I am ashamed at these people who call themselves "Americans" What guts do you have blaspheming your country?!! What is wrong with people?! Oh thats right, it called cowardice. What would you do, standing up against a door with a madman stalking around with a gun killing people, with your friends lying on floor dead? Call the police and tell them to came and throw rocks at him because they can't use guns? This isn't an arguement over wether we need to make guns illegal or not, those madmen will still get the guns, and if we cannot defend ourselves against it, what will happen? Its the people, not the guns. When 21,000 people die annually from drug abuse than 10 people with guns, whats the bigger issue? as for those of you in the uk, after 9/11, when those subway attacks happened, what did you do? Yell at the police for defending the innocent with guns or stand up for your country? For those of you who are married, What would you do if your spouse was being threatened?

nat, Wichita, Kansas

A common American argument is that people need guns to protect themselves against criminals or crazies who themselves use guns. But Americans never take the next step - if guns were illegal the criminals and crazies wouldn't have them either. How many people could that kid have killed wielding a knife instead of two 9mm pistols? Americans have it in their heads that the US Constitution guarantees them the right to bear arms - but the Constitution links that right to "a well regulated militia"; and that militia is known as the National Guard. I am, by the way, an American , though I choose not to live in the United States.

Vern Golek, Bangkok, Thailand

I see that some Americans have expressed their view that they are ashamed of being Americans. In reality they should be ashamed of being so indifferent to what their government does to other nations that they should make sure that war criminals like Bush and his administration are not elected to high office.
As for gun control, does anyone really believe that that would stop random killings ? Aoart from the use of just about any other object to kill people, guns are here and those who would use them illegally will keep them or acquire them just as easily as now however the average citizen who needs protection from burglers and robbers etc. will have no access to any means of self defence. Women living alone who, if they're sensible would buy guns and learn to use them when intruders enter their homes. All they need to do is when they have an intruder withdraw to your room and lock the door with a gun in your hand and phone the police. Anyone who forces his way in shoot him

D Markarian, Huntingdon, UK

I don't own a gun, but growing up in Texas I've known alot a people who own guns. They are all normal people who have a strong sense of responsibility. Now what we do have in America is alot of irresponsible people and alot of disturbed people. Guns did not make them irresponsible or disturbed. Guns did give them a way to express their defects. I once watched a friend of mine make low grade napalm out of household products. People will always find a way to express their rage/ insanity/ disenfranchisement/ stupidty/ pain. Why is it always about gun control? Why do we need the state to tell us how to behave? There are reasons why we have the right to bear arms and there are reasons why damaged people go on rampages. How about a little introspection? How about the highly polarized culture of paranoia, violence and insecurity we have in America. The most consistent feature of American history and culture is intense violence.
Such are the requirements of Pax Americana.

Aaron, Beijing, China

Being a teenager, I suppose I should be outraged by your stereotypical comments. I, however, am not. I would like to point out that even if you found a way to limit the number of people owning guns, there are other ways. What about the children who bring knives to school and stab each other? Are we to get rid of knives too? Fabulous. We will learn how to cut with rocks. Uh oh...we can throw rocks at each other. Darn, another weapon. Come on. Think about it. It's not the the guns. My fav. gun quote "Guns don't kill people; People kill people." You can't stop someone from strangling another being. There are no laws on that sort of hand usage...other than of course the obvious, murder is illegal. I usually stick to the principle that it is pointless to complain unless you have a solution, but I'm not sure I can offer a solution. I am certainly complaining about what is being said here but that is b/c narrowmindedness is for opinionated ppl. who enjoy the sound of their own voice too much.

Monica, Newberry, SC

As the number of people who own guns increases, so the likeliness of fatal shootings rises with it. Anyone who owns a gun is contributing to the statistic. That said, America seems so obsessed with guns and gun ownership, it is such an ingrained aspect of their culture, that it seems to me a lost battle. American citizens will never disarm themselves. It must be a frightening time to be an American. What really got me when listening to the news breaking on this was the kids who were being interviewed: they sounded so practised. Scared and concerned, but not discernably shocked.

Joe, Clacton, Essex

Hi Ed,

I beg to differ, please show me one recorded case of a person killed by a toy gun? I guess they might be killed if they had one though...

Sadly, this event is just one part of the huge butcher's bill, in order that citizens can bear arms.

Bill Bird, Wallasey, Wirral

This is typical media. Based on your figures it looks as if in the USA something of the order of 10 people a year are killed in schools or colleges by a gunman. This in a nation of 300 million. So I suspect you are more likely to be killed by a motor vehicle on your way to school or college than a someone with a gun, or even chocking on your breakfast cereal befor leaving home. The media focus is on the dramatic and the tragic not the reality.

eddie reader, birmingham, uk

Why are you americans so surprised when some disgruntled kid picks up a gun and tries to copy and emulate your criminal government's actions by going on a rampage and killing innocent people. They are copying your government. Your whole country stinks with double standards, corruption etc.
You have lost your position of preaching moral standards to others. Your whole society is corrupt and responsible for every nasty thing that happens to your citizens, wither through their direct involvement or total indifference, which makes you all just as responsible for what happens in your own country and what others would like to do to your nationals.

D Markarian, Huntingdon, UK

I'm American and I love my country. I'm so confused by this phenomenon of random violence. How can we heal from this strange sickness? Guns have been around a long time, but people in the past seldom used them in random killing sprees. What's causing this? Violent entertainment? Meth? Antidepressants? Apathy? Aimlessness? Is it a cultural thing? What can I do to help turn the tide?

Ann, Seattle, Washington, USA

Any nutcase in America can get a gun. How many more of these tragedies must occur before citizens rise up and insist on strong gun control legislation? It is time to realize that the days of Wyatt Earp and the shootout at The OK Corral are over. My heart aches for the victims at Virginia Tech.

Kim Righetti, Upland, Calif. USA

Isn't it about time the US did something about this? Why aren't'guns illegal? SIx year old schoolgirls being shot by adults ??

what the hell is going on over there?

If these people didn't have access to guns, they'd inflict harm on only themselves.

Janine Adams, London,

I am totally against citizens in having the right to bear arms and in America, anyone can practically have a gun. The disqusting organizations, such as the NRA, provides washington's politicans lots and lots of money so no wonder that this organization promotes the almighty GUN.

These shootings make me ashamed that I am an American!

Mariette, Ridgewood, NJ, USA

Until we willingly give up the cowboy mentality and stop glorifying guns in our popular culture (television, movies, etc.) this will never end. The vast majority of us (Americans) are not violent, but yet our culture and lore is rife with it. We've become accustomed to it and sometimes revel in it. I pray for the day when an entire generation of children have never seen a gun fired as a form of "entertainment". We can legislate forever and a day, but what it all boils down to is children growing to adulthood never having been titllated by violence or guns or never having been told that guns are somehow a solution to anything.

Diane, New Rochelle, New York, USA

Toy guns are to blame

Ed, salisbury, England