Tyler, Texas — Reports say the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting is the seventh mass shooting to take place in 2012. While there have been multiple shootings this year, the FBI describes a mass shooting where the shooter took the lives of at least four people, during the same incident, typically in a single location.

This year, places like churches, movie theaters, and now even an elementary school have been targeted for mass shootings. One East Texan said, "I think people have lost their way with the Lord, and their way with God, and theres evil in the world." Whether it be gun control or not, we asked East Texans what they think is the "root" of this issue. Dan Dusck, of East Texas, said "The things we have on TV and radio I think that's where the big problem we have with our kids." Terry Johnson said, "I think the issue is trying to limit gun control."

The Connecticut shooting has flooded social media websites, here is what some of our Facebook viewers had to say. Ty McLelland said, "In my opinion ADD drugs such as Adderall are the root of the problem. Blaming video games and taking prayer out of school are the PC scapegoats." Josh Gardner said, "Destabilization, it's not just America, it's all over the world."

So, how can we prevent these tragic incidents from happening?

"It's people with mental problems so I don't how we would prevent that," said Bobby Camp. Johnson said, "After what happened in the school I think that teachers should be allowed to carry." Dusck said, "Until the parents get to the point that they can control their kids, the right Christian way then I think well be facing this on and on." Others said raising awareness for mental illnesses rather than attaching a negative stigma might help prevent these shootings.

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