Roseburg Shooting....

Aloha, Angel:
Thank you for the post. I recall seeing many Surveyconnect members from Oregon. May prayers to the family of the victim. Can't even imagine the pain that all of them are going through right now!

Thanks, Yogi. It's hard when this kinda stuff happens, but when it's this close to the ones you love it is even harder. I'm just SO GLAD and grateful that my kiddos are alive and well. They're traumatized, but they'll be OK in time. I'll do the best I can to counsel them whenever needed.

Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, identified as Oregon gunman who killed 10
If you scroll down to the blond girl talking to the 2 officials with the water bottle in her hand, that's one of my kiddos. 🙁

Angel...
These kids may talk about what happened or they may clam up. Be there ready to listen every time the opportunity arises. Peace to everyone touched by this.

Angel, post: 338917, member: 100 wrote: Thanks, Yogi. It's hard when this kinda stuff happens, but when it's this close to the ones you love it is even harder. I'm just SO GLAD and grateful that my kiddos are alive and well. They're traumatized, but they'll be OK in time. I'll do the best I can to counsel them whenever needed.

Chris Harper-Mercer, 26, identified as Oregon gunman who killed 10
If you scroll down to the blond girl talking to the 2 officials with the water bottle in her hand, that's one of my kiddos. 🙁

Aloha, Angel:
No matter where it happens...it NEVER fails to break our hearts! I am glad to hear your kiddos are okay. What a trauma!

You are so lucky that your kids were not hurt. I feel for the family of the victims.
9 minutes and everything changed forever.

Our society as a whole is really hurting.
In earlier days, dynamite was easily accessible. You could go to the hardware store and buy a case of dynamite and a bag of nails - no questions asked.
People that used it didn't store it properly. It was stored in unlocked sheds, mine tunnels, boxes at construction sites, ect.
Easily obtainable. I could buy dynamite as a kid easier than a bottle of beer. Why is it that society could be trusted then and not now?

Something critical has happened to our family structure, or maybe even our actual DNA that is causing this.

The article mentioned that the shooter graduated from a school for people with learning disabilities or emotional issues.
I am REALLY interested to know if he was or had been taking anti-depression drugs. I think in the majority of these types of tragedies the person responsible had been taking drugs of some sort.

When did it become normal to hear medical drug disclaimers on TV that talk about side effects being the desire to kill yourself or others?
It almost sounds like something the CIA would have developed.

P.S. Roseburg is a very nice place (as your pictures show). Probably a great place to go to school if this had not happened.

Aloha, Imaudigger:
My personal opinion...I think one of the contributor is the serious changes taken place our family structures. At least is US, before the two world wars, moms always stayed home to care and love; and also extended family situation gave great structure for kids as they grow up with uncles, aunts and cousins. Low divorce rates also made sure there are minimum number of single parent situation.

Now with both parents working full time--by choice or financial reasons--kids are raised by baby sitters, teachers, video games and the internet! During their critical time of growing up there not much support.

Things are changing but I think we may have lost a generation or two!

I agree, but it does not seem to be very popular to say out loud. Leads to finger pointing.

It's kind of a yin/yang thing that the kids need in order to be balanced.

We also have to look at 3000 years or more of history and try to see what aspects of family life have significantly changed in the brief time this seems to have happened in. There are some huge changes for sure.

I also blame media and "Hollywood" for the content that they put out for people to watch. I think it numbs people so to speak (especially with the reality of the computer graphics).
A good example is a comment that this particular killer made about another shooting..."you should watch the video of this guy shooting the people, it's pretty good". Just like the movies. I hope every person that encouraged him on the internet and gave him suggestions, feels personally responsible for what happened.

Personally I just got rid of the satellite/cable TV because I was disgusted with what I was seeing every night. We have over the air TV, but we watch re-runs of old westerns and the weather/news. It is impossible to shelter your kids these days, but you do have a choice about what happens at home.

I wholeheartedly agree with all your points here.
I love these particular statement of yours very much, "It is impossible to shelter your kids these days, but you do have a choice about what happens at home.":good:
Aloha

UCC has a CE and Surveying Technology program and I've been to the campus several times for seminars and workshops. A very beautiful campus, although it was raining the last time I was there.

My heart goes out to those injured, killed, and traumatized in this unfortunate incident.

thebionicman, post: 338939, member: 8136 wrote: Angel...
These kids may talk about what happened or they may clam up. Be there ready to listen every time the opportunity arises. Peace to everyone touched by this.

Angel has been doing quite a bit of listening lately...they know they can call me anytime, day or night, and they do. This is how it has been for years. The kids know they can come to me for anything and I'll be there for them. Talked to one of them last night for about 2 hours and I'll be headed down there soon to spend some time with them.

thebionicman, post: 338939, member: 8136 wrote: Angel...
These kids may talk about what happened or they may clam up. Be there ready to listen every time the opportunity arises. Peace to everyone touched by this.

Angel has been doing quite a bit of listening lately...they know they can call me anytime, day or night, and they do. This is how it has been for years. The kids know they can come to me for anything and I'll be there for them. Talked to one of them last night for about 2 hours and I'll be headed down there soon to spend some time with them. :love:

imaudigger, post: 338982, member: 7286 wrote: You are so lucky that your kids were not hurt. I feel for the family of the victims.
9 minutes and everything changed forever.

