Are you sure this wasn't a post office?

Being laid off is no excuse to commit murder, this is horrible and just shows that are values are so warped. Desperation will make us do horrible things.

Has anyone checked the beer for possible anthrax contamination?

How about, don't steal and you won't get fired? But then, revenge by mass murder is hardly the mindset of someone who is merely a thief. Other than give every employee an extensive psychological exam, it's difficult to see how this can be prevented in the U.S., where job identity, anger, weapons and entitlement are so locked up tight in the daily internal workings of so many men.

So, let me get this straight... I steal from my company, get caught, get fired, and then it's okay for me to shoot and kill people, just because I'm mad?

mmmm, looks like I'll have to inform HR about this new policy.

He was a union employee, therefore, the union would have eventually gotten his job restored with all back pay and benefits regardless of what he's accused of doing.

What a douche bag!

for those of you lucky enough to have jobs, I'm happy for you..you got your foot through the door and are taken care of.. that's more than I can say for myself, I would never kill or harm anyone for a job..I never even had A Chance for Employment, always turned away for something or another..I Never went off the deep end for Income or Employment..now it's been 50+ years without work/ a job and I still have Not Lost It..I make it, it's NOT EASY but I make it..I do Not depend on State-Aid or anything like that.. but I make it some how.....................

You've been unemployed and not able to find a job for 50 years? Wow. How are you able to make ends-meat?

jeeesus, do you live under a bridge? What/where do you eat? Are you a panhandler, vagabond or just a plain 'ol mooch? Do the simple arithmetic. Your story doesn't add up.

You can't blame this on the union or police or Obama. I think it is horrible that so many people are so quick to blame this on people that would never want something like this to happen. It's a tragic event due to a mentally unstable person. My heart goes out to all the people and families affected by this.

If you work for the Post Office and lose it you go "Postal", if you work in the fencing industry and lose it you go "Post Hole".

Maybe he's Jimmy Buffett ?!?

This happens far too often to be ignored. At some point we must figure out a way to spot the signs of mental illness in the workplace better. I know that is easy to say but people living on a short fuse often have some signs that they are disturbed in their past work records. Work records that are very hard to get to with laws that can get a past employer sued for honesty. Whether it shows up in an interview or by cross checking references or doing a better job in human resources we have to at least try to protect innocent people going to work every day to support themselves from being slaughtered by crazies. Maybe they have to read into a referral things that are not said. I really don't know.

I think it is time for companies to re-examine their procedures to see if it is possible to even detect worrisome signs. Granted these people do not act out completely until they are removed but they likely lost their job due in part to their instability. Perhaps companies can find a method that deals with trying to screen a little more effectively, even knowing that across America most employees do not go out the door with a body count.

It is frustrating reading these situations as the people who are killed are so innocent and the one's who do it are so insane. Maybe there is no answer.

Wow, the crazies are on a rampage again in this country.

Work related. With all the layoffs and people being let go from their jobs, there are bound to be more of these massacres.

Many employers are afraid to lay off or fire undesirable employees or illegal aliens for this reason.

Taking other sacred lives is Evil.

This is "union entitlement" attitude. These people got away with murder all the time.

This takes the adage "desperate times demand desperate measures" way over the line.

It's hard to believe that his "tells" couldn't have been read or at least caused concern by those in close contact to him--perhaps the union steward, a coworker, a spouse.

Precautions most likely could have been made to avoid this horrible event

This has nothing to do with unions, period, you aren't thinking right when you talk like that. If it wasn't for unions you'd be working 70 hours a week and getting paid for 20. It's people like you that spread hate and fear

A woman who knew the alleged gunman said he had complained of racial harassment at work.

Hannah said Thornton, who is black, had complained to his superiors about a picture of a noose and a racial epithet in a bathroom at the distributor. Her daughter told her the supervisors did not respond to his complaints.

This isn't just about stealing. There is always more to the story than most ever hear about.

I think many people are at the tipping point. It won't take much to set someone off. When you believe you have nothing left to lose it's over.

fellas, like I said; It's Not Been Easy..occasionally friends help, but Not Much..I do NOT want to be anyone's; beast of burden..hehehe..however, I am as frugal as they get..I own a home, well a mortgage that is; interest payment account, never to be really owned by myself..sigh,sigh..No, I'm Not trailer trash or something like that..I Live a very Clean tidy Life, I make do Everything; i'm honest, good morals, don't do drugs and stay away from any trouble if I can..yup, Jesus Christ fed 5,000 people with one fish and yup, it must have been; ONE BIG FISH !!!...please have a good day fellas, life is short, it's BEEN FUN !!!.............

Norcal, yes this happens all to offten. The job for life mentality, difficulty of termination has left people without the skills to move on and get another job. every ond should loose a job in their life and learn how t odeal with the changes that life brings. And jeesus your funny. your such a good bum you have access to the internet. Smart phone? Or are you the smelly guy at the library? Put down your sign and let the traffic pass while you post more comedy. This whole story is making me pout

WCG

First of my thoughts and condolences are with the victims and victims' families of this senseless act. It's sad that some think that the end of a job is something worthy of violence. I've only been terminated from a job once,and while I wasn't particularly happy, I never thought about shooting my coworkers. Since the company went under a little over two years after I left thanks to the incompetent management of those I ran afoul of, I'd say they did me a favor.

As far as the perp goes, I guess he showed everyone they shouldn't have fired him,huh?? What a maroon.

This is not about politics; this is not about unions; this is not about the economy. This is about an individual with a very loose screw or two who was about to be disciplined or fired and who lost it. That's the whole story; that's the only story. The vast majority of the posts here are crazy political BS and are completely irrelevant.

My condolences to all of the involved families and friends.

Killers are killers. In my state, several months back....

Dressed in camouflage and armed with a handgun, a disgruntled ex-employee opened fire Tuesday at a truck rental business in suburban Atlanta, killing two people and injuring three others, police said.

WCG; obviously your a gym nut, perhaps that smell is yourself; + your Rude..have some respect, i hose/shower daily and twice if need be + i can afford deodorant ..hehehe..roll over Beethoven, Jesus Loves You...hehehe ...ohhh BTW, my condolences to family and friends of this horrific tragedy !!!....

Unions are to blame???? Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!

Lemme get this straight: the two doucebags in Colombine were in a union? The kid at West Virginia Tech was in a union?

'Entitlement' for life? Why don't we see one of the Supreme Court go nuts more often and blow the others away when the ruling goes against them then?

Maybe if these low little union guys doing the work got the Golden Parachutes that they hand out to the guys at the top that not only didn't work, but FAILED the company, these 'union guys' wouldn't be so distraught about losing their means of feeding their families?

Too much wealth in the hands of the few puts too much pressure on the impoverished many and leads to this sort of thing. See the French Revolution, Geeedos.

I don't understand how you can owe a home with a mortgage if you never worked

Tawny....that's easy..this new government will give you anything.....LOL

Oh theres more these's racial gestures and pictures. So I guess every white person should go on a rampage after every black comedian's stupid 1950's white robot act. Or when black people have the nerve to call grown men white boys to make themselves feel better. Maybe the guy was just a nut that nobody liked and in their own ignorant way made fun of him. But we can't shoot everyone for being stupid. Otherwise the Halls of Congess would be empty.

Did I miss something in this article? Where did it say this guy was being disciplined for stealing something? In reading the article sounds like the guy had a grievence that went unaddressed and he ended up being disciplined and asked to resign for something else. Not saying he did or did not do something to deserve a resignation, but something more is going on than what is being reported. Now, this in now way condones his actions but unfortunately we see this type of scenario when people ask for help and no one wants to listen. May God be with those who were impacted by this tragedy.

To: Tinman 1967 - There's THAT Word again!! - SOCIALISM!!!!! - Oh God!!! Eeekkkk!!! "It's socialism what got us into this here mess!!!" Listen Tinman - This is a Tragedy where EIGHT Yes 8 INNOCENT People where Whacked - murdered by a Dangerous Psychopath!!!! Your MISUSED Word - of Socialism has NOTHING to do with this tragedy!!!! God Lord, Soooo Many Americans are brainwashed by the republican Dive-in BrainWash Machine: If you don't understand it or can't eat it and it is unpleasant then It Is Socialism!!!! This guy was probably deep in mental health manifestations Way Way before and his firing pushed it over the edge.

Tawny, that wasn't easy also believe me..some how the Lender, not the govt,,, then was compassionate, because my disclosures we're honest believe me..did I tell ya at the age of 14, i was a newspaper boy then..i went to a finance co. and got financed for a paperboy's special schwinn bike..with No Co-signer !!!..i made monthly payments till it was paid in full..Lucky Huh !!!...ohhh, there's been hardships in my Life, but i never let them get the Best of Me..hehehe..i still manage to have a a sense of humor of things and yes there are Ugly's Out there......

TinMan!!!! Again you make a less then brilliant statement!!!! "These tragedies will continue to happen until all unions are banned"!!!!!

The guy was for a long time NUTZI!!!!! What does "socialistic Unions" have to do with the price of Almonds in China and Camel droppings in Cairo????????

Tinman, there is a saying which "may" help you: "Open Mouth Insert Foot"................

Rick95864, THANK YOU! I thought I would never come across a comment from someone with some sense!

You know what? People should EXPECT to get pissed off at work now and then. You GRIN AND BEAR IT and then get on with living, NOT KILLING!

