Utah Mall Shooting - and the "could it happen here" angle?

[Kelvin Hemholtz]

First... what a sad story. Guy just walks into a mall with a shotgun and starts randomly killing people. Unspeakable really.

But now once that story starts circulating, of course there will be the notion of doing the "could it happen here" angle in every market in America.

Usually I frown on that... because it's usually something really out there like: Titanic Strikes Iceberg... could it happen here in Arizona? You know... lame stuff like that.

But in this instance, I wonder if it's just riding the coat tails of a terrible tragedy, or if it really is fair game to go ask the local malls about their security plans.

I know that a) the malls will hate it - they hate it when you cover ANYTHING REMOTELY negative with a PASSION and b) that means your sales department will hate it too and may try to lean on you to spike it. Which only makes me like the story more.

I mean, we all know it could happen anywhere, but shouldn't malls - large gathering places - have something more than an 80 year old guy with a badge, flashlight and keys as "security?"
So I'm leaning FOR the story at this point...

What do you think? Or is it too cliche... because that is the nagging little counter thought in my head.

Your thoughts?

[The Mockingbird]

There's no "could it happen here" angle that isn't alarmist crap.

If your local mall put in metal detectors, okay, that's news.

If your lawmaker comes out and wants to ban shotguns, that's news.

Otherwise, it's just Magid.

[Fargin Icehole]

Whatever happened to the good 'ol days when people just went and blew their brains out instead of taking a few people with them?

[Pro]

It IS a story. Getting it past a GM or GSM is another matter. ;)

If you can overcome that non-inconsequetial hurdle, then go for it. It IS a story. A good one, at that.

[Consider This]

"Could it happen here?" is not a story. Any ten-year-old can tell you that the answer is yes.

What might be a cool story would be what is the proper balance between the draconian security measures needed to prevent something like this and the convenience to move around as relatively freely as we do.

But if you're just doing the "could it happen here?" angle, yes, you're simply trading on tragedy.

[2:30]

Just remember, malls don't kill people...

[CKMD]

"Every market"?
BS.
It won't be done in this one...at last by my station and one other station in town...the third? Well, they are minus an ND and in a tailspin out of control..so, they might...but I doubt it.

[Fearmonger]

It’s amazing that over 95% of the mall security departments insist on poorly trained unarmed guards. That feel-good approach to protection of life and property is always an invitation to any nut case with a gun, bomb or can of gasoline to go after a really soft target.

At the Salt Lake City mall there was an off duty and armed cop who was able to stop the killer. It may well have been some citizen with a concealed weapon permit that stopped this siege.

Prior to the 1970's no malls had unarmed guards or shootings. This is the result of the new "enlightened approach" of goofy Liberals.

When the corporations took over the casinos during the 1980 & 90s in Las Vegas they too disarmed security people. They have more than a score of dead tourists as a monument to their "enlightenment" killed during takeover robberies. They've since rearmed most of the security there.

Prior to the enactment of massive new gun laws in America (that was in 1968) there were far fewer shootings. The guns were outlawed and now only outlawes have guns. That was such a smart move...

[ February 13, 2007, 09:04 AM: Message edited by: Fearmonger ]

[News Is Broken]

We'll probably do the "are violent video games responsible" angle.... graemlins/eusa_shifty.gif graemlins/eusa_whistle.gif

[Cobra Commander]

Originally posted by 2:30:
Just remember, malls don't kill people...Chuck Norris kills people!

http://www.van-waveren.nl/pix/blog/chuck-norris.jpg

:eek:

[TVMattNYC]

This is why I don't shop at malls.

[Bureau Chief]

There is no defense against a random attack like this short of metal detectors and searches at each entrance. Thats not gonna happen of course. Malls wont pay to really beef up security and that still wouldnt do the trick for an attack like this.
Nationally, malls are losing shoppers. More so because we are all fat and want to drive up to the door rather than walking allllllllllllll the way down to Spencers Gifts, it might be as much as 200 yards or more....unless you take the short cut through the food court! :D

Eventually, malls will be torn down and then we can all order our junk on-line.

