Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Patty Reed Phoenix Az. — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:43:48 GMT

I think this is truly horrifying for the families involved.I am living in Az. and am from Ne.This has happened in Norfolk where I lived, my cousin was killed in the worst bank robbery ever in Norfolk and remember the horror well from family. My heart goes out to every family this will effect. God Bless you all when you will need it the most around the holidays.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

K. Nickel, San Antonio, Texas — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:49:26 GMT

I think we sometimes forget that reporters are just like us...with families and friends and people that they care about. It is, however, highly unusual for them to write about their angst and confusion over these sad events. Kudos to this writer for making us all stop and think. We must remember to keep the city of Omaha in our thoughts and prayers. This was truly an awful story.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

SC — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:55:25 GMT

Amen. The truly disturbing trend of non-accidental horrors grieves me in this seemingly god-forsaken nation.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Akeman — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:55:37 GMT

There are reports that he left a suicide note about being famous. There is a differece between being famous and imfamous.

I don't care to even know his name, but for the families and loved ones harmed he will be detested forever.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Andy Beldy, Scottsdale, Arizona — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:58:27 GMT

So, he allegedly stole the weapon from his step-dad. What I want to know is where did the step-dad get an assault weapon, and did he get it legally???
These weapons are not for hunting, nor are they for target shooting. They are designed to kill people and they should be outlawed!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Vicki, Moline, Illinois — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:03:46 GMT

I'm appalled at the media coverage of this whole incident. The perpetrator claimed he wanted the fame, and the media is certainly giving it to him. Instead of focusing on the victims of this horrific event, we now see the so-called experts as well as friends, family and former associates of this killer trying to explain and describe his life and what lead to all of it.

Quite frankly, I don't care who he was, what he did prior to this event, and how he came to this point in his life. He clearly stated that he wanted to be famous and go out in style. Let's not accommodate the wishes of a cold blooded killer.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

jane doe-glenwood iowa — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:04:07 GMT

this is a horrible tragedy struck too close to home. i have been very synacle to think that nothing like this could happen around here...guess everyone is wrong aat some point...i know i was .

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Anne Rinaldi, Council Bluffs IA — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:13:27 GMT

I was sitting at my desk in Midtown Omaha when our local NBC radio station broke in to regular programming with the news of the shooting. We were all transfixed. 2 women from the office had left Von Maur just 15 minutes before the shooting started.

I sat at the breakroom table next to one of the women, watching the news coverage, and glanced at her. She has two young children at home. She just looked shell shocked. I thought about giving her a hug, or even just patting her shoulder. In the end I did nothing.

I think people "doing nothing" is part of how these kinds of crimes come to be. We are so disconnected to one another. We miss the subtleties of human existence - in this day of telecommuting, texting, IMing, email... We have lost the knack for listening to inflection, reading expressions and body language.

How many people saw this young man every day? How many interacted with him? What did they miss? What do we miss every day among our coworkers, our children's friends, our children?

I think we all need to remember to reach out a hand to our neighbors. We need to stop being afraid our good intentions will be misconstrued. We need to learn just to be kind to one another. We need to learn to be human.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Michele Moore, Omaha, Nebraska — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:23:24 GMT

I live in Omaha, NE and frequent that mall every week. I also used to work as a Juvenile Service Officer for the state of Nebraska and have dealt with many disturbed youths, many of which have committed crimes such as robbery, burglary, assault, and drugs charges. What this youth did is a far stretch from what our kids in Omaha get in trouble for these days, but not too far. I am saddened by the loss of so many, especially so close to the holidays, but this is reality. We live in a world where people, both teens and adults alike, just don't care anymore. They feel that their lives are going nowhere and that no one understands what they are going through, so they decide to take it out on someone else. People - please, ASK FOR HELP when you so desparately need it. There are ALWAYS others who can help you, all you have to do is reach out.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Tom O'Hara — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:24:04 GMT

When something like this happens often times fingers are pointed looking for someone or something to blame, but as the saying goes when you point one finger three others are pointing at you. I believe that these are the edges of society's fabric unravelling and the lonliness and isolation that these individuals are suffering from is a societal problem and although we as humans tend to take a positive view that the world is going to be a better place I believe that if we don't start to take a holistic approach to solving our problems the fabric will continue to unravel. Don't accept that there is a single solution to the problem - whatever the problem is. The problem with this kid may go back all the way to the womb - with parents who weren't ready to be parents. Or maybe it was a scholastic system that sees children as cattle to be rushed through a turnstile at the end. Or maybe it was isolation caused by media addiction - being unable to decide which life is better the one in the media or your own, (media includes tv, newspapers, video etc. We have to become problem solvers not problem identifiers - we've had enough of that for too long.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Sandra martinez, New York — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:25:34 GMT

how someone sees a troubled, depressed boy with a gun and dont call police.he gave that lady a lot of clues about what he was about to do. when you see something, say something. Now eigth inocent people are dead. The letter,the last comment: "I'll be famous" es very clear. He planned a mass killing. She's to blame. sorry.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Susan Hall, Memphis, Tennessee — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:26:02 GMT

I too, have tried to put myself in the mind of a truly distributed person who could take the life of another. Their no good reason to kill. I live in the southern part of this country. Here, alot of people thinks going hunting to kill a frighten, defenseless animal is fun. If you could hide in a tree, and wait for a gentle animal to walk by then pull a trigger to kill it, why could not you not have the courage to pull it on a human. I know that taking the life of an animal is not illegal, or immoral. But if you are taught by your father, or peers that you are a "man", if you can pull that trigger, could a tortured mind find it easy to pull it on a person. Being man who is tender hearted in this part of the country is ridiculed as a sissy. i'm not saying that his parents, or friends made him a killer, maybe society had alot to do with it. Which makes us all to blame.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Mike Troici — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:26:32 GMT

Wake up America! What is it in our great society that continues to breed these cowards who's kill for no reason (Coumbine, The Amish School incident, Va Tech, in Penn.) among other recent atrocities. It's unfortunate that they were only "man enough" with a weapon in their hands.
We need to teach our children to be accountable for their actions and the need to coexist in society and be a contributing member, strength come from within and it's taught to us by our parents and/or guardians who in this latest incident have failed as parents and mentors.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Betsy, Providence, RI — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:27:46 GMT

I'm glad to hear that you haven't lost the capacity to feel all those emotions, even while doing your professional job as a journalist. I'm sure your kids will get an extra hug (if they'll let you) when you get home.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Dale Gehman, Gaylord, Michigan — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:36:49 GMT

I’m sitting here so angry I can barely contain it right now. Yesterday, another loser decided to end his problems by taking eight people’s lives before killing himself. Apparently, after losing his girlfriend and job, he wanted to die, but that wasn’t enough for him. He had to“go out in a blaze of glory.”

I’m saddened and disgusted by the senseless loss of life and horrible suffering for the families involved, especially at the holidays, but I’m furious that the news coverage of the event concentrated on this jerk’s personality and his problems. The news coverage is all about the gunman, his past record, and what others around him thought of him. Far less coverage was given to the eight families and the hundreds, if not thousands, of people who will be grieving for his victims who were so mercilessly executed.

Don’t you see, we’re contributing to this? By the media’s unending, exhaustive coverage for a public that can’t get enough of the gory details, we are granting these misfits their last wishes. Columbine. Virginia Tech. Salt Lake City. And now, Omaha. I don’t care what their problems or grievances are, nothing, NOTHING, justifies this. And I don’t want to contribute to it anymore, either. I don’t want these lunatics’ deeds or problems published. Bury their bodies in unmarked graves; remove their names from the records. Deny them the glory they crave, and make sure the next one, who just might shoot you or your loved one, knows that he won’t get a moments fame because he had a bad day.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Mary Barsness, Minnepolis, MN — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:40:23 GMT

I grew up blocks from that mall. I live in Minneapolis now. I drove over the 35W bridge at 5:30 on August 1st. My sister ran errands at Westroads yesterday. These events are similar in the fact that they are both structural failures; one truly a structure and one a failure of our societal structure. People knew that both the bridge and this boy were damaged. I wish someone 'in the system' had gone the extra mile to take care of the boy and the bridge.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Angela Monegain, Las Vegas, Nevada — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:47:07 GMT

Omaha, Nebraska I am so sorry for another reality check. My heart and prayers go out to all of you. MEDIA-GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME!!!!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Mahnomen County Dave — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:52:56 GMT

How painful, how sad another American killed in the great USA. What happened to America in this the new millenium? The real heroes are those of the flight over Pennsylvania during 911, they stood up and fought back and saved many lives even though they lost theirs. What happened to Americans the ones who stand up instead of saying "Oh look he has a gun let's run", how many more have to die, when we as Americans stand by and watch rather than stand up?.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Bellevue, NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:53:33 GMT

I have to say that the lady who the killer was living with is to blame to some extent. She knew he was on medication for depression and allowed him to keep that gun in his possession???? Hello there are people out there that can help with depression, you can't take a pill and think that everything is going to be ok. It don't work that way.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

cw823 — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:53:36 GMT

No matter what he was going through as he lived, it will pale in comparison to the conditions in which he will spend eternity.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Bill Morgan, Branson, Missouri — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:54:02 GMT

Blame Dr. Spock and all the liberal idiots who deplore spanking. Even a paddling is human contact and tells a child that someone CARES about them. Instead, our society now throws money at children and expects them to raise themselves on TV, video games and cheap consumer goods from China.
What we need is to turn back the clock to 1940 and ban liberalism.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Cindy, Gilmer, Texas — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:54:09 GMT

What in the world could this boy have done for his parents not to love him enough to keep him at home, shower him with love and help him through whatever he was going through? Omaha residents you are in my prayers, along with the troubled boy who took lives and his own.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Cheryl Joseph — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:57:45 GMT

Thanks, Ms. Rinaldi (2:13 pm), your post is beautiful.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

oldefarte — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:02:20 GMT

Decades ago, when the pundit claimed that, in the future, everyone would be famous for 15 minutes, I thought the notion was absurd and fatuous. In these days of "reality TV 'stars' " and "celebutantes", however, it seems prescient and those, like this vile, little loser, who have no positive means of achieving that 15 minutes, are therefore reduced to committing outrages in order to "get their due". AND the media gives them precisely what they want by publicizing them rather than their victims. I think that coverage should be limited and, in every case, the media should harp on what a useless loser and waste of flesh the perpetrator is/was, while reserving space for glorifying the victims. If the media must cover the perp, it should concentrate on publicizing everything which makes him look as small and ridiculous as he really was, so that others will understand that following in his footsteps will only make it public knowledge that they couldn't get a date to the prom and were still bedwetters at 19. If "fame" is limited to having one's face posted in a urinal tray at the scene of the crime, perhaps "fame" won't be such an enticement anymore.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

walt carneglia — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:03:48 GMT

Instead of being sheep, let law abiding people carry concealed weapons...When you can give me a guarantee that there is no more evil, then i will let you melt down my guns.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Bill, Nebraska City, NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:05:15 GMT

The media does it's best and sometimes worst in situations like this. But please stop calling him the shooter, the lost puppy, the troubled teen. Let's call him what the manor of Omaha said he was. A coward. Or killer, murderer. The families, friends, people of Omaha, people of Nebraska have to deal with this forever. Don't make the killer famous, don't let him "go out in style". The same day of the killings the Omaha World Herald newspaper had a flyer in it from the well known "Cabela's". In it they advertised for sale for a Christmas gift, a pellet type gun that looked very similar to the rifle used in the murders. It's time to wake up America and look at the examples adults and parents are making for their children. Yesterday's killings are the end result of our examples. Think about it.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

HC, Somerset, NJ — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:07:32 GMT

Sandra Martinez from NY.

You didn't read the story correctly. The woman who took him in did not know about the note beforehand. He called her to tell her he left a note and she couldn't get him to explain anything.

She's not a mind reader and definitely not to blame.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Old John Doe, two blocks from mall. — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:09:40 GMT

Parents there we he needed them? Corporal punishment needed? This person is not the first to murder at his age, but the older values of discipline are gone and the new ones do not appear to work at all. Maybe some people like fat, sassy, and lazy, kids who want everything without giving anything, but I don't. Parental guidance takes work and without the commitment to do so, one (two) should not become a parent.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Helle Calhoun, Arlington, Texas — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:13:47 GMT

THANK YOU, Susan Hall! You said it best: What is this love affair the US has with weapons and being macho?

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Melissa Bell, New York, NY — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:14:52 GMT

Read Prologue to Violence by Dr Abby Stein. She links child abuse and severe neglect in childhood to violence in adults. In this case, and every one I've read about since reading this book, there seems to be severe neglect in the perps past.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

TW, Lincoln NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:16:53 GMT

I definately do not think we should be putting the focus on the person who commited this horrible outrageous act. And I also do not think that anyone should put any kind of blame on the poor woman whom this "man" was living with. Out of the kindness of her heart she took him in when it seems nobody else cared! You think this woman should have known when she saw this gun that it was an assault riffle, I would have no clue what kind of gun I was looking at. He hunted for leisure so it wouldn't have been out of the ordinary for him. Im sorry writer from New York but I don't think you can simplify this so easily.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

John Doe, Omaha, Nebraska — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:17:51 GMT

Who gets fame? Criminals, alpha males/females(celebrities), and/or the rich. Take a man with no worth and literally show him through so many outlets that he will never be famous, successful, or worth anything more than he is right now, and see what happens. My guess is he thought his life was a frivolous act, no one loved him, and that he was going to take his anger out on the world because that was the only way for him to be set in the record books. No one was going to write a book about him when he was working at McDonalds. The American Dream is now to go to work, sit on your couch, drink beer, watch TV, and remember the good times.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

M B - Washington DC — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:22:31 GMT

This guy was a 15 on Dr. Stone's scale of evil. He definitely snapped, but some planning went into this act. He must have been full of rage and despair. The victims were not human to him. He didn't know or care about their lives.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

A.J., Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:35:47 GMT

"Now I'll be famous" was the quote one person said this young man wrote in his suicide letter. Have we learned nothing from all of these incidents over the past decade since the Columbine shootings? Did we learn nothing from the recent Virginia Tech mass killing, in which the shooter mailed a "press kit" to NBC with a manifesto and photos of brandishing weapons? These troubled young kids see the headlines, the "Breaking News" alerts, the media coverage that happens when these things occur. And they also see the national scope of it all. The majority of America will see this kids face today. Just like this shooter said, they see it as a way of gaining instant fame, even in death. And the thing of it all is: They're absolutely right. We don't see or remember the photos of the innocent victims nearly as long as we do those of their murderers. And that's really sad.

