so sad.

Sad Sad Sad…. where are their parents

9 people died.

I live in Finland and I am so pissed on hearing these news. Few years ago high schooler killed 7 people and injured 70 with self made bomb in mall near where I live. Basically the problem is easy access to guns and culture of bullying in schools that creates these lunatics

The man who did it was apparently an adult, 22 years old, so lets not blame the parents, he is old enough to carry the responsibilty of his actions by himself. But it´s sad, our country is in shock right now, just fearing there´s more to come.

Yes, there are lots of people who read Perez daily in Finland, including me. This school shooting is so tragic. Like robdin said, Finland is one the most liberal countries in selling guns. They say it's mainly because of the long tradition of hunting, but this really should be reconsidered now. So sad.

Words can't even explain how horrible this is - not even a year has gone by since the last school shooting here in Finland! Clearly there is a too easy access to guns, but what's even more troubling is the fact that kids apparently feel the need to express their anger in this way. It's not a new thing, school shootings have happened before, but I think for us here in Finland it's sort of a wake up call that it doesn't just happen 'elsewhere', we're dealing with all the same issues.
What's also seriously disturbing is that the police actually had the gunman in custody yesterday for interrogations about his violent videos on YouTube, where he practices his shooting and says "You're all going to die". His license was not removed, he wasn't deemed dangerous enough. There has to be harder restrictions on gunaccess! I for one and so deeply saddened and shocked by all of this.. but at the same time I realize that someone else out there will probably see this as something 'cool' and reinact it. And that's what we need to work to prevent.

these aren't the kind of stories I come here to read, please post something else!

Finland's gun laws are apparently, very lax. I was watching a CNN report on this shooting a few hours ago and if you are 15 years of age, you can obtain a gun with parental consent. Just like that. Finland also comes in third in terms of gun ownership behind America and Yemen. However, what i find creepy is that both Auvinen and this gunman here posted warnings of their plans on youtube around 72 hours before the actual tragedy.

I'm Finnish too, and still in high school, and this is just shocking and alarming. I talked about this with my friends, and we don't even understand why people are given guns so easily - and on the other hand, why would people NEED hand guns? They're not even used in hunting.
Everytime this happens, people just think 'oh gee, what could be done with this?' and no-one ever does anything. What about psychological tests for people who try to get a gun license?

My son and I went to Finland last year (Helsinki, to be exact)…and, it was one of THE most beautiful, laid back, friendliest Countries we have ever had the privilege of visiting. We can't wait to go back.
As a gun-owning (for home protection only) American….I have mixed views on gun control. I was raised in a household with a gun (again, for security), and then I married into a family that had an entire arsenal for big game hunting. In fact, where I live now…the parents are able to purchase guns, cross/compound bows (and all the ammo/arrows that they can carry) for their children (provided that their child has completed the hunter safety course, at the age of 12+). Whether it is right or wrong, I don't know. But, I am quite adept at target practice, my son can shoot a bullseye at 50 yards (with his crossbow)…and, the ONLY gunshot casualties (in my area) within the past 6 years, have been hunters who have accidentally shot themselves while ascending/descending into their tree stands.
My deepest, heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.

Re: Viola78 – That is VERY interesting to know, Viola. Thank you. I didn't know that he was perceived as THAT much of a threat, to warrant the police stepping in because of a video on a website. That is something that was not posted on yahoo news, when I read it this morning.
Please keep us posted on the new developments, in your part of the World. I, for one, would appreciate it.

I'm from Finland too.. I live in Helsinki so Kauhajoki is quite far away from here. Still, this awful happening is touching whole Finland. I think only one who doesn't know about this are the people who are in Big Brother house right now.. still it touches all of us young people in school… i can't believe it's happening in Finland. This is such a small country and… i don't know. People are different. But i hope that you're thinking that EVERYONE in finland are like that gun guy.. NO WAY.

