I once thought I might like to live in New Zealand however, after reading some of the narrow minded, immature, and downright hateful messages regarding the University shootings, I have decided that NZ is one of the last places on earth I would want to live. Good day.

You are very uninformed. To base your views of America on a movie is sad to say the least. I spent 2 weeks in Auckland last year. Visiting my wifes family. Get your country's drug problem under control before you throw stones. Hope you enjoy living under Japan rule because they are buying up New Zealand 1 block at a time. Sorry we have a Constitution that allows us to buy weapons for protection or hunting. Sorry there is no sanity test attached to the purchase of a weapon. Let's not forget he wasn't an American. He was a guest here.

My daughter is a student at Virginia Tech who thank God was not in harm's way. I am in hearty agreement with your editorial condemning easy access to guns in the US. As an American I am discouraged and saddened each time these massacres happen, and day by day by the numbing statistics of homicide in our cities.I am also disheartened by the practical realities we face in correcting this problem. First, if automatic weapons manufacture and sale were outlawed tomorrow, there are countless millions of weapons in circulation, with an essentially infinite shelf life. Second, while a vast majority of Americans are in favor of saner gun control laws, the might of the National Rifle Association lobby is stronger than the courage of our politicians, whose decisions are governed by how much milk can be lapped from the various political action committees rather than by the merit of the issues, or by wisdom.

Kiwis are messed up like the rest of the world - if it wasn't for the United States kiwis would be still living in the dark ages. To make derogatory remarks about the US just shows how stupid kiwis are.

This is the same New Zealand that we fought to save in world war II? You kidding me ? Now that was stupid on our part ! we should have left them to bow hard to the emperor by now. Not that New Zealand really matters, (heck New Zealand doesn't even matter for the nearby Fijians) but for the record, this is not a country that we can call a friend. Helen Clark just made a trip recently to Washington. Let's make a note that at least for the next 100 years we need not bother with another kiwi official. I'm not heartless, really, but I can't wait to laugh when New Zealand faces a doom day.

Unfortunately, New Zealanders can never truly understand why Americans have guns. It is far too ingrained into American culture to just suddenly take them away. Even if the 2nd Amendment was removed from the US Constitution, it would be impossible to remove the guns from the street. All that would accomplish is taking the guns from law abiding citizens and leaving them defenceless. Being a 3/4 Kiwi myself (my family is from Auckland) I understand enough about New Zealand culture to know why this concept of a "right to bear arms" is so distant. However, it is part of the fabric of America and too much gun control would only burden those who do not break the law.

I believe that some of the Americans comments are too, disgusting. I am sorry you are losing sight of the problem here. The problem at hand is how this student managed to get these firearms. I have been living overseas for many years now, and living with a lot of Americans, and I feel sorry for you for some of the abuse that you receive about world events in which you are involved. But one thing I cannot get my head around is the simplicity of obtaining firearms. It is truly disgraceful. My heart is with all of the families that have lost family members in this outrageous event. But I have a very genuine question that I think as Americans you need to sit down and think about. How many reoccurrences will need to take place, like this last one, for which your government will start to implicate rules on the purchasing of firearms? And not only firearms, but also the amount of ammunition you can have/buy at once? If you calculate, the shooter must have had more than 100 bullets on his person or stashed around. That is a lot of ammunition. It was a recipe for disaster. It is not only the "Bad Guys" that have guns.

I am an American and have lived in New Zealand for a while now and I can honestly say I am deeply disturbed by comments from both perspectives here. It is truly sad and demonstrates the state of the world in my opinion. I grew up just around the corner from Columbine and have dealt with that tragedy. What should be happening here is people coming together and appreciated on another and the different places we come from. Using that strength to be grateful for the lives we share on this planet. Using that strength to make sure a tragedy like this doesn't happen again. Sure this is a very "hippy" thing to say but the fact is we all need a bit of empathy. Understand that we all come from different places and our "ego-centric" thinking gets us nowhere but further from where we need to be. There are 33 people not coming home tonight in this terrible tragedy. Gun Laws??? Sure there is some validity there. Like everything, there are pros and cons but why talk about it now. People's lives are taken from them far too early no matter what country you live in. Americans posted arrogant, ridiculous, hate messages on any website is a contradiction to everything a true American would believe in. Kiwi's that think it is OK to sit around and Judge the rest of the world and their decisions is a contradiction to everything most Kiwis I know believe in. Ignorance. The reason we can all sit here and have our opinions because at the end of the day we all do the same thing....sit around and talk about what changes chould be made, who did what, we look to place blame. You can learn a lot more by opening your mind a bit and accepting the fact that forever we will all have an opinion but can we agree that a tragedy is just that a tragedy. Perhaps sometimes we all need take a step back and have a bit more compassion before we start "throwing rocks while living in a glass house." I am sure some of you may think this is a "Hippy Post," I can assure you I am probably the furthest from a free spirit and anyone that knows me know I have stong opinions and convictions.I just felt compelled to write something after seeing the hate, ignorance, and lack of compassion on this site.Just stop and think for a bit.