Sorry but I see alot of Dems post the word Socialism here so I think it's that dive in anti Obama machine you mean. Pleasee don't try to tell everyone how ignorant they are by posting the same ignorant comments. Thanks!

jeesus, what everyone is wondering, is where do you get the MONEY to pay the mortgage?

@tinman1967 Yes.. Clearly this is the unions fault. they are totally to blame for this. It's definitely not the fault of Omar Thornton, who shot his co-workers.. he is completely blameless.. if he hadn't join the union, everything would have been fine. The union made him do it.

tinman, you've left you're tin hat somewhere.. the aliens, CIA, and Fox news are beaming misinformation into your head.

I'd like to see a movie of jessus' story. It reminds me a lot of Forrest Gump. Tell us about meeting the president.

Hey monkeymonkey- As long as you know where the blame lies. LOLLOL

It make us sick to see so many of you making fun of this President

lol, hypocrite.

@bklynj I do. the blame lies directly at the feet of the killer.

@MikeinDelray Wow thats quite the assumption. Yes, some unions have been known to act heavy-handed... as have companies. I don't think this situation was a fault of the union, it was a fault of whoever drew the lynch in the bathroom.

hey, when i was in high school..there was a chevy dealership across the street..during lunch breaks, i'd go and stare at these beautiful corvettes through the window on the show room floor, i fell for Them !!!..i said to myself; one day in my Lifetime, i want to have one..so i did !! several years Later !!!..the dealer quipped; usually old men/ ladies are proud owners..hehehe..I was young then, abt 26 years of age then..I drove the prettiest one of them all, off the show room floor..hehehe..how did i afford it ??? self-employment..hehehe..however that was a short stint, the insurance was ridiculous !!!..moral to story;.........being self employed does not mean, lots of money always..another words; self -employment can be like No Employment at times..you wanted honesty, you got it ...hehehe

The bottom line is, procedures in which one is fired needs to be changed and I believe this is governed by the state. Some states allow a phone call or letter be sent to the party being terminated in other states it must be done in person. It is becoming far too dangerous firing someone at the work place and it jeopardizes the lives of others as well. Security measures should also be added for those fired under such circumstances so they are no longer permitted on company property once they are terminated. this is scary.

Nick says, "I think many people are at the tipping point. It won't take much to set someone off. When you believe you have nothing left to lose it's over"

RJretniP-1209722 says, "Now, this in now way condones his actions but unfortunately we see this type of scenario when people ask for help and no one wants to listen"

westcoastgym says, "Norcal, yes this happens all to offten. The job for life mentality, difficulty of termination has left people without the skills to move on and get another job."

America first says, "Too much wealth in the hands of the few puts too much pressure on the impoverished many and leads to this sort of thing."

Attempting to make excuses for this man's mass murder is counter productive and misled. There are many people who suffer worse situations than loosing a job...and many people who suffer for years with hardships...and there are many people who feel they have lost everything and/or feel nobody hears their pleas for help...and many impoverished, who do not blame others for all their problems or lash out with anger at others. This man was being given the opportunity to resign due to his theft from the company...they could have fired him and brought charges with law enforcement for prosecution...thus acoording to what has been reported, it seems he was being treated with some respect for his future employment. If there are not any reports filed by this killer for the racial discrimination claims made by the murderer's girlfriend, I think that is only a smoke screen and attempt to cast blame elsewhere...a sad statement in the continuation of refusing to accept where true, full responsibility for this mass murder lies.

Some people are mean spirited, heartless and have no respect for the lives of others...and blame and lash out at innocents...with no ability to accept responsibility for their own crimes. My prayers to the loved ones of those killed and injured.

Andy-1297110...30 years in the Construction industry in NYC....I've seen my share of union thuggery, violence, sabotage, intimidation...IBEW Local 3 (electricians were the worst, Teamsters were second. The guy in Conn. was a Teamster). Who does anyone think is loading up the buses from CA to AZ to protest, to the WallSt. guys home....scare the daylights out of his kid, etc.

As an "institution" they believe "might makes right". It's not any individual member per se, but when "group think" takes over.....they will do whatever it takes to stay in the good graces of the union bosses.

jeeesus

for those of you lucky enough to have jobs, I'm happy for you..you got your foot through the door and are taken care of.. that's more than I can say for myself, I would never kill or harm anyone for a job..I never even had A Chance for Employment, always turned away for something or another..I Never went off the deep end for Income or Employment..now it's been 50+ years without work/ a job and I still have Not Lost It..I make it, it's NOT EASY but I make it..I do Not depend on State-Aid or anything like that.. but I make it some how.....................

so.... @ 26 u drove a vette' off the showroom floor, was self employed for a "stint" and it didnt work our, and have not worked in 50 yrs, making you an ez 76?? Ok, i'll guess you got the house because your wife passed on, or some rich relative...maybe... but there are taxes on the property, and so on, so i think your just yanking our cranks, if you recieve no income, or assistance from the government.

To also say you have been loooking for as long, or near as long to no avail, well i'd have to say you are blind, and have no limbs to accomplish that one. Even in Alabama i was able to "make work", and up until 2008, i could go knocking on doors, and walz away with a job, in a week or less. yup.... crank yanker or somthing, but in no means honest, not close to ambitious in my opinion...

As far as the story goes, those of you blaming unions, race, and i am suprised to see the NRA hasnt been brought up... actually shocked is more like it. It is however, about a person who lost his last marble, when he found out he was out of a job. Possibly picked on by co-workers, and felt a bit miffed when he was asked to resign, to the point of murder. A sad tale indeed, yet this is not the only person to commit such an offence, nor is the US the only country, and a fire arm would have not made much of a diffrence when we read about how people run like rabbits when someone snaps, and has so much as a knife in his or her hand.

Megalodon, nope/ none of the accusations you made fits my character..realizing that you do not realize, i cannot change that..i am honest, and Like i said many times; My Living and Living Standards are meager, Not Lavish etc..please, have a Good Day Okay..didn't make a dime today, but i had a enjoyable day..i did Not take my Anger or Frustrations out on no one, what for ??..something trivial like losing a job..THAT's CrAzY !!!!................

This will continue to happen until all unions are banned in this country.

Fat chance. The government won't go after unions, they'll just go after our guns.

maybe this guy has a history like a gang member or something like that. this sh!tbag (term used in jails) doesn't fit the profile, you know, 40 something, white, anti establishment. he was a union truck driver of only 3 years. he hasn't made the grade yet and most likely wasn't vested. if he is steeling beer from work then my guess is he had a drug and or alcohol problem. desperate people take desperate measures. apparently this guy couldn't swim either...this buds for you....^^

Lets blame everyone but the shooter?? I'm sick to my stomach of these freaks running around shooting other people just because they have a problem.

The idiot was stealing and got fired..HELLO, what, did he expect to win employee of the month?

Why do these @!$%#s have to take others out for thier issues?? I dont feel one bit sorry for that kind, but its no ones fault but his own.

I think employers need to do their firing by phone and have tight security in place so they arent allowed to enter the building.

Why do you have to go to a Foreign Media outlet to get the REAL STORY????????

Family members said Thornton was a "quiet, hard-working man" who was apparently pushed to breaking point by the alleged bullying.

"He had some instances of racism in the company. They were hanging nooses in the bathroom and writing stuff like that. They were singling him out because he was the only black person there in that area," Mr Holliday said.

After the shootings, Thornton reportedly told his mother on the phone: "I killed the five racists that were there bothering me."

After ignoring his mother's pleas not to take his own life, Thornton said: "That's it. The cops are going to come in so I'm going to take care of it myself."

Thornton's family expressed condolences to the victims' families but said they were mourning too, CBS reported.

"This all could have been avoided," Mr Holliday said.

"He went to the union a couple of times with issues concerning what was going on, and it was not dealt with properly."

However, Teamsters official Christopher Roos said: "It's got nothing to do with race. This is a disgruntled employee who shot a bunch of people."

James Battaglio, a spokesman for the families who own the distributorship, said he had no immediate information about the allegations of racial harassment.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/world/nine-dead-in-race-abuse-work-shooting/story-e6frfkyi-1225900870147#ixzz0vatyIRe8

How does Jeeesus afford the taxes on his house? Electricity?

Has he tried Monster.com?

well we got gun galore. This is what happens when angry people own guns.

hey,dung chong easy with @!$%#..I'm Not Jesus of Nazareth or your Holy Savior..I'm merely trying to survive like you eh..if i was Jesus, i would save the earth and the people that wanted to be Saved.. as for you, a custom zipper for ya mug would be quite appropriate eh..as for me into myself, hey it's u guy's asking the questions..i just was courteous to reply..now do i need to guide the disbelievers and mischievers on how to live on almost nothing ??..as for paying taxes etc. again and again; I don't know how i do it, BUT IT AIN'T EASY !!!..now, if u don't want me to bark, don't rattle my cage....hehehe

Another typical day in America why even put this stuff on the news. It’s a common occurrence in American daily life where any psycho, criminal or terrorist can get a weapon either legally or illegally because THEY HAVE THEIR RIGHTS! It’s the daily shooting rampage, and you are right guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Guns just make it easy to kill people because any IDIOT can pull a trigger. Get use to it its just going to get worse.

