Are News stories about shooting deaths perpetuating more shootings?

[Tresbn00]

I checked the news on the internet this morning and over eighty percent of the stories were about people who had been shot, shot someone, or was going to jail for having shot someone.  Nothing about the heightened Israel/Libya conflict. Nothing about North Korea's nuclear proliferation. I think that we are giving sick people the idea that they can make it into the world limelight if they choose to go out and shoot someone. This way of thinking seems to be working for suicide bombers as well.  This information generation seems to be going in the wrong direction if it is causing humans to devaluate life and respect/love for their fellow humans.

[mawhite63]

Did you ever see Charlie Brooker's Newswipe episode on this? When I read your post, it was the first thing I thought of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PezlFNTGWv4

[SweetApril74]

crazy! but i thought the same thing!

crazy people seems like get idea how to use their guns to release their anger and madness. Hope everything is solved soon!

[maxinmotion]

Oh my goodness, it is terrible how people are so mad at themselves to the point of hurting others. Yes I think when it comes to shooting, one crime feeds another. 

[ejholt]

I think some people try to be copy cats, which is sick.  They need help in the mental and they need God in there life.  If they would put more time into helping people the world would be a better place.  May God Bless each of you and keep you safe. 

[dkanofsky]

Nope.  Easily obtainable and more efficient assault guns are.

[cneimsn]

I don't see any need for those assault weapons unless your in the service.  Ordinary people don't need them.  When the founding fathers made the 2nd amendment they had no idea assault weapons would even exist.
That's just my opinion.

[Jbenert]

I sure believe that with all of the bans that are trying to be implemented are giving the wrong people motivation to prove to them that even with the strictness, they can "do what they want" with ease. Just like with everything else, the more attention this gets from the media, the more people are interested, and the more some people who may not be completely stable get ideas and want to do the same. Assault weapons are a bit much for the general public, but they can't take away all rights.

[oldbuddy]

I think the root cause of all this violence is VIDEO GAMES. Have you watched anyone (maybe yourself) play these games? I don't mean watch the screen, but watch the people playing!!!

[southernhorizons]

I don't see any need for those assault weapons unless your in the service.  Ordinary people don't need them.  When the founding fathers made the 2nd amendment they had no idea assault weapons would even exist.
That's just my opinion.

First you have to define "assault weapon." Just because a gun looks "scary" doesn't mean it is any more deadly than one that doesn't. What the media calls assault weapons are normal semi-automatic firearms that are used by hundreds of thousands of people for legitimate hunting and sporting purposes.
To the OP, yes, I think the media has a large responsibility for perpetuating shootings. It is an easy way for sick losers to get famous. Of course, like OldBuddy pointed out, the video games are an even bigger culprit.

[tbosworth1]

I wonder the same thing.  I think that the 24-hour news cycle that we live in can breed more violence.  Sometimes I think they share too much information which leads to more crimes.  Jbenert you made a good point in that the wrong people are showing they can "do what they want" which is sick to say the least.  Personally I do not have the perfect answer to all the gun violence but I do not think that it is a complicated issues to resolve.  I think that it covers areas of mental health as well as better enforcement of the laws we currently have.  I do not think that more gun control is the answer since criminals always manage to get guns. 

[jkhanson]

I think the root cause of all this violence is VIDEO GAMES. Have you watched anyone (maybe yourself) play these games? I don't mean watch the screen, but watch the people playing!!!

I agree that Video Games have helped perpetuate violence.  Blood and guts everywhere and you get POINTS.....

[6265AT99]

I checked the news on the internet this morning and over eighty percent of the stories were about people who had been shot, shot someone, or was going to jail for having shot someone.  Nothing about the heightened Israel/Libya conflict. Nothing about North Korea's nuclear proliferation. I think that we are giving sick people the idea that they can make it into the world limelight if they choose to go out and shoot someone. This way of thinking seems to be working for suicide bombers as well.  This information generation seems to be going in the wrong direction if it is causing humans to devaluate life and respect/love for their fellow humans.

You are certainly on the right track there!!!!  The main stream media has become more of an "entertainment" show than a "news" show.  Having said that, I think most people would agree that they tend to glorify all the bad news THAT THEY WANT YOU TO HEAR and TEND TO PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE REAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS THIS COUNTRY IS FACING!!!!  Maybe the key is to IGNORE all these so-called News shows and search out your own answers to the realities we are living in!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[masked_brown_guy]

You can always look for that news in the search engines. There has be at least one news site that is following the stories that you are looking for.

[vickysue]

I think the news media feeds on  all the bad stuff happening and never on all the good that is going on in this world and here in the good old USA. Days go by when i never even watch all this hype on shooting. I believe  the shootings are bad, but too keep going on and on about it is not helping. Also all the shoot m up videos with murder need to be banned all together. There is so much more happening here that needs to be reported on.