Carolyn Hax was having her live chat when the news about the shooting came in, so here's here outline of how to talk to kids:

I was just going to recommend that!

I also think if someone is determined to carry out something like this, no gun laws or mental health checks are going to help much. The number of people who do this sort of thing is still tiny, although it doesn't seem like it when it's all over the news.

It's all the "regular" gun killings that make me against them.

Just tell him if those 9 year olds had been armed this never would have happened!

He thinks all adults should be armed and that teachers have guns in classrooms is not a bad idea.

Obama gave a press conference and was crying.

(whew)

the mentally ill as violent criminals who need to be controlled is not the answer

How about the mentally ill are people who need to be helped? I'm sorry the word control triggered that reaction, but it's about the health, not the person. I control my diabetes (sometimes) but I am not controlled.

No one was talking about controlling people with mental issues. The conversation was about people not getting the help they needed for coping with the world. Not one commenter said anything about "controlling" people with mental issues. No one made that leap.

But someone who decides killing a room full of kindergarteners is a good idea does not have a properly functioning brain.

Because with a knife, you have to get close. I would support better mental health care whether this guy is mental or not. Some people, though, don't have so much mental *problems* as a failure of empathy and such from birth...they'd probably test all right, though...having them around is more society's problem than theirs, if you follow me. I also think we have to get real about guns.

So it seems he killed his father first.

Drove to the school. Was buzzed in (he'd been a student there and his mom was a teacher there).

Shot his mom first. Then shot all the kids in her class. Some reports said "execution style." So horrific to contemplate.

Principal, Vice Principal and School Psychologist/Counselor went running out into the hall when they heard the shooting.

Principal and Counselor were killed, Vice Principal was wounded (shot in the foot) and crawled back to call 911.

Then I guess he killed a few other teachers that tried to stop him, and then he shot himself.

His younger brother has been taken into custody.

Believe me, I get this. But propagating the stereotype of the mentally ill as violent criminals who need to be controlled is not the answer, which is all that line of thinking does in the end.

How does one describe someone capable of this? I'm genuinely curious, because I'm at a loss, because I agree with your point above but...

Is it disturbed? Sociopathic? Irrational (which I think is accurate for describing rage)?

Incidentally, I'd like to apologize for my use of the phrase "bugfuck crazy" earlier (I think that's what it was); it was a visceral response, but it was both glib and unthinking. I should have thought before posting.

Hec,

apparently the shooter's girlfriend and another friend are missing.

Was buzzed in with the rifle?

How does one describe someone capable of this?

I think until we know more, "evil" will pretty much cover it. No need to speculate on his mental state beyond that.