I'll be the first to admit that Unions aren't perfect, but anyone who says we don't need them are idiots. We would all be working at minimum wage and endless hours without them. One of the biggest expenses for any company is the employee. How many of you reading this believe corporate America has those workers interests at heart? Look at Circuit city. They fired all their employees so they could hire more at lesser pay rates. I personally hope that caused their demise. I know I refused to shop there after that. And what CEO out there has any thought for anything beyond his bottom line on the quarterly report?

No, we need unions. Unfortunately, we also need a new mindset for those unions. I am in a union. Even I think it is way too hard to fire someone in a union and there a a lot in my union that needs firing. Right now, the way things work, the mindset of both company and union is give as little as possible. That needs to change. I'm more than willing for the union to start the process. My wish would be that the union realized we were hired to make the company money and that we worked hard toward that goal. In return, we as workers should get everything we can be given. Medical, pension, profit sharing and whatnot. After all, the company will make not one dime without the workers. It isn't just suits in corporate headquarters making money. Without us they come to nothing.

Further, anyone who says unions are responsible for what this guy did is nothing more than a reactionary. There is no thought process involved in their statement whatsoever. You should feel humiliation for saying it. You may as well blame the steel workers for making the steel that went into the gun. Blame pool manufacturers for making pools for people to drown in. Stop being an idiot.

How, exactly, does one recover from being DEAD, BillyBoy?

Linny63.....dumb question....They go to heaven.....or gasp...hell.

RJretniP-1209722 - I guess I missed it too, where does it say anything about stealing? It said he was being asked to resign.

And honestly I'm surprised we aren't hearing more of these "snapped" stories, people are beyond desperate, and being told you're losing your job in this economy can take you to the edge quickly. The whole situation is tragic.

Obviously, by someones comments above referring to a place in Atlanta, this is happening more than we all hear about.

Leena and RJretnip - can either of you read ? the man was called in for a discussion about his stealing company property and in the process was fired. in the past, he had alleged that a picture of a hangman's noose had been placed in the bathroom. did this picture have his name on it ? could it have been anyone in the company ? or did he just assume he was the target ? perhaps he put it there himself because he was a provocateur and wanted the attention. well, we'll never know now.

I would like to know how jeesus got a loan for a home if he doesn't have a job????? Around here you can't get a loan for anything if you haven't been at a job for at least a year.

Jesus did have a job, he was a carpenter.

Ipf, was it full or part time or standby ??

My hopes for a speedy recovery goes to those injured in this senseless violence. I also hope that no beer was injured in the making of the melee.

Beer was definitely a factor. If it hadn't been for the beer he wouldn't have been able to seal because he wouldn't have had a job. Drinking won't solve your problems but passing out will. I never touch beer, can't stand it. Now Jack Daniels is another story. It's not for everyone though. From now on all disiplinary meetings are to be gun free zones. No, we should outlaw all disiplenary meetings. That way no one would have to kill co-workers for enforceing the no stealing clause in the employment agreement. Expect the worst, reward the best.

WCG

Good people are gone forever and others are suffering and you guys are making light of this event.

God help you.

So how did he steal whatever it is he stole. I missed that in the story. Did he come into work weighing 140 and leave weighing about 190? I guess that would be a good way to steal at a beer distribution company-drink what you sell. I guess there's no resale value in it, unless he sells his urine to some urine drinkers. This world gets crazier by the minute!

Alcohol was probably a factor in railsback's remark.

About stealing - An old guy worked at a lumber mill for 30 years, every night he took out a wheelbarrow of sawdust to take home. The ,on top of things, gate guard checked the sawdust every night with his nightstick to make sure the guy wasn't stealing tools. After the guy retired, they realized for 30 years he was stealing wheelbarrows.

Tex, very funny!!!!!

TexRat, eat some Decon.

Ahh but you should ... Good thing none of those victims had a gun ... Someone may of got hurt..

FFJWhite, yes you should. People in general have forgotten what it means to respect other persons. Now none of us know the details to this particular incident, but I believe if it was do to how some employees were treating another employee or perhaps even because of actions that one employee took or committed against another employee and others knew about it but did nothing then too bad. Just becasue a person does not break the law does not mean they did not morally or socially wrong or offend someone else and well if you cross that line then you had better be prepared for the consequences. Society should not give you a free pass to be an @!$%#.

There was reason for being fired. That reason probably stemmed from another problem. I would say there was a women-alcohol combo that pushed this guy to kill. The firing was the the snapping point. He basically committed suicide taking some with him so that people knew what kind of anger and depression he was living. Its to bad we dont make more close friends so that we have some one to lean on during crisis.

So, let me see if I got this one right, Azreal. If someone is mean to you, then it's ok to shoot them???? So, in other words, I have to watch every step I make, every word I speak, to ensure I don't make someone mad otherwise they have the right to shoot me???? Hmmm, let me see....NOT!

Business is business. Sometimes you have to let someone go. For whatever reason. It is not be a huggy lovey, warm and fuzzy experience. It' can't be. Its hurtful, but you dont' get free reign to SHOOT YOUR FELLOW CO-WORKERS!

It never stops to amaze me how people can jump to conclusions based on their own hangups and bias...

I have seen so many times how certain people in the workplace can be BULLIED and driven to commit acts like this. Then it is always the shooter's fault. Never mention how sometimes "adults" can behave like total morons and mentally abuse people to this point. No one does something like this unless it is a reaction to something else. Sometimes that reaction can be fatal. It wouldn't surprise me that this guy was deliberately abused by these co-workers.

God riddance, if you behave like an a*****e don't cry when someone comes at you with a gun. You had it coming. It is your fault because you thought that you had the right to mentally abuse someone. So now the joke is on you. The person thought he had the right to shoot you then, in self defense...

See how stupid both sides to that logic sound? Nevertheless it was the abuser who was the ROOT CAUSE to the problem...

Until we start to change these behaviors we will keep seeing incidents like this in the news every so often.

I forgot that we have become a nation of morons and self serving ego maniacs that fail to understand the simple concepts of humanity, and are so hung up on their own selfish and self justified beliefs that in turn drive this sort of behavior in our society...

Independent Jon,

You are correct; you do have the right not to be cordial. The flaw with your position is that not everybody is going to allow you that right. It’s like the pedestrian in the hospital who’s in traction, tubes coming from his body who states “I was in the crosswalk; I had the right of way”. He still needed to look for that car coming even though the car should have stopped.

Always look out for yourself and don’t disrespect people just cause your allowed; you never know when they will snap and who they will target. Try starring down the barrel of a gun held by somebody with a death wish and convince them you are allowed to mistreat them, because it’s the American way.

thinkBeforeYouSpeak, nothing justifies the murder; and it can not be stated that 100% of people will not do such an act unless they are reacting to something.

In general, as far as your comment, I really hope that they get it sooner than later.

To thinkbeforeyouspeak, you should do just that. You could not be more wrong. People like you blame everything on everybody else. Never your fault right? And if someone calls you names , or is mean to you, you think you have the right to kill them??!! You talk about selfishness?? The actions that that gunman took is the most selfish act that could be taken. He's feeling hurt, and depressed, so he kills other people. THAT'S SELFISH!! How do people like you come up with the thoughts you come up with?? Stay in school kids. Or you'll end up making ignorant statements like the person who calls themself "thinkbeforeyouspeak".

Did you people read the article. The guy was being asked to resign because he was stealing. Nobody did anything to piss him off. He did it all. And to worry that some jerk-off thief is going to come around and shoot the place up just because he got caught is asinine. And anyone who thinks it's okay the way this coward acted before shooting himself needs to have been in line waiting for the next bullet.

John-1890398,

A woman-alcohol reason? Your crudeness is very offensive. I'm sure that he had underlying circumstances that led to today's event; but please don't assume that a woman was the cause. Dudes can be jerks all by themselves.

Cory- couldn't have said it better myself

Independant John -

Thanks for the intelligent digest and for explaining why so many Americans liken their IQ to their shoe size. You remind me of a nerd that got his face broken in high school for not having the sense to keep his mouth shut.

Oh hang on, is this John Oates?

John-1890398 - Doggone those alcoholic women.

After reading all of the comments posted, I would have to say Cory you must be the smartest person online. I couldn't have stated it better myself.

Azrael-2115312: He was in the process of being disciplined for stealing from the very company that provided him a job.

thinkBeforeYouSpeak, I think you've lost the ability to do just that.

How 'bout this for an idea on firing unsatisfactory employees. Cut some red tape and just shoot the poor employee. Most juries would find you not guilty.

It never stops to amaze me how people can jump to conclusions based on their own hangups and bias...

Since that's pretty much how EVERY human being does it, you must spend a lot of time being amazed.

I could care less who carries a gun, and who doesn't (I most definitely have a gun for my protection)... what we, as a society, need to figure out is how to keep mentally disturbed individuals (as this guy obviously was) from owning guns.

@thinkbeforeyou speak

Your comment shows a considerable lack of just that. People do not just go in and shoot people who hurt their feelings or abuse them, they more often go after those who can't defend themselves. Explain to us just what 9 little Amish girls ages ranging from 5-11 did to the guy who walked into their school and shot them all dead, or how about the people eating in McDonald's who were shot by a stranger while eating their lunch? Do a little research before you speak.

thinkbeforeyou speak made a very foolish overstatement. But to discredit the rest of what thinkbeforeyou speak wrote - is also foolish.

