Europe Shocked by Serious Crimes

jffal2 · July 22, 2002, 03:45 AM

The former havens of continental and Mid-Eastern terrorists, international mobs and genocidal dictators and "enablers" of Palestinian tangoes are now complaining about crime. Their solution - even tighter weapon laws.
Jeff

Europe Shocked by Serious Crimes
By THOMAS WAGNER
Associated Press Writer
July 21, 2002, 4:11 PM EDT
LONDON -- For years, many Europeans have seen the United States as the epitome of the Wild West, where gun control laws are weak, too many people own weapons and violent crime is widespread.
That helps explain why so many Europeans are shocked by recent serious gun crimes in their countries, including several mass killings and the July 14 attempt to assassinate the French president.
The disparate attacks do not seem to have a common cause and few are blamed on internationally recognized terrorist groups. But they leave many Europeans wondering if more must be done to control weapons, fight crime and prevent violent attacks by mentally troubled people.
Also, while many Europeans still consider their region far safer than the United States in terms of guns, some say Europe must accept the fact that it, too, is susceptible to horrific crimes.
"Nobody knows what has caused all these random attacks in Europe, and if there is any connection among them," said French journalist Ragis Verley, a correspondent for the European newspaper Quenzin.
"But everyone is asking two questions: How do such attackers suddenly appear on our streets with guns or rifles, and what are we doing to care for loners with mental problems?"
On July 14, a young man with neo-Nazi connections used a rifle to try to kill French President Jacques Chirac during a Paris parade celebrating Bastille Day. The crowd overpowered him, although he did fire one shot, and Chirac escaped injury.
The assailant, a member of a right-wing student group, planned to commit suicide after the first known attempt on a French president's life since the early 1960s.
In the Netherlands, political violence is so rare that when the outspoken anti-immigrant politician Pim Fortuyn was murdered by a lone gunman on May 6, it created a political earthquake that upended the national elections nine days later.
A 32-year-old activist for the environment and animal rights was later arrested and accused of conducting the first political assassination in the Netherlands in decades.
Europe also has experienced a recent series of mass killings.
In France, a gunman killed eight officials at a suburban city council meeting outside Paris in March, prompting the government to vow to crack down on guns. The attack left people wondering how the gunman, who had a history of psychological problems, was able to obtain semiautomatic pistols and keep them even after his license expired.
Switzerland, which prides itself on its security, was shocked when a gunman walked into the regional parliament building in the central town of Zug in September and killed 14 people before shooting himself.
Afterward, the Swiss reluctantly beefed up security for politicians, including installing metal detectors in government buildings. But they stressed that the shooting did not represent a general rise in political violence, saying the gunman had mental problems and a grudge against the Zug government.
The Swiss government also planned to tighten some of the most relaxed gun control laws in Europe, but so far has not acted.
In Germany, an expelled student stormed through his former school in eastern Erfurt in April, gunning down 16 teachers and students before committing suicide.
The government later tightened gun laws, even though the 19-year-old assailant had licenses for the pump-action shotgun he carried into the school and the pistol he used in one of the world's worst school shootings.
The blood bath also caused commentators to wonder whether violent movies and computer games contributed to such crimes.
In Greece, a gunman fired shots at the prime minister's residence in June, injuring no one. The assailant turned out to be a drug addict, not someone with a political motive.
In Italy, an offshoot of the leftist Red Brigades terrorist gang claimed responsibility for the March slaying of an economist in Bologna. The dispute was local: he was working on the conservative government's bitterly contested labor reforms.
What is missing from this rash of crimes is a single trend, said professor Paul Wilkinson, director of the Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at Scotland's University of St. Andrews.
"What we are mostly seeing in Europe are incidents where a loner, not part of an international terrorist group or conspiracy, tries to assassinate their hate figures or symbols. We don't know what went on in their minds, whether it was drugs or a psychological problem," he said.
"It doesn't mean we are therefore destined to have an escalation in the number of attacks on political leaders because they are really one-off, and very much a matter of circumstance."
Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press
_

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Apple a Day · July 22, 2002, 06:44 AM

I guess the French are tired of waiting around for the Germans to invade, so they are growing their own Nazis.

Sorry, just had to say that.

