Even in Nebraska

[AmateisGal]

Sometimes you think that you're insulated living in the middle of the U.S. - but not so.

There was a shooting in a mall today in Omaha. News is still developing and they still don't have the shooter yet (that I know of). At least five people are down - don't know the status of their injuries, either. One possibly deceased.

www.ketv.com

This is only 45 miles from where I live.

 

[Starius]

Its all over the news right now... I have a friend who used to work at that mall. Its terribly disconcerting to see something like this so close to home.
Such a weird tragedy, but thankfully it seems not as many people got hurt as could have... considering how many shots were fired.

 

[AmateisGal]

There are at least two fatalities right now. Two too many.

 

[thunderw21]

It's sad people can't solve their problems without drawing others into them.

RIP

 

[Paisley]

I stopped feeling insulated when they shot up Columbine. It really can happen anywhere.

 

[AmateisGal]

I stopped feeling insulated when they shot up Columbine. It really can happen anywhere.

I now know exactly how you feel.

 

[AmateisGal]

Nine dead - including the shooter who killed himself.

 

[Paisley]

I am sorry. I hope nobody you know was among them.

 

[AmateisGal]

I hope so, too, but we won't know for awhile.

I literally feel sick to my stomach.

 

[The Shirt]

I'm holding my breath until my mother (who literally lives 5 mins from this mall) and sister calls me back. If the shooter desired to strike fear in those both in and out of the mall, across the nation - he suceeded. So selfish.

 

[AmateisGal]

I'm holding my breath until my mother (who literally lives 5 mins from this mall) and sister calls me back. If the shooter desired to strike fear in those both in and out of the mall, across the nation - he suceeded. So selfish.

I pray that they are both ok.

Yes - INCREDIBLY selfish and very, very cowardly.

 

[carebear]

This is the season when people with problems feel like their problems are somehow worse. As long as there are disturbed folks walking around, there isn't (and never has been) anywhere truly "safe".

My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

 

[Rooster]

This is why I go no where with out packing heat. No psycho moron is going to kill me or mine.
We have alot of family in Omaha, I hope to God none of them were there......

 

[carebear]

While I and a lot of other folks agree with you on that detail, let's not let this get into detailed woulda/shoulda/coulda's. If there are Loungers for whom this sort of thing makes them think about changes they can make in their own life safety-wise, they should feel free to PM any one of us on the Lounge who have knowledge of this sort of thing.

What we should focus on is that this sort of thing IS uncommon, and in fact really is not much more common than it has ever been in this country. What has changed is information technology, live television and the internet provide an immediacy and detail to stories from thousands of miles away that was lacking when folks previously had to rely on what may or may not have been reported days later in the much less detailed local printed press.

What is best and healthiest to take away from this sort of tragedy, whether due to a natural disaster or the evil acts of men, is not despair or phobia but rather a conscious realization that life is never safe and controlled and guaranteed. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to live our lives in the now and make sure we show those we care for how much they mean to us every day.

Any other steps we may take are secondary to that.

 

[A.R. McVintage]

Gotta love the shooters always taking the coward's way out instead of facing the American people and accounting for becoming an animal.

 

[Samsa]

While I and a lot of other folks agree with you on that detail, let's not let this get into detailed woulda/shoulda/coulda's. If there are Loungers for whom this sort of thing makes them think about changes they can make in their own life safety-wise, they should feel free to PM any one of us on the Lounge who have knowledge of this sort of thing.

What we should focus on is that this sort of thing IS uncommon, and in fact really is not much more common than it has ever been in this country. What has changed is information technology, live television and the internet provide an immediacy and detail to stories from thousands of miles away that was lacking when folks previously had to rely on what may or may not have been reported days later in the much less detailed local printed press.

What is best and healthiest to take away from this sort of tragedy, whether due to a natural disaster or the evil acts of men, is not despair or phobia but rather a conscious realization that life is never safe and controlled and guaranteed. We owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to live our lives in the now and make sure we show those we care for how much they mean to us every day.

Any other steps we may take are secondary to that.

This thread could be closed with this post, as it says everything that should be said, and more eloquently than most.:eusa_clap

 

[Starius]

The shooter was a 19 year old man facing a impending court date (for what, I don't know) and rather than face it he decided to kill himself and take out as many people as he could with him. Apparently, he was muttering all sorts of things to himself during the shooting and not only did he shoot at people, but shot a teddy bear as well.

 

[hepkitten]

This thread could be closed with this post, as it says everything that should be said, and more eloquently than most.

Ditto that.

AmateisGal and everyone in that area, you are in my thoughts. May all of you and yours be safe and well.

 

[thunderw21]

Robert A. Hawkins, age 19 or 20. Left a note saying "I'm going out in style" and "I'm going to be famous."

He has his 15 minutes of fame at the expense of 8 dead, others wounded.

 

[The Shirt]

I hope everyone found there friends and relatives to be safe and unharmed. I despise the time that this person made me worry until I reached those I knew. I did find out that one of my aunt's friends is among the women who were killed. I don't think I will ever understand what the fascination with fame is - that one would destroy so many things around them for their moment in people's memories. I would rather lead a quiet, good life with a few freinds and relatives that remember me as a good person than many remembering me as an animal. So very sad.