Tragedy On Campus
Filed under: R.I.P.
A gunman opened fire at Northern Illinois University on Thursday, killing five people before taking his own life.
This shit makes us so angry!!!!
Why does it seem that kind of stuff happens so much in America but not other parts of the world????
That kind of violence just makes no sense.
Our thoughts with everyone affected by this tragedy.
Posted: February 15, 2008 at 7:24 am
well you know what they say: "a well armed populace is the best defence against tyranny." maybe everyone should be carrying guns–or maybe this is an unfortunate way of warning other countries to not phuck with US. We're armed and crazy bitches!
Sadly, it happens here in Cananda too. I always wonder what drives a person to this point. I feel so sad for the poor families - especially the parents who lost much loved children.
it's tragic…and America needs to get a grip…but bare in mind…there is Genocide in one part of the world, common raping not far down that road. Move on across one of the many ponds where you can't get on a bus without fearing it or a car traveling in front of it will explode. Kidnap and ransom and random killing in South America. There is a blatant disregard for human life world wide. It's sad…and the motives are all very different…but the point is, we're not the only ones with tragic problems.
Prayers to the families of those who lost their lives, and to the family of the person behind the violence. Very sad.
I live about a half hour away from NIU and knew some of the people that were shot or killed yesterday… can we all just focus on them for a minute rather than place blame on everyone and everything? Keep the NIU community in your thoughts.
you don't go asking that kind of question…
no one wants this kind of tragedy to happen anywhere
just happened that everything is centered in America
so it's not really a wonder why everything had to happen in America
perez, isn't it obvious?? gun control laws. c'mon, use your brain!
rip
I live in Chicago and grew up in the surrounding suburbs and attended college in the Quad Cities so NIU is very familiar to me, my mom went there and several friends (thankfully no one affected in this tragedy) so it is very shocking and surreal for it to happen in my own backyard, because of course, we all thought, like everyone does, that it could NEVER happen to us.
That being said, how many more shootings do there have to be before we take a serious look at gun control? Seriously. These psychos just want the notoriety of being a killer, to have their name live on, I guess murders is the easiest way to do that, fucking sick….
live right by there. have tons of friends there.
its a sad day for chicago
Maybe the reason we focus on Brit is because we don't want to wake up and see what is actually going on in our country? where are the young protestors of the war, Perez you have a voice people listen to . USE IT FOR GOOD!
One of my friends is in critical condition… She was one of the students in that classroom at the time…. Hospital won't give any information on Maria Ruiz Perez
Re: deedee –
u can't sit and blame this on anti depressents…i'm 26 years old and have suffered from depression and anxiety since i was 10 years old…y cuz i was teased horribly in grade school and pretty much ignored in high school HOWEVER i never once thought of injuring those people…when i did have violent outbursts…i released my anger in a smart way like boxing or working out…so don't sit here and say that the problem is with people that have mental disorders and medication…cuz i'm a prime example that it's not!!!!
you reep violence, you sow violence
I've never even held a gun, nor do I want to. However, gun control would just mean that the criminals would have them, but innocent citizens would not. How about the gangs in every corner of the USA having guns, but you can't buy one to protect yourself from them? No thanks. Criminals would always be able to get the guns, citizens would not. It's bad enough now, can you imagine what it would be like if every crack head in the USA knew he was not going to get shot if he broke into every home he wanted to? Nope. Gun control, not bad. Only criminals having guns, very bad.
I happened in Finland just a couple of months ago. I almost happened in Sweden right after but the cops got control of the situation!
This is such a tragedy. It is happening so much now days that I fear the safety of my kids. My heart goes out to the parents, staff, students, and victims of this horrible tragedy. May God be with you all!
things happen everywhere, we just dont hear about it because we are a self absorb nation, i grew up hostile and around guns but never did i think about using them on people, we need to give more time and devotion to our youth and support them and build confidence in them with trust love and faith, instead of leaving the responsibilities to nannies and teachers only. respect is a word that seems to be left out of alot of younger peoples vocabularies….
