"

The world is indeed going to hell.

This is a horrible incident and my prayers of comfort. < :-)

"After Auvinen’s rampage, the government said it would raise the minimum age for buying guns from 15 to 18, but insisted there was no need for sweeping changes to Finland’s gun laws." ... Typical Knee-jerk reaction from a government. Whats wrong with 15 year-olds getting automatic weapons over the counter? [Sarcasm, people]

what's with these countries with lax rules about weapon possession that have this frequency of wackos going rampant? oh, I've remembered: pure coincidence

"With 1.6 million firearms in private hands, Finland is an anomaly in Europe, lagging behind only the United States and Yemen in civilian gun ownership, studies show."

It says it all. Still, some people will continue to believe that there is no link between guns ban and such incidents.

Once again my guess is this guy knew it would bring him instant, worldwide fame from the media.

Sorry for those who died. Absolutely senseless.

Typical Knee-jerk reaction from a government. Whats wrong with 15 year->olds getting automatic weapons over the counter?

Finland's firearm law of 1998 does not generally permit the ownership of full or select-fire automatic weapons. Preumably you mean semi-automatic.

majimekun:

" It says it all. Still, some people will continue to believe that there is no link between guns ban and such incidents. "

But Finland has very strong gun control laws. Isn´t that supposed to solve the problem?

WilliB

But Finland has very strong gun control laws. Isn´t that supposed to solve the problem?

Then, guns should be totally banned to the public instead of being regulated. It looks like it's a cultural thing : the fact that people, on a large scale, want to own firearms seems to be the root of the problem.

Including the gunman, 11 got killed.

This is a terrible incident. Guns should be restricted to those the authorities deem honest.

The Fins and the US should change the rules. Only those with a minimum eduction, over 21 only, those with criminal records banned, have an unlicensed gun and go to jail for 10 years.

Common snese policies will deter these murders. The guy should have been banned though, as the cops questioned him only the day before, nuts!!

5.3 million people, 1.6 million firearms, 1 lunatic who abused Finland's liberal firearms laws. It's an anomaly and no reason to pass more gun control laws. The positives of firearm ownership outweigh the negatives, especially in First World countries that are importing large numbers of Third World immigrants. No mention of Switzerland? Everyone is armed there too.

bebert this "anomaly" happened last year too.

Gun ownership is not a problem until people start shooting each other, then the NRA-type start sniping at those wanting stricter gun control without bothering to suggest effective measure to cut down on shootings.

That said, the solution offered by TheNewFed is extreme in the other direction - mere possession of an unlicensed gun does not merit 10 years.

bebert: what on earth is first world and third world people has to do with this? Please don't be so narrow in your thinking. Man get a grip!

bebert this "anomaly" happened last year too.

Looking at the big picture, its still an anomaly.

But I do not believe it is either strict laws or even a lack of laws that gives us Finland's low rate of incidence of such crimes. It is a sense of community. Compared to that all laws or a lack of them is extremely weak at prevention. No sense comparing. None at all.

--Cirroc

The gun lobiest will go again "people kill people, not guns" but without guns makes the killing a lot more difficult.

Everyone who wants/owns a gun should have a psychological check up every 6 months, those who consider themselve stable should not have anything to fear

coward.

He kills himself, he's a "coward".

He doesn't kill himself, he's a "coward".

I've never understood what passes for logic to so many folks in this regard.

USARonin,

Opening fire on unarmed innocent bystanders is cowardly....unless you can argue that its courageous?

I've never understood what passes for logic to so many folks in this regard

Romulos, would you be happier if he didn't kill himself so he could enter a justice system that would guarantee he would never pay the ultimate price?

I've never understood what passes for logic to so many folks in this regard.

USAR

Romulos, would you be happier if he didn't kill himself so he could enter a justice system that would guarantee he would never pay the ultimate price?

yes. society deserved a chance to heap scorn and hatred upon him, and then sentence him. Either that or death by cop would have been just as good. But the fact that he got to choose his own fate leaves the victims and their families with no sense of justice been served.

Romulos, why make the families re-live all of this through months of trial, months of excuses, months of progressives tryin' to keep him alive? -And succeeding.

I guarantee... Between the time it took from the bullet exiting the barrel to the time it took to hit himself in the head, he realized he'd made a serious error about endin' his own life that he couldn't take back. The terror of that moment cannot be surpassed.

-A justice of supreme resort.

USAR

I agree with romulus3; He should have faced real justice, rather than his own bullet to the head.

I guarantee... Between the time it took from the bullet exiting the barrel to the time it took to hit himself in the head, he realized he'd made a serious error about endin' his own life that he couldn't take back. The terror of that moment cannot be surpassed.

you cannot guarantee this. never.

TheNewFed:

" This is a terrible incident. Guns should be restricted to those the authorities deem honest. "

But in Finland they are. Finland has approx. those laws that the gun control advocates in the US want.