It's funny how someone would talk about problems in Australia when discussing alleged assimilation problems in New Zealand. Of course, New Zealand doesn't have the assimilation 'problems' of the US precisely because many of us realise there's nothing wrong with us being a multicultural society. Our people are proud of their heritage and don't have to drop the Mc from their name to be accepted as kiwis.

I can't see gun control making much of a difference. There are more guns owned per capita in Canada. Canada has just over 100 people killed annually due to guns versus more than 13,000 in the States. It's a problem that's not going away any time soon.

Keep telling us how stupid our gun control policy is. There is virtually no gun control in this country. In all of the discussions of the Virginia Tech shootings, nowhere did I hear that if the gunmen didn't have ready access to guns the shootings would not have occurred.

If the staff of VT were allowed to carry firearms, many of these deaths and injuries could have been avoided. As many have pointed out, this scenario can happen anywhere, including a school, where guns cannot be carried even by law-abiding citizens. Our forefathers used guns for hunting and protection. Both of these uses are still valid today. Gun control freaks just don't get it. I own a gun. I don't go around shooting people with it. If someone like the VT shooter threatens me and my loved ones, I will have the opportunity to stop it. That's called self-defence and every law-abiding person has a right to it. Not allowing good people to protect themselves only leaves them vulnerable to deranged, sick people like this. End of story!

To my Dearest friends in America. May God bless you and protect you. No-one deserves to suffer this kind of tragic situation. Whilst i dont agree with all things American, you are an awesome country, full of amazing generous and caring people and like New Zealand, these sorts of incidents cut to the "bone". We feel your grief, we pray for you and welcome you to our place anytime as you do us... I personally have spent alot of time in the USA on business and feel proud of the awesome people who I count as close friends and colleagues. I am sorrowful that some "kiwis' probably those of less than lower intelligence (about 50 per cent of the population) have to use this event as a catalyst to point the finger.... without looking in the mirror and acknowledging our own failings i.e child deaths, rapes, car theft and home robberies as one the highest in the world per head of population, so come on NZers wake up and smell the roses.... reality check... 29 people die every week in New Zealand just from adverse drug reaction that were legally prescribed by "Doctors"!!! and a further 81 die from Doctors medical mistakes every week... so are we so great?? Lets grow up and get on with fixing our problems first before we "throw any stones from our glass houses"

I am a New Zealander and I feel sad that all these young lives have been taken, no one deserves to die before their time "whatever nationality" Remember these people all had families that loved them, they all had their own lives and futures to live, these people are now only fond memories and photos. A truly tragic event that was completely out of their control. Shame on anyone that has not compassion for these innocent lives. Think of your own family being in this situation before posting heartless anti American rants!

It is a tragic event! Yes the lost of any life is. But reading some of those American comments gives way to thinking about the American Culture on a whole. Gun Control maybe part of the key but for some reason i have a sneaking feeling that maybe just maybe there are some cultural habits that need to be addressed here ? For this isnt just a random act of violence but a regular thing that takes place in America, I dont believe there are many other 1st world nations that have a X percentage of students carrying guns to school/in school, but it seems the mass killings happen at Schools that are" peaceful normal places" and only then is it an outrage. While at the lower social economic scale, schools where shootings maybe be a weekly thing seem to be no ones problem and ignored apart from the people who live in such areas.

Just reading a few of the comments which have been sent it, it's just hurtful. Sure there are many factors which may have caused this tragedy. But it is no reason to be racial and petty on the comments. Think before you speak, there are many people who are affected. Anonymous comments are also not an excuse for ignorance. Share a thought for the innocent victims of this crime, and lets hope it never happen to any of us.