The solution? It seems rather elementary to myself. DO NOT REVEAL THE NAME OR THE PHOTO OF THE MURDERER TO THE PUBLIC. You can talk about 1st Amendment Rights all you want. This is a serious problem in this country. Many families were torn apart again. What do they turn on the news and see? Pictures of their loved one's killer. Any victim's family will still get all they need to know. The local town this happens in will surely know who the killer is through word-of-mouth. Why do we need to see the face of a mass murderer as a nation? WE DON'T. Would this solve the problem? No, you are never going to escape this kind of violence all together. But I think it would make young people thinking of committing a crime like this in order to gain instant fame a second to pause, knowing their death would be as meaningless as they think their life is.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Marcos, Redland, TX — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:39:14 GMT

Andy,

Would you feel better is had used a hunting rifle? There are plenty of semi-automatic hunting rifles that can be loaded quickly and emptied even faster.

Or how about a bolt action rifle? The Brits made millions of Lee-Enfield rifles that could be worked very quickly. In fact, the rate of fire with the old SMLE was so impressive that the Germans thought they were under attack by British machine guns when in fact is was simply a group of Brit riflemen.

Or maybe you are comfortable with an old revolver? I guess being killed by a revolver is acceptable to you because it doesn't look as threatening as an SKS which is by no stretch of the imagination and "assault rifle." As for purchasing an SKS, they are legal in all 50 states IIRC. They are no more deadly than a Marlin lever action .30-30.

There is nothing in the Constitution that protects hunting. In fact, the only weapons spoken of are military weapons. The 2nd Amendment is an individual right to keep and bear military arms.

All of that is secondary to the fact that a screwed-up kid made a screwed-up choice. I work full-time with at-risk students. I see students like this kid every day. They are the product of messed up families and messed up brains.

In the final analysis, this kid was entirely responsible and not some inanimate object.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

John Doe, Austin, Tx — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:40:37 GMT

I am so deeply saddened by this tragedy. My heart and prayers go out to the victims, their families and the entire Omaha community.

I was an Omaha resident for over 11 years and can honestly say there is little not to love about Omaha and the people that live there.

The loss of any life is senseless and hard to swallow, especially when it strikes what we perceive as a "safe haven". Humanity is fragile and extreemly volitle.

Many experts and officials are commenting on what drives a person to commit such a crime. Words like "loser", "psychopath", "coward" and "depression" are tossed around freely.

The truth is, we as a society are to blame. It wasn't the loss of a job or recent break up with a girlfriend that caused this tragedy. This was a youth who was a ward of the state, who lived in a group home... this youth experienced a failing in not only his nuclear family but from social service, mental health and sadly, the community. We live in a society that has a defunct mental health system. The idea that we can aid depression, anxiety, aggression etc., by simply popping a pill is wrong. Initially, psychotropic drugs were to be perscribed in conjunction with therapy. Perscriptions are written left and right yet thousands of people are unseen by appropriate mental health practicioners. Deep seeded traumas and wounds are not cured by topically applying a band aid.

Omaha is home to Boys and Girls town. Ask any of the professionals or residents working there and I assure you they will have tremendous insight on this issue.

WE spend billions of dollars on terrorist only to ignore the issues at home creating our own terroristic society. Unless we as a society focus our funding and attention to the lack of U.S. mental health system we will only experience more painfull heartache.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Paula Fernandez — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:40:41 GMT

How very sad it is. I agree with Mary Barness from Mpls. What goes on outside our safe little worlds affects us all. We cannot hide behind gated communities and security systems and stay safe. If we don't work together to fix our world and help those in need (like a lost boy that was abandoned by his family) we will all end up sooner or later ultimately paying a huge price. abandond

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Sandy Boots, West Point, Nebraska — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:41:17 GMT

When will the media stop glorifying the disturbed souls who are looking for a way to be noticed? Just within this week the media in Nebraska trotted out the 50th Anniversary of the Starkwether killings in Nebraska for all to remember. The event was even brought up and talked about at a church Christmas party I attended just Monday because it was recently remembered by the media. Could this boy have seen this also and decided he too wanted to be remembered for all time for something - anything - even killing and trying to make someone else hurt as much as he did so he could be famous. Let us stop remembering the evil that is done. Remember the goodness - perpetuate the good will of mankind. Prayers and Blessings for the victims and their families and friends.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Michelle, Chandler, Arizona — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:43:19 GMT

I am saddened by these events, as much as I am saddened by the lack of compassion on behalf of some of you on this message board. For one, this "Great Nation" has an abysmal record when it comes to our children with 75% of them experiencing some type of child maltreatment in their lifetime. For two, I would really appreciate it, if people would look at the root causes of these issues and try to find solutions. This is not just a problem of a few families, it's our problem as a country to deal with. That means looking at the images we portray in video games, such as Assassins Greed, etc. on the Wii, XBOX, Nintendo, etc., as well as in our bloody, gritty movies, media, the Internet, our role models, to name but a few. Where are our children getting the message that violence against others is the only answer to their struggles? What is happening in our homes to make them so angry without having the appropriate means to express their emotions or have empathy and regard for human life? Are we not hypocritical to call this a country that is for life? What are we doing to nurture and care for the lives and emotional wellbeing of our children?

Having said that, kudos to Anne Rinaldi for her honesty and insights and to Tom O'Hara for looking at some of the societal problems that drive these events. Shame on those of you whom feel the shooter doesn't merit our attention in a sense of us trying to learn from the events or put the blame on the family who took steps to help get him back on his feet. Yes, he was depressed and had issues but to expect for someone to foresee his actions is a bit far reaching. Most of us assume good intent on behalf of others and can't always image the terrible things some people are capable of doing. Regardless of how you put it, he was a human being with a distorted view of the world based on his experiences with it. I would venture to guess, he experienced some emotional or even physical abuse in his past given the behaviors described with regard to the nail biting and remaining in the fetal position. Where was the family in all of this in getting him the help needed? Is it not just like most of our country to push the problems we encounter and the accountability for them down the line onto someone else so we don't have to take any responsibility for ourselves and our actions? Instead, we expect our teachers, our government, our employers, our churches to solve our challenges for us. That's not fair to anyone. As Susan Hall pointed out, we are all to blame for some portion of this.

My deepest sympathies to all of the families loosing loved ones so close to the holidays. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

BOB FILIPS — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:46:14 GMT

PLEASE START BY STOPPING COVERAGE OF THESE EVENTS!

1

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Gary Gossett, El Paso, Texas — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:46:41 GMT

Andy in Arizona should no better than to blame a semi-automatic rifle for this tragedy. The SKS rifle with a five rd. mag is used for deer hunting, and is also one of the most popular target rifles in the USA today. Any adult with a DL and no previous history of mental problems or felony convictions can buy one. The killers parents are to blame. They had 18 years to raise their child into a decent human being.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Brian, Tucson AZ — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:51:27 GMT

Take your safety into your own hands! Another "Gun free" zone gets shot up. You can put up a sign, you can even outlaw guns. It won't stop it. Someone who wants to kill themselves and other people will find a way. Ban all the inanimate objects you want. You won't stop it. The only way you're going to stop it is to wake up and take your personal safety into your own hands. Most states allow law abiding, trained citizens to carry weapons. Take the time to go through the training and learn to use a weapon. Then carry it with you when you go to public places like this. It very well could save your life or the life of someone you love. When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Stop asking certain weapons to be banned. Civilians are allowed to have these weapons for very good reasons. If you don't know the reason then you need to take some history lessons on how tyrants and dictators take control of countries. YOU are the only person resonsible for keeping YOU safe.

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Omaha, Nebraska — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:53:01 GMT

Maybe now people living in Omaha will wake up and smell the coffee. This really hits home. Not New York, Los Angeles, Miami or Chicago but Omaha, Nebraska.
There are a lot of societal problems out here and life is tough for a lot of young people in Omaha. I would hate to be growing up in today's day and age. It's just as dysnfunctional in Omaha as it is anyplace else. No traditional family values.
It's obvious this person was the product of another dysfunctional family upbringing. And it's not going to get much better as there are a lot out there like him. Omaha for it's size, as I grew up in the Chicago area suburbs (Downers Grove, IL) is a violent place to live. Are dysfunctional society is too blame for leading up to this incident.

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Ilbert Phillips, Culver City, California — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:55:23 GMT

This mall in Omaha has a policy of not allowing individuals to carry concealed or unconcealed weapons, even though concealed weapons are legal in Omaha. In all of these cases where we have these mass murders, the murderers always go to a public venue (whether a school or a mall) where they know the prospective victims will not be armed. What does that tell you? It tells me that the mall was responsible for this nass murder by not allowing private law abiding citizens to protect themselves. The mall should be sued. Note that the young man, whom I am sure saw the sign that prohibited guns, ignored the gun prohibition. What is the point of the prohibition if it is not going to stop mass murder?

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Nicki Walker, Omaha, NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:58:05 GMT

I just wanted to let those of you know that are upset about the lack of coverage of the victims that there names were just released here in Omaha this morning. I'm not sure what coverage they are getting now since I'm at work. But hopefully the media will begin to address them more than the boy that killed them.

That being said I understand why the media has been focusing on him. When something like this happens there is a need to find out why and unfortunately the only way to do that is by concentrating on the monster that committed the acts.

Kudos Mr. Henkel for your honesty.

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Jill Horn, Bolivia, North Carolina — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:58:40 GMT

Hearing of the carnage and senseless killing in Omaha I am almost overwhelmed with a sense of saddness and hopelessness realizing that once again innocent people have died unnecessarily because of easy access to hand guns and assault wheapons. When are we finally going to get it?

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amy colorado — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:06:34 GMT

I am from Nebraska and for over 8 years worked 1 mile from Westroads Mall. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families, this is a senseless loss of life. I like many of you think we need to focus on the victims and their families because there is NO justification for this event. God Bless The Families of these victims.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Tom Taylor Bradford Tennessee — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:08:35 GMT

I am a teacher and i work with kids every day! I know all of my kids personalities, its my job! If i see my student acting out of character i ask why? and i listen! These people are looking to get famous quickly because they are usually to lazy to do it the hard way! Sure their troubled, but to say now ill be famous and kill eight people should wake up the news media, and our government, who are looking for the reason this is happening. All of these people who set out to be famous forever have done just that thanks to all of us. The news media for covering the wrong people, TV and movies for making stars out of these murderers, an us for watching it !

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nando, omaha — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:13:22 GMT

we're all grieving, and we're all numb. we all mourn and feel for the victims. we all wish we could do something, we all wish this hadn't happened. we need to forget about blame right now, we need to pray and figure out how we can help the victims loved ones and figure out how we can do better to keep this from happening

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donnalynn smith westminster, md — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:14:51 GMT

My thoughts and prayers to the families and friends, of all those murdered. May God bless you and keep you close.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

jj — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:18:03 GMT

FOLKS NEED TO CARRY TASERS-in todays violent environment.

shooter loses muscle control of weapon-apprehended-tried and EXECUTED.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Scott, Omaha Nebraska — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:22:02 GMT

During times like these, we look, we listen then we judge. Maybe it's human nature to want to gather information about what scares us, like what just happened here in Omaha yesterday. Maybe in order to feel better... basically to feel safer...we need all this information in order to place blame. Right now, as you read this, you’re probably placing blame on someone, maybe a flaw in the system or what have you.

Until we fix the problem and not the symptom, this sort of unquestionable act will continue to shock and awe ...all of us. Obviously, the problem started somewhere between yesterday and 19 years ago for this troubled youth. The formative years of a child's life are just that, it happens during all of our childhoods. What we learned early on, now steers us as we all make our way through this world.

What’s really shocking is this...

Mothers of the world, where are you? Why are you raising your children alone? Where’s your honor, your respect, your love? Isn’t it better to always be right in a relationship and win at all cost? Well, you are winning, but in the larger picture, society is losing.

We all take so much for granted, have too many choices and have lost sight of what is truly important. Guess what’s missing in today’s families and you solve the problem.

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Greg, Ventura — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:23:34 GMT

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Conservatives on the right fighting sensible gun laws, liberals on the left fighting for free speach. This country is flat out screwed and it will not change.

I grew up hunting and will fight gun bans forever, but assualt rifles; come on NRA. These weapons were designed for soldiers in a war, not a disturbed teen at war with the world. I belive our soldiers should have the nastiest weapons we can develop, but that they should never be in the hands of the public.

On the other side, Gratutist violence and sex easly obtained by anyone in all forms of media was not what our founding fathers had in mind when including the right to free speech in our Constitution.

Is it realy that hard to meet somewhere in the middle, or do we just keep accepting the status quo and the glorification of this kind of thing by the media.

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Ashley Omaha, NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:36:26 GMT

I work less than a mile from Westroads in a financial institution and we were all scared to death when the media kept saying they didn't know if the guy was on the loose or detained (dead). It was the most tense hour of my life. We were all getting calls from our loved ones to make sure we were okay. You never know how many people care about you until there is a dangerous situation near-by.

One of my co-workers' father was at the scene shortly after it happened and stayed all night. Our hearts go out to him and his family and to everyone else affected by this tragedy; law enforcement, victims, and everyone else.