Why does everyone assume the guy was mistreated. Oh yeah, the alleged noose, the noose that always seem to be reported only after the person is getting in trouble. People look for an excuse all of the time for outrageous behavior. Whatever, wish I had a built in excuse for acting like an ass like some people want to have....

I could care less who carries a gun, and who doesn't (I most definitely have a gun for my protection)... what we, as a society, need to figure out is how to keep mentally disturbed individuals (as this guy obviously was) from owning guns.

Or maybe those who sell guns should have more discretion and responsibility in who they sell them to. Right now, just about anyone without a felony on their record can get a gun (provided they even check).

We need tighter background checks, but there is no way to predict the behavior of someone who appeared sound of mind when the gun was purchased but may have turned later. And besides, lets face it, the gun merchants arent always doing their job screening these prospective owners.

And again I say, the politicians (TeaBAggers specifically) need to stop fomenting fear, anger and advocating '2nd Amendment remedies'. You are playing with fire and what you say (albeit it rhetoric) will be taken seriously by some.

Right now, just about anyone without a felony on their record can get a gun (provided they even check).

Wow, way to show your ignorance to the world.

And besides, lets face it, the gun merchants arent always doing their job screening these prospective owners.

Ok so 1% of all FFLs are crooked, so the entire industry is bad. Shall we apply this logic to some other industries too?

And again I say, the politicians (TeaBAggers specifically) need to stop fomenting fear

Right back at ya.

I dont think anyone is saying that its ok to shoot people because they were rude and pissed you off. Thats just nuts.

I do agree with some of the others that its NOT OK to disrespect other human beings just because you say you have the freedom to do so...

The freedoms that Americans have was never intended to be abused and used to mistreat others. With freedom of speech comes responsibility.

Society today is a whole different breed compared to the people that grew up in my time. Not to say there were no disrespectful people, there always has been and always will be, but they were more the exception where today its rampant. There is no excuse for it.

independant jon Comment collapsed by the community

Azrael

Actually, as Americans we enjoy the express right not to respect some people; the first Americans made sure that no one could get in trouble for failing to bow and scrape to Kings and Lords and such. If this guy was called names or even harassed it does nothing to excuse him from violently attacking his co-workers. America is not ruled by the sword, but by the pen...and while we have a responsibility to be cordial we have a right to choose not to be cordial--and we should never have to worry about someone putting a pill in our head for making a rude comment.

Your position is not just flawed; it is entirely wrong.

Is this the same thing as leaving a shell casing (a spent bullet) on a brief case, in someone's locked vehicle and another in their locked home? In the Aukeen Courthouse parking lot in Kent, WA, another in the parking lot of the Renton Courthouse, all originating from Federal Way, WA.

I have photos, police reports, audio & video. Still uploading.

Oh yeah, and then there's this:

Washington State Attorney General Consent Order, with attached Statement of Charges (5 total on page - PFH)

you obviously haven't been around newsvine very long because it pains me everytime I read a comments section at the stupidity that people blabber on about.

You are very correct. "ASS"umption makers and idiots are allowed to post as well as intelligent fact finders.

predjudice idiot!!! you remind me fo archie bunker!! and i see they let morons comment!!!!

Well, It's wrong to assume it's a 'brown person' but it's OK to think it's an idiot or an alcoholic?? I don't believe that's right fukyerbs. It could have been anyone from a delivery guy to the boss's secretary...Black white brown or purple.

I don't think trying to assume anything about the shooter is relevent. All it seems to be is every ones prejudice coming out. My choice is to concern myself with the welfare of the people involved. I hope everyone, even the shooter, comes out of this OK.

The article said: "Officials said people are "down,"......how does this interpretate to brown??

This is exactly how crazy stuff starts. People don't listen, read correctly, pay attention. They all seem to have selective hearing, reading and attention. Then whammo! we have a problem!

I, too, wondered where the "brown" people comment came from. I don't believe the police said people were "brown", but that they were "down". As in wounded or dead.

The shooter is apparently dead, too. Good riddance. Now we can get an idea of why he was asked to resign. He was nuts!

we can't assume it was an alcoholic? Its a Beer Distribution plant, he was fired for stealing, what do you think he stole? BEER! and it WAS an Idiotic move on his part.

The article didn't say, brown, it said, "Thornton, who is black"...

I did not see anything in that article that said the man was stealing, but I did read that he had complained to managerment that he was being harassed. Harrassment is no cause for murder, but businesses should school everybody on how to treat one another. The government does, and they'll fire your T hinney if it can be proven that you are harassing someone else on the job. All businesses should have 0 tolerance of unacceptible behavior towards one another. It's hot, as brazes, and tempers are raging, so it good to becareful and stay low, bullets have no respect of persons. I certainly hope all the live victims will be fine and I pray for the soul of the dead ones and the gunman as well.

An employee who had been asked to resign for stealing went on a shooting rampage Tuesday at a beer distributing company, killing eight people and wounding others before fatally shooting himself, officials said.

I guess you didn't read the first paragraph of the story, did you Mary? Sometimes people can't see what they don't want to.

Mary, this is a direct quote from the article:

MANCHESTER, Conn. — A warehouse driver who was caught on videotape stealing beer from the distributorship where he worked went on a shooting rampage there Tuesday, killing eight people before committing suicide, authorities said.

Now do you see where it says he was stealing? Also, the alleged noose was told to his girlfriends mother. Management has no paperwork showing his claim. Why didn't he complain to his union rep? Why is everyone trying to make this racial. It isn't. He was a crook and anyplace that you work, if you are caught stealing, you are fired. He was caught and went off the deep end. Stupidity knows no bounds. People need to read and comprehend what is written. Just don't scan thru and only take the points that they want for their own political ideas.

Agreed, there are people that lost thier lives for just simply going to work! What a shame! Prayers go out to thier families!

Yes sir, that there gun control really works. Those restrictions that Connecticut has are paying off in big dividends.

No gun zones are hunting zones.

Even if Conn. was a right to carry State, most employers do not allow firearms into their buildings. I would hate to see everyone where I work at strapping a six shooter to their hip. But what the heck, we could have the whole plant shooting at one another.

even if they could have guns...what kinda nut carries while hes just sitting around at work? sounds like a great way to earn the trust of your coworkers;being mister .45. now dont get me wrong. i dont carry but im fine with people being allowed to...it just doesnt seem like a situation where many people wouldve had a gun even if theyd been allowed to.

I'm sorry but have you even researched connecticut gun laws? They may be strict but they do not infringe on anyone's right to bear arms within the confines of the law. People are allowed to carry a concealed weapon with the proper permit, just like many other states. Your statement is misleading and false.

Why not read up on the connecticut gun law before spewing your non-sense. Here's a link for your reading.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0369.htm

Well, based on your comment and the fact that you're spouting off inflammatory FALSE information about a topic to try to further your agenda, I can guess what news channel you primarily watch.

You absolutely CAN get a permit to carry a concealed weapon in connecticut.

http://www.usacarry.com/connecticut_concealed_carry_permit_information.html

Why bother actually checking to see if your facts are straight before spewing them out? You should put in a job application to Fox news. You're perfect for them.

Nukes, everyone doesn't have to be armed, just a few. Any low life determined to find easy victims will have to wonder who is armed and can defend themselves. As it is now, any punk can brazenly enter places where he KNOWS people are unarmed and fire at random.

Agreed. Concerned parent is mis-informed. I am a CT resident and I have my carry permit.

im from the chicago area where you actually cant carry...so i mistakenly assumed that this dude was properly informed. a beginners error on these pages i must admit..

Furthering the comments up thread... Connecticut does have strict gun laws in place, however, if you are not a felon, obviously mentally ill, and are willing to spend a little money for the training course and wait to buy the gun, you can carry concealed. I think its a good balance, the Second amendment is respected, and there are checks to make sure you're not liable to use the gun in anger. I favor waiting periods and background checks, because hey, if you need that gun RIGHT NOW!!!!!!1! maybe you should cut back on caffeine... I can think of no reason why someone would need to buy a gun immediately, bypassing a waiting period, other than to use in the heat of the moment.

I believe in the logic of Mr. Wyatt Earp. You could keep your side arm along side you on your property, in your travels and during your work. You come into a town's limits, you checked them at the sheriff's office to be locked up. That solved it for Tombstone!

I doubt there are many companys that will allow employees to carry, concealed or not, in the work place. I was a USDA inspector for 20 years and was sent to some pretty shady locations at all hours and was not allowed to carry a weapon, even in my vehicle. Well sorry MR. Secretary, that's one rule this ole gal violated every day.

I remember 2 inspectors gunned down while doing an investigation on a meat packer. Too bad they weren't allowed to defend themselves.

It's all about SELF RESPONSABILITY_NO MORE_NO LESS.

actually,I think you got that from the movie,not reality

I can think of no reason why someone would need to buy a gun immediately, bypassing a waiting period, other than to use in the heat of the moment

Because it's my gun and I want it now!

Are you OK with waiting periods on anything else you might buy?

I am sorry for all the confusion. As to the Carry permit I was not talking about, you are not able to carry one. What I am talking about is the difference between "Castle Law" and "stand your ground" laws. There are a lot of people that have carry permits that have no idea what the difference is; obviously a lot of people on this chat. Stand your ground would qualify in the above shootings that took place this morning in CT. In CT only the people that have a carry permit can protect themselves, if the shooter is directly in front of them and firing at them. If the state in question does not have stand your ground law, then you with a carry permit have to run - or risk spending the rest of your life in jail for murder if they can prove in any way that you pursued the shooter.

