Just How Many Campus Shootings Before We Wake Up?

Many people more eminent than I have decried the insanity of our outmoded gun laws, which along with our current wasteful, protracted foray into Iraq, constitutes an international embarrassment.

How many acts of gun violence among our young people (not to mention all others) need to happen before our representatives in Washington summon up the resolve to act?

I am not looking to the Republicans or Mr. McCain to lead the charge, as they have historically courted the sadly influential support of the N.R.A in the past, an organization which in my mind is moving ever closer to certain hate-groups, both in its relevance and contribution to today's supposedly more enlightened society.

I wish these profoundly misguided people would spend more time hunting deer (whose numbers are proliferating), and less blocking measures that would make it more difficult for troubled, alienated nineteen year olds to procure automatic weapons.

Here we have globalization, which ties us closer to the rest of the world and keeps us closer to trends outside our borders. Pick three other countries, and see how many campus shootings have happened there. Then compare our per capita homicide rates against theirs. You'll be shocked (I hope) by the disparity between other nations and our own, unless of course you belong to the N.R.A. or happen to be a politician who knows these facts but still can't find the "consensus" to act on them.

We now even have fearsome speculation about Obama's continued success because we suspect some right wing fringe-dweller may think it appropriate to take a pot shot at him-with a loaded gun, one that's almost as easy to procure as a Tootsie Roll.

Scarier still is today's story on CNN about a student group that advocates over-ruling the national college ban on students carrying concealed weapons. While this may seem to some like a sensible safety precaution, it also reflects a regression of 150 years in our country's history. The last time I checked, the days of Wyatt Earp and the Wild West were over.

For me, there can be no doubt: the phrase in our constitution concerning "the right to bear arms" is absurdly out-of-date, and should be amended. So here's an urgent, heartfelt message from an outraged citizen (and father) to the congressional, judicial, and executive branches: change the gun laws.

As a film columnist, I'll also offer some pointed commentary to those Armani-suited executives in the media and entertainment world: Turn down the violence. Granted, eliminating guns from action films is akin to eliminating kissing from romances. But again, the watch-words should be restraint and technique.

Even when graphic violence in film really started -- with Bonnie and Clyde and Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch, the bloody sequences were either accents or culminations in a picture, and portrayed with a kind of choreography that took some of the gruesome sting out of it.

Today, as I observe the degree of fully integrated violence, not just in films, but other media -- in particular, video games targeting adolescent boys, it's hard to believe that this stimuli does not in some subconscious fashion contribute to the recent mayhem on our campuses, and elsewhere.

The enemy here is a numbing apathy, and it is a powerful force. Just as we now allow ourselves to watch people's heads being blown off with automatic weapons in the name of entertainment, we are forced to confront a scary reality. What might have repulsed us ten years ago, we can now watch, perhaps cringing a bit, but also allowing a certain numbness to blanket us.

Unless we actually do something about the level of gun violence in this country, my own nightmare vision is that the campus shootings will continue, perhaps even grow in frequency, and we will all gaze at CNN with that same numb, helpless feeling.

In the name of all that's still decent in this country, let's not let that happen.

Comments

[1will]

Congratulations to the author on working a "Wild West" comment in on his column. It just wouldn't be an anti gun column without at least one of them. If he could only have added a "It's for the children" he would have nailed every cliche.

The author seems to be against students carrying concealed on college campuses because apparently there may be a "Wild West Shootout." Of course we've seen what happens when no one is allowed to carry in a gun free zone.
Let's get back to concealed carry on campus. The author seems to believe an entire room full of people will pull out their guns together and then shoot each other. I'd like to see a link detailing that happening somewhere. Just one link.
In reality very few people would want to carry. My state has about 7.5 million people and 150,000 concealed carry permit (CCW) holders. That's about 2% of the population. Other states most likely have similiar numbers. It is doubtful that 2% of students on campus would carry. Some are underage, uninterested or out of state residents. Not all CCW holders carry on a regular basis. I suspect 1% would be more realistic. So...a college with 20,000 students might have around 200 CCW holders at any given time. With classes spread out over the campus and starting at different times I doubt there would be more than 1 or 2 people carrying in any class. That number seems a bit low to fear a "Wild West Shootout." 1 or 2 people however might be enough to make a difference the next time another shooter starts killing innocents.

[ProudNeoCon]

"For me, there can be no doubt: the phrase in our constitution concerning "the right to bear arms" is absurdly out-of-date, and should be amended."

Go ahead and ammend it. If majority of the people agree with you - you will be able to get constitutional amendment.