Because you Americans are never gonna get it about the guns are you ? Sure, keep your damn guns, and watch more and more of these stories emerge … HOW MANY KIDS HAFTA DIE ???
Thank God I live in Canada.
iceland kid won the game
It happens because the country is flooded by guns, and because the US healthcare system is a catastrophe. It is too expensive and difficult to get counseling and too easy to get a hold of a gun.
You'r a fucking IDIOT Perez… It happened In Montreal only one year ago.. It was a big tragity.. I live in Montreal..
Agreed my dear! PS. Have you seen the AWFUL statements from the Phelps family band of crazies?! Awful, simply AWFUL!
You're an ignorant, nationally narcissistic, dolt if you truly believe in the particular comment accompanying this headline. Sure the college shooting is a great tragedy. Loss of life everywhere is a great tragedy. But this sort of this sort of event DOES happen in other places besides your perezscious, democratically crippled, America. Have you heard of, for example, a country called Israel??? Suicide bombers blow up students there continuously. If you are going to have an opinion at least make it informed. Let's acknowledge and speak out against this sort of violence as it happens everywhere. Comments of this nature only perpetuates both the victim mentality that Americans seems to possess of late and a culturally-centric view of the rest of the world. Be more opened minded. Although the grief is close to your heart, it is shared by people everywhere who encounter similar tragedy. Turn to these communities rather than alienate them with socially prejudiced comments.
This is my school. I was there on campus yesterday. Luckily I had just gotten back to my apartment as it was going on. My boyfriend called me saying there was gun shots and people were crying, panicking, and confused. It was pure chaos. I have a math class in that exact room and I couldn't imagine something like happening. Please pray for the Husikes…pray for the Huskies lost…and their families. Thank you Perez for thinking of our school. Thank you everyone for your prayers.
Why does it only happen in the US??
BECAUSE they are the only ones that can get a gun!!… FOR DEFENSE!!??not ethical….
What a loud of bull shit!!!
VIVA ESPAĂ‘AAA COJONES!!!
I feel awful for the students, faculty and families who have been involved in this, but for Perez to make a statement, "Why does it seem that kind of stuff happens so much in America but not other parts of the world????," I think, is completely ignorant. Open up a international section of a newspaper, asshole.
yes, because gun control laws is what turns pyschos into pyschos? take a gun away from a woman who lives on a crime infested street for self defense?
and it doesn't happen only in America- at least us "cowboys" aren't causing genocides.
truly awful however- prayers.
Re: Karin – Moron. The man who shot the college students was nearly thirty years old, 27 to be exact and is in no way considered a kid or a child but an adult male nearly thirty years old.
"Why does it seem that kind of stuff happens so much in America but not other parts of the world???"
Why do you even ask?
Because in other countries, there is a very strict gun control.
Yeah, yeah, I hear you NRA lunatics and others who are ready to sacrifice your kids' lives because of some stupidity written long ago in your constitution that makes toting guns your god-given right. Keep your head well buried in sand. When your own kid dies, you might finally come to your senses.
uhmmm,let's seeee,shall we? uhhmm,this shit always happens in America bcoz America is the psycho capital of the world,not to mention arrogant..oh wait,wait…there are lot of going on around the world,but Americans just thought that the whole world revolves around them,when there's a million thinkgs going on in the world right now
This shit sucks. I graduated from NIU and to see this fucking sucks SO bad. RIGHT TO BARE ARMS MY ASS. NO ONE AND I MEAN NO ONE should be able to carry a gun. Cops yea but NOT fucking morons who think its funny to go to school and kill other kids. Rotten mother fuckers. I hope he rots in hell. COCK SUCKER.. I see Arianne Curry wants a gun too. Can you say HUGE MISTAKE
I think it is insane to blame the lax gun laws in America for the problem that is MEN and VIOLENCE. All of the media reports and even people posting feedback on this site are not addressing the real issue, that men are the ones committing these atrocities in schools due to the hypermasculinity of our culture. Take a step back and stop blaming the 'youth'.