I am a Kiwi and lived in the US for 2 years in the 90s. I left the US and relocated to NZ after a gun scare in a mall in the city I lived in. You Americans need to stop making excuses for the stupid laws you believe in and take responsibility for your actions. I realise that many Americans are for gun control and for peace, but having guns readily was the main reason for this tragedy. Sure if someone is crazy enough and has made up his mind to kill people would have found a way of doing this regardless, but if it was hard to gain access to weapons there is a high chance he would have hurt just himself and spared the lives of the other 33 students. Most other societies do not have "the right to bear arms" and do not have the gun problems that the US has. It's that simple. Stop making excuses and stop defending your stupid laws.

In addition to pointing out the need for more gun laws I think we need more laws against email spam, more laws against child molestation, more laws against rape, more laws against bribing public officials, more laws against illegal immigration, more laws against murder, more laws against racial and gender discrimination, more laws against plagiarism, more laws against copyright infringement....... Only then can we create the perfect world we all desire.

Idiotic academics and liberals who create "gun free zones" where psychotics can murder with impunity until they run out of ammunition, victims or simply grow bored. Cowardly cops who appear to cower and never confront the murderers. They wait outside, do nothing and then seal records so people can't appreciate how cowardly, stupid and useless they are...The University had prohibited all people including staff from carrying or possessing firearms. One university is even attempting to extend a similarly moronic bans to students living off campus.True morons..This isn't that complicated...depriving law abiding citizens of arms for defence emboldens scum to kill with impunity..

I don't get it, gun control as a solution? All schools have the strictest gun control policies, don't they? This incident shows how gun control allows a lone gunman to wreak havoc with impunity, without anyone being able to fight back. Everyone else in the school was unarmed because of the gun control policies. If other students would have also had guns, they would have been able to stop the insane idiot quickly. This incident shows that gun control only succeeds in keeping guns away from the ones that should have them - not the criminals.

This embarrassing and blatant racism against the Korean and American people has to stop!! First and foremost, Asian immigration has nothing to do with this issue. The massacre was caused by someone who had severe psychological and behavioural problems, regardless of his cultural background. This individual did not commit this crime because he was Asian! And secondly, innocent students who are trying to better their minds do not, under any circumstances, deserve these horrific and dreadful outcomes. If you are angry with those in power in the USA, then that is a completely separate issue from a consideration of the American people as a whole. Speaking as a New Zealander, some of you seriously need to start opening your minds.

Whether you agree with the right to bear arms or don't, surely you can agree that people on anti-depressant medication should be prevented from the purchase of firearms, for their own and other people's protection. Depression is not a matter of race or creed or colour, and those who are depressed should be helped so that they may heal, not so that they may kill. Professional counselling, not firearms, should be readily available.

The US government should look deeply into this issue of gun-control and take measures to tighten it up. But these politicians brush it under the carpet because they're the ones carrying guns for personal recreation or "protection" and some have links to gun dealers. Also, regarding the American bashing on here by these "ignorant kiwis" please fix up your own problems in your "wannabe" but "can't be" America country. As a proud Samoan-American who has experienced New Zealand for a few years, I can confidently say that New Zealand is one of the most racist and ignorant countries on the planet. Do not hide behind your masked image of "green pastures" and a "great place to raise a family" crap. The list of injustices in your "irrelevant in world affairs" country, matches some of the worst in human history such as the treatment of Maori and Pacific Islanders. At least us Americans will admit our shortcomings, you "kiwaks" hide behind your beautiful landscapes like the cowards that you are.

33 people died in a school shootout in Virginia. While this is news, it hardly warrants headline coverage, numerous screeds of articles published on it and generally a copious amount of wasting my time. A short story in the World Section would have sufficed. People die in mine accidents in China all the time. People die in civil wars in Africa all the time. Why does one isolated incident of 33 people dying - a relatively minor number - warrant such extensive press coverage? The answer to that can only be that it happened in the United States. Well wake up New Zealand - Americans' lives are no more precious than those who live in other parts of the world. It is precisely this sort of kowtowing to the Americans that has led to such anti-Americanism. If Americans were not singled out whenever and whatever then the world would be a much better place.

I travelled a lot around the world and the remarks by the majority of New Zealanders in this thread is, unfortunately, very typical. There is not a more insecure group of people on the planet.

It is amazing sadness what happened in Virginia last couple of days. But that Korean boy was born evil and with the help of the no gun or useless gun law in the US, he managed to put his satanisms into action. The US really need to sit down and re-evaluate everything they do.....from movies to action games to almost everything really. The whole world copies everything the US do and its sad. Its great to have freedom but too much of it, it is deadly..

