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Disgruntled city employee kills 12 in Virginia; suspect also killed

57 Comments
By Gary Robertson

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57 Comments

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Think the recent stabbing massacre in Kawasaki perfectly illustrates that guns or no guns, someone with intent on killing people will find a way to do so regardless of what tool they choose. And if someone had a gun there, a passerby, for example, he/she could have stopped the lowlife quickly.

Or... if said lowlife had a gun the number of fatalities would have been far greater. Here's one... If the Vegas shooter had a knife instead, how many people would have died?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Parts of Virginia have a Play by Play Cable TV channel for Crimes on the Street and I remember that being the first thing I saw on tv there, 20! years ago.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Think the recent stabbing massacre in Kawasaki perfectly illustrates that guns or no guns, someone with intent on killing people will find a way to do so regardless of what tool they choose. And if someone had a gun there, a passerby, for example, he/she could have stopped the lowlife quickly.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

We have turned out land into a combat zone and it is time for disarmament. Virginia Beach: the latest scene of mass murder and mayhem that grows from the hostility we seed via hateful words, instruments of violence and destructive deeds. We get more of what we promote.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The folks claiming 'the NRA bears no responsibility for this' have the same basic problem as the folks who claimed that cigarettes weren't addictive and cigarette manufacturers bore no responsibility for the lung cancers.

They WERE responsible, and despite all their power and money, they couldn't prevent even American politicians and courts from finally admitting the blatantly obvious truth of that.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Virginia Beach is 200 miles from NRA headquarters. I wonder why no one has shot up NRA headquarters...oh yeah, the NRA building is a gun-free zone, just like all their rallies.

@CrazyJoe

I did some research on this, and it appears that the NRA headquarters do in fact permit people to carry loaded guns inside their headquarters as long as it's holstered.

Not that it really matters, the NRA won't be seeing any spree shooters anytime soon. Shooters typically aim for places with many unarmed victims such as schools, concerts, or in this case; a workplace. Places with armed people that can defend themselves are low priority targets. That's why police stations, gun shops, high security locations rarely get attacked by these people. Organized groups may attempt it, but not the angry lonely men that want to take with them as many people as possible.

I'm not in any way trying to defend the NRA here, i think gun violence and those who advocate irresponsible gun ownership is terrible. But i don't want to see the spreading of false facts either.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

bass4funk: "Weak excuse, if it’s not guns, it’ll be something else."

Oh, that's right! I forgot you said that the person could kill all of these people with water noodles or a bread basket if he wanted!

"What if we call the cops and they can’t get there in time?"

To shoot the unarmed black man opening his car door but you are all scared of, then call it "protecting your ground"? You mean if they don't come on time as you reach for the last of something at Walmart and another person does, too, and you both draw your guns because you have them and can?

"Or if I love on a farm and a coyote attacks my livestock? Yeah, no thanks."

Your livestock in Japan? Or is this just another hypothetical in the pathetic excuse for guns when the reality is that because of them 12 people are dead?

9 ( +10 / -1 )

The NRA has everything to do with this and every other mass murder in the US. It has fought to fanatic lengths to stop practically any form of reasonable gun control. In so doing, it has created a spurious scenario for everyone to "bear arms." If the NRA is not a "terrorist" organization, it is definitely a health hazard and should be treated as such.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@zichi, "the suspect in Friday's carnage was armed with a .45-caliber pistol equipped with a "*sound suppressor" device and "extended" ammunition magazines he used to reload repeatedly during the attack.'

How would your proposed legislation cover this?

PS *Some kind of 'silencer'? And what kind of mags, I wonder.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yes, look how only two people died in Japan instead of 12 in Virginia. Weak logic.

but how many were stabbed? Say the number please.

Yes, trained professionals in possession of firearms is an exact equivalent to whoever is 18 in possession of firearms. Weak.

I see, so rich folks can protect themselves, but we have to rely on what, a rolling pin? What if we call the cops and they can’t get there in time? SOL? Or if I love on a farm and a coyote attacks my livestock? Yeah, no thanks.

Just not really from firearms.

Depends on the situation.

It's real, which means it doesn't matter if you believe in it. ROFL!

Good, then we don’t need to talk about guns and the NRA. Your rules..

Irrelevant.

No, it’s relevant, so please answer the question.

What are conservatives doing to address the issue other than constantly slashing funds for mental health services?