Again sorry for not explaining the law prior to saying carry permit - I no there is a lot of people that carry that don't know the ins and outs of the law.

I may be wrong but according to the castle doctrine updates as of May 28 of 2010 I am correct.

In any case I did not mean to purposely agitate people, and for that I appoligize.

The report I was referencing from does not say who has carry permits. CT was not included in the states that have "stand your ground" law; or qualifications for self protection. I believe it is one of the few that doesn't. States that aren't referenced usually don't have a carry permit issue.

I have read the Connecticut law. Maybe you should all read the Constitution:

Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Connecticut law clearly infringes on the people's right to bear arms and our wimpified Supreme Court allows it. Connecticut law provides that a local official decides who can carry a concealed weapon by deciding if the person is a suitable person to get a permit. Connecticut law charges a permit fee. Connecticut law says you must pass a DPS-approved handgun safety and use course. Connecticut law says you must undergo state and national criminal history record checks. Although these may seem fair and reasonable they clearly infringe on some persons Constitutional rights.

I do not know if having someone there with a concealed weapon would have stopped the shooter but I know 8 people there would have been happy if it had.

When the anti-gun Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is in love with your state, you are a gun unfriendly state.

Straight from their website- "The state with the strongest gun laws is California with 79 points, followed by New Jersey, Massachusetts,Connecticut, Maryland and New York."

http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/scorecard/CT

I'm a long time hunter, and gun owner.

But I hardly think this proves anything about gun law restrictions and impacts on crime and shooting. State or city with gun prohibitions means people don't have guns...their are many millions in the us and making them illegal doesn't make them vaporize when the law is passed. I live in a city with gun prohibitions, I have 5 sporting arms...they didn't vaporize. It simply means there are slightly less guns, and it is illegal to have them. It is illegal to speed in every state, that doesn't mean people don't speed...and it doesn't mean we should decide to remove speeding laws because people still do.

Just saying....I think to many wackies have access to guns, I don't want guns taken from responsible folks...so I have no solution.

I know of a couple of grouchy old men that carry concealed weapons, and they frequently talk about going after people that piss them off. These are well-paid and so-called educated men, however, they talk a lot of hate. I don't think they'll ever do it, but if they are too pissed or for whatever reason, it is possible that they could go off. The way they speak, they could easily justify anything to themselves for killing someone.

Maybe a conceal and carry permit is a good idea for defense.

Your thinking is "IDIOTIC". This was some right-wing nut job following the orders of Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin, Michael Savage and the likes. Go ahead and carry your guns into McDonald's, schools, the PTA's, Church's. See what happens.

These states have the right idea, its just unfortunate that lax gun laws in most red states allow them to buy and carry automatic weapons made for war. This is not what the founding fathers had in mind when they wrote "right to bear arms".

If you subscribe to this line of thinking you're an "IDIOT" - Plain and Simple.

Sean-336944 you make the same mistake most people do. The amendment means that a well regulated Militia is necessary to the security of a free State and that people need to have the right to keep and bear arms in order that they may be that militia to protect the State not that in order to keep and bear arms you must be in a State militia. You as a free citizen are the militia to protect your State ( and I would infer freedom) from anyone who tries to oppress it. The founding fathers were thinking about the oppression of King George and his military but these days I believe the threat to our freedoms comes from criminals and nut jobs like the shooter in Connecticut.

josephi - Nice name calling. No facts, no figures, no sense. Fact is that states with strict gun control laws experience more violent crimes per capita than states with conceal and/or open carry. For example Florida adopted a right-to-carry law in 1987. Between 1987 and 1996, these changes occurred:

homicide rate Florida -36% United States -0.4%
firearm homicide rate Florida -37% United States +15%
handgun homicide rate Florida -41% United States +24%

What did the founding father's think? Read for yourself:

"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms." --Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787.

"Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition..." --Federalist Paper 46, James Madison

Resorting to calling someone an "IDIOT" shows you are incapable of a coherent opposing view.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Some people dont know what the militia is, It is EVERY ABLE BODIED CITIZEN! not some government run military outfit, and the militia is not for use on foreign soil and for some other foolish people who cant interpret english.... 'bear arms' means to carry.. too use....to be armed....it has nothing to do with having the priveledge of having a firearm locked up and useless in your home where it can defend no one!!!! oh and the second amendment has absolutely nothing to do with hunting whatsoever. it is for the people to be able to have the means to fight against a tyrannical government i.e. our government if it gets out of hand

way to go Josephi - FINALLY somebody with the sense to see that guns are the problem and NOT the lack of of guns!

the rest of you redneck gun-totting hicks are deluded beyond all belief!

"I can think of no reason why someone would need to buy a gun immediately, bypassing a waiting period,"

Here is one reason for you. A woman leaves her abusive husband and gets a restraining order against him because he has threatened to "get her". She then goes and applies to purchase a handgun for self defence and while the waiting is in effect the ex murders her and possible her children.

Sean the militia is the whole of the people originally defined as men between, I believe, 16 and 45 but with equality and equal rights would include women and those over 45 as well. This means the private citizen and they were supposed to show up with a firearm and ammunition for it if called upon to do so. Some try to argue this is the National Guard but that is no longer so if it ever was. Either Carter or Regan nationalized the guard and effectively made it part of the army reserve.

I favor waiting periods and background checks, because hey, if you need that gun RIGHT NOW!!!!!!1! maybe you should cut back on caffeine..

As Archie Bunker put it; "Would you feel better if I pushed them out of a window?" No background check or waiting period required...

No mater how many restrictions people try to put in place, intent-to-kill will always find the path of least resistance.

"A well regulated Militia" - I am curious how the courts have handled the two words I put in bold font. Anyone know? Does it mean laws should be put in place to prevent just anybody from carrying? Just asking.

'.... redneck gun-totting hicks...."

Uh huh. We may be part of the laboring class, provincial in our interests, and unsophisticated in our ways, but each of us knows honor, and a person of honor will not lash out against innocent folks under any circumstances. (Oh, and most of us are fairly literate, capable of spelling the easy things like gun-toting.)

busy, you cite the basic problem. The reason why most people want to be armed is the exact same reason why many of them should not be armed.

If the state in question does not have stand your ground law, then you with a carry permit have to run - or risk spending the rest of your life in jail for murder if they can prove in any way that you pursued the shooter.

Not true, you can act to protect yourself or another if you believe there is no reasonable chance you (or they) can escape without serious injury or death. If you can't run without getting shot, you can shoot back.

which was the original intent of the Amendment.

You are so wrong it is difficult for me to put it into words.

"A well regulated Militia" - I am curious how the courts have handled the two words I put in bold font. Anyone know? Does it mean laws should be put in place to prevent just anybody from carrying? Just asking.

I can help you out here, they touched on this in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008.

Finally, the adjective “well-regulated” implies nothing more than the imposition of proper discipline and training. See Johnson 1619 (“Regulate”: “To adjust by rule or method”); Rawle 121–122; cf. Va. Declaration of Rights §13 (1776), in 7 Thorpe 3812, 3814 (referring to “a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms”).

(Oh, and most of us are fairly literate, capable of spelling the easy things like gun-toting.)

Rofl, that has to sting.

This was PREMEDITATED MURDER, plain and simple. The article said he was asked to come in and resign. Being in a union, he had other disiplinary steps/meetings leading up to this final meeting. In the article, it states that his girlfriends mother said " everyone has a breaking point". He didn't "just find out he was fired and lost it" he knew what was going to happen and brought a gun to work to kill the ones who caught him. I live in Manchester, CT and know that most the employees at the distributor are in a minority. Pulling the race card to defend a murderer is very, very common here. He CHOSE to bring the gun, CHOSE to pull the trigger, CHOSE to devistate everyones lives. What a selfish Bastard.

Sadly that is the mentality of the people who are for 'gun control'. Just a tip for them...if you make guns illegal then the honest law abiding people will not have guns. Then it will be free reign for criminals as they already have no problem breaking the law....if this happens you will hear a collective 'doh' when they realize they screwed up. On top of that the right to bear arms was meant for the people to protect themselves not only from criminals but from the government itself....how do you think the colonies freed themselves from Brittain....if the people had no weapons we would still be a British holding. It is meant so that the people if they ever find that the government is 'taking over'.........as it is now....taking over private business...dictating how much a private business can pay employees....etc(that is what Hitler did in Germany before he decided to try to take over the world and kill 6 million jews and millions of others), that the people will have the ability to defend themselves against an oppressive government. Just remember Odumbocrats.........a government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take everything you have.

BAN GUNS !!! ((Then ONLY the Criminals ( sick people) (druggies) ETC. will have them)). I live in Virginia and I have guns. LOTS of THEM. You don't like guns. Stay out of Virginia. It's not guns that kill, it's the sick people that Kill with Knives, hammers, Crossbows, poison (slower) and even vehicles. There's lots of things and ways that can be used to kill. A CRIMINAL isn't going to have a REGISTERED gun. DUH

Another "tea bager" wacko

Oddly,your comment makes you the whacko as the other guy was using sarcasm

We see how well gun control has worked for Australia and the UK.

