School boy kills ten in Minnesota

It's happened again, a schoolboy, this time in Minnesota, has gone on the rampage with a firearm, or in this case two, and killed nine of his class mates before turning his weapon on himself.

This kind of incident has happened before and no doubt will tragically happen again at some point. It is an horrific crime in so many ways and one can only but imagine the horror felt by those poor children when face to face with such trauma, in a place they consider themselves to be safe. The lifelong suffering that will haunt their families and loved ones must be catastrophic and the damage done to those who witnessed the incident and saw their classmates slain in front of them, will be immeasurable.

How does one 'legislate' against this to prevent a repeat? Schools in many places now, as a result of this type of crime and other heinous incidents, are often beginning to resemble fortresses. Children are taught from a young age to be aware of their personal security and there are all manner of professional bodies set up to 'catch' individuals with family or psychological problems, before they 'fall through the net,' and become so damaged as to even consider behaving in such a tragic manner.

Sadly, and perhaps negatively I suggest that we just can't hope to prevent these occurrences 100%. 'Justitia', as a professional in this field, will be better able to consider this point than I but is it not impossible to account for every severely disturbed child, ever individual with an undiagnosed psychosis or those who's lives have been so blighted by personal trauma or pain from an early age that their feeling of self loathing and inadequacy give them a propensity for such outrageous behaviour?

As a society perhaps we have some responsibility. I am not normally given to 'blaming the parents' but without doubt there are parents who take no reasonable level of care of their offspring, I hate censorship but where young and forming minds are concerned I worry that we expose then from a young age, to scenes so violent via film and other media that they must surely become desensitized and in cases where there is no other guidance available coupled with an instability of one type or another, can we be completely surprised that occasionally a vulnerable child loses sight of what are normal and acceptable bahaviours?

There is a train of thought that suggests these children (and adults) are just wicked or evil, in some case perhaps, though I doubt in all! In the main I believe we are a product of our life experiences, it may not be a popular belief but it is my opinion that there are reasons for most things if we delve deep enough.

Yesterday's killings in Minnesota seem an act of pure evil, most of us cannot imagine the thoughts or motivations of a child choosing to take these tragic actions. My thoughts and sympathies are with those who suffered, lost their lives or lost a child they love, who's lives will be blighted forever but still, I cannot help but wonder on the history of the perpetrator, of what tormented him to such a degree. Perhaps I am wrong.

~ May they rest in peace ~