[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/02/liveblogfinal.copy.jpg]
Tonight on AC360°, there are reports that singers Chris Brown and Rihanna are in a recording studio working on a duet. That's even though Brown is accused of brutally beating Rihanna, punching her repeatedly in the face until she was bloody. He also allegedly threatened to kill her. Oprah Winfrey warns Rihanna he will hit her again. Tonight, we look at the question: Why do battered women go back to the men who attack them? Let's keep this live blog going on this topic. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Sound off below.
Want to know what else we're covering tonight? Read EVENING BUZZ
Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Bernie Madoff deserves to be in jail! And all of his assets sold off to pay back at least some of what he stole from all those people!
Randi looks cold!
@Ashley, it's Alabama...... a conservative state. Not too much focus on the selling of guns, only on the second amendment.
This past Sunday a pastor looses his life to a gunman who actually mark death day on his calender. Now we have another person who actually killed 10 people for unknown reasons. So much violent and especially with gunman's. Even thought incident like this happens often a lot.
Tens of millions own guns and don't commit any crimes. Gun control isn't the answer. Thousands die every year from cancer from cigarettes, yet no one says to outlaw them.
In the past few months there have been an increase in shootings and deaths of innocent people including children. How many more innocent lives needs to be lost before law makers realize the need to change gun ownership laws/rights??
I believe the shootings go far deeper than job loss. In most of the cases where the shooting is related to job loss friends, coworkers/neighbors have said the person had problems prior to the job loss.
Craziness of all descriptions seem to be on the rise, be it spree killings (a term I don't like, it sounds too cheerful and reminds me of the candy), domestic violence, suicides, just all around horrible stuff.
That was a sad bit of breaking news.
I'm stunned @ the fact that Rihanna and Chris are making music?? I think Oprah's right, he is gonna hit her again, except this time he's gonna know how to do it without leaving evidence..its the shocking story that happens all the time
They say B. Madoff could get 150 years total in prison for his guilty pleas. I want to know how many years that would equate to in "Rich Man Years". It sounds like he is pleading guilty to cover for others that may have been involved and will he be made to serve his prison time in his Manhattan Prison Condo?
Anderson, my first marriage became abusive, even when I was holding our 10 mth old daughter one time – the last time. I stayed in that marriage 4 yrs too long, sometimes blamed my actions for his violence and am lucky I never had to go to the emergency room, or worse. I hope that Rihanna gets some good counseling to understand that this is rarely a one time event and they always say they are sorry and it won't happen again, then it does. This isn't how a relationship should be nor how one should want to live.
@Mike..."f this is job loss related, I wonder if there is also a spike in domestic violence and suicide as well."
I would buy stock in that theory, if it was available. Absolutely. Don;t forget the big "D," depression.
The irony is that I was having a semi-heated debate with a fellow musician before rehearsal this evening, prompted by a Simpsons episode. He simply asked me: "What do you think of the right to bear arms?" I answered the less guns around, the better. Then we started talking of more and more convoluted situations, until I finally said, "It takes us 2 years to get a _full_ driver's license here (in Canada), why not do the same with guns?"
Why is it so easy for these people to get guns? Did he have a permit for his weapon? How strict are Alabama gun laws?
Mike Syracuse:
I bet dom. violence and suicides are up already...and divorces, except ppl cant afford to get divorced right now..
Good evening Anderson,
I am enjoying watching your show.
Hopefully they will look at their relationship and there will be no violence.
Sincerely,
Lisa L
Sydney, Australia
Guns are not the problem. If the right folks had pulled theirs out after this guy hed have been stopped long before then. Moreover, the speaker said this was not a common occurrence in that area and I'm sure it's gun country.
Heello everyone!
@Bea, i totally couldnt believe it either, job losses should be the reason for killing innocent lives..
It is difficult to measure the desperation of a person ...
"Why is it that the most hianess acts accure iin the South and bible belt of the U.S."
Wow. Is that really true (as a fact)? I could speculate why, but I don't think it would be appropriate.
In Florida, the newspaper keeps reporting that sales of bullets are rising along with the prices.
@ Glen Up North: What do you mean by "kept under pressure by society"?
Any one who has a semi automatic weapon is a danger
If the US wouldn't allow every moron to carry a weapon, these things could not happen as frequently as they do.
Semi-automatic. Goodness. Who *needs* one of those? I wonder if he got it from that walmart he returned to.
This country is going to become more violent than it was before this economy went down and people started to loose there jobs.
Have they id'd the gunman?
If this is job loss related, I wonder if there is also a spike in domestic violence and suicide as well.
May God Bless us all. The Alabama shooting is so sad and so unnecessary.
What kind of guns did this sicko have?!
Did the shooter have any history of violence or anger issues? How do these people get guns?
Ashley NY
Good question....... yes.... he have anger issues, or else... I think....
Job loss can't be the only reason. Even in good times we've had many incidents of "going postal", a regretable tag which grew out of toomany similar incidents of rage & guns and needless death.
@Eric Others have made their guesses, but also I think there are a lot of people who own guns around here. I don't know the statistics, if it is more than other places or not, but it certainly seems like a lot to me. And so it follows many own guns that probably shouldn't b/c of their likelihood to snap like this.
Sad thing is the child who died ...
@Linda...I understand the feelings behind gun control, but I'm not prepared to trample any part of our Constitution (even if I don't enjoy equal rights myself).
Reminds me of the shooting spree in Idaho one year, that was terrifying. And officer was killed, and this happened in the middle of the night. Crazy how people can find it in themselves to kill another...
@ Eric, in the northeast people just walk around mad angry and to busy to care.... way down in dixie everyone smiles and says hello and push their inner beast inside till it pops, does that explain it? all i know in philadelphia when someone talks to you its for money a cigarette or a scam to get money... i was shocked when people strangers would just say hi and not want anything when i was in atlanta
Job loss leading to killing? Gimme a break. Some people are just lazy and selfish want to blame the world for their problems. Lots of people out of jobs and they don't hurt others.
Even if this type of thing is one in a million, you have to consider that several million people have lost their jobs. If indeed that was the cause of it, the economic situation is something that needs to be taken cautiously in that respect.
Good evening everyone.
What a sad news. My heart and preyer go out to victims and families of the victims. How depress can one person be to go about shooting innocent people like that and then hinself, too.
This killing spree can hardly be blamed on the economy. Millions lost their jobs, and they're not out their murdering people to make themselves feel better.
@Eric: Horrible things happen everywhere.
Its really sad that all of this violence is happening due to the economy troubles. We had a few here in the Northwest, one here in Spokane where a man shot his wife and child and one in Seattle where a man shot his entire family and both were due to losing their jobs.
@ EJ–I remember that story.
This definitely does not sound random, Anderson!
@Esma...I agree I really hope this stays the exception rather than the rule!
Hi Anderson,
I agree with you, I definitely think that he had a plan.
@ Glen...Gosh, I hope we don't have to endure extensive coverage with this tonight. Let's at least wait until we have more FACTS.
Eric, I believe it's a question of pressure: in my humble opinion, the more people are kept under pressure by society, the most likely they are apt to "snap" and act out.
Evening everyone – sad news to start off the program tonight – unfortunately, with the stress and pressure from tough economic times like these, we should be prepared to see an increase in violence- domestic, criminal and otherwise.
Ok.......so let me get this straight the gunman njust killed 10 random people and himself.
That's so horrible I heard that one child killed!!!!! OHHHH NOOO!