What are liberals doing to certify people as mentally challenged? They do nothing as in Washington States case, just let them roam the streets, California not much better. No solutions as usual, not surprised.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

I made a sarcastic remark about "thoughts and prayers"

A famous Dutch writer once wrote that sarcasm is the most intense form of grief. This insight is beyond the intellectual and emotional grasp of many folks which makes sarcasm, any sensitive person's natural reaction to the sad state of mankind, an uncomfortable mode of expression for them since mankind has always feared what it doesn't understand. In view of the Groundhog Day homicides and the inaction of American politicians sarcasm is the only appropriate response.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Don't need to argue, because we see straight and we will never negotiate the 2nd amendment.

And prefer to watch innocent people get shot up or deprive others of their liberty so we can feel like men when we carry our toys.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Weak excuse, if it’s not guns, it’ll be something else. If people want to kill you, they’ll find a way, look what happened a few days ago in Japan, there’s no way you stop a psychopath.

Yes, look how only two people died in Japan instead of 12 in Virginia. Weak logic.

As did the emotion based liberal media and Democrats, who themselves have people to protect them that carry firearms. Hypocrites as usual, no surprise.

Yes, trained professionals in possession of firearms is an exact equivalent to whoever is 18 in possession of firearms. Weak.

No, I want to protect people,

Just not really from firearms.

that’s why I believe in the 2nd amendment

It's real, which means it doesn't matter if you believe in it. ROFL!

and I also want to protect people that are incapable of protecting themselves,

Just not really from firearms.

liberals already have this problem in California and NYC, Washington State and Oregon with the homeless and yet, once again, the have done nothing, typical.

Irrelevant.

But not on a larger independent scale like we used to have, sorry

Who will fund these institutions?

Then that’s where you really need to put the blame.

Put the blame on the constitutionally protected right to liberty? Yikes.

If you are mentally compromised, you forfeit that liberty,

So you can keep your firearms. Suuuuure.

so either liberals want to really address the problem or use firearms and the NRA as scapegoats.

What are conservatives doing to address the issue other than constantly slashing funds for mental health services?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

same as a drug dealer shares responsibility for a user ODing or hurting others.

But we won’t blame the people hooked on drugs? Seriously?

What is it about "shares responsibility" that you don't understand?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I agree with your sentiments on this and much else, but "DYOR" is frankly a bit lazy.

Give a man a fish, he eats once. Teach a man to fish, he eats forever. I'm not in the business of spoon-feeding others their education.

I had a post removed because I made a sarcastic remark about "thoughts and prayers". I expect that there is quite heavy moderation on these controversial and emotional topics so possibly many more posts were made

Thoughts and prayers don't stem firearm violence?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Yes, they most certainly do

No, they don’t.

-- same as a drug dealer shares responsibility for a user ODing or hurting others.

But we won’t blame the people hooked on drugs? Seriously?

They should Indeed be listed as a terrorist organization.

I know other organizations that should be labeled as such myself.....

But hey, you can argue against later when the next gun massacre occurs in the US -- likely within the day. 

Don't need to argue, because we see straight and we will never negotiate the 2nd amendment.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

There was a time when comments were the same regardless of who did the shooting. Now shootings that don’t fit the “narrative” have few comments and disappear quickly.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Except it glorifies firearms and does everything in its power to ensure the US remains flooded with them, which means everyone and their pet hamsters have far too easy access to firearms.

Weak excuse, if it’s not guns, it’ll be something else. If people want to kill you, they’ll find a way, look what happened a few days ago in Japan, there’s no way you stop a psychopath.

Uhh . . . The NRA and gun nutters have already politicized it.

As did the emotion based liberal media and Democrats, who themselves have people to protect them that carry firearms. Hypocrites as usual, no surprise.

You simply don't understand that mental asylums still exist, but no longer called asylums; they are called psyche wards.

But not on a larger independent scale like we used to have, sorry.

You also fail to understand that you would need to be involuntarily committing most people to these institutions, which means you are depriving them of their liberty. You know, a fundamental right. 

Then that’s where you really need to put the blame. If you are mentally compromised, you forfeit that liberty, so either liberals want to really address the problem or use firearms and the NRA as scapegoats.

Hilarious that you prefer to deprive people who may or may not be a threat with a firearm of their constitutional right to liberty rather than do more to ensure firearms are controlled. Why is your right to own firearms stronger than others' right to liberty?

