There's loads of good discussion about gun nuts and gun control laws going on over at Slog...

I've been feverishly refreshing the online news sites waiting for new information on the Virginia Tech shootings, trying to figure out why it happened and how it could have been prevented in an effort to make sense of it. I keep wondering, does this mean that we should work towards creating more opportunities for young adults? Donate money to state schools? Become a big brother or big sister to disadvantaged kids? Work to keep music education classes in public schools? It is a defense mechanism of trying to uncover an action item in an effort to figure out why this happened and what could have been done to prevent it.

Or, is it just a matter of "Whatever happened to crazy" (that old Chris Rock line) - meaning, sometimes there's nothing that could have been done, sometimes people are just crazy? A violent action can't always be prevented by offering a child the a bit of the U.S. backdrop of overabundance.

What do you all think?

Also, in light of the nonchalant NRA response above, does anyone have statistics on the number of times guns have been used for 'legal' shootings (the average joe citizen happens to have their gun ready to go when they are attacked by an armed criminal breaking into their house, etc.) verses injuries from 'illegal' use of guns (i.e. hidden firearms find find their way into the hands of kids, the angry boyfriend kills a foe or girlfriend, etc.)?

I can't think of many cases where having a gun actually saved the day against the villain. Does that mean that we all need guns (and the fearlessness of being able to shoot someone) or that there should be more restrictions (I'm looking at you Walmart).

Hear hear, Liz!

I resisted posting earlier because, well, what did TIG really have to say about such an epic tragedy? But I thought it fitting that our first post came from our one writer who's from another country (England, and Canada too, sort of).

I know the question is far more complex than "guns are bad, guns must go bye-bye" -- but traveling through Europe, I always found folks from other countries completely bemused by the US and our lax gun control laws / subsequent huge rate of gun-related violence and tragedy.

I don't have the stats you're asking for Liz, but I was robbed at gunpoint once. Would be interesting to get an informal imaginary reader's poll going on personal experiences and thoughts about guns...

Well, you'll all be pleased to know that on a web poll currently on ABC News, people think - at a 2:1 margin - that it is irresponsible to link tragedies like this to gun control and that incidents like this are in no way related to access to guns.

Ah America, you hate it people get called names, but damned if you're going to take my guns away!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

This is one of the great dichotomies of our society. In a time when the government has worked feverishly to take away as many civil liberties as possible, when they have made so much progress in eroding our privacy, all in the name of our safety, absolutely no effort has been made to stop anyone from buying a machine gun. I can’t get on a plane with out taking off my shoes and declaring my toothpaste but I can buy an assault rifle with a Discover card, that seems logical.

Well stated, Tim!