Associated Press: Multiple People Shot Outside Empire State Building

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

No link yet, this is just breaking. I'll have one when there is one.

EDIT: http://news.yahoo.com/several-people-shot-outside-empire-state-building-133147539.html

[rwoy]

Update .... happened around 9 AM.  NBC New York reporting 1 gunman ... up to 5 people shot.  Gunman shot by police (possibly dead).

[J. J.]

Shooter dead.  Apparently a disgruntled former worker, fired yesterday.  At least 10 injured.  (Fox)

[anvi]

Damnit, these are coming in at close to the rate of one a week now.  Sincere condolences to the victims and their families, and wishing those who survived speedy recoveries.   

[Sbane]

This is getting to be a little bit too much. I wonder though, maybe the recent increase in these mass shootings could be due to the coverage of the Aurora shooting. Giving ideas to unstable people?

[Marokai Backbeat]

It seems preposterous to me that, given the sheer frequency of these events popping up in the news, and being in the middle of an election year, that we're not even considering talking about gun policy. Literally anything else is an issue, even if the most absurd things, but an actual problem in actual news hurting actual people is going completely ignored because our entire political system boils down to the concerns of a dozen waffly swing states.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

It seems preposterous to me that, given the sheer frequency of these events popping up in the news, and being in the middle of an election year, that we're not even considering talking about gun policy. Literally anything else is an issue, even if the most absurd things, but an actual problem in actual news hurting actual people is going completely ignored because our entire political system boils down to the concerns of a dozen waffly swing states.

I'm in favor of the AWB by the way.....but NYC has the strictest gun laws you'll find......yet this.

[Joe Republic]

Nation Celebrates Full Week Without Deadly Mass Shooting

UPDATE: Never Mind

[Joe Republic]

It seems preposterous to me that, given the sheer frequency of these events popping up in the news, and being in the middle of an election year, that we're not even considering talking about gun policy. Literally anything else is an issue, even if the most absurd things, but an actual problem in actual news hurting actual people is going completely ignored because our entire political system boils down to the concerns of a dozen waffly swing states.

But you see, discussing the legality of something that just killed these people is totally disrespectful to them (you awful human!), and the very idea of gun control makes you a Eurocommunist.  I think that's how it goes, right?

[This user has not been convicted of 34 felonies]

It seems preposterous to me that, given the sheer frequency of these events popping up in the news, and being in the middle of an election year, that we're not even considering talking about gun policy. Literally anything else is an issue, even if the most absurd things, but an actual problem in actual news hurting actual people is going completely ignored because our entire political system boils down to the concerns of a dozen waffly swing states.

Yeah, regardless of your position on gun policy, this is an issue that must be discussed. This is becoming too much.

[fezzyfestoon]

Becoming too much? Columbine was too much, what we're dealing with now is sheer insanity.

[Vosem]

What if someone in the crowd had a gun? Obviously it's pointless with you guys, I just want to make a note.

[Alcon]

These topics always feature a lot of complaining from both sides about how the other side won't discuss the topic

[Vosem]

These topics always feature a lot of complaining from both sides about how the other side won't discuss the topic

Ultimately this sort of cultural topic is very difficult to debate, because everybody has very ingrained opinions and also the facts are simple and undisputed.

[opebo]

This is getting to be a little bit too much. I wonder though, maybe the recent increase in these mass shootings could be due to the coverage of the Aurora shooting. Giving ideas to unstable people?

No I think it is a reflection of the economy, Sbane.  If you fire a 53 year old man who has no possibility of surviving, it is reasonable to expect killing you to cross his mind.

What if someone in the crowd had a gun?

Then more people would have gotten killed, possibly behind/in-the-general-direction-of the poor unemployed man.

[Joe Republic]

What if someone in the crowd had a gun? Obviously it's pointless with you guys, I just want to make a note.

Then the dice are rolled twice, instead of just once.

[Link]

What if someone in the crowd had a gun?

Yes the correct response to 911 should have been to let everyone take a machete into a plane.

[courts]

i agree sbane, this does look a lot like a wave of copycat killings. i wish the media wouldn't give these killers so much attention and would focus on the victims much more.

What if someone in the crowd had a gun? Obviously it's pointless with you guys, I just want to make a note.

in this sort of chaotic situation guns probably aren't that useful unless you're a trained professional. it is worth pointing out though that school shootings and mass shootings in general are ordinarily very rare. its hand gun use that overwhelmingly accounts for gun crime in the us.

[AkSaber]

It seems preposterous to me that, given the sheer frequency of these events popping up in the news, and being in the middle of an election year, that we're not even considering talking about gun policy. Literally anything else is an issue, even if the most absurd things, but an actual problem in actual news hurting actual people is going completely ignored because our entire political system boils down to the concerns of a dozen waffly swing states.

I'm in favor of the AWB by the way.....but NYC has the strictest gun laws you'll find......yet this.

The story on Fox News says the shooter used a .45 caliber pistol.

The AWB, as ridiculous inane as it always has been, would not have stopped this shooting (or any shooting for that matter). Though, as you pointed out, as outrageously stringent as NYC's weapons laws are a shooting still happened.

[Vosem]

What if someone in the crowd had a gun?

Yes the correct response to 911 should have been to let everyone take a machete into a plane.

The correct response to 9/11 was to arm airplane staff; pilots and co-pilots and stewardesses. With guns, not machetes. And teach them to use them.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

What if someone in the crowd had a gun? Obviously it's pointless with you guys, I just want to make a note.

Then the dice are rolled twice, instead of just once.

But...but if someone in the crowd had had a gun, that would have been the Good Guy, wearing the white hat!

[Insula Dei]

Okay, gun lovers, have your pick then, either:

a) American Gun Laws are inadequate.

or

b) American society is irrevocably broken, producing only bi-weekly mass shootings and foreclosures.

You get to pick your (explanatory) poison!

[Link]

What if someone in the crowd had a gun?

Yes the correct response to 911 should have been to let everyone take a machete into a plane.

The correct response to 9/11 was to arm airplane staff; pilots and co-pilots and stewardesses. With guns, not machetes. And teach them to use them.

You obviously haven't seen the abysmal hiring standards for pilots and co-pilots particularly on the regional airlines. Those guys and gals are sleep deprived and living on food stamps.  Sure I guess all that cocktail needs is firearms.  And flight attendants?!



Do we give them the gun before or after the beers?

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Okay, gun lovers, have your pick then, either:

a) American Gun Laws are inadequate.

or

b) American society is irrevocably broken, producing only bi-weekly mass shootings and foreclosures.

You get to pick your (explanatory) poison!

I'm not a gun lover, but I do believe American society is irrevocably broken.

[fezzyfestoon]

I love the idea that despite the fact that we've become more and more gun friendly in recent years only to be greeted with continually astronomical gun violence, we should all have more guns. Genius.