No, I want to protect people, that’s why I believe in the 2nd amendment and I also want to protect people that are incapable of protecting themselves, liberals already have this problem in California and NYC, Washington State and Oregon with the homeless and yet, once again, the have done nothing, typical.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Still the NRA says firearms in the hands of non police makes America safe!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Please do your own research via Google or YouTube.

I agree with your sentiments on this and much else, but "DYOR" is frankly a bit lazy.

We roared back to Indy in 2019 with 15 acres of guns and gear, exclusive seminars and luncheons, appearances from top national political leaders and musical superstars - and the chance to rub shoulders with tens of thousands of other Second Amendment patriots. 

https://www.nraam.org/

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Many angry, frustrated individuals + plentiful supply of easy to acquire firearms = Amerikan carnage. To obtain a different outcome the obvious alternative to this bloody equation is simply to change the + to a -. Sorted! ( when the pols grow a pair and legislate)

3 ( +5 / -2 )

My sympathy to the victims and their families.

My admiration to the first responders for putting themselves in danger.

My contempt to those who insist gun control would not stop these crimes.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Please give some concrete example of how the NRA “glorifies” firearms. I’d like to see what you mean by that.

Please do your own research via Google or YouTube.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

the perpetrator, he and he alone, let's put the emotion aside for a moment

OK. Let's assume there are mentally unstable people everywhere throughout the world, and that sometimes they will want to commit violence against others. So he (it's usually a man) looks for a weapon to use. As we've seen from two events from Japan this week, if it's a knife, it can cause death and injury. But that's nothing on the scale of carnage that a gun can cause. The easier it is to obtain a gun, the more mass killings we will see. It's just numbers, not emotion.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

When you say the NRA isn’t to blame because they didn’t pull the trigger, you are right. However, the NRA’s consistent lobbying to protect people’s rights to easily access weapons is a huge problem. Most mass shootings happen with legally purchased fire arms. In some of these states, it is too easy to just walk into a store and purchase a weapon. We need tighter gun control laws that create better and more strict standards for people that do buy guns.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Getting emotional and trying to attack the NRA or the 2nd amendment based on pure emotional anger will undercut any irrational emotion based argument,

Far from it. The NRA supports the widespread and largely unregulated access to these killing machines.

There is nothing wrong with the 2nd amendment per se but it needs to be properly applied - gun ownership needs to be linked to the operation of a well-regulated militia.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Quoted in the news: 'Virginia Beach Vice Mayor James Wood said people can take guns into public buildings, but not schools or courts.'

Who on earth does anyone (excluding the obvious) need to take a gun into public buildings? One can only shake one's head in utter disbelief.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

@Chip Star

Except it glorifies firearms

Please give some concrete example of how the NRA “glorifies” firearms. I’d like to see what you mean by that.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Yes! More guns are the answer! If everybody in the office had a gun they probably could have shot him before he shot all the others - Probably!! This is what happens in a country where guns outnumber the people by 3 to 1 and any nutter with a grudge can unload a few clips into a crowd.

Since the gun buyback in Australia in the mid-90’s there has only been one mass-shooting, which took place two years ago when a father killed his family and himself. Perhaps, more guns is not the answer, perhaps!

Its a shame the American government and the NRA cannot understand the utter lunacy of the following statement, “I need a gun to protect myself from other people with guns.”

More people have have been killed in the US by domestic gun violence since 1969 when records started to be kept than have been killed in all the wars America was involved in since WW1. That’s a statistic to be proud of, NOT!

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Another day another shooting in the US of A.

Meanwhile, the far right screams, "More guns! More guns!"

Really? Do you think that putting more assault rifles and assorted firearms out on the streets will make those same streets safer?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I think the most important thing to focus on here is that incidents like these shouldn’t have any impact on gun laws.

Oh, and thought and prayers.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

When are Americans going to learn that if they don’t want to get shot while going to work/school/anywhere, they need to stop leaving the house. Don’t they realize it’s a war zone out there?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Sorry, is this a news? Isn't it a part of daily life in US? Everyone needs a gun, as the gun lobby says. Foreign Medias should start to shun these news. The nation who do not want to care about themselves, why should others care about them?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The NRA has nothing to do with this, the perpetrator, he and he alone, let's put the emotion aside for a moment.

so a disgruntled Japanese man slashes 20 with a knife and kills two. A disgruntled American shoots at co workers and kills 12. So its either AMericans are just far better at killing than Japanese or its the tools they have available are far to easy to obtain. See no emotions used, only logic. I mean gun massacres are so common in AMerica , peoples emotions are almost nulled by them

8 ( +11 / -3 )

The NRA makes it possible for all people to have access to guns even unstable people.

