Houston we have a (gun) problem...

[lexvid]

Another day, another mass shooting in the USA....

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...er/9910214002/

1st of all, I am not American. Much of the world outside the USA doesn't understand the American obsession with guns/ weapons. Insanity.

Please explain (THIS CAN'T BE JUSTIFIED) why anyone with a pulse should be allowed to possess one or more guns.

[aaronk]

I'm an American, and I can think of a few reasons---or rather, excuses---why we own guns!
(BTW, I've never owned or shot a gun in my entire life, and I'm against guns in every way!)

1. It's SORT OF in the US Constitution, the 2nd Amendment, the right to bear arms!
2. We've always been a nation of hunters, and owners use that as an excuse!
However, how do you explain the use of machine guns in hunting??
3. The military and the police! (Refer to the 2nd Amendment again, where it states "the militia" hs the right to bear arms!
Are civilians the "militia"?? NO!!
4. We see the gun violence in movies and tv shows, and we think that's cool!
5. Self-protection & security!

The mass killings are something relatively new!
I have a theory that the method of murder changed with the computer!
Before the age of PC's---generally before the late 90's--there were serial killers, such as Ted bundy.
They did NOT use guns!
Their killings were more intimate, using their hands and maybe knives.
Then, starting with the Columbine killings in 1999, we turned to what I call "mass killings of random strangers!
Serial killers killed in a patterned way!
Bundy killed the same girl who rejected him at age 14 over and over and over again!
(Long straight dark hair, parted in the middle.)
John Gacy killed young boys.
The Green River killer killed street prostitutes.
Then you had the current crop of mass murder of random strangers.
ALL using guns and rifles!!
They have no or little personal connection to their victims.
They kill "randomly"!
Maybe they have one particular target---a teacher or a former boss or an ex-girlfriend---but then, after killing that person, they go on and kill anyone else in sight, not picking out particular targets.
The recent murders in Buffalo NY was labled a hate crime, because a particular group was targeted.
But the one in Texas yesterday was another "random" mass murder, it seems!

Anyway, this MUST STOP!!
Oh yeah, add to the excuses above another one---the utter power of the NRA, the National Rifle Association, probably the strongest lobby going!!
Charleton Heston used to be its President!!!

[SoCal45]

Can't really add anything to what Steve Kerr said tonight:... https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-get-numb-this

[aaronk]

Can't really add anything to what Steve Kerr said tonight:... https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-get-numb-this

Wow! That's powerful!!
Thank you, Steve Kerr, for speaking truth to power!

[TN1965]

There will be at least one place where even "good guys" are not allowed to carry their guns.

The NRA Is Banning Guns for Trump's Appearance at Its Upcoming Convention (jezebel.com)

[Atticus]

Much of the world outside the USA doesn't understand the American obsession with guns/ weapons. Insanity.

Most polls show that Americans don't get it either. To be clear the 2nd Amendment does NOT guarantee the right for all citizens to bear arms; it guarantees the right of a duly constituted militia to bear arms. We call that the National Guard and we issue them the guns they need. I personally would also allow single-shot, bolt-action hunting rifles - and guns kept at a firing range for sport target-shooting.

The Jim Jefferies routine says it all.

[Cooter Brown]

I
The mass killings are something relatively new!

If by "new" you mean since 1891, then, yes, it's a new phenomenon.

Non-Americans probably can't wrap their mind around the idea of elementary age kids having regularly scheduled school shooter drills and that new schools are primarily designed around slowing down shooters to give kids time to barricade in their classrooms.

[bambam1729]

The argument always trotted out is that if guns are banned only the criminals will have guns. That may be true, I don't know, but what we have now and what we have been doing now obviously isn't working. Absolutely we need to limit guns, especially automatic weapons. Not a lawyer or a politician (thank goodness), so not sure how to address hunters and their guns, but something has to be done.

[bambam1729]

https://twitter.com/ChrChristensen/s...28352523059203

[NotDutra5]

Politicians will politicize. Fingers will be pointed by both sides. The shootings will be discussed as one issue when it is at least a few different issues

AND.....

nothing will happen of any substance.....that is other than this thread needing to be shut down because it is such an emotional issue.

[Atticus]

The pro-gun lobby ALWAYS says - well, we can't address a solution NOW, when we are all so emotional! As pointed out above, they are now more mass shootings in a year than there are days. That was not the case before Columbine.

[lexvid]

[QUOTE=NotDutra5;n1749216]Politicians will politicize. Fingers will be pointed by both sides. The shootings will be discussed as one issue when it is at least a few different issues

AND.....

nothing will happen of any substance.....that is other than this thread needing to be shut down because it is such an emotional issue.[/QUOTE]


NotDutra5 I don't know what the answer is (aside from ideas i know won't be popular with Pro gun advocates) but NOT talking about it to find solutions is not the way to go.

This senseless violence needs to be shut down and ACTION taken that limits or reduces anyone getting their hands on these weapons. Simply put you don't NEED automatic weapons. It's pure nonsense that ordinary citizens need a cache of armaments because they want to FEEL safe against strangers. The irony is most of these shootings are deliberate and targeted - built on some deep seated hate or perceived threat or vendetta.

Take the 1st sensible step by getting rid of all automatic weapons. 2nd screen potential long or handgun owners and make them take a mandatory psych and training test EVERY year of ownership. Small price to pay for the privilege/ right to bear some arms. Of course this makes too much sense and there is no money in it for the gun manufacturers or lobbyists so I'm sure it won't happen. Too bad because sanity needs to prevail before the next mass shooting which could happen next day, next week or even next month.

Is this how most Americans want to live?

[lexvid]

I'm an American, and I can think of a few reasons---or rather, excuses---why we own guns!
(BTW, I've never owned or shot a gun in my entire life, and I'm against guns in every way!)

1. It's SORT OF in the US Constitution, the 2nd Amendment, the right to bear arms!
.................................................

Anyway, this MUST STOP!!
Oh yeah, add to the excuses above another one---the utter power of the NRA, the National Rifle Association, probably the strongest lobby going!!
Charleton Heston used to be its President!!!

Great summary AaronK. Thanks for giving some explanation to inexplicable horrific acts that seems to plague the USA more than all other countries combined - democratic, communist, socialist or other!

[beebee]

We have to show the pictures of those poor slaughtered babies(with consent from their families of course) If Americans could actually see the horrific mutilation suffered by those children(like what Emmett Till's mom did after his lynching in 1955) the demand for some type of gun control may begin to happen.

[TWalsh]

There are so many more issues involved in solving the gun violence problems in this country. Improving the way we treat mental illness, vigorously enforcing existing laws on the books, red flag gun purchase laws, and putting an end to the revolving door criminal justice system that exists in so many cities including my own. Every side will have to give in on something. And I would hope that everyone could put politics aside for the sake of our children and make progress in solving this problem!