What the hell is wrong with our world?

SAMSON, Ala. – A gunman killed at least nine people on a terrifying rampage across two Alabama counties Tuesday, burning down his mother's home, killing members of his own family and shooting apparent strangers on their porches as he drove by, authorities said. He then fatally shot himself at a metals plant.

Police were investigating shootings in at least four different locations in three neighboring communities, all of which were believed to be the work of a single gunman who had not yet been identified by investigators. At least four other people, including a child, were injured.

The afternoon of bloodshed began in Kinston, near the Alabama-Florida border, where the shooter burned down his mother's house, according to Coffee County Coroner Robert Preachers. Officials located the woman's body inside the house, but they had not been able to get inside the still-burning house to determine a cause of death or whether she was the 10th victim.

The gunman then headed about 12 miles southeast to the town of Samson, in Geneva County, where he shot and killed five people — four adults and a child — at a home. Then he killed one person each in two other homes. The identities of all the victims were unknown, but Preachers said they included other members of the shooter's family.

"He started in his mother's house," Preachers said. "Then he went to Samson and he killed his granny and granddaddy and aunt and uncle. He cleaned his family out."

"We don't know what triggered it," Preachers added.

The gunman also shot at a state trooper's car, striking the vehicle seven times and wounding the trooper with broken glass.

He then killed someone at a Samson supply store, and another person at a service station.

Samson contractor Greg McCullough said he was pumping gas at the station when the gunman opened fire, killing a woman coming out of the service station and wounding McCullough in the shoulder and arm with bullet fragments that struck his truck and the pump.

"I first thought it was somebody playing," he said. He said the gunman roared into the parking lot and slammed on his brakes. Then he saw the rifle.

He said the gunman fired and the rifle appeared to jam, then he "went back to firing." Then he drove off.

McCullough, a father of two, said he tried to help the woman who was shot and yelled for someone to call an ambulance.

"I'm just in awe that something like this could take place. That someone could do such a thing. It's just shocking," McCullough told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Police pursued the gunman to Reliable Metal Products just north of Geneva, about a dozen miles southeast of Samson, where he fired an estimated 30 rounds from a semiautomatic weapon, the Alabama safety department said. One of the bullets hit Geneva Police Chief Frankie Lindsey, who was saved by his bullet proof vest.

The gunman then went inside the plant and shot himself, according to the safety department's statement.

Reliable Metal Products makes grills and vents for heating and AC systems, mainly for hotels. A person who answered the phone at the plant said no one could talk about the shooting.

State Rep. Warren Beck, a Republican whose district includes Geneva, said the gunman had worked at Reliable Metal.

"My secretary heard gunfire everywhere," he said. "This is one of the most tragic events ever in Geneva County."

State Sen. Harri Anne Smith, R-Slocomb, said some of those killed in Samson were sitting outside.

"He was just driving down the street shooting at people sitting on their porches," she said. "A family was just sitting on the porch and they were shot."

Smith and Beck were at the Statehouse when state troopers came to get them and took them to Geneva County. Smith said the governor's office is sending resources and state troopers are setting up a command post.

A white single-story house where the five people were killed in Samson was cordoned off by police.

Police had hung white sheets to the entranceway to shield the scene where authorities said a black hearse that pulled away late Tuesday was transporting victims' bodies.

Samson Mayor Clay King said he knew the gunman but wouldn't identify him. He declined to comment on a possible motive.

"What I'm focusing on is people here in the town, making sure they feel comfortable," said King, who added the town opened a crisis center at the First Baptist Church with counselors available.

King said he's the "most shocked person in the world" about the shooting.

"I've lived here 44 years and never, never dreamed of this happening," he said.

The towns of Geneva and Samson are near the Florida border in southeast Alabama. Geneva's population is about 4,400 and Samson, 2,000.

In the center of Samson, authorities in sheriff's cars and trucks with blue lights flashing blocked off part of East Main Street, where some of the shooting occurred.

At the hardware store, yellow tape was strung across the front of the store where at least five bullet holes punctured the glass windows to the store, with its wheelbarrows and Adirondack lawn chairs on display. An orange-and-black sign to the store reading "Closed" lay on the ground outside the store atop the glass shards.

David Bradley, 51, the owner of the hardware store, said he was inside behind the counter when the shooter opened fire outside his store. At the time, there were five customers inside, plus Bradley's 27-year-old son, Justin.

"No one was injured inside the store," David Bradley said, adding he didn't even get a glimpse at the suspect. "It happened so quick."

