Ok, what gives? Another man in China has gone berserk and attacked a kindergarten class, but this time with a meat cleaver [typical]. This has been the 5th attack on Chinese schoolchildren in the past 2 months and the deadliest; 7 children and 2 teachers were killed as was the perpetrator himself having returned home after the attack to kill himself [bitch move]. In every instance, the attacks were perpetrated by middle aged men who targeted young children with knives or tools. Who could have predicted a more violent trend than the shoot ‘em ups of American high schools? And at least those kids had access to guns. Because of China’s strict firearm laws, violent acts are relegated to melee weapons and blunt objects; meaning close quarter combat. If you could even call it combat when the victim is 4 years old.
Which brings me to my original question: just what gives? Some believe that the acts are symptomatic of an overall dissatisfaction with the Chinese government and more importantly, the government’s lack of accountability. There is no ‘release valve’ for citizens to air or resolve their grievances given tight state control and censorship laws. As stated in the Chinese newspaper The Dahe Bo
“After being treated unfairly or being bullied by the authorities, and unable to take revenge on those government departments that are safeguarded by state security forces, killers have to let out their hatred and anger on weaker people, and campuses have become the first choice”
This is a bit of a stretch if you ask me. Unless the Chinese are true trailblazers, I can’t think of any other cases where political unrest led to random child murder. Though, government response has been to censor media coverage of the attack.
Perhaps a better explanation is China’s lack of awareness regarding mental illness. A British medical journal published an analysis of mental health issues in China and concluded that 91 percent of an estimated 173 million people believed to have mental health issues never receive professional help, an astonishing number that does shed light on this recent run of violence in China.
Still, there is something particularly eerie about this trend of schoolchildren murder and its regularity that doesn’t sit well with the simple explanations of social unrest or mental illness. What that is may just be as absurd as the murders themselves. Life’s a bitch, ain’t it?
I think that if they had access to guns it would be a lot worse. Notice that all the rampages are against children. Probably because if the attacker tried this on a college campus it would only be a matter of time before some 21-year-old overpowers him and the mob beats him to death. Think of how much more damage could have been done if these guys were using guns. I don't just think there would be more deaths, but there would prob'ly be more attacks because the attackers wouldn't have that mental barrier that prevents you from killing at such close proximity to your victim. It's a lot easier when all you have to do is pull a trigger from 50ft away.
Maybe the guy doesn't have any kids of his own, or doesn't have a son, and is upset with the one child policy, so he takes it out on little kids?
There would be more deaths if these guys had access to guns the way they do in the U.S., no doubt. All I'm saying is is that gun laws alone won't stop crazy people from committing these kinds of atrocities.
Oh man, another attack is in the news today...
I hear mental illness is a bit taboo over there, but the lack of political freedom is an interesting hypothesis.
Also, I know this is going to sound like a defense of guns, but these attacks seem to show that regardless of whether they have access to guns or not, these sickos are going to act out their aggression whether we ban guns or not.