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Elizabeth — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:37:15 GMT

A agree with Dale from Michigan 100%. I think the only way any of this will stop or at least slow down is if the media decides never to report the name or show images of the shooter again. Only Family members of the deceased or injured should know. Perhaps by taking the notoriety and fame out of this senseless act, there would be less reasons to go through with it and therefore less actual cases.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Stacy Runnels, North Richland Hills, TX — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:39:37 GMT

While my heart and my prayers go to the victims, their families and their friends, I have no desire to read about the individual that did this. I do not care to see his picture, know his name, or add to his claim to fame in any way. I do, however, hope that the stories of his life and troubles can help the public identify others that may be having the same issues and ACT on getting them help BEFORE there are more innocent lives lost and shattered.

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Dianna, Mobridge, SD — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:43:02 GMT

So here again we have another horrible story of a human being who obviously was suffering from some type of mental illness crying for help and obviously not getting the help he needed. What scares me is his comment about being famous. Were his actions driven by the fact the the news would plaster his name and face all over. I think it says something about how wrong the coverage is when these types of crimes are happening just to gain notoriety. How many times will the media mention the victims or the officers names who came to the rescue. The sad part of this is he really is famous now.

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Hodapp, Oakton, VA — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:48:56 GMT

Excellent point made regarding the structural failure leading to two different types of tragedies! In both cases, we need to ask ourselves – as citizens - what can we do to improve and change. We keep seeing people of varying ages lose it – and take out some number of people, often in gruesome ways. Sometimes they end this frenzy by taking themselves out, other times they simply kill and destroy because they don’t have the self-control, moral discipline or humanity to NOT do it.
Yes, the news coverage lends itself to perpetuating such acts. For the unbalanced, this flash feeds some sick need. For those of us who are appalled, the constant repetition of these events is repugnant. Makes you want to turn off the tv news, skip the front section of the paper. Do we really NEED all this news? It reflects terribly on us as humans that we even give quarter to the constant flood sleeze and tragedy.
Are we teaching our children well? Are we trying to do the right thing. We can wring our hands till the cows come home but the least we can do is to try to do the best we can and teach our young the same.

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Russ Horne, Hampstead, MD — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:52:07 GMT

The SKS is a great hunting rifle. Good for target shooting, too. It's only an assault rifle when it's used to commit assault.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

karen, clark, pampanga philippines — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:58:20 GMT

my heart went out to victims family. i live thousand of miles away but these kind of news affect me greatly. it is sad to know that this mass slaughter is becoming "cool" with the american kids. i remember reading articles about it in the times. what kind of society breeds these angst/hopelessness and complete apathy? senseless killing and utter disregard for human life...what's is wrong with you guys?is it the environment? the genes? the food you eat? the movies your watching? the books your reading? please grow up...
i wish the victims family could find comforts somehow...and be able to move on...i am praying with the rest of you that nothing of it's kind shall happen again...

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DJ , Columbia, MD — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:58:48 GMT

Welcome to life people. The world is a scary place, and there are sick and twisted people everywhere. The media does not help this, with their never ending coverage of events like this, but it's people that watch it, that are sick enough to be drawn to this that increase the ratings of that particular category, and remember, TV and newspapers are all about ratings and readers, the more people that read or watch, the more money. People like the shooter are tortured souls, and SHOULD seek help, but don't for reasons only known to themselves, and it's our job as a society to not encourage things like this so that even more people see it as a way to get famous quick while at the same time ending their misery. We need to change, for every person that has a sob story, there's someone out there that has an even sadder one.

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Don Sebo, Phoenix, Arizona — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:59:02 GMT

The mental health system is seriously broken and has been since Ronald Reagan was president. The deinstitutionalization movement left this country with untold thousands of people on our streets with serious mental health problems and jails and prisons are filled with these people. This young man appears to have needed help for a long time and this is what happens when they are ignored.

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Lisa Morris Omaha, Ne — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:03:08 GMT

God bless to all of the victims families. There is simply no excuse for what this adult did. He was no longer a child he was an adult that was so self absored with his life and his needs he felt he could play God with other peoples lives. If there is a hell I pray that he is burning in it eternally for all the other lives he has runined.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Cindy Norman, North Platte, NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:04:12 GMT

To Sandra from New York--Your comments about blaming the kind woman who took this troubled boy into her home are offensive! NONE of us was there and to blame her in any way for the snapping of this mind is cruel. Perhaps that is why so many of us do not do more to help others--there's always a risk involved. It's surprising that this giving family wasn't murdered in their sleep!

Put the blame for this tragedy where it belongs - on the one who fired the shots. Analyze all you want, nobody can control another person's thoughts or read their mind.

In all of Nebraska we are suffering along with Omaha citizens and praying that comfort will be generously given to those who are grieving and stunned by this horror. Let's all not make things worse by heaping guilt on others when we can't/don't know all the solutions, the circumstances, or the individuals.

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S.B., Tacoma, WA — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:04:48 GMT

It's horrible to not feel safe in a place like a shopping mall. Here in Tacoma, we went through a Mall shooting 2 years ago. Maldanado, the shooter wanted attention. He didn't kill anyone, although he did cripple one guy. He just got convicted for more years than he will live. He's appealing now, all of this on our State's tab. I get more discouraged every day about stuff like this. Who knew either of these boys was capable of something so hateful.....

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making a difference, Las Vegas NV — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:06:20 GMT

Clearly the young man and countless others today need help. My heart aches for everyone involved. We as a nation need to wake up and move out of our own complacencies and routines to make a positive difference in the lives of those who need it, before the violence and hopelessness begins.
I would like to see the media focus on finding funding programs for prevention and intervention for these kinds of situations.

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RL, Hastings, NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:06:20 GMT

For the most part, we've all been pretty comfortable in the little confines of Nebraska. Let this be a wake-up call to all of us. It could be any one, any time, anywhere. Including here, around our "comfortable" little confines. No amount of finger pointing or "what ifs" or anger will undo any of this. Let us make a pro-active choice here so we don't make the national news again for something so incredibly horrible. May God wrap his loving, tender arms around all those who are suffering from this. May He bless us all.

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Just Me — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:06:33 GMT

Has the sanctity of Human Life become so unimportant to kids these days that their idea of becoming famous means they have to take human lives? What happened to becoming famous by saving lives? I don't care how distraught and terrible you feel, killing people isn't the answer.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Diane, Atlanta, GA — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:07:02 GMT

I too am sickened by this horrific occurrence and I agree that no attention whatsoever should be paid to this individual. I am also honest enough to tell you that I am sick of problems such as "breaking up with a girlfriend" or "being mad at my parents" or even getting fired from a job causing someone to react in such a way. There are plenty of people who have gone through far worse and come out on top. These sick individuals are self centered and they need to grow up and face reality. No one ever promised us a rose garden. Get over it. Go on with your life and look to the future.

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E Jenner, Princeton NJ — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:07:03 GMT

Boys and guns DON'T play well together. Doesn't matter if the woman who was taking care of him thought the gun wasn't useable because it looked old. Adults should take ANY gun away from depressed boys with criminal backgrounds. This was PREVENTABLE.

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Marika A. cole Sterling Hts., Mi — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:09:30 GMT

my ex husband's cousin was married to the brother of the Bell Tower killer in Texas...sad to say this has followed the broker and the parents...for the balance of their lives....wonder if this kid ever thought about what he was leaving behind for his family to clean up or not?

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Alex, Toronto, ON CANADA — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:14:24 GMT

I couldn't stand the fact that the Crime News Network(CNN) was giving this atrocity full coverage. Why do they publicize these murders so much? We know that future killers are fueled by the publicity these mass killings generate. I think the media should set up a new protocol when reporting these horrible incidents. They should just report the bare facts after the incidents are over and refrain from giving free publicity to these deranged humans.
I cannot imagine the anguish, despair and hopelessness the families of the victims must be experiencing.
My condolences to all the victims.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Mary D. St Louis MO — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:15:15 GMT

I was standing on a ladder doing a painting job when they announced how many victims were lost and just ballled,my heart broke for the families of those lost. We absolutely cannot do anything, go anywhere without fear. So many good points have already been made, especially the media is giving him what we wanted, I just have been looking forward to who the victims were so I could pray for them and their families.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

mary young, Bristol, Tn. — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:15:33 GMT

Fellow Americans - Welcome to another day on our journey towards societal collapse. Mass homicides/suicides and the subsequent media sensation are symptoms of cultural decline. This is what happens when a civilization loses its underpinnings. Only a generation ago, almost all Americans believed in truth (absolute, universal "goods" and "bads").
One pursuer the "common good" and learned young this was "good". A tender hand, a gentle smile, a reassuring nod told the young "you're going to be fine; your pain will make you a stronger person." Now, however, it is believed that ALL pain is a "bad," that's it's "unnatural" and unnecessary to face losses of many kinds as one goes through life. Pain is viewed as something that someone or someTHING, such as society itself, "delivers" or inflicts on unfortunate victims. Perhaps there is more to do that "report" on these ills (like the writer of this article) or merely comment... maybe we can DO something. What if we begin to think and live and act like people did a few decades ago, starting with acknowledging God. Accepting responsibility and tossing our silly ideas about entitlement and "what I deserve." What if we act with integrity in ALL our doings, whether anyone else will know or not? What if we consider making sacrifices for those we love a privilege rather than a pain? What if we become servants to our families and communities? What if we find that others are worth investing in . . . especially those who have no one else to do so? If each of us would be a little less self-serving ... a little more humble ... over time, we'd see a change towards the "common good."

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Krystal, Omaha, Ne — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:23:55 GMT

I live in Omaha, Ne. I have my entire life. I'm only eighteen, but i used to work at the mall. And know many people who still do. My community is upset, but as with everything bad that happens, we pull together and push through it.

I think what I really want to say is that, the nation or at least those who heard about this story send their sympathies and all that, which is very much appreciated. So thank you so much for all the support, it's very much needed through this great loss.

So thank you for support, its nice to see there is still good will in the hearts of citizens in this country.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Ophelia. Asheville, NC — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:24:18 GMT

Such a mixture of comments and reactions to a very sad yet predictable event in the Soul Journey this country is on. "And the children will show the way." For most of his generation, they have been exposed to the consequences of war and violence in one form or another, but the wars are not on their land. 9/11 was not a war - it was a consequence of attitudes, actions, truths and lies by those in HIGH POSITIONS on all sides that was ongoing for many years. Good people have breaking points! This young generation see an Administration solve problems by threatening force and war. The stranger is the terrorist. The recruiting ads glorify destroying the enemy, the strangers, those who are different or perhaps seen as better or worst. There are very few real emotional connections to pain in movies and video games, they are characters on the screen. And then we see a child rejected by his family, in state care, foster care, always on the underside of being fulfilled and nurtured. Breaking points come, some are more vulnerable than others and this society's solution and example is all to often the gun. Could "wanting to be famous" rather be a call to be recogized by those important to him, yet who were not there. Our hating him will not help anyone!

And then there are the beautiful ones lost so suddenly for seemingly no reason. There is a reason - to example to ALL to see and feel the true value of life in all forms. Blessing and prayers to hold the tears and hearts for those left, ALL the families.

ProLife is not exclusively for babies. You cannot stand for ProLife and support War, it is hypocritical! Life is for all people, everywhere. When this nation truly examples moving to peace and life, young people, like this young man and those before him will be able to hold a higher frame of reference to live by.

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Mrs. G Centennial CO — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:24:52 GMT

What do we expect, we keep lowering the bar, We have commercials now where soccer moms are trying to murder the burger king, christmas commercials, where elves are "jacking" a van, and now Alvin and the chipmonks, are singing the Bow shikka BoW Bow song from porn movies, Any thing goes, instead of raising the bar, we stoop to housewives pulling a Soprano. Distruction and violence are so common place now, they are glamorous. I'm afraid

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Brian Pick, Omaha, NE — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:25:19 GMT

The media is giving him what he wants by talking about him but that's because that's what most of the public desires. The common reaction for most people is 'What kind of a person could do something like this?' I know that's what I thought. I think it's good that they're digging into what kind of a person he was and if there were warning signs that we should have noticed. Bringing attention to those type of signs will hopefully make us all more aware so something like this can be prevented. Anytime something happens where a life is taken unexpectedly (whether it's a bridge collapse, a plane crash or a shooting), we want to know what caused it and if there is anything that could have been done to prevent it. I don't think the media should be looked down upon for providing extensive information on what could have caused this tragedy.

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Jane Doe, LaVista Nebraska — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:25:53 GMT

I am personally connected to this tragedy...I didn't know the shooter...but I know his step mom. I'm not his step mom's biggest fan (she used to be my neighbor and wasn't exactly "mom of the year" in my opinion). How does this happen? How does a kid fall through the cracks like this? When are we going to get a handle on understanding when kids are capable of such atrocities...and prevent this?

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Maggie Doe, Nashville, TN — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:33:15 GMT

These kids need help! Parents don't turn your back and kick them out of the house for whatever reason. They are crying out for help. My heart is heavy for the community and the familes who went to work and shopping and didn't come home because of this senseless crime.

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Maggie Doe, Nashville, TN — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:33:43 GMT

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Michelle, Chandler, Arizona — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:40:44 GMT

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W, Omaha, Nebraska — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:47:07 GMT

i live blocks from westroads mall and it's terrifying to think about. You hear about this stuff but you never expect it to happen in your city. It's even scarier being able to picture the exact place where people were killed, and knowing that you've walked through there many times before.

This kid was a monster who did a despicable thing. I just wish he hadn't been such a f*ckin coward and killed himself. He doesn't even have the dignity to accept consequences.

Way to make this guy famous media

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

J Wang — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:49:53 GMT

We do not know the details of his life but what seems to be a common trend in all children now is the lack of time they spend with their families in family settings and activities. I am not talking about sports, dancing, tembling, or other organized blocks of time they have to go to and meet day after day and weekend after weekend. Children have to be able to "veg" and have time to figure things out for themselves, they should NOT go 24/7 and not learn how to utilize time and set their own boundaries because parents or others are doing it for them. They do not have time to use their imagination to create, to day dream, to grow because there is no time for it when they are constantly on the go and then it is homework and to bed for a few quick hours of sleep. Parents, be parents in all senses of the word. It does NOT take a village to raise children, it take PARENTS and a HOME and a HOMELIFE between parent(s) and children.

