GOLETA, Calif. (AP) — A California gunman who went on a rampage near a Santa Barbara university stabbed three people to death at his apartment before shooting to death three more in a terrorizing crime spree through a neighborhood, sheriff's officials said Saturday.

The three people in the apartment were among the six left dead Friday night during the shootings near the campus of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Elliot Rodger, 22, the suspected gunman, apparently killed himself, authorities said.

more:

Sheriff: Calif. gunman killed 3 people at home

Below is one of the reader comments posted:


Today, we grieve for our beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Life isn't always fair;
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Waste Not, Want Not;
- And maybe it was my fault, in my situation
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend
more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults and citizens, not children,
are in charge).......
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens
suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the
job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly and mentally
ill children.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses;
a Ft Hood Terrorist and illegal criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a
burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live.
Common Sense was preceded in death,
-by his parents, Truth and Trust,
-by his wife, Discretion,
-by his daughter, Responsibility,
-by his son, Reason.
- by his grandmother, Sound Judgement
- and by his grandfather, Future Planning
He is survived by his 6 stepbrothers;
- I Know My Rights
- I Want It Now
-Someone Else Is To Blame
- I'm Offended
- I'm A Victim
- You owe me
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.....

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Thanks for the post Jim.

A few years ago there was a book entitled "The Death of Common Sense." I never read the book, but the title comes to mind from time to time.

The key is the last line of your post that points out that all too many people don't even realize that it's gone. Unless something miraculous happens, we're headed for some really tough times due to society having lost common sense.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

The quote makes some good points about our present situation but has little to do with someone who is clearly mentally ill.

Condolences to all who have lost loved ones in this senseless spree.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

This allegedly is the killer's account of his motivation:

Video allegedly from mass killer in Santa Barbara: “If I can’t have you, girls, I’ll destroy you.” [TRIGGER WARNING] | we hunted the mammoth

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Well that was just a bit disturbing to read. Perhaps one day we will figure out how the human mind works and be able to prevent people from breaking like this.

__________________
Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

I think the first start is that we have to de-stigmatize mental health issues. Modern society still views mental illness as it once did Hansen's Disease, to shun and institutionalize those afflicted.

Did he have a mental disease? I didn't see anything in that rant which indicated he did.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Killing seven people then killing yourself because you can't get laid is the product of a healthy mind. Right.

A normal guy with rich parents and enough money for a new BMW would have taken a drive across the Nevada line and gone to an "unlicenced sex therapist." Not to mention, he had major self-image issues with his ethnic background and his supposed shortness (he was 5'9", right).

Only mentally diseased people do evil? What's the evidence for that?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Most evil by non-deranged people is done for some sort of gain or in the spur of the moment. Dictators order people killed because they are blocking their path to power, or because they think their victims are enemies of a better society that they're trying to create. A robber who shoots someone in the course of a robbery is doing it for money. A killing in a bar fight is done in anger, at the spur of the moment, generally not planned.

He premeditated an essentially senseless violent act (how would killing people, then killing himself solve his problem?). His bitterness was based on a distorted view of himself (he wasn't short nor horrible-looking). Honestly, I bet he never even TRIED to talk to women, which is why he was ignored.

So he stabbed three people and shot three. I wonder what people will jump on the bandwagon to ban, edged weapons (kitchen knives anyone?) or guns... Hmmm.

I don't see anything in that argument which requires that he be suffering from a mental disease. What is a 'distorted' view of himself? Is there some pure unadulterated and accurate view of oneself?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Also since when is the death of three people a "mass" anything? If three people croak in a car wreck is that a "mass death?"

I read seven dead.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Huh???

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting