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I have to say I think you're being a bit alarmist here, Spree. I always used to buy my children assault rifles, until they got a little older and started showing an interest in mortars. When they graduated to Howitzers I told them they had to get part-time jobs. Money doesn't grow on trees you know? They have to start getting responsible sometime.
LOLOL Roger.
Actually, even though I didn't really buy them any assault rifles, one of my sons did grow up to be an Army Ranger and learned how to fire his own.
This story has been blown way, way out of proportion.
First, there is one firearm here. It is a semi-automatic carbine chambered in 9x19mm. This is a pistol calibre. It is not an 'assault rifle'. An assault rifle is a weapon that can fire semi or fully automatic selectively, and is chambered in a calibre that is between a rifle and pistol calibre, such as 7.62x39mm or 5.56x45mm. The 9mm cartridge produces about 500 Joules of energy at the muzzle, while the 7.62x51 NATO cartridge, which is relatively common as a low-to-mid power hunting cartridge produces over 3,300 Joules. Does the so-called "9mm assault rifle" still sound like a really scary kind of gun?
The remaining air weapons are all airsoft guns. These are hobby replica guns. They fire .2 gram plastic BBs, usually with a power of 1J or under. The maximum power produced by the most powerful of these airguns is 2 Joules. Yes, two. This feels rather like a bee sting. Still scared?
Maybe the grenades are frightening. Well, specific details have not been released, but it's apparent that the grenades use a small gunpowder charge to propel the .2g plastic BBs described above. Not exactly a lethal weapon, though it could give you some nasty puncture wounds if you're really close to it.
Finally, the edged weapons and the books. First of all, last time I checked we don't arrest people for books in this country. Anarchist's Cookbook? Give me a break; lots of people own that just for kicks and never make any bombs [and the airsoft-bb-grenades aren't related - they're virtually toys comparatively]. As for the swords and knives... have you ever seen a fat kid [this deadly would-be assailent is very overweight, mind you] weilding a sword? I guarantee you, it's about 9% scary, %1 deadly, and %90 percent funny. What's he going to do with an edged weapon when people run, or even power walk, away from him? Swords are heavy, you know.
Yeah, I realize the kid is disturbed. I realize he was probably thinking about an attack. I realize there is a chance, however unlikely, that he would have actually carried it out. But we are not talking about assault weapons, an arsenal of guns, military hand grenades, and a carefully planned attack here. We're talking 14 year old loser with one 'plinker' rifle, a bunch of toy guns and swords, and a fantasized plan somewhere around toddler levels of brain activity.
We ARE talking about an armed kid. This kid also tried to get another child to help with his plot.
The books, with the weapons, including one active grenade and two others being "worked on", with the mother, who has had charges brought up on her...all of this makes it important, not blown out of proportion because if the kids of columbine would have had their rooms, with swastickers all over them searched BEFORE the attack, alot of lives would have been saved.
Save your false outrage about this being overblown for people, like you, that wish to understate the potential for mass murder.
Living in the world of denial helps no one get a handle on the problem of children killing children, hence, VA Tech, Columbine and this foiled little attempt.
I understand this is a dangerous situation, because there is a child with a firearm and intent to kill.
What I don't like is the fact that books and 30 replicas not even powerful enough to break skin at point blank range, in addition to some homemade grenades which may be anything from dangerous-but-not-quite-lethal ordnance to toys are being made out as part of this. The emphasis on the swords is ridiculous as well.
There is a child who was planning a school shooting with a 9mm carbine. This is a bad thing. But do the 30 air guns play a role in it? Not that I can see, unless he's planning a suicide-by-cop like the child in FL.
Robert again, if it was just the swords, or just the books, or just the guns.... but it ISN'T, it is the bigger picture which includes ALL of the above as well as a concentrated effort to get someone else involved and a live grenade of ANY type of power.
"Robert again, if it was just the swords, or just the books, or just the guns.... but it ISN'T, it is the bigger picture which includes ALL of the above as well as a concentrated effort to get someone else involved and a live grenade of ANY type of power."
As I said, I don't have a problem with the boy being arrested, and his mother charged. A firearm of any type should certainly not be bought for a 14 year old who is depressed and has pent up anger issues.
What annoys me is the way the media is covering this. It's like the focus is being put on all the most insignificant parts of the equation. If this kid did carry out his plans, he would have been able to use:
1. His planning
2. The 9mm carbine
3. The other student recruited, if any answered his call
4. The grenades - IF they were dangerous, which may not be the case [see below]
You can argue that the other items like the swords and airguns helped indicate intent, but you'd have a slim argument there. The grenades we do not have details on. They could be homemade, deadly weapons like the IRA's 'nail bombs', or they could be intended for nonlethal airsoft use. There are many grenades which, like the ones described, propel the same .2g BBs as the airguns at low velocity for use in reenactments. We simply do not know, yet no news source I'm aware of has stated anything but the worst.