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Fareeha Shehnaz, NYC — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:51:37 GMT

You are right - it is a very scary world, even without Haloween. The fact that the woman who was sheltering him knew he had emotional problems AND a deadly weapon and she STILL didn't "think it that important" says a lot about the kind of society we are becoming.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

D.Alexander — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:52:04 GMT

There was a sign on the mall door that said "No guns allowed"....guesss it didn't work. Too bad a LAWFULLY armed citizen could have prevented this mess..

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

m.b. — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:59:04 GMT

another reason to ban guns

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Mongo Lloyd, Devonia, o-HI-o — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:00:41 GMT

I just love how, after one of these tragedies, the zealots cry "why oh why" and blame everything that is "unholy" in their view, and others cry out for tighter gun control as if the government would just take away the right to own firearms, we would all be better off. Both instances are perfect examples of the problem at hand: the dumbing-down of America, which has been going on now for some time. In fact, this whole incident might be attributed to that as well, since intelligent folk are in general more stable, happy, have more options in life, and are less depressed. What would America be, if our society educated our young, and helped them to develop moral fiber, instead of just forcing them through the meatgrinder of our "educational" system, which is anything but educational? Don't believe me? Try talking to a handful of high school graduates for longer than 15 minutes. After the third or fourth "... and I was, like..." or "and then he axed me a question"...

What would America be, if we actually cared for our young and our elderly? For our poor? For our disabled? Why, we would be France.

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J Howard — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:09:12 GMT

No one is to blame for this HORRIBLE trajedy except for the killer himself. Not his x-girlfriend, not his parents and not McDonald's. He made a conscience CHOICE to take the lives of these innocent people! The media needs to quit giving him this coverage. I want to hear abot the human beings whose lives were taken. Who even cares about the past life of the killer. I don't even think we should give him a name either.

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Jennifer Raines, Carlsbad NM — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:10:07 GMT

I am from Omaha and spent lots of time in this mall as a teenager but never would have or could have thought of killing or hurting anyone, how could this boy have fallen through the cracks? and how can his family have given up on him?It is so sad to see this kind of thing go on daily in our country. I am so sad to think of the Omaha I speak of so fondly and left 13 years ago to be a place where this could happen,My heart and prayers go out to the people of Omaha and especially to those grieving and recovering.

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Dennis Sokol, Milan, Ohio — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:16:50 GMT

We, as a society, are doing a terrible job of identifying people who are having mental problems and getting help for them. We try to be "politically correct" and are afraid to label people. This young man had some serious problems, just like the college student in Virginia. He had been in the court system and in trouble with the law. We have to pay much more attention to other people and their behavior. We are "our brother's keeper."

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Betty Jasper — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:24:26 GMT

To all the Families in Omaha, I,m a Husker an live in Seattle. God Bless you all. It makes me sick to see a beautiful place like Omaha go through so much pain and suffering this time of the year, let the Country know just what beautiful and strong people come from Nebraska. Stop the media from plastering the face of a killer on t.v.and the news let the victims rest in peace and let the healing begin of the strong suvivors, their Huskers!!!

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Linda, Charlotte, NC — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:38:12 GMT

Depression, mental illness, teenage angst, isolation and loneliness - none of these are new. They are part of the human condition. But combined with any sort of guns, and particularly assault weapons, they make mass killings inevitable and increasingly common. When will our nation wake up? There's a reason these episodes are much more rare in countries with strict gun control.

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Tammy Mead, Letart, WV — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:44:10 GMT

I believe the generation of people below the age of 40 have been desensitized and demoralized by medias, TV shows, games etc. Parents work to make ends meet and do little parenting anymore. Drugs are in demand prescription kinds and illegal. There are more behavorial drugs than ever to try and fix the population, but some of them have been proven to make behaviors worse.What is causing all the so called chemical imbalances in humans? The petroleum products we microwave food in? Yes, hunting where I live desensitizes people too. Life of any kind is not valued even by some so called Christians. People kill just to be killing. It gives them some kind of sick proudness I don't understand and don't believe it is healthy to raise children to think getting your 1st deer is a highly praised accomplishment. And yes, I think it would be good for the media to use (people that our willing)coverage of the hurt caused, funerals, comments etc. Let's get emotional again and show our children the way people feel and what the right emotions are. Truly sorry for the loss of any life.

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Laura, Streamwood IL — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:49:33 GMT

One thought: How could his "caretaker" do nothing when this boy showed her his weapon? She said he showed her his assault rifle and she "didn't think anything of it". And now she feels bad because he was "good boy" who "helped around the house".

God have mercy on us all.

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RSJ, KC Metroplex — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:53:47 GMT

I believe there IS value in learning details about the perpetrator. I can glean insight into characteristics that may have contributed to his actions. With that insight, it may be possible to learn how I can contribute toward efforts to avoid or head-off such catastrophes in the future.

So, I applaud the media for allegedly concentrating on the perpetrator and his history, actions, circumstances, etc. Their concentrating on the victims and their families, their suffering and responses to "how did it feel" questions is useless to me if I want to help avoid this kind of thing in the future. After all, I don't rely on the media to give me victims' reactions so I can learn how I might react in a similar situation - I already know that.

Reporting on victims' reactions and feelings is simply selling news. Human interest. As such, it's useless! I don't learn anything. My preference is to hear reports about the perpetrator or why he did what he did or the circustances surrounding the incident. That's information I can use. I can learn from it.

Put it another way. Hearing or seeing a victim's reaction has no value to me. Knowing what they're reacting to does.

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RSJ, KC Metroplex — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 23:55:49 GMT

I believe there IS value in learning details about the perpetrator. I can glean insight into characteristics that may have contributed to his actions. With that insight, it may be possible to learn how I can contribute toward efforts to avoid or head-off such catastrophes in the future.

So, I applaud the media for allegedly concentrating on the perpetrator and his history, actions, circumstances, etc. Their concentrating on the victims and their families, their suffering and responses to "how did it feel" questions is useless to me if I want to help avoid this kind of thing in the future. After all, I don't rely on the media to give me victims' reactions so I can learn how I might react in a similar situation - I already know that.

Reporting on victims' reactions and feelings is simply selling news. Human interest. As such, it's useless! I don't learn anything. My preference is to hear reports about the perpetrator or why he did what he did or the circumstances surrounding the incident. That's information I can use. I can learn from it.

Put it another way. Hearing or seeing a victim's reaction has no value to me. Knowing what they're reacting to does.

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Autumn, Plattsmouth, NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:03:51 GMT

I live very close to the area where this devastating event took place, heck, I go to this mall about once a month, and I doubt I can go there without the cold chills lingering in my skin, knowing what happened.

To me, it is shocking that I actually live close to such an event. My heart goes out to other states that suffer these tragedies, but I never really thought it would happen a good 20 miles from where I live.

My sister was working down at the mall maybe five or ten miles away from Westroads, and I was truly worried that the killer, since he was not found for awhile, may go to her mall, but thankfully he did not. I still feel horribly about all the needless deaths that occurred, this is not a great way to start out the holidays.

How somebody could have such thoughts on taking out others is weird, to me. I could never see how it would bring someone joy to kill innocent people. I'm only 17, and I know how teenage depression hits, but I would never take it to that level.

Death in itself is scary to me.

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Frank Wiseman Albuquerque NM — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:07:23 GMT

How annoying. Shooting in America is a normal event.
A good percentage of the "law abiding citizens" having guns at this very moment WILL kill someone in the next few months. USA is going back to the wild west and more more far away from a civilized living without guns and without violence.

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C. Joe — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:12:38 GMT

To all of you who are angery at the media about reporting about Robbie Hawkins, just think that he might have been your son, nephew, cousin, grandson etc. Those in the mental health field realize that many different things trigger Depression. When or if you find out what happened in this youngs man life , you may realize that this could happen to someone near and dear to you.
To the person who mentioned our educational system, yes they do push kids through with all of their goals and objectives, they are to be cookie cutter kids, and it you don't fit in or your family does not you are made fun of or made to feel unfit to be a part of the system.
Someone that is depressed may state that they are going to be famous, but hearing his friends mom speak of him extensively you have to realize that he was a young man that could have been helped, but our system doesn't have the time or the desire to spend the money on these hurting and ill young people.
Turn your anger into something positive.
You would be surprised how many youth in your own city are in this same frame of mind.
Take note of how the media ie movies, tv programs etc have guns, violence etc.
May we be kind at this special time of the year to those who are not like ourselves.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Steve Strickland, Dallas, TX. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:28:47 GMT

Maybe if we put the owner of the AK-47,a high ranking official from the NRA, and a officer from a firearms manufacture (picked at random) in prison for the rest of their lives each time something like this happened we could get some meaningful control over our own “weapons of mass destruction”

Look at the facts, 40% of firearms owners report that they don’t secure their weapons, millions of people are not getting the mental help they need, our prison system no longer even pretends to have a correctional function, getting even an entry level job without an education and a record is much harder that getting an assault rifle! Yet if you want to get on an airplane ya gotta take off your shoes!

When I grew up in Omaha, and Westroads opened it was billed as the 8th largest mall in America, watched Bill Cosby as the entertainment at a Dinner Theater on the Basement level, the place even had a heliport, supposedly so that the developer John Wiebe would no have to fight traffic, some people even clamed the big W’s on the building stood for Wiebe. Westroads changed Omaha when it was built in 1968, much like Wal-Mart changed many smaller towns since…………

Maybe its time we started teaching our children the difference between famous and infamous!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Kate Lynn, Lincoln, NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:29:13 GMT

What stikes me as outrageous in this incident, besides the obvious of course (God rest their souls), is a report from the Omaha World Hearld in their interview with the woman Hawkins was living with, Debora Maruca-Kovac. Dec 6, 2007 3:24 PM (3 hrs ago) By ERIC OLSON, AP: "But Maruca-Kovac said she saw nothing foreshadowing the horror Hawkins would inflict during his last moments alive. She remembered a gentle young man who loved animals. She regarded him so benignly that when he showed her an SKS semiautomatic rifle the night before his attack, she thought little of it, the Omaha World-Herald reported."

The story later says, ""I had a feeling it could be him," she said."" "He was depressed, and he had always been depressed," Maruca-Kovac said. "But he looked like he was getting better.""

Hmm, okay, so let's look at this a little more closely. She contradicts herself completely. Worse yet, the article goes on to state that she knew Hawkins smoked marijuana, drank, had lost his job, his girlfriend, and was to appear in court in two weeks.

HELLO!!! Are there any red lights going off in your brain? There most certainly would have been in mine!

It is time for people to wake up and pay attention to the world, and people, around them. Too often ignorance or just plain stupidity leads to these situations. Gee, you've had a history of depression? Oh, your girlfriend just dumped you and you lost your elite job at McDonalds? Gee, nobody else will take you in to their home? Wow, you've have countless other run-ins with the law? Boy, that sure is a cool AK-47! COME ON!!!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Deb S. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:41:06 GMT

My heart goes out to the families.....it was a senseless act....lets talk about the victims - tell about what they accomplished in their lives....what they could of accomplished had their lives not been cut short by a madman!
God Bless these families....I know that the holidays are going to be tough....I will pray for you.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

JG MN — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:48:07 GMT

You know I think we as a society want to find the "why" of what this guy did. Well haveing worked with offenders for the last 6 years the why is his thinking not society, or parents or schools etc... There are plenty of people that have had a bad up bringing who would never pick up a gun and shoot innocent people so to say thats the problem to me is false. We as a society need to start holding theses people accountable for their actions and not look to make excuses for him. I also agree that the media coverage we give to him and not the families shows others that you will get your fame and others will come to your defense as you being the victim instead of the victimizer. By doing that I think we are helping to victimize the victims all over again.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Curt Hall, Berkeley, CA — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:05:31 GMT

My hopes and prayers go out to the victims and their families and friends. But to be honest, I initially wasn't really that surprised when I first heard about the shootings. Hell, the newspapers here didn't even make it the front page headline story. Instead, they had a small blurb on the front page with the story appearing on page 4 (or even later). This is what its come down to: Multiple homicides in America are now so common its not headline news any more. Pretty shocking.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Paul, Polk County, Minnesota — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:12:53 GMT

The media that reports the news is not to blame; the reporters should have our sympathy because they have to go up close to the horrors to report it to us. We all try to understand "why", so it is not necessarily undue attention to gore, at all. If blame is to be affixed, it is rather our fascination with, as the Roman emporor supposedly said "give them bread and circuses".....to distract the citizens of Rome from their leaders excess. In our case, the "circuses" are movies, tv shows, macho sports.....all the things that imply that muscle strength, guns, retaliation, vengeance....etc....are the only avenue of human endeavor and only response to powerlessness, and the loneliness of young people....

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Annie; Omaha, Nebraska — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:16:17 GMT

I live in Omaha and love this little city. However, it is really no different than any place else. There are hurting people like Robbie everywhere. I weap for the victims and him. Pointing fingers is a waste of time. Its time to put our boots on people! I hope those that reached out to Robbie in anyway aren't discouraged by this tragedy, but that we are all more aware and ready to help the struggling out. Like the writer said, life is scary enough.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Debra, Columbus, Ohio — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:16:53 GMT

Once again, I find my heart breaking for families I do not know because of a senseless shooting by a "disturbed" person. Thank you to the reporter above for reminding us how hard it must be to cover such horrible stories.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

D. Michailof, Riverdale Maryland — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:36:18 GMT

I really want to know why you guys are glorifying the shooter? I've seen hosts on your sister network (MSNBC) blaming the republican congress for letting the assault weapons ban sunset- where is the acknowledgment that the shooter himself wanted the fame you are giving him?

