Editor's note: This post is part of the Overheard on CNN.com series, a regular feature that examines interesting comments and thought-provoking conversations posted by the community.

Two people died and seven are being treated for injuries after a shooting Thursday afternoon  inside the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. Readers expressed their frustration with this event and shared their opinions on the genesis of it.

2 dead, 7 hurt in shooting at Pittsburgh psychiatric hospital

We heard from some people in the area. This commenter noted a somewhat close call.

PGH1980: "I was putting my jacket on and ready to go there to grab a quick bite for lunch when the first officer pulled up. If I had gotten my work done only a minute earlier, I would have walked right into it."

This reader called on others to hold off on the politics in discussing the issue.

rapier1: "I want you all to know that the people involved in this are real people. Two people are dead and seven injured. Shot. They were going about their day and now they are dead or wounded. Maybe this isn't 'real' for you, but I heard the sirens go by. This is happening blocks from me. This isn't some abstract tragedy, but real people who are now in pain, crippled, bleeding, and dead. There are people who will not be going home to their families tonight. People who don't have any more hopes and dreams. People, people just like you that are now *dead* and crippled. That *most* of you want to use this as a platform to spout off your inane pronouncements on gun control is just disgusting. It's the height of crassness. At least give it a day before you politicize the death and mayhem that happened here today."

Another commenter offered a local perspective.

Adnan Khan: "Very fortunate that this was during Pitt spring break, this could have been so much more of a tragedy if this was during school. The hospital is located right on a road that is heavily used by students to go from upper to lower campus and vice versa."

One reader talked about the issue of whether people with mental illness are dangerous.

Brandt Walkertexasranger Curti: "There is quite a bit of difference between a psychopath (antisocial personality disorder) and someone struggling with depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar, etc. The fact of the matter is those who suffer from a mental disorder other than antisocial personality disorder are no more dangerous than those who do not suffer from an illness. Two people represent absolutely nothing and your generalizations are in fact degrading."

But guns were by far the most popular topic among commenters. We heard from several readers who were afraid that the incident would stir up interest in gun bans.

freedomdem: "A handful of people die each year from shootings and it's Armageddon. Yet thousands die each year by cars ... and people say, an accident that was sad. 300 million people and only a handful die from a rampage shooting ... statistically the USA is very safe with the ownership of guns."

Poipounder: "Some of the comments on here really irk me. I have owned guns my whole life - so did my dad and same with his dad. The problem is not the guns, it's the people who use them."

A few advocated stronger gun laws.

Zoglet: "The fact that this gun is in circulation tells me that the gun laws are too lax. It's the same every time. The U.S. has gun crime like no other civilized nation yet you guys are blind to the reality that it is the ease of gun availability that is the only reason there are so many gun deaths. Don't give me the usual mumbo jumbo about your rights. My right not to get shot far outweighs your right to play cowboy."

This reader said they think laws won't make a difference.

turtle995: "Almost all gun crimes are committed by people who don't have the legal right to own guns (mentally ill, drug dealers, convicts, etc). Passing more laws isn't going to make any difference in kooks getting their hands on guns, it only diminishes the rights of responsible citizens to defend ourselves from them."

What's your take on this incident? Share your opinion in the comments area below and in the latest stories on CNN.com. Or sound off on video via CNN iReport.

Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.