This kind of tragedy happens outside of America (Remember the Finland school shooting in the beginning of November). We just sensationalize it and create an atmosphere which causes the murderers to become "celebrities". It is just like after Columbine. There were millions of copycats happening across the world. Now after the VT shootings, we are gearing up for more copycats to continue.
I am an NIU student and I was on campus when the shooting happened yesterday…a press conference is happening right now and they are releasing the name of the gunman and some of the dead. As of thismorning, including the gunman there are 7 dead.
I'm from the area and this really hits home for me. I have friends who go to school there and I live in the same town as some of the people who have died. I'm so thankful my loved ones are alive…just say a prayer for these people and their families instead of blaming america for the actions of a sick demented person.
Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers for the Huskies. Keep them coming.
Because you let everyone own a gun of course….
Re: Sarah – These things happen in America because America does nothing but judge and ridicule the average person for not being the perfect America Sweetheart. Isnt that what Perez does only with celebrities- judge and ridicule them till they have nothing more to give
agreed! but it's not only USA - many western countries are the same and waiting for this to happen… irony is say UK where guns are illegal, are becoming more available. Even legality is no true protection… go back to social policy and the reasons for social exclusion
Re: donna – are you kidding? this is ridiculous. there's no comparison between the psychopaths who go and kill people "just for fun", and the children who died in the beslan school - that was an desperate act by chechen separatists trying to negotiate for sovereign chechnya.
{ very pizzed 2 hear thiz again ]]]]
zzzz herez the thing I don't get zzzz
{{{ if people want 2 kill zomeone, therez [[[ o.j. ]]]
zzzz and alot of otherz 2 go after, wtc?zzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
R I P/ U will enjoy the other zide
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
they will dream vizit their familiez very zoon♥
I think it always happens in the US, because Americans are the most superficial and fake people world wide. Persons who don't feel accepted of superficial assholes just freak out and get sick.
It doesn't seem that this kind of 'stuff' happens so much in the US but not in other parts of the world.
It's a fact.
Americans are nuts, poorly educated and sick for having gun possesion legal.
I'd rather live in Amsterdam.
I think the media should stop covering these tragedies by these sickos. This guy obviously saw how we became obsessed with the Virginia Tech killing spree and wanted to go down in infamy too. If the press stops covering it it and stops showing the killers face everywhere these wannabes will stop killing students. Maybe then they will just go off and kill themselves in the woods or somewhere less glamorous.
I think we need to take a step back. Instead of pointing fingers and placing blame, we need to be mourning those people we lost yesterday.
RIP Dan Parmenter. You will be missed.
School shootings are a tragedy.
what r u talking about just two days ago some stupid little kids brought a gun to school in toronto and shot another class mate and every other week or so their something like this happening in canada to….and what about all those innocent kids dying by stupid suicide bombs or shit like that the whole world is fuck up its just what the media decides to show us….open uo your eyes and c that everything around this world is being fucked up!!!!!
It happend in Finland like 2 months ago!
Re: Marni –
You're so right on the superficial and fake note.
um, wow, are you fucking stupid? at least we're fucking darfur and have to worry about genocide and rape in our own backyards.
THis shit Happens in America because of our gun laws… Perez, you have a strong voice… we need more celebrities petitioning AGAINST these "rights." That is the ONLY reason these things happen here… (and they probably DO occur elsewhere, but do you think CNN or FOX gives a shit if they kill each other in another country? sad but true…)
This is truly scary and truly sad. I think the obvious answer to eveyone is gun control. Everyone here has the right to bear arms. For what??? There is almost no gun violence in other countries; countries that are much poorer than us, countries that don't have education like us, countries where there is 100 times more poverty than here. It really sickens me that there are still people in our country that beleive it is everyone's right to own a gun. Those people are truly idiots and the scum of the earth. How many more tragedies like this do we have to take before somethingis done?? Is our country and our politicians really so blind and ignorant??
Being someone who was a victim of gun violence, it truly disturbs me to see that this is still going on and NOTHING is being done. It's as though no one cares. No one stands up and does anything.
This is sick, disturbing and I get so angry thinking about the stupid, evil idiots in the NRA. They are all stupid, heartless fools who refuse to open their eyes and I will only wish the worst for them. They sicken me.
