Americans think the Internet shares almost as much blame for the massacre in Littleton, Colorado as the availability of guns, according to a Gallup poll study. The Internet promotes extremist beliefs. Video game mayhem leads to violence. Parents must take more responsibility for their children's actions. TV, music and videos promote anti-social behavior.
Guns are just too easy to find.
The study, which was commissioned by NBC and The Wall Street Journal and released Friday, found that 82 percent of those polled blamed the Internet at least somewhat for causing the shootings, compared with 88 percent who blamed the accessibility of guns. Eric Harris, one of the two students who went on a shooting spree through their high school on April 20, had posted descriptions of making pipe bombs and violent messages on a Web site. Harris and Dylan Klebold shot up the school before taking their own lives, killing a dozen students and a teacher. The poll could indicate the coming of age of the Internet as yet another source of blame when tragedy erupts. Add your comments to the bottom of the page.