Making Sense of the NIU Tragedy

Less than one year after the Virginia Tech tragedy, the violence continues.

ByABC News
February 15, 2008, 5:18 PM

Feb. 15, 2008— -- The tragedy at Northern Illinois University yesterday has prompted new debate over how to control gun violence.

Consider this: Since the beginning of February, there have been seven incidents in this country in which three or more people were killed by guns, a total of 32 people.

During the past year alone, there were the City Council shootings near St. Louis, the violence in a Lane Bryant store outside Chicago, the Omaha mall shootings and, now, another school massacre, less than one year after the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

After each incident, the same overriding question remains: How could it happen? And, what can we do to prevent this from happening?

We learned today that the student gunman at NIU bought his four weapons legally, just like the shooter at Virginia Tech.

So, is the answer stricter gun control?

Second amendment advocates say no.

But even those who say yes believe it would take years to clean up the illegal markets.

"It's incredibly easy for anyone who wants to get a gun to get a gun," said professor Delbert Elliott, director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, which is part of the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

The NIU gunman reportedly stopped taking medication, and the Virginia Tech gunman had a long history of mental health issues.

"In virtually all cases, there are some warning signs," Elliott said. "In some cases, it's a clear warning, in others, it's more difficult."