I hate the "can it happen here" angle every singel time something bad happens somewhere else. I fight it best I can but sometimes the ND just insists.

[Signature on File]

Malls...one stop popping...er....shopping.

[Consider This]

Originally posted by TVMattNYC:
This is why I don't shop at malls.NYC is so safe otherwise.

[Michigan J. Frog]

Originally posted by Pro:
It IS a story. Getting it past a GM or GSM is another matter. ;)

If you can overcome that non-inconsequetial hurdle, then go for it. It IS a story. A good one, at that.No, it isn't.

Could it happen here?

Yes.

Back to you, Kent.

[Clever Login Name]

Well, ABC has taken the idea and run with it. Airing a report right now on "mall security" in general ...

[Fearmonger]

Watch the knuckleheads at ABC news skip the idea of trained and armed mall security and take up the cause for metal detectors as the solution. That would make the malls an even softer target for criminals.

They will talk with the "experts", gun-hating mall managers.

[ February 13, 2007, 03:55 PM: Message edited by: Fearmonger ]

[Big Poppa Pump]

Some people believe that shootings can only happen in the ghetto by unemployed black people.

This is an American problem and not just an inner city problem. Once people like you realize that it's not only "those people in their neighborhood" that has a drug and violence problem then all this stuff will continue.

You can protect your precious white children from minorities all you want, but they aren't the ones shooting up malls and schools.

[CKMD]

Originally posted by Fearmonger:
Watch the knuckleheads at ABC news skip the idea of trained and armed mall security and take up the cause for metal detectors as the solution. That would make the malls an even softer target for criminals.

They will talk with the "experts", gun-hating mall managers.Yah...mall cops with guns...great idea. :rolleyes:
Even with training, Mall cops...and most regular cops are 'tards.

[WalMartNation]

Could it happen here? That angle won't work in my market, because it already did a little more than a year ago.
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_112005WABtacomamallJK.15720564.html

But one station did a "..the event in Salt Lake City evokes memories of the 2005 shootings at the Tacoma Mall..." complete with a trip to said mall to find anyone shopping who remembers what happened in 2005. Brilliant.

[Another side]

Originally posted by Fearmonger:
It’s amazing that over 95% of the mall security departments insist on poorly trained unarmed guards. That feel-good approach to protection of life and property is always an invitation to any nut case with a gun, bomb or can of gasoline to go after a really soft target.Wow ... 95 percent, huh? And I'll bet 95 percent of schools don't allow guns in their corridors either. Maybe we should allow teachers and principals to be armed.

At the Salt Lake City mall there was an off duty and armed cop who was able to stop the killer. It may well have been some citizen with a concealed weapon permit that stopped this siege.

Prior to the 1970's no malls had unarmed guards or shootings. This is the result of the new "enlightened approach" of goofy Liberals.No ... this is a product of insurance companies rightfully concerned about someone getting shot in one of the malls in which they provide coverage.

When the corporations took over the casinos during the 1980 & 90s in Las Vegas they too disarmed security people. They have more than a score of dead tourists as a monument to their "enlightenment" killed during takeover robberies. They've since rearmed most of the security there.Takeover robberies of casinos, with more than a dozen people killed? I'll need proof.

Prior to the enactment of massive new gun laws in America (that was in 1968) there were far fewer shootings. The guns were outlawed and now only outlawes have guns. That was such a smart move...Not true. Find a different cliche. Every pro-concealed-carry nut in the nation argues that nearly every state now permits citizens to carry concealed weapons, except, of course, THEIR state.

[ February 15, 2007, 01:57 AM: Message edited by: Another side ]

[Fearmonger]

More people are murdered in your GUN FREE ZONES like schools the likes of the Trolley Mall than anywhere else. Hard criminals like soft targets.

