1 student shot at high school in Taft, Calif.
TAFT, Calif. (AP) - A student was shot and wounded at a rural San Joaquin Valley high school Thursday and another student was taken into custody, officials said.
The shooting occurred about 9 a.m. at Taft Union High School, a community of fewer than 10,000 people amidst oil and natural gas production fields about 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
The student who was shot was flown to a hospital in Bakersfield, said Ray Pruitt, spokesman for the Kern County Sheriff's Department. There was no immediate word on the victim's condition.
Pruitt said the suspect is a student, and a shotgun was used in the attack.
Kern County Fire Department Eric Coughran told KBAK-TV that another person suffered some type of injuries in the incident but refused medical attention.
KERO-TV Bakersfield reported that the station received phone calls from people inside the school who hid in closets.
It was not immediately clear how many students are enrolled at the high school, which teaches 9th through 12th grades.
The Taft shooting came less than a month after a gunman massacred 20 children and six women at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., then killed himself.
That shooting prompted President Barack Obama to promise new efforts to curb gun violence. Vice President Joe Biden, who was placed in charge of the initiative, said Tuesday in Washington, D.C., that he would deliver new policy proposals to the president by next week.
Ok for all you that think we need stricter gun laws eat a piece of this pie. Criminals and deemed unstable people already have no (legal) access to guns. All these school shootings are with parents guns. You think a kid is allowed to buy a gun? If any new legislation is to be made it should be that those who legally own a firearm must have it locked in a safe. Boom i just stopped every school shooting.
 @Skeetball "Criminals and deemed unstable people already have no (legal) access to guns"
Yes...but how is the private seller supposed to know if they are or not on the list?
The more press you give these events and individuals the more they will happen.
When is one of these KILLERS going to actually use an assault weapon? I hear all this talk about wanting to ban them, but it seems nobody uses them anyway when they go wacko?
 @Dave Lancaster that's a little untrue, I think 30% is the number ...Â
If only California had strict gun laws... oh wait...
@Gadsden they' never let go of their AWB, and citizens can't carry there (I should say most citizens) some people do get concealed permits, but not many
 @Dave Lancaster  @Gadsden And they still have problems with shootings.
Guns will always be a part of the U.S. as long as the 2nd Ammendment is around. I think instead of focusing solely on gun control, we need to re-visit the laws we have. Murderers these days get off too easy. Criminals with guns know the leniency of the law and basically think it's worth their criminal act. On the other end, you have people that are mentally unstable and go off on the deep end. If we can get more strict on punishment and get help for those mentally unstable, we wouldn't even be in half the mess we are in.
 @Koreanman012 very little you can do about mentally ill mass shooters - especially if they are willing to go off the deep end - short of stopping them in the act. Luckily, there are relatively few such incidents - on average 88 casualties per year over the last 30-40 years. They cause tremendous pain, but they are not really responsible for some 8-10,000 gun homicides annually. One must also take into account that curbing gun violence will not necessarily reduce violence, it just shifts to other "art" forms. There is little opportunistic gun violence. The challenge is to address the root cause of violence. Mental health is one, unemployment and financial desperado may be another, education, etc. These are very difficult to analyse, and politics is more interested in quick-fixes (which don't fix anything). As for gun control, I am leaning towards the pro gun crowd as here in WA - with very lax laws - our gun murder rate is 1.2 per 100,000, which is half the national average.
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To curb gun violence this puck needs to be removed from society and only in 50 or 60 years if he has behaved well can he then re-enter. This is the only way at this point. We have allowed our children to believe there will be no consequences of their actions and until those that behave this way are not out there doing it will we be free from this behavior. When those in society do not fear the repercussions of these actions they will continue.
Time to outlaw shotguns....not really sure why the student did not follow the No guns policy at schools.
OMG! Another shooting! We MUST ban all guns and confiscate the ones that are out! We're all gonna die! Quick! Everybody panic! [\sarcasm]
 @Glassman Have a little class, dude.
 @Sutekh You just don't get it, do you? Naturally, they had to have a gratuitous reference to Sandy Hook, all the while Obama pledges do "do something" about the gun violence. Everybody is jumping on the band wagon while the mainstream news drags out every possible gun violence story since guns were invented to fan the hysteria, yet they totally ignore all the cases where armed citizens defended themselves or others and prevented tragedies.
All the "disarm" hysteria is just that: over reaction and panic.
If the news media would stop giving these cretins their ten minutes of fame, the copy cats would have little reason to act out.
 @OrcasThunder  @Dave Lancaster  @Sutekh  @Glassman It's a good thing that most obtainable "semi-auto machine pistols" (exception I know of off hand is a G18..but I have been trying to get one of those for years...and only because of the paperwork I have done could I own it...but because of it being auto capable would not be able to shoot it here in WA) are too big to conceal so as far as I know few people carry them concealed as a defense weapon.
 @Dave Lancaster  @OrcasThunder  @Sutekh  @Glassman What he did was miss not only the target he was shooting at - the shooter - but also the guy who tackled the shooter.
What if this would be Rambo had actually shot - and killed - the hero? Not only would the shooter have continued firing, more people might have died.
If I am in a situation where someone is firing into a crowd, the last thing I want is for some "I'm armed, so don't worry!" twit to open fire with a semi-auto machine pistol because he actually believed the NRA when they told him he was the last and best protector of the innocent.
@OrcasThunder @Sutekh @Glassman , almost hit, what is that like, it is a miss? so you're saying he didn't shoot the hero that ran in?
 @Glassman  @Sutekh When seconds counted for me, and the man holding a gun to my face, the police were 45 minutes away. I cannot trust them to be there when I need them.
 @Sutekh  @Glassman Well, there was an armed bystander at the Gifford shooting, and he did shoot at the shooter - and almost hit the hero who rushed in and tackled the gunman...
 @Sutekh LOL. It would be much easier to list the mass shootings that were NOT stopped by an armed citizen. But since you asked nicely, here ya go:
http://www.americanretiredpersons.com/InsuranceServices/defengun.htm
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Remember; When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.
 @Glassman "they totally ignore all the cases where armed citizens defended themselves or others and prevented tragedies."
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Perhaps you can help us by listing the number of mass shootings in the USA which were stopped by armed bystanders.
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It's how you heard the sheeple to buy what you're sellin. Logic is thrown out history is thrown out as well accountability.
Get'em worked up frothing at the mouth and turn'em loose.
Can't see the fact of how the greaat and wonderfull Obama has really let them down by not enforcing current laws already put on the books with the help of the NRA. No we new laws the please the sheeple.
 @Glassman  @Sutekh I gotta say, you have a point....especially when the one story of a gun used in self defense that actually made it on here was buried quickly within a couple hours so it wouldn't be seen. Anybody saying there isn't an anti-gun slant in the media is fooling themselves, and likely anti-gun themselves.
 @Sutekh  @Glassman Oh, he does. VERY little class...
 @Komo Dragon  @Sutekh  @Glassman "funny"
It wasn't intended to be...
 @agatha "get a freakin job"
I'm retired, on Social Security and a pension - and work part time on a small business venture. So I have all the time I need to make your life seem wasted...
Orcas, get off your liberal soapbox and get a freakin job,.,dang..
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 @OrcasThunder  @Sutekh  @Glassman funny
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/10/opinion/avlon-obama-gun-control/index.html?hpt=hp_t1Finally, President Obama could order the Justice Department to increase the prosecutions of people who falsify information on their gun background checks. In 2009, the FBI reported 71,000 instances of people lying on their background checks to buy guns. But the Justice Department prosecuted just 77 cases -- that's about 1/10th of 1%. A lack of follow through from the federal government is letting these gun criminals walk, and that sends a message about lack of enforcement that only encourages systematic disrespect for existing gun laws
Read the article it's from CNN and just maybe you can see a little light.
 @BocaBob Maybe he could actually require every one who buys a gun to pass a background check for starters. Too many private citizens selling guns and not requiring any background check.
 @BocaBob Following through on prosecuting people for breaking the laws they already have on the books? Impossible! Nope, the only answer is MORE LAWS! MORE MORE MORE!
Interesting to note that CNN TV is reporting that the shooter was disarmed by a teacher TALKING to him...
I suppose if you were there Orcus, you would sing Kumbyia to the kid huh? THat would definately make him stop shooting..
 @agatha "you would sing Kumbyia"
Well, people do say that prayer helps...