To all those who are getting nasty about us American haters your country is the cause of more of the worlds problems . dont try to defend it by saying you saved us from speaking German in ww2 ,NZ was in the war alot longer than you and your country only entered because it was attacked by the Japanese again had its own interest at heart you would of never entered the war and your country has always got its own agenda for everything it does .

I am deeply saddened by the anti-American rants on this board. I am a Kiwi but I have spent a lot of years in America and Americans are pretty similar to kiwis. They have similar hobbies and similar lifestyles. None of the Americans I knew owned a gun or wanted to. I think this shooting anywhere would have been tragic and unthinkably awful for the people involved and their families. We've had a few 'loose units' in NZ too who have shot up their families and small towns. I think the easy option for kiwis is to always blame the US but the US isn't a large angry machine. It's made up of 270 million people who all have hopes, dreams and a right to life - just like Kiwis. Kiwis inherant, soclialised apathy to almost all situations is no better than the American belief in their right to bear arms. At least Americans are proud of who they are and feel the need to share it. As Kiwis, we spend too much time apologising for who we are - jealousy maybe?

Calling every New Zealander pathetic, ignorant and irrelevant only fuels the unfortunate stereotype of Americans as being unbelievably arrogant. Since our discussion of such a large event disgusts you, and since we are irrelevant, I recommend Alexis shouldn't visit a New Zealand website since we are obviously not good enough. More on-topic though - is it so important that the killer was Korean? He was brought up in America, and experienced American culture, so he is an American. Screening Asian immigrants is a ridiculously offensive and laughable idea - murderers exist in every race. We can't screen everyone. It's high time people stopped pointing fingers and get to work improving the gun laws.

Yes, it's all very tragic - but, given the easy access to guns in the US, hardly surprising. And let's put the incident in perspective: 33 dead is on the low side for the average one-off bombing in Baghdad. As usual, we have completely over the top coverage worldwide because this lamentable event happened in America to Americans. Let's remember that American lives are worth exactly the same as those of other nationalities. No more, no less.

His disposition before then had shown he is able to have some control of his action. But the problem is typical to the modern psyche of the West, there is lacking in a mode of thinking stable principles to attempt to modify the act during times of severe pressure whether they be desires or emotional. Is due to the lack of discipline, lack of values, and at the same time too much PC interference.

Race had nothing to do with this, and gun control has played a very minor part. Many Kiwi here seems to be ignorant of the fact that while we get American news, they don't follow ours as much, it's totally unjustified to generalise everyone base on a few incidents. Should we classify all Kiwis as drunk people because one father decided to go over the 4 times the legal limit and fell asleep while pumping gas, or perhaps all Kiwis are wife bashers because an "All Black" did it. How about the teenager that stole a car and killed 2, seriously injuring another 2? Let us not forgetting the fact that USA has approx. 75 times the amount of people we have in New Zealand. If any of you bothered to read any websites that are not biased in their reporting, or sources beyond a news website and perhaps read one of the two plays that were written by the shooter on AOL, you'll see that this was much more than race. I'm a Chinese that has lived in various countries around the world, visited a fair few places, and I can say that many of them are no different from New Zealand, where I have been residing in for the last 7 years. Seriously, grow up.

Once again, everyone loves to bag the yanks...but, hey, don't worry, when we get invaded and taken over by another country one day, we'll all be crying out for those same yanks to bring their guns down here and save us...

"What is the great American sin? Extravagance? Vice? Graft? No; it is a kind of half-humorous, good-natured indifference, a lack of "concentrated indignation" as my English friend calls it, which allows extravagance and vice to flourish. Trace most of our ills to their source, and it is found that they exist by virtue of an easy-going, fatalistic indifference which dislikes to have its comfort disturbed....The most shameless greed, the most sickening industrial atrocities, the most appalling public scandals are exposed, but a half-cynical and wholly indifferent public passes them by with hardly a shrug of the shoulders; and they are lost in the medley of events. This is the great American sin.": Joseph Fort Newman, Atlantic Monthly, October 1922.

I Love you all! New Zealand, America, and the rest of the world. People are the same all over the world, shaped by different histories and experiences. I am an American married to a Kiwi and have a son that will grow up in both. I think it is wrong for anyone to think that they are better because they are born into a country. That is addressing previous comments I have read. Those are some of the reasons we have wars. I am no better. Comments on both sides of the fence are hurtful because many of them are so extreme. There are amazing people all over the world. So everyone relax and realize how great it is to be alive everyday. Sit back and have a Budweiser, flatwhite, or a tea. All that is important is that you lead by example if you can. Hopfully that will influence others. We all have problems, far from perfect. I love New Zealand, and my heart and roots are in America. Everyone takes pride in where they are from. Even if they are from a rough area. It has shaped who they are. It's sad that people's deaths are so exploited for political gain. Alot of anger out there.