There is no ban on guns in Connecticut. Only criminals and the mentally ill can not get a permit here. All others have only a reasonable waiting period and safety training required. Connecticut has a long history of firearm manufacture and yet I have never seen a firearm in public here except on a police officer or a hunter. I lived in Georgia for seven years and had guns pointed at me three times. You should see the link below. Many of the states with fewer homicides have much more prohibitive permit procedures than here in Connecticut...Wake up. Any civilian who wants to carry a concealed weapon in public is a nut bag himself not someone looking to protect others....and allowing automatic weapons in the public domain is absolute bull@!$%#. Do you also think there should be no laws against driving under the influence?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/gun_violence_in_the_united_states_by_state

this story must be made up there is no CCW in con and an AWB there should be 0 crime

Resident, You are a whole lot safer in the company of honest citizens carrying concealed weapons. In the somewhat unlikely instance of a shooter you try to hide while us CCW people protect you. More guns equal less crime, this has been proven time and time again.

Check this lady out the united states is not head towards being like Germany or even becoming socialist. The country is going to hell because of bad business practices and greed every one forgets that simple fact, that made the feds. regulate if people thought in the best intrest of the country as a whole instead of just well i'll get rich forget everyone else attitude there wouldn't be such regulations. These comments are getting funny they show just how racist and prejudice this country still is. None of these issues people are talking about in their comments the fact of the matter is its not just criminals the commit crimes. Sometimes its the quiet shy guy in the back thats gets picked on all of his life are the guy thats always being taken advantage of people should treat others with respect like your mother should have taught you if you have nothing nice to say then don't say anything at all.

Actually usa1967 the link I provided is evidence that you are absolutely wrong. Thanks anyway, I don't want someone as ignorant as you protecting me. You might shoot me by accident.

Did you think gun bans mean people in those areas don't have guns ?

Do you think speeding laws mean people don't speed.

Disclosure...I am a gun owner and long time hunter....doesn't mean I don't recognize we have a big problem in the US with wackos and guns....try and find compromises...you just read an article about a wack job with a gun and your opinion is...what ???

Marie- VA-1092205 - Per #13.2 - That wacko that killed all of those students at Virginia Tech had a criminal background check to purchase his hand-guns, and they probably were registered. I'm not in VA, however, in my state the gun is registered under my name following the background check. I had family that was there that day.

Busy, Hope they weren't hurt. I did also (not Hurt though). They also Knew he was crazy, (under a doctors care and did not disclose that info to the School (OR TO GUN REGISTRATION). (Privacy Law). These (KIDS) that did this stuff in schools , ETC. had a mental problem that was not let be known to public and /or to parents. The threats and comments should have gotten these guy's expelled from school for good before they did what they said or wrote or told some friends they was going to do.

Maybe "Omar" just couldn't stand another day of Chris Dodd being his Senator. I can sympathize with that.

I know this is a tragic story, but I just can't stop laughing at your statement.

Marie, VA. - Guns don't kill people, Bullets kill people.

come on.......banning guns because they kill people?

That's like banning spoons because they made Rosie O'Donnell fat

Law abiding citizens are the only people that will be restricted by gun laws, they wont even be considered by criminals. There are about umpteen zillion guns out there in America, .9999% of them have no existing paperwork on them and no matter what the law says to do , their owners, for the most part will never voluntarily register them all. Imagine the outcry if the police were directed to go house to house searching for un-registered guns. pfft...

Gun restrictions of any kind will never keep guns out of the hands of someone who really wants one, ever.

Resident of conn:

You are so wrong, the states that have concealed carry permits have much lower rates of crime and so do the states that require NO permits for open OR concealed carry; look at Arizona, Vermont and Alaska. That you would quote from or believe what you read in Wiki is astounding given how easy it is to manipulate data. As far as "seeing a firearm in public"; You'll never see mine or those of other Concealed Carry Permit holders, That's what CONCEALED means; I carry a weapon for several reasons; If I need help a policeman is minutes away at the end of the 911 line and the policemen is too heavy to carry in my pocket or purse. Police are great for showing up and drawing an outline around the body. Just think, if there had been ONE single citizen with his concealed weapon, this could have been ended long before he killed so many people. I carry the weapon for self protection, if I happen to protect you and others, that's just a side benefit for you. I'm what they would consider a "prime victim of crime"; 5'4"; 69 years old and a woman.

Take away all Guns - Huh ??? well than, I guess I better start thinking about startring up my own Sling Shot Factory, and make Sling Shots,,, to sell,,,, then what,, it'll be the sling shots fault,, not the people,, and if the idiots have their way, it'll be illegal to own a Sling Shot, and we'll need a permit to carry a sling shot before long,,,,, guess could always use a car as a weapon,,,, but then we know what'll happen there tooo,,,, Hummm Bicycles as a weapon,,, then it'll be illegal to own a Bicycle,, becase it could be used as a weapon,,,, well then that leaves just 1 more item then,,,,,, the - LAWN MOWER,,,, watch out KILLER LAWN MOWERS are out on the loose,,,,, Ban them !!!!!! Ohhhh,,, almost forget,,, those Killer WEEDEATERS !!!!

Agreed Margyle - I like most would make one if I had to. banning spoons- now that was funny, I don't care who ya are!

colonial girl-

It IS legal to carry a concealed weapon in Connecticut. If carrying a gun makes you feel safer and it is legal where you live that is your right. However, the numbers don't lie. More guns= more violent crime. The only social benefit of allowing civilians to own firearms is that it prevents military coupes, but I will never understand why any civilian in their right mind needs to own a weapon that is designed for combat. Your handgun will do the trick just fine if you are ever mugged. My point was that despite the fact that it is legal to carry in CT, I never see a CIVILIAN with a gun other than a hunter. The people I know who go through the relatively easy process of obtaining a gun permit are encouraged to be responsible and are educated enough to know that they can be dangerous. Generally, they realize that there is no reason to carry one around with them at all times here. Would you allow a 16 year to get behind the wheel of a vehicle without any driving lessons?

Our laws preventing criminals from legally obtaining weapons and requiring a waiting period HELP keep the crazies out of the game, and (whether you want to admit it or not) it is significantly safer here than in other regions of the country. I was responding to the original comment that is also false. There is no ban on guns in Connecticut.

Connecticut suburbs are quite safe for female senior citizens. Like I said, I have never had a gun pointed at me here in comparison to three times in Georgia. Maybe you should consider a move. Really, there is no ban on guns here. There are only laws designed to keep them out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill, and rage killers.

More guns= more violent crime.

Source?

I will never understand why any civilian in their right mind needs to own a weapon that is designed for combat.

They are fun to shoot. Oh, and to prevent those military coups you were talking about.

Would you allow a 16 year to get behind the wheel of a vehicle without any driving lessons?

Guns are safer than cars, then again maybe it's just the owners. :)

Our laws preventing criminals from legally obtaining weapons and requiring a waiting period HELP keep the crazies out of the game,

Source?

it is significantly safer here than in other regions of the country

Vermont is safer, and it has less gun laws.

There are only laws designed to keep them out of the hands of criminals, the mentally ill, and rage killers.

Well your extra laws failed.

Rhep, you don't understand english. Reread my post with a thesaurus you moron.

Vermont is much less densely populated than Connecticut. If your point is that people kill people not guns (which I agree with had you understood my post) that would explain why there is more violent crime here.

Have fun shooting your ridiculous firearms in Vermont because you sure as @!$%# aren't entering Connecticut with them.

Also, Rhep, the people I know who have had to use weapons designed for combat for what they're designed for don't think they were fun to shoot in that capacity. In fact, most of them have troubling sleeping through the night. The general consensus among them is also that if you want to drive a Hummer, you should enlist.

This crime isn't about carry conceal. The guy was using a .223 rifle. It is a little tough to strap one of those to your belt and pull your shirt over it. CCW laws will not stop a lunatic from taking a RIFLE to commit murder with.

"and allowing automatic weapons in the public domain is absolute bull@!$%#."

No it is not. Since automatic weapons were tightly controlled by the gun control legislation of 1930 (?) there has been two incidents of a legally owned automatic weapon being used in a crime that I am aware of and one of them was a police officer using a department weapon to commit the crime.

Rhep, you don't understand english.

Better than you apparently.

Reread my post with a thesaurus you moron.

Not only are personal attacks frowned upon here, but using them is a sign you are losing an argument.

Vermont is much less densely populated than Connecticut.

Crime rates are per capita, smart one. If it were only about population density don't you think Montana and Whyoming would be at the bottom of the list?

Have fun shooting your ridiculous firearms in Vermont because you sure as @!$%# aren't entering Connecticut with them.

Good news, I don't live anywhere near your @!$%#hole.

Have fun shooting your ridiculous firearms in Vermont because you sure as @!$%# aren't entering Connecticut with them.

People I know that kicked down doors in Iraq and 'Stan thought it was OK. You also said designed for combat not using while in combat, maybe you should read your own words once in a while.

The general consensus among them is also that if you want to drive a Hummer, you should enlist.

I don't drive a Hummer, I don't even drive a truck most days. You make too many ASSumptions.