 @OrcasThunder Please tell me that the teacher at least had a gun while talking.
 @Komo Dragon That's not the report I heard.
 @OrcasThunder i was being sarcastic
 @Komo Dragon "help the NRA"
Lost cause.
 @OrcasThunder just trying to help the NRA
 @OrcasThunder You're right. Even Fox is saying the same thing. http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/01/10/2-shot-at-california-high-school/
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Betting anything this was gang related in some way. It was obviously targeted against the one student.
 @dg54321 "Betting anything this was gang related in some way."
Or it was reaction to bullying.
 @OrcasThunder From what I can gather from reading a dozen or so reports on this, this kid was not on a shooting spree, he was targeting two specific students, Not sure what his beef with them was yet, but it does not seem like he was in the mind set to "Kill 'Em All"
 @DarkParty "this kid was not on a shooting spree"
Perhaps not.
But...would your armed Rambo teacher have taken the time to determine that?
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Not likely.
 @DarkParty "Who could possible know?"
Exactly.
But many who push for more armed citizens, saying that will stop gun crimes because the citizens will be able to outgun the criminals, insist that everyone who happens into a gun situation WILL know "exactly" what to do...
 @OrcasThunder "Don't you KNOW what you would do if you walked into a gun situation?"
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No, I do not. Who could possible know?
 @DarkParty "Your asking stupid hypothetical questions instead of talking about the case at hand."
Walking into a gun situation is far more likely than a teacher being in a position to shoot someone.
I am asking a question that you seem to be afraid to answer.
Why is that?
Don't you KNOW what you would do if you walked into a gun situation?
 @OrcasThunder Your asking stupid hypothetical questions instead of talking about the case at hand.
 @DarkParty "Your acting like the teacher did not see this kid pull the trigger"
Not in the question I asked.
 @Dave Lancaster Oh, and there is a kicker in this scenario - something you wouldn't think of at first pass.
Can you guess what it is?
 @Dave Lancaster  @OrcasThunder "your shoot first strawman is ridiculous"
That might be true - BUT no more that the scenarios you people bring up where teachers stand up to a shooter and open fire while surrounded by 30 plus panicking elementary kids. And actually, MY scenario is propably MORE likely than you want to accept.
For instance, you assume there was a gunshot. Why? Because I mentioned blood? Blood can result from a blow to the nose. You ask why you didn't hear the gunshot? Because there was none.
You say I need to "tell you what is happening"? Why? In real life, if you DID turn the corner and see this happening - why could you expect to know exactly what was going down at the instant you saw this? Keep in mind that I asked for your IMMEDIATE REACTION to the scene, NOT you critique after the fact.
You walk into a scene and a gun is pointed at someone on the ground - WHAT is your first reaction?
WHAT is your FIRST impulse on how to react?
Do you automatically pull out your piece and point it at the person holding the rifle?
What if the person with the rifle is startled and re-actively moves the rifle in your direction?
Do you immediately fire to defend yourself?
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Not likely, you say?
Not really. Some cops run into this sort of situation on a regular basis. They train for it.
And regular people do walk into hyper situations similar to this as well.
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So, what IS your first instinctive reaction to this? Do you react by pulling the pistol, even opening fire?
Or do you do the safest thing, turn around and run back around the corner and continue to run, calling 911 on the cell phone?
Is it the reactive aggressive reaction, or the safe reaction?
 @OrcasThunder Leave your made up scenarios out of it, Your acting like the teacher did not see this kid pull the trigger, He did see it happen, he did not happen upon the scene after the fact. So YES he would be justified in shooting this kid dead on the spot if he had been armed.
 @Dave Lancaster  @OrcasThunder "your shoot first strawman is ridiculous"
Is it? Have you been reading some of the comments of people who want to arm teachers? If they don't want a "shoot first" mentality, they sure hide it well.
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"and why did the guy have a gun at a school"
And you think that these people would take the time to ask all these questions?
What if the guy is startled when you ask - and swings the gun toward you and see's you with your gun out, pointing at him (you aren't going to leave it in the holster waiting for him to answer, are you)?