Is it time to talk about gun control or should we still stick to 'guns don't kill people....' bullsh*t?

This was was self-inflicted.

similar incident in germany yesterday....

its normally young LONELY guys in their late teens or early 20s

Ah! Fark it! I've done my penance.

It's America FFS!

When they're not killing each other they kill other people.

It's a popular sport in 90% (guesstimation) of the countries in the world.

We even here in paradise hold the record. Though we proved that if you take the guns away nothing like that happens again (fingers crossed).

Depends on what country you're in whether taking guns away works.Hanging,beheading,stoning,burning is popular in some countries.

Careful you might get a "Ban Noelene Thread" going.

And remember Yanks killing each other is just a symptom of a farked up society. They do it legally every other day and have done for four hundred years, with a small break in the seventies.

The stuff you're talking about is the result of the same type of warped mindset without the seventies reality check.

Bradman wrote:Careful you might get a "Ban Noelene Thread" going.

And remember Yanks killing each other is just a symptom of a farked up society. They do it legally every other day and have done for four hundred years, with a small break in the seventies.

The stuff you're talking about is the result of the same type of warped mindset without the seventies reality check.

Not if you lived in the south . . ..

I was talking legally tac old boy. The 'good ol' boys' worked out they could still chain drag a nigger and get away with it, somewhat legally.

What the hell is wrong with our world?

Everything. Research indicates that God botched up big time in his experiment of creating human beings.

Too much hatred in the world and no enough love. Too many people ready to hurt than heal. To many Gods to fight over than worship in peace?

Batman wrote:

What the hell is wrong with our world?

Everything. Research indicates that God botched up big time in his experiment of creating human beings.

To many Gods to fight over than worship in peace?

God created too many Gods?

Something that doesn't exist created too many somethings that don't exist? Struth, think I need to go for a lie down to get my head around that.

taipan wrote:

Batman wrote:

What the hell is wrong with our world?

Everything. Research indicates that God botched up big time in his experiment of creating human beings.

To many Gods to fight over than worship in peace?

God created too many Gods?

I didn't say God created many Gods to fight over. I merely said that God's great experiment with creating man is all screwed up. That was for the sentence in the post start. The ending is a different point about how we have different religions and Gods to worship and how we use those beliefs and faiths to hate each other, kill each other and fight each other when most religions and Gods they worship talk of loving humanity and existing peacefully. Yet we have Christian, Islamic and even Hindu missionaries forcing their religion and Gods and their way over some people even at gun point at a lot of places in the world.

Batman wrote:

taipan wrote:

Batman wrote:

What the hell is wrong with our world?

Everything. Research indicates that God botched up big time in his experiment of creating human beings.

To many Gods to fight over than worship in peace?

God created too many Gods?

I didn't say God created many Gods to fight over. I merely said that God's great experiment with creating man is all screwed up. That was for the sentence in the post start. The ending is a different point about how we have different reigions and Gods to worship and how we use those beliefs and faiths to hate each other, kill each other and fight each other when most religions and Gods they worship talk of loving hum,anity and existing peacefully. Yet we have Christian, Islamic and even Hindu missionaries forcing their religion and Gods and their way over some people even at gun point at a lot of places in the world.

So God (in any form) is all screwed up. The atheists of the world thank you.

Batman wrote:

taipan wrote:

Batman wrote:

What the hell is wrong with our world?

Everything. Research indicates that God botched up big time in his experiment of creating human beings.

To many Gods to fight over than worship in peace?

God created too many Gods?

I didn't say God created many Gods to fight over. I merely said that God's great experiment with creating man is all screwed up. That was for the sentence in the post start. The ending is a different point about how we have different religions and Gods to worship and how we use those beliefs and faiths to hate each other, kill each other and fight each other when most religions and Gods they worship talk of loving humanity and existing peacefully. Yet we have Christian, Islamic and even Hindu missionaries forcing their religion and Gods and their way over some people even at gun point at a lot of places in the world.

In short, religion.

The world is fine. It's the people on it that are the problem.

Sage

The people are a part of this world though.

doremi wrote:The people are a part of this world though.

People are just a passing phase like everything else. We are not important to the earth. If anything the earth would be better off without us on it.

There's nothing wrong with the world.

Sometimes people do bad things. It doesn't make sense, but that's the sad fact of the matter.

People are generally good; flawed, but good.

O_M_G.

doremi wrote:

In short, religion.

religion preaches a million positive things yet the opponents solely focus on the negatives

secondly i am not sure how this particular story of killing your own mom and other relatives can be linked to religion.