ATeaM · July 22, 2002, 06:59 AM

From the continent that popularized kiddie ****, loose drug laws, institutionalized healthcare, male thongs...

loknload · July 22, 2002, 07:46 AM

Read this in this mornings paper, First thoughts?
"Imagine That!"

We have a saying out at work that goes like this,
"Those That Deseve Get"

And those folks deserve everything that is being shoveled on them.

PATH · July 22, 2002, 10:31 AM

Amen!

johnbt · July 22, 2002, 02:27 PM

"...some say Europe must accept the fact that it, too, is susceptible to horrific crimes."

Yup. Although susceptible is not the word that comes to mind. Think Crusades, the Hundred Years War, the French Revolution, WW1, WW2.

Did I leave out any other horrific crimes? And they still think that they are the epitome of civilization.

John

spacemanspiff · July 22, 2002, 02:35 PM

i always bust up laughing when europeans talk about their criminal activity, cause they call it 'hooligan' behavior. 'hooligans!' the hooligans are coming! the hooligans are coming!

you'd think that with their strict gun control, all they would worry about are, drive-by arguments.
"my word charles, is that reginald across the street? pull up to him.---Reginald? I DISAGREE WITH YOUR OPINIONS!"
(tires screeching as the hooligans make their getaway)

{shamelessly stolen from a skit on 'family guy'}

SIGarmed · July 22, 2002, 03:14 PM

LOL.

CWL · July 22, 2002, 06:29 PM

ATeam,

What the hell is that? I hope it isn't a hood ornament for your car!

ATeaM · July 22, 2002, 10:59 PM

Hood ornament?

Nine ! It's Mike Meyers new character in the new Austin Powers movie. From what I've seen the "Gold Member" character epitomizes European queerness in all senses of the word.

"I'm from Holland, isn't tjhat veird ?"

July 22, 2002, 03:45 AM	#1
jffal2 Member Join Date: March 30, 2002 Location: East Coast, USA Posts: 23	Europe Shocked by Serious Crimes The former havens of continental and Mid-Eastern terrorists, international mobs and genocidal dictators and "enablers" of Palestinian tangoes are now complaining about crime. Their solution - even tighter weapon laws. Jeff Europe Shocked by Serious Crimes By THOMAS WAGNER Associated Press Writer July 21, 2002, 4:11 PM EDT LONDON -- For years, many Europeans have seen the United States as the epitome of the Wild West, where gun control laws are weak, too many people own weapons and violent crime is widespread. That helps explain why so many Europeans are shocked by recent serious gun crimes in their countries, including several mass killings and the July 14 attempt to assassinate the French president. The disparate attacks do not seem to have a common cause and few are blamed on internationally recognized terrorist groups. But they leave many Europeans wondering if more must be done to control weapons, fight crime and prevent violent attacks by mentally troubled people. Also, while many Europeans still consider their region far safer than the United States in terms of guns, some say Europe must accept the fact that it, too, is susceptible to horrific crimes. "Nobody knows what has caused all these random attacks in Europe, and if there is any connection among them," said French journalist Ragis Verley, a correspondent for the European newspaper Quenzin. "But everyone is asking two questions: How do such attackers suddenly appear on our streets with guns or rifles, and what are we doing to care for loners with mental problems?" On July 14, a young man with neo-Nazi connections used a rifle to try to kill French President Jacques Chirac during a Paris parade celebrating Bastille Day. The crowd overpowered him, although he did fire one shot, and Chirac escaped injury. The assailant, a member of a right-wing student group, planned to commit suicide after the first known attempt on a French president's life since the early 1960s. In the Netherlands, political violence is so rare that when the outspoken anti-immigrant politician Pim Fortuyn was murdered by a lone gunman on May 6, it created a political earthquake that upended the national elections nine days later. A 32-year-old activist for the environment and animal rights was later arrested and accused of conducting the first political assassination in the Netherlands in decades. Europe also has experienced a recent series of mass killings. In France, a gunman killed eight officials at a suburban city council meeting outside Paris in March, prompting the government to vow to crack down on guns. The attack left people wondering how the gunman, who had a history of psychological problems, was able to obtain semiautomatic pistols and keep them even after his license expired. Switzerland, which prides itself on its security, was shocked when a gunman walked into the regional parliament building in the central town of Zug in September and killed 14 people before shooting himself. Afterward, the Swiss reluctantly beefed up security for politicians, including installing metal detectors in government buildings. But they stressed that the shooting did not represent a general rise in political violence, saying the gunman had mental problems and a grudge against the Zug government. The Swiss government also planned to tighten some of the most relaxed gun control laws in Europe, but so far has not acted. In Germany, an expelled student stormed through his former school in eastern Erfurt in April, gunning down 16 teachers and students before committing suicide. The government later tightened gun laws, even though the 19-year-old assailant had licenses for the pump-action shotgun he carried into the school and the pistol he used in one of the world's worst school shootings. The blood bath also caused commentators to wonder whether violent movies and computer games contributed to such crimes. In Greece, a gunman fired shots at the prime minister's residence in June, injuring no one. The assailant turned out to be a drug addict, not someone with a political motive. In Italy, an offshoot of the leftist Red Brigades terrorist gang claimed responsibility for the March slaying of an economist in Bologna. The dispute was local: he was working on the conservative government's bitterly contested labor reforms. What is missing from this rash of crimes is a single trend, said professor Paul Wilkinson, director of the Center for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at Scotland's University of St. Andrews. "What we are mostly seeing in Europe are incidents where a loner, not part of an international terrorist group or conspiracy, tries to assassinate their hate figures or symbols. We don't know what went on in their minds, whether it was drugs or a psychological problem," he said. "It doesn't mean we are therefore destined to have an escalation in the number of attacks on political leaders because they are really one-off, and very much a matter of circumstance." Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press _ •How to Subscribe •How to Advertise •About Us •Contact Us