I think you post is very misleading. You are talking about automatic weapons when you know that all weapons used in the shooting you described were not automatic.

Do not take me wrong - I believe that the right to bear arms comes with responsobility. There should be a gun registry (same as we have a car registry). Each gun should be "bullet printed" to help resolve any potential crime (the same way as people working on Wall Street get finger printed). Gun dealer should not be able to sell 100 guns to 1 guy.

But on another hand I want to have an ability to legaly have a gun with me at all times. There is no reason why we should create "gun-free" zones. All they do is prevent regular people from defendng themselves..

[BlackJAC]

When the populace of Okinawa was forbidden traditional weapons by their Japanese occupiers, they didn't whine about how only outlaws would have swords now that swords were outlawed. Instead, they started adapting farming implements into weapons--threshing flails became nunchaku, for example.

In martial arts dojos, they teach even the white belts how to take a weapon off somebody. My seventh-grade science teacher casually told the class how you can stab someone in the throat with a Bic pen.

Anything can be a weapon. The only time you're defenseless is when you're also brainless.

[ProudNeoCon]

Next time youare being attacked by 2 large guys you take a Bic pen and I will take a gun. Lets see who survives...

When my cousin was attacked she ( 5'1" 95 lbs girl) produced the gun and for "some" reason the attackers decided to go away. They were later arrested for raping 2 women 2 hours later... I wander what would happen if those girls had guns as well?

I aslo wandered what would happened if instead of scarying them off she would have shot them. 2 women would not be raped. the reason she did not - since they ran away shooting them would have lended her in jail..

[darker]

Gun totin' American fantasy John Waynes need their
shooters. It's a sign of the overall male impotence and immaturity of American men.

[Guitarsandmore]

We need to take the pressure off the kids by making it easier to fit in, get an education, and integrate into the job market. TOO MUCH JOB STRESS IN THIS COUNTRY!!!

Guns are not the problem.

Rent the movie Zodiac and watch the killer take out some of his victims with a knife. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Zodiac because it focused not so much on the violence but on all of the fascinating detective work and the interesting characters that worked and lived in San Francisco at the time. For me, the music from that period always spoke of peace and love, but the way it was used in this movie made it sound creepy and sinister. Check out this well acted movie.

[JerryColana]

The firearm industry and private owners have both a moarl and lawful obligation to uphold. States should begin programs that scrutinize the situation without compromising the right to bear an arm. It's a two way street. License renewals should be enforced along with an affirmation on the part of the private owner to take an oath of loyalty to assure compliance and safety.

Regarding Utah as a model: I say that those who choose to carry guns in such a college environment, should be publically identified to there peers, administration and to the campus police.

Having been in the vacinty of pedestrian gun shot violence in two major cities, I can say that those who are direct victims and survivors of gun violence, have traveled in shoes that are difficult to walk in. This recent tragedy speaks to that.

Regarding the entertainment industry, as it stands today; what is considered acceptable is a product of an unleashing of something that has gone too far. I suppose a lot of this began with slapstick, glorification of war and crime stories.

For each weapon discharged, each fist thrown, club wielded, sword lunged, bomb dropped etc. an impression is made on the minds of the young viewer. While it comes with an anti-violence message as well, to often the industry caters to a genere that has become a condition that is sadly part of many story lines. The United States produces more violent software than one can imagine. In conjunction with that, along with it's client states, we are the #1 arms dealer in the world.

John has stood up and made a very valid point.

[WRoss]

Mr. Farr, I hope you can spare a few minutes to read this thorough Harvard study which indicates that crime rates decrease when responsible citizens are armed:

http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/...useronline.pdf

[1will]

Your Harvard study falls under the classification of 'Facts.' Facts have no power here. Emotion rules rules on the Huffpost.

[Bladernr1001]

Still say the best way is to make sure other law abiding citizens are armed.

John Lott proved that crime goes down in this situation

Read "More Guns, Less Crime"

[RumiSouth]

Sigh...Here we go again...

Guns are a *CULTURE* in America. Like any other culture, when you threaten it that culture will give you a negative, active response.

One might as well say, "Why can't we control this violent hip-hop music in the ghetto? Surely some reasonable laws will work."

[paulcanning]

Just to add to the Canadian comment - yes, much of the rest of the world looks on with amusement at the NRA types spouting 'freedom!'.