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@OrcasThunder ,your shoot first strawman is ridiculous, Most gun carriers would hesitate to shoot, because they know they have to be fearful of being killed in order to justify committing homicide.  the people that carry guns, carry them to protect themselves. not you. in an active shooting spree, where one can identify the threat, then things might be different, but in your make believe situation, you have to tell us what happened when we walked around the corner? what did the person on the ground yell, what was the guy standing up doing? how many people where behind them, how did you not hear the gunfire? how long ago was the shot before you got to the corner? why did you not call 911 when you heard shots fired? and why did you keep walking blindly around a corner when you where headed to the danger area? and what's the point of going around the corner in a mad rush towards the gunfire, when you didn't bring your gun with you to the school?
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and why did the guy have a gun at a school, didn't he know those are gun free zones
 @DarkParty "You're the one that brought the "Rambo teacher" into it"
I was responding to the dichotomy of your 2 posts. the first that this wasn't the "mass shooting" like Sandy Hook...and then your post "Once he shot the first kid, I couldn't care less. Take him out." - they are in conflict as to your intent.
And your second post confirms the Rambo reference..."Take 'em out" is the mindset of those who - like you - indicate it is shoot first, forget the questions later.
Let me ask you a question - if you were in a school, walked around a corner and saw a person holding a gun at a person laying on the floor with blood on their clothes...what would you do, first action?
 @OrcasThunder You're the one that brought the "Rambo teacher" into it, I was talking about what actually happened. But yes, If that Teacher had been armed, I would be all for him shooting this kid after he had already shot one student.
 @DarkParty But, from your statement above, you wouldn't have taken the time to find out...or are you in the habit of walking up to someone, and then shooting them?
 @OrcasThunder That is the reason why the teacher was able to talk him down?
 @DarkParty If that's the case, why bring it up?
 @OrcasThunder Once he shot the first kid, I couldn't care less. Take him out.
 @OrcasThunder  Wow. Prepared to be flamed by the gun nuts for that...
 @lakeview "Prepared to be flamed by the gun nuts for that..."
Naw...I just had a colonoscopy - resulting in a ruptured colon.
The gun nuts can't be as bad a that.
 @OrcasThunder Hope they gave you good drugs to keep you comfortable......
 @stamperzann  @lakeview Thanks.
Actually, except for the 3 days of nothing but getting on the nerves of the nurses (never a good idea!) and the one pain during the CT, it was really a forgettable boredom...although finding the channel with the old I Love Lucy and Paladin, Have Gun Will Travel episodes was entertaining.
 @OrcasThunder  @lakeview So sorry you had to go through that.  That almost sounds nastier than my small bowel resections.  Luckily, after at least a dozen scopes, that has never happened to me but that is always a risk no matter who does the procedure.  Glad you are feeling better.
 @OrcasThunder At any rate, glad you have healed.  That's gotta hurt!   :-(  Not that colonoscopies are "fun" anyway - mostly the prep....  >-(   At any rate, opine on! :-)
 @Smartypants  @aintno1special  @lakeview She is well rated - this was the first occurrence in over 5,000 procedures.
Also, she did remove 3 per-cancerous polyps, and this happened because she swung the top down to check the connection of the colon to the rectum and nicked a spot of diverticulitis. She saw the wound and sutured it.
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 @OrcasThunder  @lakeview I see the procedure didn't stop you from talking out of that same orifice.
 @OrcasThunder  @aintno1special  @lakeview Man, that really sucks!  Glad you have healed.  PS - Find a better GI Dr. next time you need a colonoscopy - there are some nationally rated ones in Seattle.
 @OrcasThunder  @aintno1special  @lakeview Please let us know where you went for your procedure so the rest of us can stay as far away from the place as possible......yeesh. Wouldn't wish that on anybody.
 @aintno1special  @lakeview Thanks - it's all healed now - but I had 3 days with no food or water by mouth to deal with.
Probably the worse part was when the CT scan guy used the rectal probe to get a scan for any leakage from the sutures (there was non), and the probe hit the rupture area...I almost went through the wall trying to get away from that! It greatly expanded the high limit on the 1-10 scale of pain they ask about...
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 @OrcasThunder See, an example of effective resolution at work. Now, just spread the talking it out message to all.
 @Stopseattlepolice  @OrcasThunder He had 2 targets and no intention of a mass shooting. Talking would/did not work in any of the mass shootings.