I agree with Jerry. NZ has more insane people than the states per head of population. Just look at how crazy our society has become! Following is a very accurate rendition of NZ: Squirrels rights. The rest of the world version. The squirrel works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building and improving his house and laying up supplies for the winter.The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the squirrel is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold. The end.

Condolences to the families and friends of those killed by the madman in Virginia. It's a shame that your constitution is the cause of so much bloodshed in this and many other instances. Imagine what 'your world' would look like if you made amendments to the constitution to reflect the period of time we live in, not a time in deep dark history? The argument that all should be armed to defend against such horrific acts is an oxymoron, and would simply lead to escalating urban warfare in the US - but perhaps that's the outcome necessary before change can occur? We are humans and we should use the art of language and diplomacy where possible, not just reply on arming ourselves to the teeth and gunning down those who oppose our views. To do otherwise is simply to act like the animals we evolved from, and that was a long long time ago! PS, for those who choose to bag NZ, despite it's short-comings this country has many facets that the US lacks, and I'm proud to belong to a country that acts with morality and common sense (OK, let's ignore the Labour party for now) in the modern world.

Give the Americans a break. Just remember that this act was committed by a young guy who was screwed up in the head. And we have had our share too in New Zealand (David Gray etc). No matter what type of Gun Control exists in any country, killers will find their weapon of choice, usually a gun.

Firstly, let me say: My condolences to the families and friends and all those who lost loved ones in this horrific tragedy. Secondly - what is it with the Kiwi/USA bashing? Pull your heads in people. To the Kiwis verbally bashing the USA or even mocking the losses - Does this help? Do you expect to be taken seriously? You may not agree with the gun laws but ascribing these gun happy actions is as unfair to all Americans as some of the sweeping racial statements made by some of the US citizens.To the Americans bashing all kiwis for the comments of a few - there are more then 4 million people here so labeling everyone here as 'hateful' for the comments of a dozen people is every bit as inappropriate and does make you sound like a judgmental redneck. Who is ultimately guilty?? - The one who chose to pull the trigger and murder innocents. Instead of running round pointing fingers and yelling names, ask what the Government is doing about it?! But leave off with the bashing - and to the gentlemen who accuses everyone in the world of being jealous and wishing to live in the US? You are sadly misinformed.

Lets forget all the mud-slinging, insults, and ignorant comments. The simple fact of the matter is it is too easy to buy a handgun in the states. Given the rates of depression and suicide in NZ, if guns were as readily available here we would have similar gun-related deaths. Access to guns is a critical issue, all else aside.

Phillip- very enlightening. Alexis- very symptomatic. I lived in the USA 10 years and met both "Phillips" and the somewhat scary "Alexis's" which adds up to a very interesting cocktail. In a culture where the young are brought up on a diet of gratuitous violence and sex via the mass media- where war is considered 'heroic' and where the outside world considered by so many to be either not up with the play or old fashioned, one should not be surprised at the sometimes tragic results. Add to that the ridiculous ease to arm ones self to the teeth (whether a teenager or an 'oldie') with anything from a machine gun to a Glock such tragedies as happened at Virginia Tech will no doubt occur from time. As the holder of a gun license here in NZ I can also express pride in our more mature and sensible approach to firearms.

Why do Americans when criticised and feeling threatened always resort to telling us how they saved us (the world) from the yellow and red perils? It's totally irrelevant and I'm sure if it was happening today they would be selling arms to both sides as they have in most post WW11 conflicts! Quite frankly I'd rather Americans were using each other for target practice if they must shoot people rather than the innocent civilians from other countries who don't need Coke, Pizza and America's dubious brand of democracy.

Why the media keep calling the killer a "Foreign student" or "South Korean"? From what I read so far, he migrated to US 15 years ago since 9 years old, ie holding a US passport, know more about US culture than Korean. I'm not a Korean but the apparent attempt to pass the responsibility to a foreigner really annoy me.

4) more severe prison terms for individuals who commit crimes with the display or actual discharge of a gun or rifle in the commission of a crime, etc.;5) strict ownership rules with minors prohibited from using a pistol or rifle; 6) high taxes for gun purchasers with some of the taxes going to education programs about gun use, etc. 7) gun amnesties in which gun owners can turn in guns with no penalties.

New Zealand has its share of hormone driven killing. Its in the way we drive and the aggressive nonsense around pubs and clubs. The level of anti-Americanism is a symptom of blaming others for your own problems. I think the anti-nuclear legislation is simply anti-American. Make it a policy if you want, but don't legislation your xenophobic paranoia on my behalf. Believe me, paranoia is not sexy.

This event was a tragedy, no-one can deny that. But ever since 911, a tragedy the whole world reacted to, the US has quickly lost the sympathy of other countries. We are expected to share in their grief and dismay that something like this could happen, when half a world away, in a country torn apart by a war of their making 130 innocent men women and children lost their lives today. Since the start of Americas 'War of terror' in Iraq over 62000 civilians have lost their lives......where is America's outpouring of sympathy and grief for this tragic loss of life?

Sad story, And sympathy goes towards those killed students. All countries have similar sort of issues when dealing with psychotic people like this killer.I said he will burn in hell for that. And nothing wrong with US - it is a great country as well as NZ, AU, Russia, China etc etc etc the trouble is that people kill people not guns (cars, buses) And I agree with some views that media in NZ censored very much. Every country has different laws etc. Lets respect this for God sake!

I would like to extend my sympathy to those in Virginia who have lost someone, it must have been a very frightening and horrendous situation and I send my condolences. Whilst I don't like the idea of such easy access to firearms its not my country and no-one else apart from the Americans and their government have the right really to judge their laws and ways. If the majority of Americans wanted a change in the law I'm sure it would happen. You will get nutters in any country who if they want can access guns or any other weapons - I'm originally from UK and remember Dunblane, Hungerford etc. At the same time I don't understand how some of the Amercians posting on this site can accuse us of "tarring the whole country with the same brush" but then in the same message do exactly the same to NZ by calling us "shitty little chain of islands" and if we are a "crappy country" then why read our papers and why care what any of us think? My sympathies lie with anyone who loses a loved one through any violent means whether it be in Iraq or on our home soil - all this arguing and vitriol just makes the whole situation worse.

It is interesting to note that about a week before the Virgina shootings there was a shooting in Manchester NH that could have ended up the same way.In this case the shooter entered a bar and shot an employee but a customer who was armed shot the gunman before he could do any more damage. Persons are allowed to carry concieled weapons in NH with a permit.

The Americans posting here have noticed the penchant of NZ'ers for simplistic thinking and easy answers. Gun laws won't stop massacres. If our gun laws were better than in the US then the Aramoana massacre would not have happened here.

Yes I believe it is but in reality the massacre that occurred at Virginia Tech was not the fault of bad laws and slack restrictions as you cannot stop the sale of illegal guns! What happened was no ones fault and no one should be critised or blamed because nothing could have been done to stop what happened and dont be so stupid to think such a thing will not happen again because it will!!

Excuse me folks but most of you have failed to make a very simple connection. Passing more laws will do nothing. Criminals don't care what laws exist. That's why they call them criminals. The shootings at V.T. is proof. The shooter was breaking the law by being on campus with a firearm. Therefore it follows that it's insane to think that another gun law would have prevented this tragedy.

If you limit the control of guns to the general public, then you limit the chance of some crazy person going on a killing spree. I just thought this would be common sense logic? A right to bear arms is from a more primitive era where people needed to kill animals to eat and protect their land from gun toting cowboys. Society has changed and this right needs to be stopped if the U.S want a safer society. These killings were simply senseless and avoidable.

It never ceases to amaze me in times such as these that we are so eager to point the finger of blame at gun control. All the calls for gun control will not change the fact that someone with enough intent to cause such destruction and injury to others would find a way with or without firearms. Its like saying the car caused the drunk driver to veer into on coming traffic so we need to ban cars and alcohol! Lets not lay the blame on ourselves and the society we have allowed to be created. The gun issue is just a symptom of a deeper problem and it is not only an American problem as some deluded kiwi's have been over zealous in trying to point out but a global one. We educate our kids that they are worthless, evolving from pond scum into something worthwhile, but they have not yet got there. They are free to make their own moral choices, because our philosophy and ethics are based on what makes us feel good must be right. We are not around to teach them right from wrong because we are to busy building our own self worth in the employment of someone else, leaving the moral values and education of our kids to some stranger in some PC, liberal state funded day care facility. Its about time society and the individual started to take accountability on a personal level for the state of society today. We need to begin again taking ownership and responsibility for our actions and those of our children and stop blaming everyone else for our failings and problems. Only when we stop passing the buck and denying our responsibility to the problem will we begin to make progress back out of the mire into which we have so willingly sunk.