Why does this happen? Look in your lens and reflect a bit on what you put on the air.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Ryan, Omaha, NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:37:25 GMT

I live 2 minutes from Westroads, and take my son there once a week for the play area and a pretzel. My dad was mall walking there 2 hours before it happened. It is shocking and saddening to see what transpired on that day. Even more shocking is the local media who has been on a 24 hour blitz since then. Most appalling is the interview with the murders "friends" who talked about how much of a great friend and person he was. And how they had some idea he was going to do something drastic hours, if not days before the events took place. Those individuals should be held accountable and prosecuted for being an accomplice in the murders. Ignorant people who would rather play dumb than confront evil are no better than the murderer himself. I would rather waste tax payers money on a few false alarms than waste those same dollars on burying this scum!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Kay Lekpetch, Bangkok, Thailand — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:40:56 GMT

I was shocked when I heard the news. I'm an international student who used to live in Omaha. I'm really sorry for all the lost.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Kim Dunn, Days Creek, Oregon — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:42:57 GMT

So this kid gets an assault rifle from his step-dad's house... can someone please tell why ANYONE needs to have an assault rifle in their home?? They are for killing.. people.. period.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

John, Dayton, Ohio — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:56:12 GMT

except for one or two useless comments, this chain of comments is the most thoughtful I have come across in a long time. I think much of that is due to Mr. Henkel sharing his personal view which hit a cord b/c it wasn't the typical media hype trying to make a buck.
It can not be denied, even by the NY Times, that these sick murderers are comforted if not motivated by the guaranteed media attention they will receive. I think a fair accommodation of the competing interests is that the media PROMINENTLY announces it will no longer give the name or show the picture of the murderer. They can profile the person etc, but also not make the person "famous". This won't stop all mass killings, but maybe this guy would thought twice if he knew these killings would not make him famous. Since the media will howl that they have an obligation to bring us the news, maybe they agree to a waiting period, maybe a week, before they make the murderer famous.
Bottom line, it was positive for Mr. Henkel to take this first step, and encouraging to see so many thoughtful responses.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Brennan Keil, Joppa, MD — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:57:00 GMT

The real problem here is that he was in a GUN FREE ZONE! Clearly the population is unarmed! What better targets could someone look for? This is why the VT shooting happened on that campus and why this boy went to this mall.

If more states allowed Concealed Carry(it's almost non-existant here in Maryland) and banned gun free zones and let teachers carry CONCEALED guns, you would see shootings like this fall to almost nil.

The lowlifes commiting these murders are complete and total cowards. If they thought for one second that someone would be fighting back with equal force, they would just give up and go home.

This was not caused by a gun. It was caused by a coward, who happened to get his hands on a gun. It could have been stopped and far fewer people died, if there were no "Gun Free Zone's"

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Georgia, Detroit,Mich — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:16:45 GMT

Let us pray for his soul. I believe you have to answer for yor sins whether you be alive or deceased.
He not only has to answer for his death, but so many others.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Wendy, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:22:52 GMT

"The right to bear arms". Please please please, United States of America - law makers, lobbyists, citizens - Iwish you would change your attitudes and laws on firearms. Every time I hear about another mass shooting in your country, I think how regrettable it is that the USA continues its mantra "the right to bear arms".

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Calvin Morris — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:25:54 GMT

Dear Andy,
Assult weapons are banned. This is the whole point, if someone wants a weapon he can buy it. You want a hand grenade, or three or four, they can be obtained. No, I dont't where you can purchase one, but the crooks know. The point being, you just can't do away with items tat kill. Let's say that this nut ran his car into thirty people in the mall. Should we do away with cars. How about if he killed ten peole with a knife, do we out law knives? I wonder what the out come would have been if, four or five honest people had a gun in that store. CROOKS WILL ALWAYS BE ABLE TO OBTAIN WEAPONS< IT"S THE HONEST PEOPLE THAT ARE UNABLE TO BUY GUNS TO DEFEND THEMSELVES>
Cal

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Paul Yamauchi, Skokie, IL. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:32:58 GMT

I think people have mentioned a key point with this incomprehensible tragedy: the total disconnectedness between people nowdays. Apart from the failure of state corrections officials, the courts and family members that led to this massacre (despite their declarations to the contrary) is the fact that most young people grow up with much, much less if not minimal experience associating with people. They are much too preoccuppied with Nintendo, computer games, TV, etc. to grow up fully socialized and able to deal with people and themselves. The killer's mental problems surely complicated the matter, but I believe today's process of juvenile socialization and the breakdown of strong supportive family ties go a long way to explain what happened in Omaha, West VA., etc.

One point that hasn't been questioned is where the heck did the Omaha murderer get an AK-47 rifle??? Who sold/gave it to him? After so many murders and massacres with assault weapons, I find it incredible that there are still lots of people who believe we should be able to acquire them. Times have changed and so must the laws to reflect current reality. There are no more Indians to fight off. We don't need guns, but we do need much stiffer gun laws or bans. Gun supporters can argue that "guns don't kill people, people kill people", but then why do we ban alcohol from people under 21?? So, will gun supporters use the same argument that "it's not alcohol that causes alcoholism and accidents, it's people" and push to allow anybody to purchase liquors?? Probably not, and I dare say they support such bans. Why don't they see the exact parallel with firearms and support much more strict gun controls since, like alcohol, we don't seem to use them correctly?? Many people have blood on their hands after this and every other murder that occurs with firearms in this country.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Dan, Granger, IN — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:45:59 GMT

My heart goes out to all of those who are a part of the Von Maur family including the employees and customers. As a former employee of another one of their 22 locations, I know that the entire company feels the pain of Omaha. My heart truly goes out to those employees who are deciding now if they can ever go back to work in that store. They are very fourtunate that they work for such a supportive company. I know that when the time is right for them to reopen, Jim Von Maur and his entire family will be on hand to help ease his team back into work. God Bless them.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Hap Cooper, Balltimore, MD — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:54:24 GMT

The world has changed.

In 1881, a handful of lawmen killed three cowboys in Tombstone, Az, and every American since has known of the "Gunfight at the OK Corral." Even in the "Wild West" where carrying a gun was commonplace, killing people was not.

In February of 1929, a few of Capone's thugs gunned down a few of Bugs Moran's thugs and the "Saint Valentines Day Massacre" has been infamous ever since.

How much attention is paid today when rival gang members kill the opposition? Not much you say? Why is that? I suspect it's because we're killing each other all the time now. It's not news anymore.

Bob Geldof captured it in the Boomtown Rat's #1 song: "I don't like Mondays. I want to shoot the whole day down." This was essentially Brenda Ann Spencer's explanation in 1979 for killing two and wounding eight in the schoolyard across the street from her house.

Wednesday's killings less than a mile from my old house in Omaha made about as much sense.

I can't point at this kid, make the disparaging comments that are going through my head and leave it at that. I want to know how we made this kid and the dozens like him that have shot up schools, malls, restaurants and offices around the country over the past couple of decades? They didn't exist before and now they do. Lots of them. What happened?

I don't have the answers, although I could start a list to investigate. Parents aren't around. We treat our kids with psychotropic drugs rather than attention and understanding. Technology has fueled isolation. Anybody can get an assault rifle (how many of these assailants would have the nerve to kill people face to face?). Life is too easy. Expectations are too high. Values are skewed (life isn't worth living if I can't get an iPhone or tickets to see Hannah Montana). Accountability to society and a sense of responsibility has given way to a focus on personal rights, privacy and entitlement. Where have you gone Joe Dimaggio? You left us with Barry Bonds.

The world has changed--and we have to fugure it out.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Mimi Hann — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:12:17 GMT

I agree that the media coverage is contributing to the copy-cat crimes that are occurring...what is the alternative!? These poor losers that hear all the hype think they can be famous, too. I think it deserves a serious second look at the coverage!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

RB, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:26:21 GMT

All my concerns about personal security pale in comparison to the real terror experienced by these victims and their families. My heart and prayers go to them.

I wish the media would focus on the victims. The few quotes from friends and loved ones I've seen are obviously the real story. The good and great things they did demonstrate to us (and our children) how precious life really is. I hope that, in some small way, serves to honor them.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Omaha, NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:09:12 GMT

It is so great to hear all of the thoughts and prayers from people all over the country. I have a family member that was working at Von Maur during the shooting and thankfully made it out safely. I can only imagine the horror that he saw. It is so wonderful to hear that people so far away care about us.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Mary Doe, San Antonio, TX — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:56:18 GMT

Don't blame Mrs. Kovac. We should be more like her & her family who were unselfish in opening their home & hearts to the troubled young man.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Peter Bulls Gap, TN — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:59:45 GMT

This is yet another wake-up call to our government and especially the mental health/social work programs. I am a master-level therapist who worked 15 years with abused, troubled, disturbed and criminal youths. This kid was placed in several programs that obviously were not equipped to restore and transform this soul. People, it is tough business, it can be done but it needs to be done by a well performing clinical team that has its act together. Our society and our government do not sufficiently support the system that is meant to take the angry and dangerous and emancipate them as good citizens. Do some research and speak out to those in power. How much does a master's level-therapist earn compared to a master-level teacher or nurse? How much do effective on-line counselors make? Whenever a state needs to trim a part of its budget, guess what department always takes a hit. Treatment centers have horrific turnover and rarely carry a clinical team that has worked together for a year or more. Put your money were your fears and reality are and help us develop a strong mental health and social system.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jennifer - Former West Omaha Native — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:20:04 GMT

What has happened to our society in general? Where are we failing?? You never heard of any of these horrors/tragedys 30 years ago. Now we have to fear for being gunned down, blown up, receiving something in the mail, our children are now taught lock down proceedures in school along side their tornado and fire drills, people kill their kids in horrific ways etc. I'm afraid to turn on the news anymore for fear that it will be another night that I sit with a box of kleenexs and just wonder WHY??? How could they???? Whats next for my little ones???? What kind of world will they grow up and teach their children someday?? When will all of these un-speakable crimes end? Doesn't anyone have a conscience anymore?? Prayers go out to all those in need and effected by this maddness!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Doug Faulls, Bartlett, IL — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:42:20 GMT

Like every other mass murderer, this teenager -- this twisted punk, this thug -- got what he knew the American media would give him -- his more than 15 minutes of fame. Already the media, pseudo-talking heads and any other so-called "professionals" are trying to surmise what made this loser do what he did, and somehow are attempting to portray this loser as a victim. No, folks, he's no victim - it's really very simple -- look closely at this jag-bag of a human being and you'll find he had a felony drug conviction along with several misdemeanor cases to his credit. He was even arrested several days prior to his rampage. This kid was plain bad news. Not too long before he went on the deadly, unprovoked rampage, his parents told their idiot son to take a permanent hike, and not let the back door hit him as he left.

So his girlfriend dumped him, and he gets canned from Mickey D's (hard to do, really), and his parents give him the boot -- and that gives him the right to murder 8 people?? "Oh, but he was really a nice young man...he was just very troubled" is what you're going to hear. No, folks -- this piece of pond scum was nothing more than a lazy, good-for-nothing, worthless life-time loser. When I was 19, I flunked out of college, was told by my mother to get a job or leave the house, and got dumped by my girlfriend. I felt sorry for myself for as long as it took to enlist in the U.S. Navy. 24 years later, I retired as a senior officer. Either you decide to take responsibility for yourself or you don't.

Can't wait for the Boxers, the Feinsteins, the Jacksons and the Sharptons to get on the bandwagon and scream for getting rid of guns. Hey, folks, it's very simple: It's not about guns, it's not about this jerkweed being "abandoned" by his family and being Dear Johned and somehow getting canned by McDonald's -- it's about a worthless piece of human flotsam throwing a tantrum with an AK-47 because he didn't get his way.

Oh, and while we're looking for someone or something other than this idiot to put the blame on...let's try his parents, who clearly were clueless. Don't pity this coward -- give comfort to the families of the 8 innocent victims, who won't be celebrating a Merry Christmas.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

mike, torrington, wy. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:14:30 GMT

Don't blame guns. Obviously, the kid wasn't raised right. Take responsibility for raising your kids, don't blame it on guns or cars or elevators etc.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jasper, Pullman,Washington — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:16:55 GMT

Gangbangers get into gang wars and end up killing other gangbangers. These wayward confused mass murdering teens seem to preference killing more arbitrarily. Yet MOST people are more frightened of the gang-bangers than they are of these nutjobs even though there is a much better chance that it's these nutjobs that will put them in harms way. People speak of reaching out to help these nutters. Sadly you never hear that type of compassion when the same people talk about gangbangers. Fact is, they are ALL kids and deserved to be helped. But with the way this culture responds to them both, we're guaranteeing that there will continue to be more senseless killing by BOTH gangbangers and murderous nutjob teens. Hohum - We reap what we sow.....

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Julianne Cordero, Pomona, CA — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:21:36 GMT

Another awful story. Another horrible dark day for the people who loved those who were killed in America. Another magazine of bullets doing what they were made to do. Another kid, in complete despair, cut loose from any kind of family or moral fabric to which he may have once clung. The black heart of a heavily armed, discarded teenager: America's heart of darkness.

I remember my own dark days. I was one of these horrible lonely, depressed, angry teenagers, for whom a gun was the only sense of power I had. The difference between me and this kid, really the only difference, is that my mother was alive and loved me no matter what I did. Not spoiled me, mind you. Strong, consistent discipline does not mean constant beatings and harshness. My mom was as strict as they come...Believe me, I got schooled for my stupidity. But she was always loving and fair and kind to me. She taught me how to get along when no-one was going to do it for me. She helped me learn to go one step beyond helping myself, and to love helping others. To live to serve. I could stand on my moral high horse and say that this kid was just another whacko, but to do that would be to turn a blind eye to the work we need to do in this society. We need less stuff, less food, less driving, less busy-ness, fewer communications devices and more talking, more experiences together, more real compassion, more sharing what we have, more of God's love for each other. That love IS the fabric that is tearing in this society. Ask any good parent.

Sin might be our nature, but an urge to kill strangers is a carefully learned perversion, one that is chillingly easy to find and cultivate in our society. Honestly, if my mom and my sisters had not reached into my depressed, violent darkness and shown me their love, well, I could have been down my own infamous path. Now I'm well on my way to an advanced degree and a career in University teaching.

God be with the victims of this boy's insanity.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jody. Omaha, NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:38:11 GMT

I live in Omaha, heard the first coverage at 2:00p.m. on the Omaha World Herald website. We are stunned, it happened here. The gravity of it all is not unlike the morning of 9/11. We spent the day and evening calling all of ours families and friends to make sure they were okay. I hugged my foster daughter more times than ever this morning before dropping her off at preschool, then a few more times there. I found myself crying on the way into work, didn't have a pinpoint reason, just heavy hearted,overwhelmed. Our local government officials released the names of the victims on a televised press release this morning at 9:30. We all huddled to the tv at work. I didn't personally know any victims, but that didn't seem to lift my spirits. I couldn't wait for the work day to be over to go get her and do something to spend "quality" time with her.
It is mentioned above about the "system" failing the shooter. I feel in part, it probably did. These kids are numbers. Numbers so high in recent years, the governor is pushing the Health and Human Services to get the kids out of the system. I have had two seperate workers cite this governors iniative to me personally when I question their actions or skills regarding my foster daughter. From April of 2007 to date a case worker has visited me once. They are "required" to do monthly home visits. In April of 2006 the numbers of Foster kids was 7,800 give or take, August this year was 7,300 or so. How many of the 500 or so who left were given the extra mile? I don't have many answers,, but I do have these thoughts. Be slow to talk, swift to listen, slow to judge and swift to forgive. May the good Lord use this as a lighted path to Heavens gates.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Drene Green, Johannesburg South Africa — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:50:03 GMT

As a South African I feel deeply for the victims of this shooting. To the loved ones left behind, here in South Africa there is also people praying for you.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Lauren Cimarosti, Bismarck, North Dakota — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:50:43 GMT

I believe we, as a society, are resposible for our children. For those of you who think this young man doesn't deserve to be mourned, shame on you. I have a son who is as troubled as this young man was. We are a two-parent, stay-at-home mom, loving home. But the world outside our door is a different story, where too many care only for themselves and how much money they can make while pointing fingers at anyone who doesn't live up to the American dream. These tragedies will continue to happen as long as our society continues to disintegrate. We are all to blame.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Diane Sikora, Houston, Texas — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:52:00 GMT

My heart goes out to the families of the innocent victims in this tragedy as well as the family of Robert Hawkins who now must deal with the after-effects of his actions. On this Saturday, 12/8 the feast of the Immaculate Conception, my prayers to Mary, the Patroness of America will be that there will be no more of these tragedies.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Afraid for my son — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:58:18 GMT

People are asking why nobody did anything about this kid? There were signs there was a big problem yet he went and killed without a care in the world.Well let me say I'am the adoptive father a a boy who is 14 and we adopted him when he was 5.This boy will be the headline someday and when people ask why I will also be asking why?Yes he was abused in every sick demented way you can think of no one should have been preyed upon the way he was.His mother got of by testifying against her husband who did end up in prison.Our lives have been devastated since we brought him into our home.I will not give details but he has been a big problem here at home,at school he spends most of the time in the office or suspended from school.We have had the police at our home many times because of his actions.As his parents we have tried everything.At home he is grounded his tv playstation his movies etc...have been taken away so many times it is now at the point his reaction is BIG DEAL.He is on four medications (when we can get him to take them)at 14 am I supposed to hold him down on the floor and force feed him? He has been with a number of treatment programs.His psychological and psychiatric assessments all say this is a violent child who is diagnosed with ADHD,ADD,Reactive attachment disorder,one who cares about no one or anything but himself.He has been admitted to a psychiatric ward,has been in a long term treatment hospital and still nothing has changed.We have lost many friends because of him.(Then again what kind of friends were they who dropped us when we needed them most)My wife is afraid of him,his brother and sisters keep a distance and also do not trust him.Again I will not go into details but here is a list of some of his behaviors:Has killed small animals,beaten up his sisters,fights in the street and at school,talks to the voices in his head,set our home on fire not once but twice,steals destroys others property. We have had the police called by us as many times as others have called them because of his actions.He will also tell you and the police " Iam only a kid,what are you going to do?" So to those who ask why was nothing done I ask what more can we do? We dread the day and we are sure its comming this boy will make headlines,so tell me what else can we do?

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Adam K Kellyton AL — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:19:32 GMT

To Andy Beldy,
These wepons are outlawed. It is unlawful to own an assualt rifle, a Federal law.Let us focus on the families who are suffering a loss of loved ones especially sad at Christmas time. Even the family of the young man who did the shooting is grieving. They are in my prayers.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Paula Knepper-Cook Mulino OR — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:30:03 GMT

Thank-you for opening up and sharing what your life is like in the career you have chosen as a reporter. How fragile our lives truly are and how in an instant that life can be extinguished. This murderer whom noone was accountable for because of his age, how valid is that? Because of age? Look at his record? Read his history. What can the system learn from this, will they take it and use it to improve the system? Please do not even say the words 'but funding has been cut'. Okay I do not know the entire story none of us will? All we can use is what the media tells us, to make our own judgements our own opinions.
Is that enought? No it is not! As a retired educator of young children, seeing first hand what exposure of violence in the media does to a child's thoughts and actions. Trying to educate parents to limit TV, computer, movie time. Now the violence has become out of control. This is where it needs to stop! If all parents refused to purchase any violent games, restricted viewing of any violence. How different would this world be now? The numbing that takes place in a child's mind when viewing violence for hours on end it is real and should not be ignored. Parents TAKE a STAND. Refuse to have violence played in your homes.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Looey Munn Roundup, Montana — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:35:03 GMT

As a nation, we have removed the moral and ethical standards and training, so as not to offend anybody. We sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.

It is very sad, but we as a society get what we ask for, and we seem never to bother to learn from History; in fact it is seldom really taught anymore, lest we offend some minority with the truth.

So since we refuse to teach that history shows consequences of actions, over and over, and believe we now have the head knowledge to do everything right, this is what we get, over and over.

Head knowledge does not replace heart knowledge. Wring your hands, it is terrible, but look to the heart of the matter, if you dare, or we will just repeat history over and over and never learn.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

David Le Roy. Medford, Oregon — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:13:25 GMT

I would love to spit some beach nut in that dude's eyes, and then shoot him with my ole 45. If i were in that mall, and could jump him without getting shot to hell, I'd of given him what he deserved. I am disgusted with the fact that we spent a quarter of a million on him, but have old people who can't afford to eat right or buy necessary medications. Drugies need to be housed in isolation from society, and repeat offenders need life without parole. I mean life in prison, not disneyland. My prayers for ALL who are affected by this tragic event, and more prayers for this Great Country because there is an infection of ill sorts going around. Sex, drugs and rock and roll must have been this dude's life--certainly not the breakfast of a champion.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Charlette Windsor Colorado — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:39:24 GMT

How does this happen so EASILY our country? We are in foreign lands "protecting" them but we cant seem to protect our own loved ones on American soil.WRONG!!!!!Pay tribute to the victims,not him.MEDIA! Please don't mention this ruthless killer ANYMORE. You are only fulfilling HIS wishes of being "famous".the only credit he diserves is burning in hell for eternity.What he chose!The best justice of all! AMEN

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Joe,Omaha,Ne. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:45:32 GMT

ON OUR NEWS TODAY...One of THIS PUNKS'FRIENDS HAS THEATENED TO "PUT a CAP in the HEAD" of a young girl here in town! THIS IS AFTER THE BLOODBATH!!! I am Calling on all who read this, to contact the Omaha Police and or City Prosecuter, and Demand this peron be found, arrested, and PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT , A DEATH THREAT AT THIS TIME !?!FROM a FRIEND of THE SHOOTER!?!WE ALL NEED TO WATCH THIS STORY! WILL THEY LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!?!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jim — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:31:49 GMT

What is so sad it that this story is not at all
unusual.It is nothing more than a note in the drumbeat
of nihilism that has gripped this country for a long
time.And no, smirking right-winger--I am not a 'lib',
I'm a military veteran and a member of one the highest paid professions in this country.We have settled for simple answers to problems that require
thought and discipline.Now here we are with broken
infrastructure and broken youth.Shame on us.
Here's a great idea---let's build more prisons!
Simple answers,pathetically predictable results.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Barbara Hawk, Denver, CO — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:17:31 GMT

I, for one, cannot believe the comment on this site from Sandra Martinez of New York that this horrific tragedy was the "fault" of the woman who had let Hawkins come and live with her in an effort to help him! How narrow-minded of Ms. Martinez to place blame where it does not belong! It was not this woman's "fault." If your child exhibits questionable behavior, does your mind automatically go to the extreme? No, you hope and pray that your child will be o.k., either through your guidance or the help of a professional. This tragedy is society's "fault" as well as the "fault" of a system that let him down.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Lawrenceburg, IN — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:25:17 GMT

I moved from Bellevue, NE a little over a year ago. I live right outside of Cincinnati now. Everynight there are sirens screaming up and down the streets, the local businesses are all set up with high tech, state of the art security systems, bullet proof glass. They employees all wear alarm trigger devices around their necks, they look like those medical alarms. They send a signal to the police to let them know their being robbed. It's so sick that the world is coming to this. It's not just in the city I live in, it's everywhere.

I read all kinds of coverage on this tragic incident, and it's true they talk about the shooter. I don't know what could possess any person to go on a killing spree, no matter what the status of their life is. So, if anyone wants to say it's because of circumstances of his childhood, they don't know what they are talking about. That is a load of crap. I know a lot of people who have terrible childhoods, financial problems, relationship problems, interpersonal relationship problems. None of them have gone out and killed people. They watch violent movies and listen to hardcore music, they play the violent video games. Anyone who contributes this terrible act of violence on any of the above is a straight up fool.

I don't blame anyone but him. I just feel total devastation for the families involved. These people where parents, grandparents, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters.....the list goes on and on, but I can tell one thing these people are now, no longer with us...Where was the security system at the mall???? Why didn't anyone step in when they saw him trying to smuggle something large in under a sweatshirt?? Where were the rent-a-cops at??? I'm not blaming security, just trying to make a statement, I'll still hear sirens everynight in my neighborhood, but I feel better knowing that my city is taking extra steps to try to make everything as safe theycan. Crime is going to happen it's an unfortunate fact of life, it's how prepared you are and how you handle it that makes all the difference. I'm afraid that it's not only schools thatare affected with the shooting rampages but malls too. What's next?? Stadiums, museums, amusement parks??? Where will it end?? Do you think if the mall had been equipped with a security guard caring a firearm we'd have eight innocent people ripped away from lives and families that they loved??

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Frank Williams, Al Kobar, Saudi Arabia — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:45:43 GMT

Is it possible to have too much freedom? America runs at a breakneck competitive speed chasing what? A dream. Drugs, divorce, alcohol, the value of the car you drive, the neighbourhood your house sits in, the schools you go to, violence in our entertainment,news media that turns tragedy into profit and rating, teenage sex and pregnacy, too much debt, the list goes on and on. It takes a very well balanced kid to walk through the mine fields today. I fear you will see more of this type of thing as more children fall through the cracks. I pray that I am wrong. Parents love your kids enough to slow down. The dream you chase may be their undoing. The children are the future of your country.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Sandra Lima, Lisbon Portugal — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:19:47 GMT

Don´t you all think it´s about time to put severe restrictions on the gun trading in your country? If getting a gun like that is easier than buying cigarretes in the USA, it might get worst day by day.
Poor people who pay with their lifes the price for living in one of the most violent societies in the "civilized" world. In Europe (unless you are a top professional criminal) you don´t get guns like those often used to kill people around in the USA. Think about it and act.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

John J., Barnegat, New Jersey — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:24:33 GMT

What is also horrible about this is the way that the press keeps up the story about the person who does these things, but nothing, NOTHING about the victims or their families;what they were like and what their families are going through. The victims again are always forgotten.
As we go through this holiday season, lets keeps them in mind and prayer!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Gary Aldridge, Lakin, Kansas — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:35:58 GMT

To much killing in the world. Afganistan, Iraq. etc..
Other countries are building infrastructure and educating their people while we are building bombs and bullets. Its no wonder we have young people doing horrible things like the Omaha shootings when killing is about all they see on TV.

Where would we be today if we had spent a trillion dollars on researching alternative sources of energy instead of spending the money on the two wars we are currently fighting???

We have a man in Wichita that has modified a common diesel engine, installed it in a Cadillac Escalade, to produce 1000 hp and get 25 mph. He has a seventh grade education.

If our money was spent on projects here at home to make a better life, people like the young man in Omaha would have a much brighter future.

PRIORITIES, PRIORITIES, PRIORITIES

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Ron Gibbs, Fairfield County, Connecticut — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:48:22 GMT

Tom O'Hara wrote, "When something like this happens often times fingers are pointed looking for someone or something to blame, but as the saying goes when you point one finger three others are pointing at you. I believe that these are the edges of society's fabric unravelling and the lonliness and isolation that these individuals are suffering from is a societal problem and although we as humans tend to take a positive view that the world is going to be a better place I believe that if we don't start to take a holistic approach to solving our problems the fabric will continue to unravel. Don't accept that there is a single solution to the problem - whatever the problem is. The problem with this kid may go back all the way to the womb - with parents who weren't ready to be parents. Or maybe it was a scholastic system that sees children as cattle to be rushed through a turnstile at the end. Or maybe it was isolation caused by media addiction - being unable to decide which life is better the one in the media or your own, (media includes tv, newspapers, video etc. We have to become problem solvers not problem identifiers - we've had enough of that for too long."

