Culture of Shootings , "Thoughts and Prayers" But No Solutions

Keep believing that. Please do!

Since the majority of Americans do not equate firing lead into empty beer cans and bottles as the ultimate expression of "freedom", I think most people would think that is not a strong argument to accept the thousands of needless gun deaths we see rising every year. But go ahead, keep telling us to just accept it as the "price of freedom".

 

How do mass shootings fit into your scenario?? They do't take place on the shooters private property. How many car owners have a car just to own it?? of what use is that??

The difference is that one is a lethal weapon...........a vehicle is for transsort. A license and knowledge on how to use both applies to both. The screening for weapon ownership should be strict.

The "rights' argument " is the usual fall back position......... and does not address the reality and responsibility of gun ownership. Just because something is a "right"......... does not remove the element of personal judgement and responsibility. A free society is not a free for all.........as every society has rules ........ and boundaries. Otherwise it can cross into chaos very quickly. A "right" does not give onelicense to do whatever one wants with a weapon...........

If it is so important to own a weapon..........fine........then keep it locked up. And follow all the SAFETY RULES that go with RESPONSIBLE gun ownership.

 

I accept your concession of the point.
If you think you can show Heller to be inconsistent with said jurisprudence - do let us know.
I shan't hold my breath.

 

Oh, I totally concede to your masterbdater prowess.

 

Why is this so emotional for you?? If you want to own a gun.........fine. who is stopping you.? Others feel different. People have the right to decide for themselves. What is the REAL issue??

 

That was already apparent.

 

So long as those people decide for themselves to not own a gun, that's fine.
When the decide their decision justifies making it harder for me to buy a gun, there's an issue.

 

What are you so scared of??.....as it relates to the gun issue.

 

The only real way to stop the heartache of all those who have suffered the pain of losing loved ones to gun deaths, is to tightly control gun ownership, as most civilised countries do. There should be a progressive campaign to discredit those who promote gun ownership, a ban on organisations which sell them, and a buy-back program. Over time, this would help.
Internet forums should also be banned from promoting gun ownership, and the members who do so should be thrown out.

 

"Scared"?
LOL
Try again.

 

You cannot demonstrate this to be true.

 

Yes.....scared. as maybe the rules would become stricter , with more detailed screening prior ownership. Maybe even having to pass a test that shows one knows how to use a gun , use it safely and responsibly Worse et..... afraid that guns might be removed from people............. as too many are not responsible.........enough or too prone to criminality. This does not cover the number of people with psychological issues .......that should probably not have gns.

Question: Should military peple who suffer from PTSD own guns?? Their psyche has been damaged due to the horrors they were exposed to.........and the stress of the job. IMHO.......these are things to consider. in this discussion.

These considerations are not made lights.y.......... and should require some form of standard psychological testing to clear them for weapons ownership...IF gun ownership is so important to them.

 

I reject the premise of your question..
Try again.

 

Re:

I think that the disconnect is that some people act as if an inanimate object, itself, is "a problem" when no object is a problem until a human being abuses it.

Since over 50 countries around the world(1) have far higher homicide rates and those same 50+ countries also have much stricter gun laws, it seems obvious that attempting to change human behavior by manipulating inanimate objects does nothing to save lives.

Additionally, the US is the only country in the world with any thing like a 2nd Amendment.
If the availability of guns had anything to do with homicide rates, then America should have the highest homicide in the world but it isn't so the guns are not the problem.

The only way to reduce our homicide rate is through more accessible and comprehensive Mental Health care.

Thanks,



(1) "Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) - Country Ranking"
https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/indicators/VC.IHR.PSRC.P5/rankings

 

While I don't disagree that the US has a pretty crappy mental health care system, relying on that alone will not solve our current dilemma. It would literally take decades to measure any notable change.

 

Yes, I know that America's mental health care system is grossly underfunded. I worked in it for about 10 years and while working in the Juvenile Justice System frequently had to use my own money to ensure that the patients/clients had the necessary school and activity supplies.

Re:

Could you please be more specific in defining what you mean by "current dilemma"?

 

Bless you for doing that.

This is but one statistic: https://www.statista.com/statistics...nt, 17 percent and eight percent respectively.

 

Mexico to sue U.S. gun manufacturers over cross-border flow of weapons, citing lax oversight of sales


Mexico to sue U.S. gun manufacturers over cross-border flow of weapons, citing lax oversight of sales
The Mexican government plans to file an unusual lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. federal court in Boston, alleging that American gunmakers facilitate the illegal flow of weapons across the border via their lax controls over weapons sales, according to documents obtained by The Post. Mexico considers U.S. guns a major factor in the violence that has soared there in recent years.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...0.2heNbtEwVKDcpUmFqInHyR215Ashk2KEmupQonrkJRQ

 

Four people were injured in a shooting at a high school in Arlington, Texas, police officials said. A search for the suspected shooter, an 18-year-old student, is underway.


https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...=857693951420692326&utm_medium=Email Sailthru

 

"A shootout in a St. Paul bar left at least one dead and 14 injured early Sunday, police said “In an instant, they found themselves caught in a hellish situation,” St. Paul police chief Todd Axtell said in a statement, adding, “We have the best investigators in the country, and we won’t stop until we find the people responsible for this madness.”


https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...=857693951420692326&utm_medium=Email Sailthru

 

Well, Switzerland comes to mind.

 

Guns are only part of it. Culture is the bigger part.

You have a extremely polarized society, a dire lack of social support systems, an arrogant violent aggressive national temperment.... What do you expect? Add some guns to that and voila.

In another less volatile culture, guns wouldn't be such a problem.

 

Very well stated. Yes....it is the culture that creates all these shootings. A more peaceful , less aggressive culture can still have guns........but not the number of shootings. .Th e wild west (culture( mentality has not gone away......it has only changed form. And the guns are more deadly. America Loves their guns..........and this gun culture is and has been based on fear of......(enter the item of choice here). Guns seem to provide psychological "security" and the need to protect themselves..........Security systems aren't quite enough.

Psychologically impaired / troubled pep;e have access to weapons. Inadequate mental health programs factor in too...........in a culture where mental issues are still seen as a weakness....and to be shunned .(or ignored until they get out of control) When a culture is prone to violence........ it matters little if it is guns or somersetting that is used as a weapon. Guns are just more efficient.

 

2 killed, police officer among 4 injured in shooting at Idaho mall

"Two people were killed and at least four others were injured, including a police officer, in a mall shooting Monday afternoon in Boise, Idaho, police said. Boise's police chief said officers responded to a call at Boise Towne Square mall, where gunfire ensued. The suspect was later detained."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...=857693951420692326&utm_medium=Email Sailthru

 

Public mass shootings account for less than 1% of the total of gun deaths in America. Hardly a culture.