I pray for all of those affected by this shooting or by any gun violence. I know how much it hurts and that it is a wound that may never heal.
THIS DOES HAPPEN IN OTHER PARTS OF WORLD. THE MEDIA REPORTS WHAT IT WANTS TO AND OBVIOUSLY DID NOT COVER A RECENT INCIDENT WELL. BUT THERE WAS RECENTLY A SCHOOL SHOOTING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. I BELIEVE IT WAS SOMEWHERE IN ASIA. ALTHOUGH THE MEDIA IN THAT COUNTRY DID BLAME IT ON AMERICA BECAUSE THE PERSON WAS 'A COPYCAT'.
DO NOT BASH THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF IT'S GUN LAWS. I AM PRO PRO PRO PRO GUN CONTROL, BUT OUR LAX LAWS DO NOT GIVE ANYONE THE RIGHT TO BASH THE US. WE ARE A GREAT NATION AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO THIS WORLD OVER OUR LESS OUR LIFETIME AS A COUNTRY. WE HAVE MADE MISTAKES, YES. BUT THAT DOES NOT OUTWEIGH WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
HAVE RESPECT FOR THIS COUNTRY. ESPEICALLY PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES COMMENTING. THERE HAS BEEN A TIME THE US SAVED YOUR ASS SO SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!!!!!!!
Re: expat – I was just with my sister-in-law (an ex-pat) this past weekend. We just spoke of the horrible knifings occuring there in London. These acts of violence are only becoming more frequent and the death totals of each incident are growing. Being a mother, it is terrifying. I cannot imagine the pain these families are experiencing and my prayers are with them. So much came out about the VA Tech shooter. It will be interesting (for lack of a better word) to hear what they find out about this very sick individual. Thank you for sharing your comment.
Ummm … Darfur anyone? This does happen elsewhere. In huge numbers. Taking guns away will never stop a pyscho from killing. If there had been an armed guard, he could have stopped it. Or if another student was armed. Taking away the right to own guns wouldn't stop such horrors.
"Why does it seem that kind of stuff happens so much in America but not other parts of the world????"
WRONG! This happen in Europe too.. Not that often though!
Our news agencies "glamorize" this kind of stuff. I bet if we didn't put all this shit on the news the crazies wouldn't get the idea of shooting up a school or workplace or mall. It disgusts me. Probably a way for their name to get in the news. Guns should be banned. The US is falling apart….time for people to wake the fuck up. United States…HA…they need to change that name. We're not united….obviously this shit wouldn't happen if we were. I'm moving to Canada!!
Um, gee Perez, maybe shit like this only happens in America because this is a country where people have no values. No morals. This is a country where guys like you can sit around and get rich off of putting people down and drawing cum on people's faces. It is disgusting. It is no wonder people are going crazy every time you turn around. It makes me laugh when you say this makes you angry. Sure, you are just all about making the world a better place, aren't you?
Perez, I heart you but do you ever read the news? There is a new suicide bombing in the Middle east like every single day. To say that this only happens in America is so incorrect. I dont know about you but there i no where in the world that I would rather live than our country. Everyone should appreciate the safety that our county provides for us everyday. Go live in a third world country for a year. You will change your tune.
"why does it seem that kind of stuff happens so much in America but not other parts of the world????"
are you fucking kidding me? are you FUCKING kidding me? have you been living under a rock for the past 7 years, or do you really not just keep up with any type of news besides celebrity gossip? There are thousands of people murdered every day in other parts of the world by suicide bombers, car bombs, insurgencies, and mass genocide–this is tragic, but just because it happens in America doesn't make it more important than other hate crimes going on every day in the world. Read a newspaper, Perez.
All the Brits are screaming "gun control". How about LUNATIC CONTROL??? The Daily mail comments on their version of this event just bitches about Americans and our lack of gun control; the very same web news that is reporting beating and stabbing deaths over there. Guns are tools; so if someone is bludgeoned to death with a hammer we need to ban hammers? What about being stabbed to death with a ski pole, ban ski poles? PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE; not guns. The Brits are sounding might self righteous about gun control on OUR United States. Screw them; lets round up all our wack jobs and ship them off over there and see how they like that!
