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Originally Posted by OneToughHerring
The shooter in this particular incident was a recent grandfather who drove a cab. Not really someone I'd characterize as a "scum", "criminal", etc. From what I know the shotgun he used had a permit as well.
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Yeah, from all indications, while the guy most certainly can no longer really gather actual sympathy, some understanding is due. I'm sure he didn't just wake up one day after living 52 years and decided to kill people for fun. BBC is now speculating that it was a family dispute that got him going.
Never underestimate what stress can do, especially if there is some sort of mental condition lurking underneath. People can really crack - if you've been there, you know what that can be like. That doesn't justify this or whitewash the guy, nor is that really needed since he's dead - but let's not discount the possibility that if his day went a little differently, he would've gone on being your average village taxi driver.
But I totally agree that the public needs to stop obsessing over him and remember the victims. Reminds me of one of the few good lines to come out of Bowling for Columbine and Marilyn Manson: "What would you say to the victims? - Nothing. I would simply listen to what they had to say, and that's what noone did."
Let's hope someone does this time.