[Carl in Tampa]

The original post opens two avenues of discussion regarding the knife attack:
1. Why wasn't there more extensive news coverage of the event, and
2. What was the possible reason that the boy struck out in this manner.

I think Golfingnut is correct on the first question. If the boy had used a gun it would have been an opportunity for the anti-gun lobby to flood the airways with anti-gun rhetoric, which would have been answered by pro-gun advocates, using up a lot of air time. No one can reasonably propose the banning of kitchen knives, the reported weapons in this case, so there was no resulting debate.

We don't really have much to go on regarding the second question except for one brief statement the boy is reported to have uttered, "I want to die."

In my training to be a Hostage Negotiator I was taught that most suicidal people arrive at the point of acting out their wish when they reach the point of feeling hopeless and helpless. This feeling can come to a person from a variety of circumstances, and the initial report in this case is that the boy was bullied. We must wait for more information before assigning a motive for this attack.

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