Perez, stick to the gossip and lose the high horse. It is a senseless tragedy, and not for this website. Give it the dignity it deserves.
Graduated from NIU, terrible, terrrible, and just plan out sad. Another person who was shot died today. May peace find the families of those who lost their lives and all those who were effected.
I go to NIU. I live in apartments off campus. I was not on campus, but I have friends that were. It was such a scary, surreal, day. I appreciate Perez covering the story.
get rid of your fucking guns !!
"right to bear arm" ????
its more like "right to shoot whoever the hell we want cause we have to many f*cking guns and dont know how to control them and what the fuck to do about it"
other countries that have this problem cause they dont beleive civilans should have the legal right to possess lethat weapons
wait perez. hold on just a second. worse violence happens in other parts of the world. it just doesn't get reported. keep that in mind when you are making comments about american society
I think this shit happens because North Americans deliberately turn their backs on people who are desperate, in one form or another.
That attitude combined with growing unfair poverty levels plus lack of concern/or willingness to provide resources…. the weirdo's are going to get a lot worse.
It's sad, but it DOES happen in other parts of the world.. like the one in Finland, there was one in Germany, as well as the UK.
Re: Megan – just keep shooting each other, and when you are at your weakest….CANADA will ATTACK!!!!!!!
Re: johnsezz –
are you freakin kidding me! "what you do is what you get"…so youre saying all of us at NIU deserved to be killed simply for living in america? A shooting in a school is COMPLETELY different than Iraq or genocide..this is supposed to be a secure setting for education..not a f*ckin war zone…youre pathetic and shouldnt be commenting on things you have no idea about.
ummm cuz america is a fucked up country.. but everyone knows that.
I'm sorry? This stuff only happens in America?! That is bullshit! Every single day, people are killed in the middle east, Africa, and other less developed countries. Yes, for the superpower that America is, it is sad that we should see so much violence, but it is DEFINITELY a result of our country's perception of violence and gun control laws. I mean, watch Bowling For Columbine. It is STILL extremely pertinent.
we just love our fucking guns…
it doesn't happen other places, all the time. we are jsut so self absorbed here that we never hear about it or take the time to learn about it.
Re: sentosa – you're an idiot. an idiot and a facist
i'm a student @ northern illinois and this was the scariest moment of my life.
it takes a spineless asshole to play God with other people's lives and then take his own. i hope he rots in hell!
Are you kidding?!! "This stuff happens in America and not other parts of the world"??! LOL I'm sorry but you are so self obsorbed. I'm an American and I live 20 minutes from NIU and I feel horrible and will pray for the family and friends of the victims, however . . . How can you say that this only happens in America? Don't you read CNN or are you too obsessed with what Brittany is going to do next. You should be ashamed of yourself. You're a loser. Please expand your mind and read something other then trashy magazines and websites for your "news".
"why this happens in america?" what a stupid question!
americans are so fucking blind.
My husband went to school there…hell, I partied there on a near regular basis at one point…so it has been surreal for the two of us to see it on the national news in regards to something so SICK. Our thoughts have been with the school and the students/families affected.
It is truly sad to see school shootings but I think it has a lot to do with the younger generation being IGNORED. So to all the old folks out there - put some blame on yourselves.
What does it matter that it only happens in America?! idiot
what do you mean this happens only in america??? are you forgetting about the other suicide bombers everywhere else you dumbass?
it happens in germany, finland,… as well!
My thoughts and prays go out to all the families….we truely live in a sick world
my friend goes that and she knows the 2 people killed… this stuff is sick
Re: lolli – you are stupid . . .have you heard of affirmative action?? There is no such thing as a "white school."