In the UK we just don't have these school shootings, they are extremely rare. What we do have is increasing criminal gun crime, although still much lower than yours. Criminals get their guns illegally. The kids who might kill their compatriots simply can't get hold of guns so school shootings just don't happen.

yes, people not inanimate objects kill people but they got to have access in the first place. deny them access and maybe you might have less school shootings.

if you all want to live in a permanently armed society - fine, your choice. Just don't expect much sympathy from the rest of the world when that produces these massacres.

[Semaj51]

There is a case right now in front of the Supreme Court that may or may not finally clear up the language in the second admendment. If SCOTUS proclaims that the second admendment give rights to all citizens to own guns, that the ONLY way to effectively gain control of guns is by admending the Constitution.

[ChiMan1]

Excuse Me! Are not street Drugs Illegal? so who has illegal Drugs. . . Criminals. . . Duh! the same criminals who will have the guns. More armed citizens NOW!!!

[BlackJAC]

Is not setting people on fire just because you're bored illegal? So who sets people on fire just because they're bored...criminals...duh! the same criminals who will have the guns. More setting people on fire just because you're bored NOW!!!

See how stupid the tautology of "If Item X or Activity Y is outlawed, only outlaws will have Item X or perform Activity Y" is? You can apply it to anything normally considered heinous and unforgiveable, from child molestation to 9/11, all in the name of "freedom." Start thinking for once.

[Nommo]

That's like asking how many church bombings before we wake up. How many lynchings before we wake up. Look around, look back, America is not in the habit of waking up.

[bassnman]

Yes, I saw three church burnings, and 4 lynchings in just my neighborhood last week.

Where do you live? We have had troubles in this country and yes we have awakened to social injustices. Owning guns is not a crime or wrong. I feel sorry for all the families involved and I wish as a society we could protect everyone from themselves but it is an impossibility.

[klmebane]

so the kids who died at niu and all the other schools needed protecting from themselves?

nommo was referencing how in our past the same thing happening a bunch of times didn't necessarily do anything to make people go "wait a minute, we gotta do something!"

we may have started looking at social injustices with a bleary-eyed 'wait, what's going on?' but we have in no way awakened to them. in fact, people keep justifying them or arguing over the particulars instead of actually trying to do something. for example: and i am referencing back in our history, segregation. instead of focusing on whether or not it made any sense they screamed 'states' rights' and 'separate but equal.' how long did it take for racism (a social injustice) to clear up?? wait, in more than 400 years it STILL hasn't?? man, that's gonna drag down our success percentage.

[desmirl]

The anti-gunners on these boards are evidently people who trust the government to always do the right thing. Are they not paying attention? Do they not understand the kind of things that are happening in Iraq, that happened in Vietnam? Do they not know the kinds of signing statements that this president has slipped beneath Congressional oversight? Are they not aware that Blackwater security was used as a paramilitary/police organization in New Orleans and that their behavior was oppressive and in some cases, outright unlawful? Do they really want to live in a nation where only the military and the police have guns and all the rest of us are just sheep? Are they of the same ilk as 6,000,000 Jews who trusted their government in Germany in 1935-1945? Oh, my... Extinction is so... permanent...

[JanSP1971]

John I just wanted to say BRAVO, BRAVO I agree whole heartedly!!!!!!!!!!!
Please Sen. Obama when you become president help to save our children. Someone has to stand up to the NRA. Enough is enough.

[OutsideLookingIn]

Rather than gun control I would comment on the blogger's assertion that increasing graphic violence in films in part underlies the problem.

I grew up in the age of John Wayne films - films in which by-and-large only those who deserved it were shot, justifiably shot at that, and when they were they died instantly, cleanly and neatly unless the plot required some kind of deathbed confession or resolution.

Similarly the war-films of the 50's, 60's and 70's out of Hollywood were full of sound and fury, gunfire and explosions yet the unimportant died decorously and the hero could expect a charmed life.

Now compare a film like Cornelius Ryan's 1962 version of D-Day in Normandy 'The Longest Day', with Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan."

I recall that even in my 40's I was shocked by the reality portrayed in the latter - a reality that completely changed my view of the morality even of the 'just' war, or the glow of having been on the winning side.

Who now, after the 'reality' of 'Private Ryan' or Irvin's 1998 story of the Hurtgen 'When Trumpets Fade' and the Iraq-based films 'Redacted' and 'Elah' how many young men will be willing to march off the the 'great adventure of war' with the enthusiasm and ill-considered 'my country right or wrong' patriotism of the First and Second World Wars, and many of the later ones.

No, with deference to the Blogger I believe it behoves movie makes to show it as it is.