As for the airguns themselves, perhaps quantity is a frightening thing. Certainly they have received far more coverage than the firearm in this case - roughly a week ago I watched CNN's coverage of the story, and every time they mentioned the 9mm Carbine the camera panned over an air-powered MP5. I've even heard some sources claim they can be converted to fire real ammunition, which is a complete falsity.
If I reported this story, the thesis, if you will, would sound like this: Police foiled a plot by a depressed 14-year-old to attack a school with a gun bought by his mother. Other items were found at the teenager's home that may have contributed to the plan. The boy attempted to recruit an accomplice online.
On the other hand, when I hear the story reported by the actual news stations, it sounds more like this:
Police foiled a plot to kill by a teenager who had an arsenal of 30 realistic military-styled airguns, several swords, and assault weapons. His mother bought him an assault rifle and helped him make three grenades. Guides on bomb-making and military killing tactics were found at his home, and the homeschooler attempted to recruit another killer online.
There are several conclusions in the details that have been jumped to. I realize my initial post sounded rather brash, and I apologize. It is frustrating to find misinformation broadcast and taken as fact.
Robert, considering the recent string of school shootings, the media has every right, in fact obligation to take this as seriously as it is.
I don't know what your problem is, but the combination of things this kid had, along with his stated desire to attack a school, CALLS for all the media attention it can get.
School shootings are not something rare anymore.
Just here in AZ, three or four weeks ago they were in lockdown because of a gunman.
Just look in the search engine for school shooting incidents, it is a serious problem and needs to be taken that way.
I see no problem with how it was reported, my only problem is that people tend to forget HOW serious of an issue this is within a couple weeks of these incidents.
And once again, it's not that the shooting plot was discovered and reported. That's great, school shootings are terrible things and the prevention of one is excellent. It's the details that tick me off.
Say someone was going to go on a road rage and wreak havoc. This person is 14, and a RC car enthusiast. Their mom bought them a Honda Civic. They also tried to find someone else to do the same thing. Luckily, the plan was found out by the police, who also found RC cars, racing books, and some homemade jump ramps. The police have not released whether the ramps were for RC cars or real cars.
Would you find it sensationalist if the media reported that they were equipped with a high-speed race-style car, 30 realistic radio control vehicles, a street racing guide, and three homemade jump ramps? What if there were pictures of the RC cars spread out on a table with police eying them? What if every time the "high speed race vehicle" was mentioned, the camera zoomed in on one of the RC cars?
First off what the hell do RACE CARS have to do with school shootings?
MAN, try to focus ok, this kid was dangerous, he was caught. Your biggest complaint is how the media covered it and I say they covered it fine, they just didn't CONTINUE covering it, which they should have. Last I heard the mother was arrested and that was a week ago.
They need to stay on top of it until we see that the mother is punished and the kid gets mental help.
It IS that simple.
"First off what the hell do RACE CARS have to do with school shootings?"
Ever heard of an analogy?
"MAN, try to focus ok, this kid was dangerous, he was caught."
Yep, great news.
"Your biggest complaint is how the media covered it and I say they covered it fine"
There are factual innaccuracies in the reporting. That's not fine with me.
"They just didn't CONTINUE covering it, which they should have. Last I heard the mother was arrested and that was a week ago."
I'd like some updates on this too, especially clarification on what exactly was happening with the grenades and the mother's role in the whole thing.
"They need to stay on top of it until we see that the mother is punished and the kid gets mental help."
I'd tack "and gets put in juvenile hall" on the end of that last sentence.
"It IS that simple."
And it IS simple for the news stations to get the facts right, yet they refuse to do so any time a gun is involved.
Race cars and shootings?
Where does this tyke hale from?
Trolls don't seem to be able to do their own research whatsoever.
Ever actually FIRED a 9 mm with a hollow point, Robert? Ever actually wielded a sword? Being "fat" doesn't mean he's not able to use it. Sure, you have a book knowledge of weapons, or at least are able to look them up on the internet, but have you ever faced down someone intent on doing...damage?
"Ever actually FIRED a 9 mm with a hollow point, Robert?"
Yes, it's a deadly weapon. A semi-automatic pistol calibre carbine is not an assault rifle, though. That's a misused term.
"Ever actually wielded a sword? Being "fat" doesn't mean he's not able to use it. "
Haven't used one in defense. An overweight 14 year old with a stainless steel replica is capable of doing damage but perhaps... not at the level suggested.
"Sure, you have a book knowledge of weapons, or at least are able to look them up on the internet, but have you ever faced down someone intent on doing...damage?"
Once, yes.
None of this matters. Robert YOUR complaint was how the media portrayed this and I think they finally did a proper job...they gave the facts, they brought yet another dangerous kid to the publics attention.
THAT is their job.They did it.
Robert, I hate to say this, but no one's really interested in strange opinions anymore. Sorry.
Try someplace else.
Im with Robert... i have fired a gun from air soft to real to Paint ball and the swords u get in stores are a fake steel ish. my baseball bat can hurt someone more then that sword
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