Amen my brother. You have nailed it. These sort of tragedies are just symptoms of an illness that our society has been suffering for some time now and if we don't, as Tom so eloquently put it, start to take a holistic approach to solving our problems, then in-deed the fabric of our society will continue to unravel. We absolutely should not accept that there is a single solution to the problem - whatever the problem is. Bravo Tom! I could not be more in agreement with your comments.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

RD, Denver,CO — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:00:23 GMT

Oh, a teenager was unhappy, so what makes his situation unique? Why do we have so many youths that commit these mass killings. To put it in perspective, I am a shooting survivor myself. 23 years ago I was a 16 year old in the mid 1980's. I was in the wrong place and wrong time,aka. downrange from an idiot with a live firearm. He fired 3 bullets, I caught 2 of them. It almost killed me, I was shot twice in the head! I walked away, conscious, and survived(this is the short version). I've rebuilt my life dealing with Traumatic Brain Injury and massive PTSD being a shooting survivor of a catastrophic shooting.

My point here is I was a very angry and unstable 16 year old after this. I had to deal with emotions and trauma normally only seen by War Veterans and Cops and Firefighters. At 16, I was a wreck, of course, surviving being shot in the head is not typical. Now as an adult knocking on 40's door, I'm scratching my head at these youths committing these mass killings.

Is it the last 15-20 years of reality based video games that push violence,drugs,gang activity? Think about it, in the formative years between 12-16 years old, the human brain is still growing. These kids are inundated with violent images as entertainment, and I'm sorry for those of you that enjoy HALO, but there has to be a link. Grand Theft Auto is a graphicly violent "game" and yes, it has a "label" that advises not suitable for minors, but when can't a 15-16 year old not get a Playboy, cigarettes, or a beer from their parent's fridge in the garage? The young kids thrive on these games and it has warped their sense of right and wrong. I'm not a Sociology major but I'm just making a "free speech" statement to hopefully make people think.

To the families of the victims of this shooting, my ppayers are with you. For the survivors, I feel your pain, bullets are very real and getting shot changes your life, forever!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Bohdan Szejner — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:01:02 GMT

There are many "damaged" boys and girls in the U.S., and elsewhere. The damage is caused by unstable families. When a family is unable to cope with economic nightmares, its members often drink, and it reflects on the children who become the first casualty. This boy belonged to such a family. He was living thanks to charity of strangers, who adopted him after the legal age of 18. This was necessary, but it itself was a stigma no boy or girl should go through! There must be better ways! He was adopted by well-meaning couple, allright. But this kept damaging his psyche, instead of helping, which reinforces my view, that the his original family has some soul-searching to do. But, ultimately Mary Barsness(above), is right: the whole societal structure failed to this boy! And, in fact, all children in his category are at risk!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Richard — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:26:39 GMT

America 'solves' its problems with other nations with force. An estimated 1 million Iraqis are dead in a war we started. I know no one here wants to hear this, but how many times, daily we hear about a mistaken air strike or suicide bombing and its in one ear and out the other. Our vets come home and have a suicide rate hundreds of times above normal, a domestic violence rate that matches it . . . violance breeds violence, it all comes home . . . until we start talking instead of resorting to violence, in the world and at home, an no one wants to hear this, until we abandon the mass delusion that America is a peaceful nation and replace the delusion with acts of peace, we will bring these upon ourselves again and again.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

JK Scottsboro, AL — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:59:21 GMT

It makes me sick that the media gives this monster what he craved. Instead of using his name or showing his picture, just say "the gunman" and only show pics of his victims.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Saima Sheikh — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:02:03 GMT

We have become so busy worrying about the problems in the international world (middle-east). We need to take some time and fix the problems at home first. It is always easier to fix other peoples problems and ignore your own. Lets take a deeper look at where our kids are heading and what kind of foundation we are building for their future.
Our children are lost and they need our support and love. Lets help them before its tooo late.
Our kids are no longer safe. If it is not a shooting than it is a pedafiler in the neighborhood, school, parks, etc. Lets unite and help build a better America for our future generations.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jeanetta Mabry, Jacksonville, IL — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:02:58 GMT

I think our nations school systems and society are partially to blame. One goes through school and learns what is deemed necessary by national standards however, we have missed the boat by not teaching kids the basics of human kindness. What about classes in empathy, integrity, honesty, patience, caring, and just basic human skills we all need to be well adjusted individuals? No one is teaching kids how to deal with problems of everyday life. (How do you deal with the break up of a girlfriend/boyfriend? How do you deal with things when there are problems at home?, etc.)Sorry, but teaching how to solve algebra problems just isn't enough. Curriculums needs to change.

Parents also have to teach kids how to be empathic toward others and not tolerate kids picking on other kids. Be there for your child, listen and look for signs of problems and seek help when necessary. Don't be afraid to ask.

Society and the media focus too much on Hollywood, being famous , and all the negative stories, but not enough on the stuff that really counts....Stories that touch other peoples lives and stories that have a positive impact on the world. As we have all heard "IT REALLY IS WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS!" Let's hear about those things for a change. We should all want to be known for the good we do in this world not the bad. Something is just wrong when we want to be famous for murdering someone. Oprah does a great job of educating the public on matters of the heart but she can't do it alone. Everyone needs to do their part.

As I write this, tears are falling as I weep for the families that are affected by this tragedy and I pray for all those involved. My heart truly goes out to all. This nation needs to wake up and to push for change in schools and changes in society to focus on what is really important...reach out to others, perform a random act of kindness and maybe pretty soon..... kindness won't be quite so random anymore. Hummm, what a thought?

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Eric, Coleman, MI — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:08:03 GMT

I am truly sorry for the families that this incident has touched. I will pray for all of the family and frineds of the unfortunate victims. America is here for you throughout your toughest battles.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Georgia — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:31:06 GMT

Parent, please do something about your children when you see there is something wrong. This young man was clearly in trouble and the only thing his family could do was to kick him out of his home, and his only outcome was to destroy the lives of innocent people. We as adults need to take responsiblity of our children. There are way to many stories of kids going on shooting rampages because they feel their lives are not right. To many people are dying and it has to stop. To the families that lost love ones, my prayers are with you.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Heidi, MN — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:51:15 GMT

The whole thing is just sad. I feel so bad for these families. And now, the fear everyone has. I'm supposed to go our mall on Sunday. I don't want to go and take my two year old daughter with me for fear some other kids will take this shooter's idea and head to their nearest mall. It just makes me sick that I'm too scared to go to a mall!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

BRIAN Omaha, Nebraska — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:15:07 GMT

The tragedy at the von maur, here in Omaha, has left my hometown in a state of shock. There, it seems, is a "suspension of disbelief" amongst all of our citizens. Just as there was, I can imagine, by the horrified people in the store for about 20 seconds or so... The fact that this mentally ill shooter, was probably on psychotropic medications from an early age, should be investigated further...
There seems to be a correlation between all of these mall shootings, and a prescription medication history. Maybe we should look into the fact that not every "underachieving" child has "Attention Deficit Disorder"... Just as Charles Starkweather left the heartland in shock 50 years ago, another selfish loon has done the same.... Unbelievable..
And enough about Hawkins being a "lost puppy" and all that crap. This person does not deserve anyone's sympathy. Because he in the end, did not act Human.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Valerie Korb, Traverse City, MI — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:27:40 GMT

Again, another tragedy. When will we start caring before the tragedies? Aren't we all "losers" when we won't care or help those that we brush off with names like weirdo, loser and such??? Point fingers and blame, where does that get us? I ache for the victims, their families AND for those that are not cared about. For everyone. We all have hearts, let's start using them. Does it make sense to tsk, tsk and shake our heads then go right back to watching violent TV shows, movies and video games and only care when we might feel like it?? Don't wait for someone to ask for help. If we only care about victims and their familes - it's too late.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Alissa, Ohio — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:37:03 GMT

I think that it's disgusting that stories like this even get coverage. It's only because it makes for good ratings. There is no need to glorify violence. Making stories like this "news" only gets the person what they want: fame for doing something horrible.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Neil, Boston, MA — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:40:44 GMT

Sorry, folks. It's not the media that's to blame for this horror. Being famous was not the impetus for this young man to go on a rampage and end his life. This kid had no joy in his life. Depression is a chemical imbalance, not a feeling you get. People can be cruel and when you beat someone down low enough and long enough they either die, or strike back as desperately and violently as they can. He was not brought up with enough self-worth, or with any positive outlook on life. Maybe the fact that his stepdad had an assault rifle in his house is a clue. Ya think?
It's too easy to say 'I don't care why he did what he did, or about his poor family upbringing or people bullying him. He was just evil!' and call them cowards. You are exactly missing the point. This kid was beat down by life and fought back the only way he knew how, to lash out at us, the 'normal people', people who live the good life. That was his way of saying F-you to the rest of us who didn't have these self-destructive thoughts. He DID have a horrible life. He got fired from McDonald's, fer Chrissakes! His girlfriend left him. His parents kicked him out and disowned him. Why do you care? You should! He was a high-school drop-out with zero career prospects and lacked the guidance to pick himself up. And there are millions of kids out there in the same, or worse, situation. It's just that every now and then, one of them is going to strike back and commit these heinous acts. They're striking back at what they consider to be a cruel, harsh world they no longer want to be a part of. Can you imagine getting to that point?

I can tell you when I was in my early teens, I felt like a piece of crap. I was overly concerned about my looks. I have an eye that turns in ever so slightly, and even one comment about being 'cross-eyed' would devastate me for weeks. I was slightly chubby, not athletic. The other boys were talking about sports, and I knew nothing about them. And I can tell you the more I got picked on, which was daily throughout every school year, I would also sometimes fantasize about bringing a gun to school and blowing away the kids that mercilessly picked on me. Like the way some kids fantasize being a rock star or pro athlete. But I would never have acted on it, because my family loved me, and that made all of the difference. When I'd come home dejected from school, I had a mother, father, brother, sister, to tell me it wasn't all that bad, to not take it so seriously and let it roll off my back. It took years, but I eventually got to that strength, and now I'm pretty much as solid as a rock. I had a great family life at home to support me. My parents, brother and sister were warm and loving and we were happy. But as soon as I stepped outside that door into the real world, everyone was a stranger not to be trusted. So, I kind of get where this kid was coming from, at least initially, and now we all wish there was someone close to him that could have given him some hope, some reason to know that it's going to be OK. That the world is what we make of it, which means we can also make it a good one.

I don't know what the answer is, though. You can't walk around and hug every kid that's feeling down. But we can all try to reach out more. You don't have to adopt someone. You can just ask them if they're feeling alright, if they ever need to talk. Many of these types are so withdrawn it would take a while to break down their barrier and gain their trust, but it could make a huge difference to them to know someone gives a crap about them. And it might even save some lives.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jane Doe, Denver, CO — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:50:59 GMT

Why do these things happen? Because God is no longer allowed in America and we are no longer allowed to tell anyone what is right or wrong for them. It's a requirement that we are "tolerant" regarding all things but God and His commandments. God didn't forsake us--we kicked Him out. Guess who took His place.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

DELORES RODRIGUES , OMAHA NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:51:49 GMT

I AGREE THAT THIS BOY DOES NOT DESERVE THE PUBLICITY , AND I ALSO AGREE WITH THW READER WHO SAID WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO BE HUMAN AGAIN. ALL THIS SENSELESS VIOLENCE , THE MOVIES WE MAKE, THE VIDEO GAMES OUR CHILDREN PLAY , THE INSENSITIVITY TO OTHER PEOPLES PAIN AND PROBLEMS, IS OUR OWN FAULT. WHEN WE SEE WE NEED TO REACH OUT A HAND .. DO WE?? OR DO WE DO AS ONE READER STATED?? JUST SIT THERE AFRAID TO ACT ? UNTIL SOMEONE REACTS ?? WE ARE SO FAR FROM WHERE WE NEED TO BE, WE HAVE BECOME TRUELY A SOCIETY OF " ME" PEOPLE , AND ONLY "I & WE " SEEM TO MATTER TO US ANYMORE.I AM SO VERY SHOCKED AND OUTRAGED THAT THIS HAPPENED IN MY HOMETOWN.......MY PRAYER GO OUT TO EVERYONE WHO WAS A VICTIM OF THIS HEINIOUS CRIME. AND TO ALL MY FELLOW OMAHANS......GOD BE WITH US .

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

DELORES RODRIGUEZ , OMAHA NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:00:06 GMT

WAY TO GO REPORTERS , GIVE THE BOY HIS 15 MINUTES OF FAME!! OR WOULD THART BE INFAMY??

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

JP Barham — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:03:04 GMT

It's yet another horrible event, and the shooter had all the typical signs of someone who might do such a thing. However, what could anyone have done? I admire the woman who took him in; she did her best. God bless her and her family, and the families who were affected by this sad, sad event. There are many people among us who are mentally ill, and they don't get the help they need. How to help them all? Especially if they don't WANT help, as is often the case. We can't commit everyone with an anger management problem, even if we'd like to (to keep the rest of us safe!). It's just an awful problem with no real solution. Heartbreaking.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Dwayne B — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:11:22 GMT

This is a tragic events but not far from common anymore. This boy was pushed to a point where he made a decision that cost his and others lives. People talk about "in the old days" andf paddles. How about in the old day and having a perent or grandparent or other family person to talk to to trust to going fishing with or hunting or H##$ work in the garden with. Life is not just about a lack of punishment it is about having a structure to help you grow and learn. As for the gun attackers out there would it be better if he had, or anyone, had used a hammer or a pickaxe? Would we outlaw gardening? No people are where the buck starts and stops and trying pack the world in bubble wrap is not change that. You want a gun get trained and understand the responsibility. You have a kid do the same. And just for the record I dont think much of Dr spock either but there does need to be support in anyones life.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Allyson Campbell, Omaha, NE — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:13:12 GMT

I am deeply saddened by the events that occurred on Wednesday. I am a mental health professional who deals with kids in a high school setting. Often times I think, is this kid capable of a Columbine like attack? Sorry to say that yes, they may be capable. I have lived in Omaha almost my entire life. Only when you work with troubled youth are you aware of the fact that - they have access to guns, they have a warped sense of reality, they do not feel valued or loved, and often times they have no "community conscious", they retaliate on each other and sometimes random individuals. It is so sad. This kid was not a LOSER. I pray for the mental health professionals and others who tried to help this poor soul and are working now to restore a sense of hope to the victims. We do our best, and it is sometimes in vain. But children are not LOSERS - they are misguided by the media, gun laws, video games, and sometimes the inability to trust anyone. They have a empty sense of "hopelessness" when they are depressed. God Help Our Country. We need to RAISE OUR CHILDREN with Love and Guidance - to perpetuate it through the community and the nation.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

amanda, Kalamazoo, MI — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:24:27 GMT

why is everyone so mad about the killer getting publicity? Isnt it just human nature to find out what lead someone to do such a horrible thing. Wasnt that the first thought to pop in your head. Why? And they interview the family and friends of the killer and dig into his past to try and answer that question. Its just human nature to wonder why. And thats why they do what they do after something like this. And you say it was this womans fault because she didnt stop it? By the time she realized what was happening would there really have been time to stop it? Its not her fault, stop blaming other people. It was his fault and his fault alone. Because he was the one who did it. And if we didnt cover his background and the events leading up to it, then how could we try to prevent something like this in the future?