"Gun Free Zones", like schools, tell all these nut-jobs "go on a murdering rampage HERE, because there is no one to stop you.
.
I know many want to start banning guns. Well guess what, we've banned rape, murder, and robbery, but they all happen anyway.
.
Moreover, didn't any of you gun-grabbers ever open a history book? Violent wars and murder have been going on since the time of man — long before guns were even invented.
.
Either disarm yourself and be a victim, or arm yourself and fight back. You decide for yourself, but don't make that decision for the rest of society.

Sorry my bad english, but I just wanted to say that this is a big shock here in Finland, people are sad and confused for this. There is actually 11 people dead. It`s also scary, how many times this could happen, it`s not even year ago when there was other school shooting. It`s easy to look someone to blame afterwords, but there is clearly things which need to make better. They now are maybe making harder restrictions for getting guns. They (politics?) should have done it before, it is wrong to give gun for so young, and especially hand-gun. People have guns in Finland, specially hunters, but those who don`t hunt, should need to keep their guns somewhere "safe place". I mean those who really hobbies shooting, guns should be in shooting-club closet behind locks. Those should be something to keep eye on. Hunters also when it`s not hunting season.

Police should have more power to take guns from these people, if there is any doubt they will use it wrong, those videos was that kind of reason. And it`s true, many young people are depressed, there are lots of mental issues in this country, and it`s also hard when some of them don`t get any help when they ask for getting it. Not enough money, not enough employees. It`s scary to be a student, what if it happens again? I can`t even imagine how the parents handle it..
Violence is growing and it`s scary.
This is way too sad.

Osanottoni omaisille.

Am an American happily living in Finland. This is a peaceful country of honest people, violence like this is extremely rare and shocking here. Both shooters, this year and last, were inspired by Columbine videos on You Tube, so while it isn't just America's problem, it sure seems like we started the trend. Also, gun ownership, while high in Finland, is much more regulated and controlled than in the U.S., the bureaucracy to own a gun much more tedious and responsible. These events are so rare here that there are no metal detectors in schools or bomb threats or anything, so when something like this does happen, we are all just in shock. I just hope that this trend goes out of style really soon. Very sad.

The new number is 11. The shooter and a victim died at the hospital.

I love Finland its so peaceful happy and organised. Its a country where violence is rare and if it is occured it is promptly stopped by the police, which is why the crime rate is higher not because of more crime but criminals cant get away with much. This crime is terrible and stupid. Yes Finland has a lot of guns but it is not used in th sense of security, its for hunting. You would never imagine or think of someone walking down a street with a gun in their possesion. So for a intentional and cruel attack to occur in Finland is shocking but its not representative. And while many of us finns are mourning the dead, could you please not insult our country by calling it crazy, or giving us observations from your five hour stay in Helsinki. Finland is a safe country but in the last few years we had three shocking and horrible incidences that ring us to shame, and we very much influences by the columbine massacre. Murderers are not representative of our country.

Re: finnish girl –
.
I'm not saying Finland is filled with crazy people because of this killer, I'm saying Finland is filled with crazy people because of the crazy comments written by Fins here on this board.
.
You, yourself, sound crazy. While I appreciate you don't blame guns, I see you blame television, American videos, and American culture.

Re: finnish girl –
.
No, sorry babe, American culture is not that powerful. Just take a trip to southern California and turn on the radio and look around and you'll be convinced Mexican culture is taking over the world.
.
The bottom line is that there have been crazy killers since the dawn of man. Pick up a bloody history book would you, and stop blaming things like music videos. If this killer were crazy he could have watched a spider kill a bug and get all the influence he needed to suck the life out of other people.

Re: Chevvy – True, the mental health care in Finland is very hard to reach. And I don't think that all the doctors should wait for troubled people to contact them but they should offer their help more openly. There must be some way to improve our system!