In summary, go right ahead and @!$%# yourself.

sorry Wisconsin but you and Obama's home state of Illinois are the only two left that refuse to allow their citizens the right to carry a concealed firearm.

gee-how long did it take to add Obamas name to the mix. WOW.

wisc and Illinois don't ? ...I didn't know that (live in Ill, but am from Wisc). Long time hunter and still have a handgun, and long guns. But actually people carrying guns spook me...most have no real need...they just dig it (which is what spooks me)....I would rather police were't packing either...but at least they are really at risk daily (sure, there are real reasons for others...but the exception not the rule...and they spook me)

IM curious, should you have said Obama home state of Illinois, and Wisconsin, not the home state of Obama...are there other famous people you dote on ??

sorry Wisconsin but you and Obama's home state of Illinois are the only two left that refuse to allow their citizens the right to carry a concealed firearm.

Ah, that would be Hawaii. Anyway, I guess this statement puts the "birthers" out to pasture.

He said home state, not birth state.

You have to live in the state you hold office in.

There's been a radio commercial on promoting gun rights. The guy narrarating pretends he is the criminal that wants to break into your home. His point, short and sweet, "his job would be a lot easier and a lot less stressful if he never had to worry about the resident having a gun." Says it all. I wish you could all here it. Makes really good sense!

thank you, beat me to it :P

All that means is that the police can and DO deny permits based on their own set of prejudices; much as happens in California and a few other states. The Government through the biased law enforcement effectively denying American Citizens the right to bear ARMS and provide self-protection for themselves. Check and see how many permits are actually granted or issued in Conn. before spouting their "law".

As for those advocating violating the law; grow up, TWO wrongs don't make it right to ignore the law as unconstitutional and citizen unfriendly it may be.

Why don't people stop watching and listening to the media?

Why would the media cause someone to kill? That's a little ridiculous

Yea, why would the Media want ratings? Those don't mean anything.

And guess who's fault it is. It's the shooter's fault. Obama didn't make him do it. The NRA didn't make him do it. Bullies didn't make him do it. The economy didn't make him do it. And no, beer didn't make him do it. It wouldn't have made any difference if this had been a crayon factory or a bakery or a hardware store. He made the conscious decision to walk into that building with a gun and kill people.

AMEN!

right, that would be your employer keeping you from protecting yourself, not the government. Personally, I don't know if I would want guns at my workplace. There's so much stress jumping around here I'm sure we'd all be dead by sun down :P

Tell that line to the police dept. Everyone carries there and not much happens in their workplace and their stress levels would make yours look like a pimple on your azz.

Here in Texas there was a bill introduced last session that would have prevented employers from prohibiting holders of concealed carry permits to bring firearms to work. Either that or have a place where they could be stored on-sight since by prohibiting them from an employer's property you are prohibiting them from driving to work with a legally registered and licnesed firearm but it was introduced too late in the session for a hearing.

It's supposed to be back next session.

BustemHard, that is the most idiotic argument I've ever heard. Comparing a business entity where employees are required to carry weapons as part of their job responsibility to a business entity where carrying weapons is not a requirement is a stretch at best.

For those of you for being able to carry at work, do you really think if a gunman came into your place of employment and the first target of their rampage was YOU, do any of you really believe you would be able to react appropriately? Do you really believe you'd "get the drop" on the gunman? Chances are that more people would be killed or injured, not less. When gunfire starts out, can you tell who would be the "good guys" from the "bad guys"? How many others who may be carrying might injure someone unintentionally? Simply because one person may feel they would "be in control" of the situation does not mean another person who feels the same way (and also carrying) would also be "in control". The argument for carrying requires a "perfect scenerio", and as we all know, in a shooting rampage, there is no such thing.

Also tired of the argument that "guns don't kill, people kill". And yes, you would be right to a point. But the ultimate damage is done from the gun as a result of a person's decision to pull the trigger. If the gun were not in the person's hand, the person would not get shot, would they? They may still be killed, but not by a gun.

Guns have one purpose and one purpose only, to kill a life. You don't hammer nails with a gun, eat food with a gun, drink from a gun. A gun is not used to improve a person's life unless it is used to procure food and how many of us do that in this day and age? I'm not talking about shooting for sport, I'm talking about shooting to put food on the table daily. Less than 1% of 1% of the nation's populace uses a gun to feed their family daily.

As a civilized society, we should be working to get away from the use of any weapon used to harm others, but instead, it appears many embrace weapons as a way of justifying uncivilized behavior. I doubt most of you will understand as your thinking is infantile at best. When we start making decisions based on what is best for everyone instead of what is best for "me only", then we can start moving forward as a country. Until then, people will continue to defend this right, despite the fact that the majority of reasons for the law in the first place no longer exist.

That sounds wonderful in fairytale land. Stupidest thing I've read on here so far!

Chances are that more people would be killed or injured, not less.

Sorry boss, your theory doesn't hold up. Every time a shooter is confronted with equal force, the shooting spree ends.

How many others who may be carrying might injure someone unintentionally?

Hasn't happened yet.

The argument for carrying requires a "perfect scenerio",

wtf? If by 'perfect' you mean 'not the first one shot', then sure.

It is spelled scenario, by the way. I might have an infantile mind, but at least I can spell (or even use a damn spell checker).

They may still be killed, but not by a gun.

Because being shot to death is extra special dead?

Less than 1% of 1% of the nation's populace uses a gun to feed their family daily.

Damn, I know a lot of that .001%. You really think only 300,000 people feed their family with game they took?

I doubt most of you will understand as your thinking is infantile at best.

I have an IQ in the 'gifted' range, try me.

When we start making decisions based on what is best for everyone instead of what is best for "me only", then we can start moving forward as a country.

When you start to think about the issue of why people kill others instead of how people kill others, I might consider you less of an idiot.

the majority of reasons for the law in the first place no longer exist.

Oh yea? Which reasons would that be?

"Because being shot to death is extra special dead?"

Of course, didn't you know you are twice as dead if you are shot as any other way of dying.

"Damn, I know a lot of that .001%. You really think only 300,000 people feed their family with game they took?"

Yep me too. My primary source of red meat is game I have killed and many times dressed out myself. And incidently my primary source of vegetables is ones I have grown myself as well.

"I doubt most of you will understand as your thinking is infantile at best."

If ours is infantile yours is still in the womb.

Can't tell what that may have been seeing how it's been deleted. Must have been something?

99% is the minority?

I guess I'm not good @ math

"Nobody goes there anymore....It's too crowded" and remember " When you come to a fork in the road, take it!"

yeah the warehouse i work in is 100% white. damn your right, we are the minority.

99% gee if thats true then only one white person was shot all the rest were dark skinned minorities. Such a sic, stupid biased group of freak right wing fools making stupid inflamatory comments.

To assume that it is the "right wing fools" makes you bias and no better.

To East Coast, it's certainly not the left wing making those comments. Anyway, everyone should be thinking about the wounded survivors and praying that they survive, both, physically and emotionally. We should also be grieving for those who lost relatives and not talking politics.

chokie said it right!

99% Huh,,,, how do you know its not,,,,, 99.6%, or 82.3% or even 99.7%,,, maybe 2.1%,,, or even 1000%,,, maybe not that even, maybe its like Beer 3.2% or 5%,,, than again,,, I might be 100% Nuts too !!!!!

You are CrazyClown, but hey we love nuts in this country. Don't believe me just read some of these post!

So we should also ban newspapers....yes newspapers. I can rollone up hit someone in the right place under their nose and kill them too! It's not the guns, it's the mentality out here today and the judges that allow these jokers to get off after their 1st or 2nd violations. maybe he's a first time offender, maybe he had a legal permit, maybe he didn't. Whatever, but he did it. The gun doesn't know how to go off by itself.

Maye they should take away your right to freedom of speech because some other people abuse it.

so those kids in china in the school stabbings dies because the stabber didn't have a gun?

lul

Can you imagine the mess he'd made if he bashed the skulls of everyone with a baseball bat? If he didn't have a gun he could have made himself into a bomb. When someone is mentally sic enough they will get the job done no matter what!

If Conn. had concealed carry, this paobably would not have happened. It IS a deterrent if you don't know how many people you intend to gun down, might just be able to return fire. One thing is certain, a would be killer has absolute certainty that he will be shooting unarmed people in a city or state in which concealed carry is illegal.

What was the ethnicity of this guy? Black? Immigrant? Just wondering if I will have to deal with more "angry white guy" accusations.

Where was security during this lay off? Seems that any company worth its salt would have security present when laying off people just to forestall this kind of event.

Guns really didn't have anything to do with this. A wack job intent on killing will do it with whatever he has at hand. He could have just as easily waited in his car and run down the people leaving for lunch.

Man for real you must not be very bright KPatton statics show its mainly white folks coming back to the job to kill their co-workers. Above race carrying a concealed weapon wouldn't have helped one you can not carry a firearm at work a lot of good a gun would have down these people in their car maybe we should set up security check points and have everyone get a pat down maybe we need metal detectors at work now i'm sure you would be okay with that right.

Guns are used for one reason: TO KILL! Newspapers are typically used for reading news.

"BECAUSE HE HAD A GUN"? I think it happened because he was a nut who got deservedly fired. I have alot of guns and I have never been inclined to point one at a living earthling, man or animal. Me and my wife enjoy the sport, shooting is something we can do together. We kill alot of paper targets. This would also tend to void the argument that guns are only to kill with. I believe that decent law abiding citizens with permitted concealed handguns are not spooky in any way. There have been more than a few mass shootings, like this one, that could have been stopped before so many people got hurt, by someone else firing a bullet from a legaly carried gun.