We guard our money with guns but our children don't seem to deserve that kind of protection. What's that about?

Check out the Las Vegas Sun on the takeover casino robberies. I've watched that mess for a long time know. That dozen of turists killed was over a decade. That kind of crime was unheard of in Las Vegas until the gun-haters took over.

Who the &$@# appointed insurance companies as guardians of our Bill of Rights?

[ February 16, 2007, 05:25 PM: Message edited by: Fearmonger ]

[Another side]

Originally posted by Fearmonger:
More people are murdered in your GUN FREE ZONES like schools the likes of the Trolley Mall than anywhere else.I don't believe that. In fact, I will speculate there are more murders in LA, Philly, Detroit, Houston, Chicago and New York combined on ONE weekend, than there are in malls and schools for an entire year.

We guard our money with guns but our children don't seem to deserve that kind of protection. What's that about? We don't believe our children should be exposed to random, government-sponsored gunplay, THAT'S what that's about.

Check out the Las Vegas Sun on the takeover casino robberies. I've watched that mess for a long time know. That dozen of turists killed was over a decade. That kind of crime was unheard of in Las Vegas until the gun-haters took over. I didn't think you could back that up, and I was right. At your best you're now arguing there were 1.2 tourists killed a year due to "casino takeover robberies" -- and I'll still question that term - which is allegedly fewer when Mafia wiseguys ruled the town. And for the record, I worked at The Sun when the mob ran Vegas, and I'm here to tell you, you don't know what you're talking about, you really don't.

Who the &$@# appointed insurance companies as guardians of our Bill of Rights?No one. But if you're going to build a mall, your lender is going to want to see proof of insurance, and if you're going to OPERATE a mall, your attorneys will join the bank attorneys and insist upon it. Don't want insurance? That's your right. Don't build and/or operate a mall.

[ February 17, 2007, 02:21 AM: Message edited by: Another side ]

[s'news]

In Utah, they could do a "could it happen elsewhere" angle.

[CKMD]

Gee...another side pulls out some facts and debunks Crapmonger and Crappie dissapears.
Figures.

[Clubbeat]

their security staffs? What happens when one of these 'rented cops' gets caught up in a situation like the one that occurred today? Do you really think the mall owners are going to pay for that type of training...the kind police officers get in the academy and will more than likely face on the street than the mall cop?

I'm not sure if people with concealed weapons would have been able to prevent this tragedy either. Imagine the scenario. A shooter walks into mall, opens fire on shoppers, then legally armed citizens pull out their firearms and start shooting...imagine that.

Don't think it couldn't happen? I'd be willing to bet that somewhere in that mall today, there was a citizen or two who was legally strapped.

Does not matter what the gun laws are. If you want a gun, you can get one in this country, legally or not.

What we need to do is to pay closer attention to those among us with mental health issues. Did anyone know the shooter? Could this have been prevented had there been some type of intervention?

Just some thoughts,,,

[newz2me]

Crazy people can travel and live anywhere. They're not located on "crazy island". Of course it can happen here. At the same time a plane can crash, a train derail, a river can flood its banks a bank can get robbed......

[!]

But now once that story starts circulating, of course there will be the notion of doing the "could it happen here" angle in every market in America.

Yes. It could.

Not news.

[Marty McFly]

This is such a terrible tragedy. I can't imagine how the families of those who were killed will make it through Christmas.

But at least the people who were killed didn't have guns to defend themselves and neither did the bystanders.

Right Pro?

[WalMartNation]

Sadly two years ago a kid named Dominic Maldonado shot up the Tacoma Mall and took hostages forcing a 5 hour standoff, so we don't have to do a "could it happen here" story. but what I did see on a station here was a piece on how well trained SWAT is to get in a mall or large public place to disarm/detain/taze/kill a shooter-hostage taker. It wasn't my shop that did it, but I thought it was a good piece.