Ignorance is the worst thing, and we need to be educated to try and do something right.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Donald White — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:25:02 GMT

It is always sad when things like this occure, we all are forced once again to look inward, to graple with questions for which there may be no answers. How could a person kill others whom he did not even know?
Why? How can we prevent this kind of incidence?

We attempt in a sane and logicical way to understand the disturbed and illogical. Perhaps there were clues, perhaps not. Perhaps there were ways to prevent this, perhaps not.

It is an unfortunate fact that the availablility of mental health care in the United States is extreamly limited, this is especialy so for those of us with little or no disposable income. Public mental health facilities often opperate on impossibly small budgets, and the skilled professionals who work there are overworked and extreamly under paid. There is also the stigma issue, mental and physical health are intertwined. Seeking treatment for a mental health issue is no different than visiting the doctor to be treated for a rash. It is high time we started to view it in this manner. Would this have prevented this incident? Impossible to know.

We live in a free and open society, and as such, I do not believe it possible to stop this type of thing from ever occuring. We can allow the athorities to search each and every one of us at each and every public place we go, something i suspect no one would want, and still this kind of thing will happen. certainly there are things that can be done to lessen the liklihood but these acts can never be totaly eliminated.

So we are in the end left where we started, attempting to use reason to define the unreasonalbe.

note to Scottsdale, AZ.:

During the Clinton administration the Congress passed a ban on the sale of assault weapons in the United States. The ban was for (I Believe) ten years. Several years ago when the ban was about to expire, there was an attempt to continue the ban, Pres. Bush even gave the renewal attempt lip service, he did not however engage in any of the usual 'arm twisting' and the American public did not excercise their rights by communicating their wishes to their elected officials,(at the time the polls stated that a majority of Americans were in favor of renewing the ban) the NRA and lobbiests for the gun manufacturers did their jobs well and the ban was allowed to expire.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Rayster von Blackshadow — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:32:07 GMT

It's NOT an "Assault Rifle". No matter to preconcieved anti-gun posturing and whimpering.
The young man WAS a Nutbar and it was known that he was a Nutbar.
All the "gun control" statutes on the planet mean NOTHING to criminals and those rendered "non compis mentis". As soon as it was known that he had control over a firearm was the time for official intervention.
Too bad most of the cops,and the "almost cops" of the plague of tuff-guy Sheriffs that infest so much of this Nation,are so busy preying on motorists and rousting ethnic minorities to do significant police work.
Dare I ask; where was Mall Security?
Did none of the suburban upper middle class clientele have a permitted sidearm?
Could nobody run up from behind and "clock" the young shithead?
The natural right of self preservation extended to the legal right of self defense has been forgotten by too many deluded by a declining culture that has rendered it's subjects as Kens and Barbies,sans genitalia,but good little consumers.
Yuk!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jordon Ewers, Fort Leonard Wood, MO — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:47:11 GMT

As sad as this situation is, it's at least encouraging to see so many strangers have compassion on each other and have an INTELLIGENT discussion about the horrible events.

All you folks that spoke of the screwed up families as the primary cause of people like the murderer have hit the nail on the head. Family values (or lack thereof) are the foundation of how we function as a society. As soon as we stop feeding our culture the glorifications of sex appeal, divorce, drug use, and brazen violence while reinforcing what my parents did (thank God they're still married!), we will see a dramatic shift in the betterment of mental health, family structure, and a safer/more secure society.

Guns (legal or otherwise) are not the issue. Come on, do we really think there was no such thing as violent crime before the advent of gun powder? History is full of murderers, rapists, stranglers, thieves, and barabarian hordes that managed to wipe out individuals and entire civilizations with other inanimate objects--be they swords, knives, clubs, stones, or flammable pitch. The truth is that any item you can find can be turned into a weapon. Anyone who has undergone the smallest amount of military training can tell you that. What keeps that farming tool, kitchen knife, box cutter, handgun or assault rifle from becoming a murder weapon is the emotional maturity and mental stability of the person suffering stress and a desire to vent (or even kill).

The only way to decrease the occurrence of such insidious crimes is to improve the foundation of our relationships with other human beings...and that all starts at home in your very own family. I challenge each person who reads this to strive to be a better person, and make the lives of those you love a little better.

God bless.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

S Mays — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:53:43 GMT

My heart just breaks reading about yet another senseless tragedy. May God bless these families and give them strength to see them through the dark days ahead.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Robt Medina Oh. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:56:22 GMT

When is America going to wake up and relize what is going on in this country during these times? We have all the ingredents we need all around us to continuiously provide and feed these disturbed and angry individuals with the mindset to carry out these acts that are becoming a regular trend. For those that continue to seek out the easy answer and escape it almost seems typical today to believe that if the firearm was removed from the story you wouldn't have the crime, or if it wasn't a semi-auto no one would have been murdered. Firearms have been around for a long time, and as much as we may not want to believe it there are more restrictions on gun ownership today than there were 50 years ago when anyone could go out in the woods or field and shoot all day long without any concerns. I think the environement today provides todays kids with video games that make it very difficult for a troubled teen to separate the difference between the violence on the video game and the reality of carrying out this mission in real life. Especially when each any of these individuals have a lot of disturbing issues with family life,no religious beliefs, friends, and a lot of exposure to their real world in vedio games. 50 years ago anyone one who handled a firearm learned to not only respect the weapon but to value and respect everyone around him!!

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jarles James, Uniontown, PA — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:57:59 GMT

Very underreported is the highly relevant fact that the mall at which these murders were committed is a "gun-free" zone. In other words, this particular murderer picked a "murderer-safe" zone, which of course also happened to be a "target-rich" zone. No kudos to the geniuses who came up with such a truly stupid combination. Well-intentioned, of course, but diabolically stupid.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Bill Rodd — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:03:17 GMT

The reason these incidents take place is youth angst coupled with a desire for fame. If TV, newspapers and magazines would STOP naming the shooter and showing his picture, then this method of suicide would be much less attractive. "Eight were shot by a gunman in Omaha" is all we as viewers need to know about the perpetrator, and is much less likely to trigger copycat crimes. The blood is on the hands of the press.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

V. Tracy Boston, MA — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:18:29 GMT

First of all thank you to the writer for reminding us that they are human too. Let's focus on helping those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. For me the most disturbing aspect has been the "let's all carry concealed weapons to protect ourselves" cries that are ringing out. These people have got to be kidding. I agree, if someone really wants to go on a killing rampage, they will always find a way. If people were shooting back do you really think that less fatalaties would have been the result? This is not Hollywood!! Double, triple or more deaths would have occured. We make it WAY too easy in this country to grab a gun and go. Maybe if the gun was not so accessible this child (yes, child, not yet a man), would have had time to calm down and rethink what he was going to do. My father used to tell me that you don't leave keys in the ignition of an unlocked car to "keep an honest man honest". If guns were less accessible, then less of these shooting sprees would occur. It would not stop all of them, but it would lessen. Just look at the statistics. Unfortuntaley, we are leading the world. Keep the guns out of the hands of children who act before they can grow up enough to really think.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Brad , Missouri — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:20:44 GMT

Our society accepts violence, we teach it to our kids, we allow wholesale distribution of guns in our society in the name of so-called "right to bare arms," we learn violence on tv and at movie theatres. Our President, for the first time in our history, sent young men and women with weapons (that kill and cause mass destruction) into a country that posed no real threat. Young people, through internet, know our President, the leader of our society, lied and schemed this atrocity. We allow it as a society. No one is outraged. We go about our work days with so much a whimper. And people wonder "why" kids act out in this way??? Go look into a mirror folks. It's us...

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Elissa — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:31:21 GMT

Sorry, Ms. Rinaldi, but as nice as it sounded, quite cliche. "We need to learn just to be kind to one another. We need to learn to be human" You need to learn to write reality. This is damn near a hallmark movie script.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Maureen Garri Dallas, PA — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:54:34 GMT

Please know that the innocent victims and their families are in the prayers of everyone across this country. No words will comfort you, but I truly hope that your loved ones and their memories will guide you during this difficult time. I once called Omaha home and know all the people lost were the salt of the earth and would make anyone they met feel like family. God bless you all.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Bob, Suffolk, VA — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:58:39 GMT

I do not know how to balance the desires of many to help us understand what drives a young person to do this and the risk of making this crazed person famous by all this news coverage...I really do not.
I feel strongly it is better we not celebrate the killer and potentially promote this behavior in another. This does not help the media with their need to fill 24 hr news coverage. But that is another matter which must be addressed as well...what role do they assume in all of this?

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jeff Wagner Omaha, Ne. — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:59:04 GMT

I have lived her all my life. How did this happen here? This boy was a sick individual who had no hope. What he did was cowardly. His parents ultimately are to blame. This could happen anywhere in the US. It happened here in middle America. We have lost our last bit of innocence.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Robert, Orlando, FL — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:59:51 GMT

If only the Brady Campaign's "Gun Free Zone" law was in place.

If that mall was a "Gun Free Zone" this never would have happened.

Oh wait...it was a gun free zone.

I think it's time to pass a law making it illegal to murder someone. Surely that will stop criminals from killing people.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jason, Los Angeles, California — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:08:36 GMT

Wow, Where do I begin? Outlawing guns will make the general public less safe because it will only be the general public who won't be able to get guns, criminals, on the other hand will find ways to get their hands on any gun they wish. It is very important to cover the gunman (even though it's his wish) because we need to try to understand why someone would do something like this and what to look for in in the future. The Mental Health system is seriously flawed, Pumping teenagers with psychotropic drugs is not the answer, but pfizer would like you to think it is. These types of perscriptions have jumped 400 percent in the last ten years. playing chemisty set with a teenager's brain is no solution to mental issues and causes many more in some patients. Unfortunatly Doctors have very little information on the subject other then what's in propaganda sent to them from drug pushers (aka fortune 500 pharma companies). People want to blame guns, video games, rap or heavy metal music or anything other than the simple fact that some kids get lost and no one notices, or not enough people do. It seems this kid had a series of bad events and one woman took the time to take a good look at him and try set him right, it was just to little to late, He was already fragile and the loss of a fast food job and girlfriend, which was probably his whole world, was just to much for him to handle. we will never understand what went through his head at that point, but by then its to late, we need to be there for our children, from day one.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

Jane Doe — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:35:20 GMT

Omaha is a community and a place that I call 'home' and so commonly called the "Heartland", and rightfully so. This event should make us all pause and count our blessings, take that extra time with your children/family/"neighbors" as perhaps you set off one day and don't have that tomorrow...My heart goes out to the families, and to the community that I will continue to be proud to be a part of.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

shelly — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:37:44 GMT

Maybe people need to all learn a lesson from the Amish School shootings in PA. I live in PA, about 45 mins from where it happened and they are truely remarkable people. They didn't point fingers or want to lay blame. They knew who did this to their children. They looked no further then him. All they said, was, "they forgave him". They visted the man's widow and children. They invited her into their homes. They simply said, "it was their children's time to go be with their lord." I worked in the hospital where two of the girls were brought and passed these gentle loving people every day with their kind smiles. When I looked into their eyes something was missing. Hate. There was none. Only compassion. This is truely the heart of the people. It was hard for me to swallow. I wanted to scream for their pain. I wanted to run out and do something. Instead what I did and continue to do is learn from them. All this is easy for me to say. I've not had a close relative cut down in the prime of their life by a bullet and God willing I never will. But if by chance I do, I hope I can be as gracious as the Amish.

God Bless the families who've lost their loved one and I will do as the Amish do and keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

A Concerned Senior Texan — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:44:15 GMT

When will the people of this Great national remember that this nation was founded on Christanity. And we have let the ACLU and the far left Atheist remove all Christanity from our schools and colleges and allow atheist Teachers to teach in our schools. Our young generation has no guideness so they develope a no conscience state and evil sets in. And then people always jump to blame Guns, Parents, laws, Courts. WAKE UP America. If You believe in God, Why have you tolerated the removal of Christanity from all schools and Public Property. We are all guilty for all the blood that is being shed across our nation. If you should be so naive, Read Thomas Jefferson speeches and you will Understand that this is an English speaking Christian Nation and Government.
Don't Vote Partesan, Vote for the one that can bring Christanity back to our children.

Covering the truly awful in Omaha

M. Casey, Boise, Idaho — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:46:02 GMT

My heart goes out to all of the people who lost their lives and to those whose lives will be forever changed because of this tragedy. As a mother of two young boys, I do feel for Robbie. When we don't love our children, our beautiful children who depend on us as parents and role models, what chance do these children have? How was Robbie to feel the value of life when his own parents discarded his value? As parents we shape our children's future with continued love, support and discipline we give them...Robbie has been called a "Loser", well, he was a loser in the fact that he didn't have a mom or dad to take care of him and love him and guide him as he grew into adulthood. Robbie [I imagine] was a lost, depressed, lonely and angry child who happened to reach the age of 19...