# Shooting at CT Elementary School **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 14, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044 "2012-12-14T17:55:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/121 "2012-12-14T21:29:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Have the conspiracy theories in the wacko-sphere started yet? I’m fully expecting a slew of “It’s a plot! Obama and the CIA programmed the shooter so they can confiscate all our guns!” [Yep.](http://planet.infowars.com/worldnews/usnews/newtown-ct-massacre) ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/122 "2012-12-14T21:35:39Z")
Made me really sad to see Obama with tears in his eyes. Dunno why, we’re all sad of course. But it’s just when you see it in someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/123 "2012-12-14T21:35:42Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I took your comment to mean that the killer’s mom would obviously feel guilty because he was allowed access to the school by virtue of being known as a teacher’s son, and therefore allowed to enter the building… I see. No, I was referring to whomever buzzed him in. I can’t imagine living with that guilt. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/124 "2012-12-14T21:35:56Z")
Reading the wiki for Newtown, CT, they have several fairly prominent current/former residents: Suzanne Collins - author of Hunger Games Anthony Edwards - actor Elia Kazan - Director James Thurber - Cartoonist Bruce Jenner - Kardashian Punching Bag I know it has nothing to do with anything today, but it helps paint a picture of the type of town it is. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/125 "2012-12-14T21:44:00Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Reading the wiki for Newtown, CT, they have several fairly prominent current/former residents: > > Suzanne Collins - author of Hunger Games > Anthony Edwards - actor > Elia Kazan - Director > James Thurber - Cartoonist > Bruce Jenner - Kardashian Punching Bag > I know it has nothing to do with anything today, but it helps paint a picture of the type of town it is. Yes and no. A lot of celebrities live in Fairfield county, but Newtown is a little more rural and blue collar than Westport or Darien, for instance. Anthony Edwards has kids but I don’t know how young. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/126 "2012-12-14T21:44:42Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I see. No, I was referring to whomever buzzed him in. I can’t imagine living with that guilt. Do we know for sure anyone had to buzz him in? I have kids in school in a district with a similar demographic to this one and none of the schools have to buzz you in. You can walk freely into the front foyer and then you are supposed to go directly to the office and sign in, but there are no metal detectors or guards posted by the doors. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/127 "2012-12-14T21:47:56Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I understand that it’s all still raw and heartrendingly immediate for the families, and people want information, but the shooter is dead, and by giving his psychopathic actions literally hundreds (in total, by tonight) or even (eventually) thousands of hours of coverage, doesn’t this send the wrong message for other would-be attention seekers on the edge, possibly looking for their time in the spotlight? > [@LurkerInNJ](#): > > I feel the same way. It just raises the bar for the next incident. the bar is pretty high. 38 students and 2 teachers. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/128 "2012-12-14T21:49:15Z")
If the news reports that the principal and the psychiatrist are dead as well, then the shooter may very well have gone to the office first. ☹ Once they’re in the school, even if there’s a “resource officer” there’s damn little anyone can do that that point to stop anything. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/129 "2012-12-14T21:50:23Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Exactly. Anybody who would contemplate reducing access to guns while surrounded by the bodies of dead children is just politicizing the tragedy for their own agenda. But it seems like one of these is happening at least once a month. I’m not politicizing anything–I just think it’s so God damn obvious that we’ve got to severely limit people’s access to guns! ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/130 "2012-12-14T22:04:16Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Last I heard on the radio about 40 mins ago was that they had his brother in custody and was questioning him. Your news a new update? Gonna search for it… Okay, CNN is reversing themselves now and are reporting no body was found. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/131 "2012-12-14T22:04:32Z")
Elsewhere in today’s news, [Man slashes 22 children near China school.](http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-man-slashes-22-children-near-china-school-20121214,0,6383015.story) > [@](#): > > A man with a knife slashed 22 children and one adult outside an elementary school in Henan province Friday morning, China’s worst such incident in more than a year. > > The attack was reminiscent of a spate of knife attacks on schoolchildren that took place across China in 2010. > . . . > In 2010, nearly 20 children were killed and 50 wounded in a string of copycat incidents around central China. It feels like the whole world has gone crazy. But there are about 7 billion people who did not kill a child today. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/132 "2012-12-14T22:06:13Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [Yep.](http://planet.infowars.com/worldnews/usnews/newtown-ct-massacre) From that site: > [@](#): > > I’m a bit disgusted with the way guns with optimal efficiency are tagged with a criminal term. The term “assault” is both a crime and a tort and, therefore, may result in either criminal or civil liability. Just because my gun can shoot quickly and I don’t have to reload every 2 seconds does not mean I’ll be “assaulting” anyone. > > I prefer terms like these: > Efficiency Weapons > Weapons of Mass Efficiency > **Energy Saving Weapons (less reloading, sound dampened, etc)** ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/133 "2012-12-14T22:14:12Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > If the news reports that the principal and the psychiatrist are dead as well, then the shooter may very well have gone to the office first. CNN reported that the principal, vice principal, and school psychologist were in a meeting with four other people when they all heard shooting. (CNN had spoken to one of the others who were in that meeting.) The principal, vice-principal, and school psychologist left the room to find out what was going on. The folks still in the room heard more shots. The principal and psychologist never returned. The vice-principal dragged him/herself back into the room - he/she had been shot in the leg. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/134 "2012-12-14T22:15:18Z")
The media,I must say, is really earning a gold star today…gold stars are given for acting totally irresponsibly, right? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/135 "2012-12-14T22:19:24Z")
As usual, The Onion knows how to report on this kind of thing: [“Fuck Everything, Nation Reports”](http://www.theonion.com/articles/fuck-everything-nation-reports,30743/) > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON—Following the fatal shooting this morning at a Connecticut elementary school that left at least 27 dead, including 20 small children, sources across the nation shook their heads, stifled a sob in their voices, and reported fuck everything. Just fuck it all to hell. > > All of it, sources added. > > “I’m sorry, but fuck it, I can’t handle this—I just can’t handle it anymore,” said Deborah McEllis, who added that “no, no, no, no, no, this isn’t happening, this can’t be real.” “Seriously, what the hell is this? What’s even going on anymore? Why do things like this keep happening?” > > Continued McEllis, before covering her face with her hands, “Why?” > > Despairing sources confirmed that the gunman, armed with a semiautomatic assault rifle—a fucking combat rifle, Jesus—walked into a classroom full of goddamned children where his mother was a teacher and, good God, if this is what the world is becoming, then how about we just pack it in and fucking give up, because this is no way to live. > > I mean, honestly, all 315 million Americans confirmed. > > “Well, I suppose we have to try to pick up the pieces and make some sort of sense of this tragedy and—you know what? Fuck it, I can’t do this,” said Connecticut resident Michael Zaleski, his remarks understandable given the circumstances, because, holy shit, what else can one say? “I’m sorry, but I can’t fucking do this. Can you? Can anyone?” ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/136 "2012-12-14T22:41:34Z")
Looks like initial reports were wrong, it was the younger brother [Adam Lanza](http://news.yahoo.com/ap-source-suspect-drove-mothers-school-211145701--politics.html) who was the shooter. The older brother Ryan is the one being questioned by police ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/137 "2012-12-14T22:46:06Z")
To add to the confusion, CNN reporting that the shooter’s mother was found dead in her son’s home in Newtown. Some other source reported it was his father. Near as I can figure, the police haven’t confirmed who the deceased at the second scene is, just that it’s an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/138 "2012-12-14T22:46:56Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > Do we know for sure anyone had to buzz him in? I have kids in school in a district with a similar demographic to this one and none of the schools have to buzz you in. You can walk freely into the front foyer and then you are supposed to go directly to the office and sign in, but there are no metal detectors or guards posted by the doors. It was reported earlier today that the school had recently upgraded their security setup so that anybody visiting the school while it was in session had to ring a bell. There was also a security camera so whoever buzzed someone in could have a look at him first. Along with the upgrade, there was training for the teachers, which was executed pretty flawlessly, as it turns out. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/139 "2012-12-14T22:47:40Z")
I just defriended a few people on Facebook who couldn’t stop themselves from being smug about their choice to homeschool. Jackasses. I am in kind of a 9/11-style spiral of being horrified by the news but yet not able to look away from it. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044/140 "2012-12-14T22:53:45Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I just defriended a few people on Facebook who couldn’t stop themselves from being smug about their choice to homeschool. Jackasses. > > I am in kind of a 9/11-style spiral of being horrified by the news but yet not able to look away from it. For your first point: Wow, that’s sickening, about your friends (?) boasting about homeschooling. For your second point: I find myself in the same situation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shooting-at-ct-elementary-school/644044.md?page=8)