Our society as a whole is really hurting.
In earlier days, dynamite was easily accessible. You could go to the hardware store and buy a case of dynamite and a bag of nails - no questions asked.
People that used it didn't store it properly. It was stored in unlocked sheds, mine tunnels, boxes at construction sites, ect.
Easily obtainable. I could buy dynamite as a kid easier than a bottle of beer. Why is it that society could be trusted then and not now?

Something critical has happened to our family structure, or maybe even our actual DNA that is causing this.

The article mentioned that the shooter graduated from a school for people with learning disabilities or emotional issues.
I am REALLY interested to know if he was or had been taking anti-depression drugs. I think in the majority of these types of tragedies the person responsible had been taking drugs of some sort.

When did it become normal to hear medical drug disclaimers on TV that talk about side effects being the desire to kill yourself or others?
It almost sounds like something the CIA would have developed.

P.S. Roseburg is a very nice place (as your pictures show). Probably a great place to go to school if this had not happened.

I sort of knew this kid... I played ping pong with him at the local tavern when I'd visit Roseburg. He was very...shy. Subdued. Seemed sad and depressed. He always dressed in camouflage and a black hoodie. I'd tease him because he would beat my butt at ping pong and I'm pretty good at ping pong! I asked him where he was from and he said "Torrance". Then we'd BS about So Cal., etc... I wish I would have known just how mentally traumatized he was and talked with him more so it wouldn't of lead to what it's lead to now. 🙁

Tyler Parsons, post: 339019, member: 139 wrote: UCC has a CE and Surveying Technology program and I've been to the campus several times for seminars and workshops. A very beautiful campus, although it was raining the last time I was there.

My heart goes out to those injured, killed, and traumatized in this unfortunate incident.

Here's the fountain in front of the college. Took this on one of my walking escapades up there.

imaudigger, post: 338994, member: 7286 wrote: .
A good example is a comment that this particular killer made about another shooting..."you should watch the video of this guy shooting the people, it's pretty good". Just like the movies. I hope every person that encouraged him on the internet and gave him suggestions, feels personally responsible for what happened.

Yeah...it's sickening what they were saying to him to encourage him, giving him "tips", etc... I had a link to it but it's since been taken down for obvious reasons, thank goodness.

I wonder when the "powers that be" will wake up and realize this is a MAJOR mental health issue.
People with these issues have always been with us. Back, when I was a kid (and dinosaurs roamed free) people took more time to really know each other. The family units were tight and extended to the homes all around you. The neighborhood moms knew you and if you were acting a fool, would whip your butt before taking you home to face the music there. My mom played bridge with a group od neighbors during the day. I could catch a city bus and go downtown, by myself, and go shopping to spend the money I earned cutting grass or whatever. When I got home my mother could tell me where I had gone shopping and what I had purchased. Someone else's Mom or a relative that owned the store would call my Mom about something else and mention that they had seen me shopping. Not ratting me out, just letting Mom know where I was and that I was ok.
We knew when someone was having problems that needed professional attention. Back then the mental health system worked. Someone acting strange was reported to a doctor or the police. They were then talked to by someone in the mental health system. If they needed help, they got it. Either meds or hospital treatment. The system worked and we did not have mass killings like this.
The ACLU has ALL of these victim's blood on THEIR hands. They said all of this was "cruel and unusual" punishment and the system was shut down. Today you can see the people walking down the street just talking away and they do not have a cell phone on them.
We HAVE to develop a system that helps these people and protects society. Here's another case where neighbors sat this shooter was a "strange" guy. They did not know who to report this too, or they did not want to rep[ort it because "it was none of their business".
Other people ARE your business, especially when they are in need of help. This problem will not fix itself.

Just today I had a fellow asking me if I knew anything about there being more restrictions being put on the purchase of guns. I said something like, "Not yet and maybe never." He went on to explain that he didn't own any and probably could not buy one if he wanted to because he had put himself in a mental institution over 50 years ago for a year. Too much anxiety in his life in those days. He has never married because he figured trying to take care of himself was enough of a strain and it wouldn't be fair to any woman he couldn't support properly.

This fellow is probably completely safe.

Too many others walk among us who aren't.

Angel, don't beat yourself up too much over that. There was nothing you could have done to prevent this.
If you look around, there are many people that look depressed or unhappy with their position in life. You never know what is going on inside them or what they are capable of.
All you can do is show some compassion when the opportunity arises.

I truly believe that evil does exist and that certain people are in a condition that leaves them open to being controlled by it.

I met Mark David Chapman when we were both in our early twenties. I have met many people that were scarier than him. He in fact seemed a little weird but harmless. I understand that he became progressively worst as time went on.

I believe in my right to bear arms; however, it is troubling that I had to do more to get a driver's license than a concealed weapons permit.

In the process of getting CCW permit in California.
I have to..
1.) Take an approved CCW training class, which includes a certain number of classroom hours vs. live fire hours.
2.) Provide 3 letters of recommendation from non-family members.
3.) Submit to criminal background check including finger prints.
4.) Potentially submit to mental health evaluation.
5.) Provide address/phone number of 3-4 neighbors, so the Sheriff can interview them regarding myself.
6.) Renew said permit every 2 years.

The whole process takes several months and costs hundreds of dollars. Other than the cost and time required, I feel all of the above requirements are reasonable considering the kind of unstable people I see and hear about.

Here is an idea...
I think that if a doctor prescribes any medication, who's known side affect is violence, the patient should be added to a list of people that require a mental health evaluation prior to purchasing or getting CCW permit. This list should be a living document, with people dropping off the list if it has been more than 12 months since they were last prescribed the medicine. Perhaps the list would only include drugs that have been identified as connected to previous violent incidents.