First, let me apologize for the xenophobic rantings of several of my fellow countrymen. I hope you in NZ and around the world will not generalize their comments to the rest of us in the US. Our conservative contingent here typically respond to any criticism with animosity and antagonism. Most of us feel that gun control laws are a good idea. You must understand that our Congress is controlled by monetary donations, a large part of which come from pro-gun lobbies and organizations. We hope that with the recent change in Congress some progress in gun control will be made to prevent more senseless massacre of young people in our country.

The obvious motive for this shooting is evil influence of New Zealand on Asian immigrants. Sounds silly, doesn't it? This idea is no sillier than blaming this terrible tragedy on guns or bullies or chicken salad. This even occurred because of evil, which is something people no longer want to discuss. Japan has banned all firearms since WWII and gun crimes are on the rise there, as they are in the UK because only the criminals have guns. America has become a crumbling bastion of nonsense, because we refuse to address the issue of evil. If this shooter had survived, there would be 300 defence lawyers lined up to represent him in order to get their name and their picture on the telly. In a sense, we are to blame for this shooting because of our refusal to address the evil and wrongs in our society including abortion, teaching people that they come from monkeys, and that even though the Constitution states that "all men are created equal" some people are more equal than others. All this said, non-Americans shouldn't throw stones at the glass houses of others, when theirs is see-through also. Instead of worrying about whether the world is getting hotter, why don't we start having conferences on why the world is getting meaner?

To Alexis. People are saddened to what has happened at the University ,I am saddened of all those soldiers being killed in Irag and to their parents who have to bury them, and to all those innocent people that are being killed every day in Irag and other wars,and on the subject of why some people in America can barely find New Zealand on the map because thats how unimportant they are , is because the majority of Americans can't find anything more important outside America than anything else but themselves, so don't carry on about the some New Zealanders being sick and disgusting people,just take a look in your own backyard , it wasn't the New Zealanders that pulled the triggers at all those school massacres.

I am a born and bred kiwi, and thankful for that (although honestly I do not know any different). I am saddened about the tragedy in Virginia, this was a very sick man that solved his problems by using violence in the form of a gun, and shooting innocent people. It was not the guns fault, it was his fault, he made this decision, not the gun. I do not live in a society that has to have every citizen walk around with guns to protect themselves, but to be quite honest I believe that it is only a matter of time. Some people are just born plain stupid, to give them the choice to put a gun in their hands makes them a plain stupid person with a weapon - dangerous and unsafe for anyone around him. Guns seem to make these unsuspecting people big and brave, gutless and cowardous. I live in hope that it will be quite some time that we have to live with these sorts of events and consequences in my country, but that would be being naive. To blame all Americans for this mans actions is ignorant. Guns are not the problem, it is the mindless idiots that can get their hands on them.

Interesting racist and social commentary here, as can be produced by a leading question i.e. who is to blame? A complex issue that is difficult to justify in terms of people defending their preceptions.

"American are the first to respond to a crisis no matter where in the world that crisis happens" - spare me! Ever heard of Zimbabwe? The US is just the latest (along with the former Soviet Union) in a line of troublemakers that have trampled all over the planet, trying to influence other countries' political outcomes. The earlier generation of ne'er-do-wells came from Europe of course - a long and ignoble history. Sorry, Americans - I have friends there and lived there. I'd rather listen to the sense of the late Royko and satirists like Doonesbury. "Liked the people, hated the society". Or as Cohen penned, "...cradle of the best and of the worst". Among the "worsts" are the idiotic insistence on the untrammelled right to bear arms, supported by a "climate of fear" that various rapacious scum find it handy to exploit when totting up their profits.

Given the ineptitude of US foreign policy, rest assured that many NZers would like to stay invisible on US radar - we'd rather feel safe, thanks all the same. It's breathtakingly outrageous humbug to suggest that the US went into Iraq out of some sense of unavoidable duty. Junior already had a plan to take Iraq and try to finish Daddy's unfinished business, long before 9/11 occurred. It will be forever to Blair's discredit that he didn't have the guts to refuse. Europe irrelevant? How delusional. US "power" is already diminished this century - let us hope it will learn from its errors and return to its founding principles, which are repeatedly flouted these days.

