<p>For those who need to know Comcast.net</a> News - At least 18 shot at Illinois university: report</p>
<p>'Several</a> people' injured in NIU shooting -- chicagotribune.com</p>
<p>We know so many students there....</p>
<p>After the racial comments back in December, I heard that security has been pretty relaxed. I pray that no one dies...</p>
<p>Thoughts are with everyone affected (...but aren't we all)?</p>
<p>Having grown up in IL, and having several ties to NIU, this really hits home.</p>
<p>Again one of the last places you would expect it. Very quiet small farm town. One of my good friends went there.</p>
<p>And what can be done so this type of events will not repeat in the future? Almost everyday in the past week there was a shooting either on campuses, or even in a middle school in Ca.
Should students undergo a periodical mental evaluation? Should schools take more drastic measures in terms of access to campus?
It appears that prayers and good thoughts don't help too much!</p>
<p>I arrived at a similar thought, rovision. Lately, it feels like there has been a surge in campus violence. Hearing about this today was just horrifying. </p>
<p>I seriously have to wonder what it is that is causing all these shootings. Clearly, mental instability is the key cause, but it seems almost widespread lately. I think after so much campus violence, something NEEDS to be done, at all college campuses of all standing. It is horrifying, frightening, and near frustrating to hear of more and more innocent lives being lost and almost nothing being done to prevent it.</p>
<p>ONILAWLIET - I agree that it is getting worse - and wonder why myself - but how do you propose to stop it?? It is not just happening at colleges - but at high schools and middle schools as well. Our society is in the middle of a sic shambled mess of violence.</p>
<p>I agree...It's happening at middle school, high school, and college campus all over the place. I think rovision's suggesstion is a start; schools should have periodical mental evaluations or something to that extent. Perhaps do background checks and psychological profiles. </p>
<p>I honestly can't think straight in the horror of the event. I don't know what can be done right now...</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I think a lot of these attacks are committed with the sick intention to leave an indelible mark on society. Given that, I think one of the best (and also toughest and most paradoxical) solutions would be to stop giving the events so much media coverage. Obviously unlikely to happen... but I don't really know what else to suggest. :(</p>
<p>I don't want to start a gun debate, but easy access to guns is the cause.</p>
<p>No gun, no rampage.</p>
<p>I think I heard on the news recently that there are 200 million guns in the US. I think that is a bit much. </p>
<p>What % of murders are gun related? it has to be something like 98%</p>
<p>smartguy--my first thought was to wonder if this is related to the December incident. </p>
<p>I previously lived about 45 minutes away from DeKalb. I took a graduate level class there for something or other. I hope all those shot are okay.</p>
<p>As a teacher who lives one town over from the middle-school shooting, my heart goes out to everyone at N. Illinois U. and I'm starting to wonder when I might receive combat pay. This is just too much. It's the fourth school shooting this WEEK.</p>
<p>There's a disconnect between youth and family. We've accepted the family unit as dysfunctional and it doesn't have to be. I hope everyone is okay.</p>
<p>Four students dead. Injured 14. Then killed himself. </p>
<p>A shotgun and two handguns.</p>
<p>I hope he gets NO PUBLICITY post-mortem.</p>
<p>Horrible news...my thoughts and prayers are with the victims, along with their families and friends.</p>
<p>And I really hope that this time, the media employs more sensitivity and responsibility and avoids giving the shooter any kind of a posthumous platform(i.e., broadcasting any "manifestos").</p>
<p>Not again... Sad world.</p>
<p>this is happening way too often. there's a trend here.
some previous poster said fourth shooting this week? what were the other 3?</p>
<p>I hope the media learned from the Virginia Tech tragedy...don't give the criminal a voice. Maybe this wouldn't have happened if NBC hadn't but the VA Tech killer on television and possibly encourage another sick mind out there.</p>
<p>Let me express my sympathy to the family and friends of those killed and injured in this terrible tragedy.</p>