Re: cartman – Umm do you even know what are you talking about?? Do you live in Finland?? You know, before the Columbia thing this wasn't happening here just after that because it was a kind of support for all crazy people who don't have every thing okay. This shooting thing doesn't prove that we are not smart you know. Finland's teenagers are #1 on PISA school testing for several subjects. And this shooter was like 22 years old! And the students were adults (18 and up).

in the papers and news here in finland they said the man killed 10 people. 2 men and 8 women, and then himself, so including him 11 people died, right?
one thing that pisses me off with all this is the fact that everybody seems to blame what's happened on that it's too easy to get a gun in finland. Wake up! if your this crazy killer-dude i bet you'll get yourself a gun no matter if it's in leagal ways or not. A thing that also got my attention is that this guy had planned this for SIX years, and still no one had noticed that he would've been in any way weird. His friends were all so chocked and told all the papers ’bout how friendly and outgoing this guy was. Guess he got everyone fooled. But my point is that if he's had his friends fooled for this long its no wonder that the police didnt notice anything suspicious about him, so im not sure you should blame the policy who gave him tha licence and had him in for hearing the day before too much. A man like that isn't so stupid that he'd show it. But of course i dont know all the background information so i can be wrong.

and one more thing, just because there are a couple crazy guys here its not like there's something wrong with the whole nation. But it's like of course there are some sick people in finland too, just like in every other country..

damn…that's sad.that's like the columbine high school shooting.

Cartman or Gunther or whoever you are:)

"American culture is not that powerful. You, yourself, sound crazy. While I appreciate you don't blame guns, I see you blame television, American videos, and American culture. Listen Finish girl, are you saying Fins are all weak minded and can't help but fall victim to American television?"

Again, I can`t speak english well so it`s hard for me express what I mean. I meant that those men took model from "Virginia-videos", they were inspired by those videos in youtube. Yes, we know that videos isn`t the reason for what happened, but it makes wonder that what they would have done if they haven`t seen the videos? Maybe still the same or something else? Those criminals gets their way to do bad things anyway if they want to. Of course people are trying to do everything they can but it`s not that simple here. We are blaming guns, and young people healthcare. We also want that there shouldn`t be so much violent videos on internet, or chats. I`m not blaming american culture. It`s just strange why our politicians want to make this country to be mini-USA.

"Muslims want and to make then accomodate them. Here's what they want: kill all the gays, kill all the Jews, subjugate all who don't follow Allah and treat them as second-class people with no rights, and have no law but Sharia. Okay, just do that and you'll have peace with Islam. "

It doesn`t mean that people here are stupid because all od us can`t speak english well, there is other languages also you know. There is also lots of americans who doesn`t even know where the New York City is, talking about Finland.

We don`t like muslims way to live or think (we are not rasists) , but we also don`t like the fact that americans are in war with no good reason. Why you are killing so many people, why don`t you worry own business.. There is no real threat to your country, and you are defending yourself being war because you "want to make other countries better". USA should take care of it`s own country, not others. You just want to steal all the oil from other countries. Because of your idiot banks, it (economy) could affect the finns too.

You`ll choosing idiots for president and what`s the result? You are brainwashed by politicians, president, and american media. You just want war, nothing more. Wasn`t for example Michael Moore`s document a wakeup call? He showed how stupids americans can be. But of course you are revering Bush and other lunatics, Bush is like little Hitler, he has killed too many people. You are not very sivilized people.

Re: finnish girl – Re: comments #51 and 52…. I was so impressed with your thoughts and beliefs, that I found myself nodding my head in full agreement.
But, when I reached your #53 & 54 comments, I became sorely disappointed. You were 'baited' by Cartman…and you fed right into it.
To generalize that ALL American's believe in the things and act in the same manner (which you did when you did NOT state 'SOME Americans or 'MOST Americans', in your diatribe), is just wrong. You wouldn't like it if anyone stated that ALL Finns believed and acted in the exact same way, would you?