July 22, 2002, 06:44 AM	#2
Apple a Day Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2000 Location: Poquoson,Virginia Posts: 1,452	I guess the French are tired of waiting around for the Germans to invade, so they are growing their own Nazis. Sorry, just had to say that. __________________ THose who use arms well cultivate the Way and keep the rules. Thus they can govern in such a way as to prevail over the corrupt. - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

July 22, 2002, 07:46 AM	#4
loknload Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 1999 Location: PA. USA Posts: 1,782	Read this in this mornings paper, First thoughts? "Imagine That!" We have a saying out at work that goes like this, "Those That Deseve Get" And those folks deserve everything that is being shoveled on them. __________________ We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge. Anonymous

July 22, 2002, 10:31 AM	#5
PATH Senior Member Join Date: September 10, 1999 Location: Rockland, NY Posts: 1,473	Amen! __________________ For sure it is an evil spite, and breaking to the heart, For Irishmen to watch a fight and not be taking part. -Robert Service 'How MacPherson Held The Floor'

July 22, 2002, 02:35 PM	#7
spacemanspiff Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2002 Location: alaska Posts: 2,923	i always bust up laughing when europeans talk about their criminal activity, cause they call it 'hooligan' behavior. 'hooligans!' the hooligans are coming! the hooligans are coming! you'd think that with their strict gun control, all they would worry about are, drive-by arguments. "my word charles, is that reginald across the street? pull up to him.---Reginald? I DISAGREE WITH YOUR OPINIONS!" (tires screeching as the hooligans make their getaway) {shamelessly stolen from a skit on 'family guy'} __________________ "Every man alone is sincere; at the entrance of a second person hypocrisy begins." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." - Soren Kierkegaard

July 22, 2002, 06:59 AM	#3
ATeaM Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2001 Posts: 601	From the continent that popularized kiddie ****, loose drug laws, institutionalized healthcare, male thongs...

July 22, 2002, 02:27 PM	#6
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 4,205	"...some say Europe must accept the fact that it, too, is susceptible to horrific crimes." Yup. Although susceptible is not the word that comes to mind. Think Crusades, the Hundred Years War, the French Revolution, WW1, WW2. Did I leave out any other horrific crimes? And they still think that they are the epitome of civilization. John

July 22, 2002, 03:14 PM	#8
SIGarmed Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2001 Posts: 456	LOL.

July 22, 2002, 06:29 PM	#9
CWL Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,579	ATeam, What the hell is that? I hope it isn't a hood ornament for your car!

July 22, 2002, 10:59 PM	#10
ATeaM Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2001 Posts: 601	Hood ornament? Nine ! It's Mike Meyers new character in the new Austin Powers movie. From what I've seen the "Gold Member" character epitomizes European queerness in all senses of the word. "I'm from Holland, isn't tjhat veird ?"