Someone mentioned no Asian immigration no problem - what on earth is that person smoking? These type of crimes have occurred all over the world and have absolutely no correlation with race, ethnicity or culture. It is pure random chance as to what race the perpetrator will be, and this time it happened to be a Korean. In any sizeable group of people there will always be a few nutcases, but in the US the carnage that these nutcases can do is amplified by easy access to guns. Koreans, much less any other type of Asian, have as much (or as little) to feel guilty about as I, an anglo NZ, have over Timothy McVeigh, David Gray or the Tasmanian shooter.

Lovely attitude you have there Alexis. Although I do wonder why, since New Zealand is so irrelevant and our views matter to no-one, that you actually bothered to go to the trouble to write a view in our national newspaper. Unfortunately sentiments and actions like yours, do tend to ensure that Americans are tarred with an unfavourable brush. Perhaps next time you shouldn't post messages in an angry state.

There's not many New Zealanders here who really care what the gun laws are in the US, but it's great excuse to spew bigoted rhetoric at Americans.

Alexis, what you do not realise is that the Arabs would not be killing each other as much as they are now if America did not invade Iraq. Sure, Saddam Hussein was a tyrant but the Americans caused Iraq's slow and steady slide into civil war.

So if such firearms listed in the article were no longer allowed or available, that would be the solution? How would we rid the ones that are hidden by gangs, drug dealers, black market, etc.?

I have just read a few of the comments that Americans have written in responce to "our" views. I have not read what they are responding too, but am heartbroken at the lack of support we, as New Zealanders, have given them. I don't agree with the gun laws or some of the other political agendas, but these people are heartbroken and deserve our sympathy, not our condemnation. To any American readers, I am sorry for what you have been through in this tragedy and write this with much sorrow. To other New Zealanders, show some compassion!

I can only say how sad I feel for the family's and friends of those killed on Monday morning. People in this country need to remember that America has more than 300 million people and these things are bound to happen from time to time. New Zealand also has had it's share of this type of thing in the past. As a kiwi living in New York at the time of 9/11, I have to tell you, Americans are the most patriotic and caring people I have met. So to the people out there rubbishing Americans, unless you know first hand the country and the people, you would do well to keep quiet. As the old saying goes..."If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." You only show yourselves up to be the little minded people you really are. Obviously not all Kiwis are like that thank goodness.

Boy - there are a lot of uninformed people around! So many opinions on both sides of the fence. It's a tragedy. One guy flipped his lid (and there's a fine line between sane and insane) and hundreds of people have suffered. I can't comprehend what those people are going through - but they have my most comforting thoughts going out to them.As for all the other bitterness that seems to be around - which one of you is gonna be the next one to flip??? Chill pills all round people - get on with the life you've got and enjoy it!

One of the key issues of gun regulation is that it only tends to affect law abiding citizens. While all those who aspire to use guns for legal means will comply with regulations, those who intend to break the law, or are of immoral means will not - they will hide or bury their weapons for future use. The key result of this is that people who are law abiding are essentially unarmed, while those who commit crimes are armed. This situation means that armed criminals can act with impunity. We have seen what happens to unarmed societies in Fiji, where those who control weapons are free to challenge democratic society. In relation to crime, and in particular this Virginia shooting, Universities in the United States are 'gun free' zones, which makes them particularly easy targets, as there is a significant time delay for law enforcement to respond, and little threat to the perpetrator from any citizen resistance. America has learnt what is fast becoming reality in New Zealand - the Police are no longer effective in defending citizens from crime, they are just there to sweep up the pieces. We need to see greater empowerment of New Zealand citizens to protect themselves from societies growing criminal element.

I would just like to say I feel terribly sorry for the attitude of my fellow kiwis. This is a tragic event and all we can do is be critics on American culture. The main issue here is how does someone become so lost that he is willing to take the lives of others, what brings someone to feel so low. Yes the gun laws in the US are very lax but with so many guns in the US would it even be viable for them to tighten the laws who would end up with the guns just the criminals. A tragic event like this could have happened here maybe not to the same scale but dont kid ourselves it could have happened anywhere. Instead of blaming guns maybe we have to look at ourselves and the way we treat others. These events are happening more and more in different degrees all over the globe. Lets stop playing the blame game and look at a solution to problems in society that let people get that disheartened with life and society.

It's good to know who your friends are in the world. After reading one bitter anti-American post after another here, I am shocked that the theme here seems to be that these innocent people deserved this act of evil. When the next tragedy strikes New Zealand, will Americans come and post that NZ deserved it? I doubt it. To Peter Mathys and his like - I hope for your sake, there is no such thing as Karma.

This is cache, read story here