Frankly everybody my preferred choice of weapon is the Mighty Chain Saw,,, works wonderfully,, and I don't need a permit,, and its even funner when I put on my Jeepers Creepers costume !!

Man for real you must not be very bright KPatton statics show its mainly white folks coming back to the job to kill their co-workers.

Maybe because it's mainly white folks out in the workplace to start with!

I have a CCW permit and twice I have been glad I had a pistol with me. Fortunately its presence was all that was needed I did not have to fire it.

What?????? and what natives???? the indians?????

Linda, the Natives were not then nor are they now "Indians". You will find Indians in the vast country of India. Christofo Colombo was not where he thought he was, so why are we still following his error?

There are plenty of Native Americans in CT, and they are not indians from India.

If y'all want to get right down to it, the "Native Americans" are also descended from immigrants. Their ancestors came across a land bridge from Siberia, remember?

There isn't one group of people in the world who is living in its place of origin. Humans have lived in and moved around on almost every continent and island. Do you think the people of the Pacific islands just sprang into being on those islands? Their ancestors had to come from somewhere. People travel. They always have.

I'm a Native American. I was born here. My ancestors were born here for at least the last 350 years. My Cherokee ancestors were born here for a much longer time than my European ancestors. So, since my distant ancestors were born in other parts of the world, does this mean that I should have a multiple-country citizenship status? Does this give me the right to put some Frenchman out of his house, so that I can reclaim my ancestors' lands? Where is my Irish potato field? My English manor? In my ancestry, there are Italians, Germans, Dutch, and Welsh people, and probably a few other nationalities that I haven't yet discovered. According to some people's opinions of "ancestral lands", I should own property in at least seven other countries, simply because my ancestors did.

Sheesh.

they tried..... we gave them smallpox

but what this has to do withanything beats me

I too am a Native American of Cherokee decent. It doesn't give me any rights at all. I agree with you Dani.

When you move around, you cannot stake a claim to the ground under your feet.

Yeah right Linda what are you 1/16 Cherokee no casino for you.

Dani, All our ancestors came from Africa approxemitly 50 thousand years ago. Your direct ancestors came to north america 14 thousand years ago along with mine I may add, at least half of me anyways(mexican german irish) you probably have some asian in you as well. so to make it easier on eveyone in the world we are all Africans oh but dont get scared that would mean you have colored in you it was a continient that was a large mixing pot. its all good.

How the F does this turn into postings about indians, casinos, Obama, etc.

Shut down the internet for one friggin year to weed out the lunatic fringe (me in particular) and gain back some normalcy.

Where else can all the crazy people come together and argue H25, it is great I thought the lunatic fringe was just a fringe but it's more like a curtain.

man these discussions take many different turns, so heres a twist for you we all started in Africa. No one really wants to admit this because we were all one color to start with check your bibles. Some races want to claim the worlds problem on every other race except themselves (white) But the most mass murders the most rapes and just random killings and ignorance has been from one race and every were they have gone in history has left some kind of conflict. now discuss that matter

After reading this set of posts, I have found an answer to 'who owns what land where'. The answer lies in DNA research into cell mitochondria and the Y chromosome. Scientists have now been able to document ancient migratory routes of human populations. Since the tracks of the paths of ancient migration are now known, these land disputes of 'who was there first' can now be scientifically determined.

The people who have a right to this land are Americans. The land was conquered. It is now owned. Get over it.

G GORDON - ...."because we were all one color to start with check your bibles".....what does anyones BIBLE have to do with all of us coming from Africa? It appears that you believe everyone owns a bible and believes what it says. I assume a Christian would think that, but what about the Jewish, the Muslims, the Sikhs, the Buddhists and all the other organized religions of the world - do they not also have a sacred book to believe in? Please, enlighten me as to how their sacred books tie us all together from Africa. I am not arguing that we may have originated from Africa as human beings, I am simply asking you to explain how only your sacred book mentions this fact. Every race on earth has its nasty and sadistic people - how dare you blame any one race!

Its ""OFFICIAL"",, those posting on this Blog are Drunk,,,, they'd have to be,, how in the hell,, did we get into talking about Natives and throwing Obama into this shotting mix,,,, when its about a guy who shot people ????? Maybe we should talk airplanes and how about Fishing too,,, does anybody here own a 1968 GTO,,,, how about go-cart racing,,,, does your wife wear lingerie,,, do you have a YOU TUBE Account,,, do you prefer to paint or stain wood,,,, do you prefer an Evinrude or a Johnson,,,,,, what was this story about again >?????

CC, this story is about unions and Obama.
Didn't you even read it?

Apparently not! Obama made the union...... nah not gonna do it, this is a sad story and my heart goes out to the victims and their families.

1827 The Mechanics Union of Trade Associations, made up of skilled workers in different trades, first acknowledged union, John Quincy Adams was president and he was a Republican....So tinman, any questions??

If everybody walked off the job because somebody was mean to them, there would be no one working today. There are mean people everywhere. It's something you learn how to handle in kindergarten. I have had some really stupid and/or really mean bosses. Sometimes you cant just walk away from a paycheck. Oh well, it is a sad situation for all the people who lost loved ones in this shooting. The guy was a loose cannon. Someone MUST have noticed that he wasn't "right in the head".

For sure. And, you forgot to mention, stupid IS forever!

Maybe we should talk airplanes and how about Fishing too,,,

I like fishing, airplanes too!

only if I am the first victim and he comes at me from behind

If you read American history, it was the red people that were in this region first. The American indian is the true American as far as I am concerned. It was theIndians that occupied South America, too, and they were conquered by the Spanish. The spanish are the ancestors of the Mexicans. It is a well known fact that the Mexicans would like nothing better than take over all America. Well, good luck. We will fight even if we have to do it ourselves.

I may be laughing all day. Thanks.

if anything europeans from Italy, Germany, Russia, England, France, Dutch, and so forth came to Ellis Island living in New York since the 1900s and nobody said @!$%#.

That's because they immigrated legally. I have yet to speak to anybody that has a problem with immigration, it's immigrating illegally and then failing to pay any taxes that folks have a problem with.

Now, that said, I think that we need to work on our immigration laws, and figure out a way to make it easier for folks to immigrate legally. I think that many of the illegal immigrants here would be glad to be legal and pay taxes, but the immigration laws are such a pain in the ass it's just easier for them to stay illegal.

And then, of course, you have the folks here in the US that are more than happy to hire illegal immigrants at cheaper than minimum wage - they are a problem as well.

What a goat-f*%&.

LOOK, This county is mine. I am an American who immigrated here 10 years ago. I am proud of this country. Arguing that America doesn't have the right to exist here because Americans aren't native to the land will result in a Israel vs. Palestine situation. This is America buddy. You don't like it you get out. I will NOT sit by and watch what hundreds of Americans live and die for be destabilized by accepting the equivalent of refugees from Mexico and other Central American Countries.

The Drug wars of Mexico are considered by visitors to be JUST AS DANGEROUS AS IRAQ! TB, Whooping cough and oh yeah SWINE FLU are just a few of the outbreaks that stand to further jepordize The south west. These people don't pay taxes. Don't have the proper paperwork. They are not American citizens so what laws do they have to follow? They need to properly immigrate. there are reasons for it.

Oh, and BTW the Spanish did the same thing, as the the Portuguese. They came in, killed off the inhabitants and founded countries that exist to today. Why are they exempt from these 'wasn't there's to begin with' comments???

Another thing, events like the boxer rebellion and Gandhi's protests were people saying something about European colonization. Native Americans' protests and fighting back didn't work. What happened? They died. Don't blame Europeans or any white people. Blame Darwin for that one! And it's not just against different colored people. The SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE IRISH. America has a difficult time accepting a flood of one specific nationality. It affects the economy, negatively!

If Ignorance is a cancer than keep your freaking radiation away from me! I am an American who will not stand by and accept a quiet invasion of my country's southern boarder nations! I will fight to prevent it!

guenavere. As a member of the Lakota Sioux tribe, we prefer to be called Native Americans or Indigenous Americans not American Indians. Indians come from India.

Mr. Lee not ALL white people think they are God's gift! I'm white and I work my ass off just to survive. I don't steal, cheat, take hand outs from the government and if you were to really learn your history my Irish ancestors were given hell when they came through Ellis Island. They were not wanted here. They were considered lower than the slaves at the time in this country. Quit spouting your own racism and learn a little something. As far as I am concerned, THIS IS MY COUNTRY. I was born here, have lived here my entire life and served in the military to defend this land. So because my ancestors who came here from Ireland generations ago weren't born here that makes me an immigrant also??? I don't think so. It's because of racist people like you that this country STILL has the racial tension that it does! Not ALL white people are the way you think they are!

As a card carrying member of the Cherokee Nation, I agree 100% with Aaron H.

Yeh, yeh, yeh ... and lets give England back to the Angles or Saxons and give Russia back to the Boyars and give Australia back to the aborigines and on and on. What a stupid a$$ed argument. Mankind has been invading and conquering since the dawn of time. It's what we are all about, STFU.

Mr lee, your recollection of history is flawed. Light skinned people were the first to inhabitants this country before they migrated to Europe and screwed it up. Now they are back in the USA doing their best to reinstate European socialism. So don't get so wired, it will all be ok.

WHY WHY WHY in God's name do people attempt to hijack threads with subject matter about as related to the article and/or discussion at hand as Roseanne Barr is to the Miss America Pageant?