NRA is also responsible for funneling money from Russian connected companies to the Dump campaign.

They are terrorists and traitors!

Solution: Make it so minorities have easier access to guns and watch White America and the NRA do a 180!

5 ( +9 / -4 )

RIP to the victims, condolences to their family, friends and community.

Hats off again and again to all emergency responders who put their lives on the line every minute of every day to protect the majority of Americans who do not own a single gun -

but have to pay even higher taxes to cover the costs related to all these shootings, as well as deal with harm done to their own families, friends and community..

Why aren't the industries profiting from selling guns and ammo paying higher taxes to cover the costs of the devastation caused by their products?

Why do so non-gun owners have to pay the costs for gun related problems?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Virginia Beach is 200 miles from NRA headquarters. I wonder why no one has shot up NRA headquarters...oh yeah, the NRA building is a gun-free zone, just like all their rallies.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Not all Americans are idiots, you know.

As a card-carrying Merican I resent that remark. We certainly are.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Just another day in 'Merka! Yee-haw!

I agree with the first part of your post, but I don't understand your constant need to use the term "'Merka". The yee-haw is equally uncalled for. Not all Americans are idiots, you know.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

bass4funk: "The NRA has nothing to do with this"

Yes, they most certainly do -- same as a drug dealer shares responsibility for a user ODing or hurting others. THey should Indeed be listed as a terrorist organization. But hey, you can argue against later when the next gun massacre occurs in the US -- likely within the day.

Just another day in 'Merka! Yee-haw!

14 ( +22 / -8 )

The NRA needs to be classified as a terrorist organization. The disease of gun culture has to be tackled, why the delay? Why no war on guns?

20 ( +24 / -4 )

The NRA has nothing to do with this,

Except it glorifies firearms and does everything in its power to ensure the US remains flooded with them, which means everyone and their pet hamsters have far too easy access to firearms.

the perpetrator, he and he alone, let's put the emotion aside for a moment. I blame this disgusting individual for this heinous crime.

Putting emotions aside by calling someone disgusting?

Getting emotional and trying to attack the NRA or the 2nd amendment based on pure emotional anger will undercut any irrational emotion based argument,

Don't you want to undercut irrational, emotion-based arguments? (Notice the correct punctuation and spelling.)

no need to politicize

Uhh . . . The NRA and gun nutters have already politicized it.

it, but we do need to take a bigger look at mental health and do more to maybe create and reopen mental asylums for the growing case of people out there that are mentally challenged.

You simply don't understand that mental asylums still exist, but no longer called asylums; they are called psyche wards.

You also fail to understand that you would need to be involuntarily committing most people to these institutions, which means you are depriving them of their liberty. You know, a fundamental right.

Hilarious that you prefer to deprive people who may or may not be a threat with a firearm of their constitutional right to liberty rather than do more to ensure firearms are controlled. Why is your right to own firearms stronger than others' right to liberty?

22 ( +26 / -4 )

More sickening gun craziness. These filthy devices turn my stomach.

Yet more lives lost and others ruined.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

Days since last mass shooting....2.......Nope, someone update the board, Days since last mass shooting ....0

Thoughts and prayers are losing their powers, used to get weeks out of a prayer, now its just a couple of days.

Cynic mode off: Shitty day for the victim and their families. Sorry your loss will change absolutely nothing.

17 ( +19 / -2 )

The NRA has nothing to do with this, the perpetrator, he and he alone, let's put the emotion aside for a moment. I blame this disgusting individual for this heinous crime. Getting emotional and trying to attack the NRA or the 2nd amendment based on pure emotional anger will undercut any irrational emotion based argument, no need to politicize it, but we do need to take a bigger look at mental health and do more to maybe create and reopen mental asylums for the growing case of people out there that are mentally challenged.

-34 ( +6 / -40 )

RIP to the victims. Gun control now.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

It's getting to the point where I'm surprised when I don't see one of these headlines.

Welcome to life in a frightened country with no leader.....

22 ( +26 / -4 )

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