Re: booyah – just stop talking. you're an idiot. universities and colleges are synonymous. do you know what synonymous means?
its so sad but maybe the laws have to change, hopefully u guys can get a samarter president next election, not like the idiot red neck u have now, and have more gun control, this doesnt happen in canada as much…
Wow guys. I go to NIU and having had friends in that classroom kinda pisses me off that all you can talk about is how americans are gun toting cowboys. How about RIP for the victims and some peace for their families. How about ANY life lost is a tragedy.
Are you Kidding???? This kind of thing happens daily in many parts of the world. Not just America. Not saying that it should ever happen, but you mentioned that it seemed to only happen here. Look at Kenya, and all the other African countries in civil unrest. People are casualties of violence everyday, but it is so common there that some people don't think twice about it.
It is a tragic day for Northern Illinois University with the six deaths and twenty-two total casualties. It is absolutely terrible that the sick gunman took the lives of these men and women. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and I will be thanking God for keeping myself and my family and friends safe. I love you all and hopefully the weekend goes better than Valentine's Day did ♥
I love you perez but your comment on this news is naive. There are horrible unspeakable acts of violence going on all over the world. Take a look at Asia, the Middle East and Africa if you really want to get angry. There are children all over the world being used for slavery and sold into the sex trade and we all turn a blind eye. That should make you angrier than this.
it does happen in Canada, its just the fact that people are assholes and bully kids all the god damn time. Theres only so much people can take until you reach a breaking point, i am not saying that this justifies the fact that it is right but i am saying the schools should do more than what they are doing to prevent this from happening. They think that speaking with the kids is good enough, but what do you do when the kid doesnt want to talk? i blame the schools and parents for not talking things out with the kids more often at least they would have a chance to vent and let it out that way instead of resulting to shooting the schools up!
Why does it seem that kind of stuff happens so much in America but not other parts of the world????
are you for real? GUN CONTROL you moron.
ok jus bc its american doesnt mean it doesnt happen nywhere else… its bc americans are practicly the centre of the world right now and all issues and shit are focused on them…things happen all over the world everyday… its probably nor important enuf bc americans are the "best" and ppl are to busy reading about celebs and how fucked up they are
Gun lobbyist own politicians (and the press). STOP GUNS!
BECAUSE WE HAVE GUNS.
Ohhh right to bare arms in the constitution.. WE CAN'T DARE TAKE THAT OUT TO SAFE LIVES. crazy fucking concept.
"people kill people not guns" - um let's be real. how many people killed would be alive if we haven't had guns legally in this country.
LETS GROW UP PEOPLE.
its so sad. someone i know got shot. my friends roommate. did not know him well but we are not sure how he is doing.
its just…sad…
in 2002 an 18-year old german guy shoot 14 teachers and 3school pals and commited suicide afterwards.
a guy from japan killed 8 kids in preschool with a knife!
in finland an 18 year old guy schoot 8 people
it`s not just america. it's everywhere.. you never know what happens next..
We may have more school shootings than other countries, but there are bombings and deaths like this happening EVERY DAY in other countries. It is ridiculous to say this stuff happens only here. Yes, this is horribly tragic. Yes, every time I see this it breaks my heart, but AMERICANS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WHO DEAL WITH THINGS LIKE THIS!
On tuesday there was another shooting in a middle school, in the town next to mine.
The boy Larry King was killed because he was gay. Honestly, all these shootings are disgusting.
my thoughts are with those in illinois
A gun has never killed anyone. The person shooting the gun is and always will be the the killer. One thing that needs to be done is getting rid of the 'gun-free' zones. A bad guy isn't going to pay any attention to if a zone is gun free or not. If he doesn't have access to a gun he's going to use a knife or something else to cause harm. A trained and licensed private citizen with a weapons permit in a situation might end these situations either before they start or at least before they get to the point they usually end up. Just imagine if there had been a trained student in West Virgina when the crazy man (literally crazy) started his rampage? You really think there would of still been 33 dead or whatever it was? Maybe that rampage would of been ended alot sooner then what it was.
Most of my friends go to NIU… I was so worried. I called who ever i could but it was really hard to get throught. Texting work the best… and i am glad that all of my friends are ok. But its very heartbreaking that other family and friends are now going through this..
Just thinking about it makes me cry.
='(