School shooting in Connecticut (1 Viewer)

[Jack]

Coming from Europe where such tragedies while happening from time to time are less frequent, I do think that a stricter gun control law would help. Saying it's too late because there is too many guns out there doesn't make much sense to me since you have to start somewhere. This would at least possibly prevent anyone who doesn't have a gun in the first place to get one. How many times have we heard that the killers just bought their weapons before they acted? In Europe it's quasy impossible for anyone to get a AK47 or equivalent or any non hunting gun for that matter. I do agree that providing help to mentally ill people is needed too and this is taking us to another big issue in the US which is medical coverage that is substandard to any other developed nation in the world. Therefore another big problem to solve at home but starting with a stricter gun law would not arm anyone.

Gun control is not really going to prevent this kind of tragedy. Nothing short of removing guns from private citizens would have any real impact and that will not happen. When we had our massacre here in Australia a prominent politician used it as an example of the failure of gun control given that not one of the victims was armed. He felt that had 'good' people been armed they could have defended themselves. As adults, we get the Forum we desereve, the health care we deserve, the politicians we deserve. Change does not happen until the mass of decent, ordinary law abinding men and women demand it. (In case the tone of the post is lost, I am, of course, not suggesting that anyone deserved such a tragedy, more that our laws and our culture will not be transformed through one event. It is a question of what we are prepared to put up with. Having been in education for many years, I am convinced that the level of bullying that administrators, teachers, students, victims, parents, politicians are prepared to put up with is the level we get.) We also live in a society that does not trust its politicians. Look at every second movie - the enemy is no longer externalised, it is shady government forces acting maliciously - think the X Files. Even Harry Potter was harmed by ineffective government.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

For whatever reason, most of these rampage shooters are historically white males in their teens or 20's. I read somewhere that schizophrenia begins to manifest itself and become most dangerous in that age group. These are really one-in-a-million events though. Anomalies that play out endlessly on TV until everyone is afraid for their kids. It's much more likely your kid will be harmed in an auto or bus accident on the way to school than the victim of a school shooting. Having armed guards at every school in the country is like frisking old ladies at the airport. It's a waste of time and money and cultivates fear. You can't play defense and win this game. Put several armed guards in the school and the shooter will just wait for school to end and shoot the buses up. Or go to a public park. You also have to screen and treat the mentally ill to make any progress. The sad reality is that some of these events are going to occur no matter what is done.

How about banning all violent video games and lowering the divorce rates...this would be helpful!

 

[Jack]

How about banning all violent video games and lowering the divorce rates...this would be helpful!

I assume that you mean helping prevent the breakdown of the family unit because I have seen 'intact' marriages that were no place for children. I agree with you about the video games, which are violent - very violent - but they are as much a symptom as a cause.

 

[larso]

This is such a distressing story - again. I have chosen not to read too much about the little children, it just cuts too much. The view that arming more people will prevent mass killings of this nature is ignoring the fact that there'll be more accidental deaths and more cases of arguments getting out of hand and becoming deadly.

The answer is ultimately reducing the number of guns in US society (it has demonstratably worked in Australia and other places). Given the history of America this is going to be very hard, so it needs to be something done over the course of 50 years or so. President Obama can start it but others need to finish it. School curiculums need to address gun deaths almost as a public health issue. The NRA will scream - let them enter the school debate. At the end of the day, most people will be swayed by the infinately more powerful 'No' case. As gun ownership is seen as less and less desirable, the number of sale points can be reduced. Dealers can be brought out - even if it takes 20 - 30 - 40 years, they all have to retire at some point and no one loses his income. It's also important to recognise that most US gun owners are good people and they mustn't be demonised. Let them keep the guns they have and encourage them to dispose of them as part of their wills. It only takes someone with celebrity to start and others will follow.

As to how - well, while there are millions who pay their NRA dues, which are used to pressure politicians - how about the tens of millions (hundreds of millions?) that want a better/safer society. Surely the money that can be raised by the majority would dwarf that raised by the 'pro' group. I imagine the millions affected by gun deaths would make a good starting point. Let this be used to pressure the politicians the other way. Also, companies (Hollywood, video games) that assist gun culture initiatives be punished at the cash register. Once it takes some shape, people will get with it, better ideas than mine will come forward. Leadership is important, let the incredible American attitude to achieve produce some great Americans to better its society.

I'm not against guns. I'm perfectly happy for farmers for instance to have a weapon to deal with wild animals or ill stock but NO-ONE needs a military grade weapon in their broom closet. It's just important to start - now! Apparently there are 300 million guns in private American hands - try and buy back 10 million guns next year and go from there. Eradicating some diseases took decades, this might go longer but it's time to start the journey!

 

[nysoldiers]

This is such a distressing story - again. I have chosen not to read too much about the little children, it just cuts too much. The view that arming more people will prevent mass killings of this nature is ignoring the fact that there'll be more accidental deaths and more cases of arguments getting out of hand and becoming deadly.

The answer is ultimately reducing the number of guns in US society (it has demonstratably worked in Australia and other places). Given the history of America this is going to be very hard, so it needs to be something done over the course of 50 years or so. President Obama can start it but others need to finish it. School curiculums need to address gun deaths almost as a public health issue. The NRA will scream - let them enter the school debate. At the end of the day, most people will be swayed by the infinately more powerful 'No' case. As gun ownership is seen as less and less desirable, the number of sale points can be reduced. Dealers can be brought out - even if it takes 20 - 30 - 40 years, they all have to retire at some point and no one loses his income. It's also important to recognise that most US gun owners are good people and they mustn't be demonised. Let them keep the guns they have and encourage them to dispose of them as part of their wills. It only takes someone with celebrity to start and others will follow.

As to how - well, while there are millions who pay their NRA dues, which are used to pressure politicians - how about the tens of millions (hundreds of millions?) that want a better/safer society. Surely the money that can be raised by the majority would dwarf that raised by the 'pro' group. I imagine the millions affected by gun deaths would make a good starting point. Let this be used to pressure the politicians the other way. Also, companies (Hollywood, video games) that assist gun culture initiatives be punished at the cash register. Once it takes some shape, people will get with it, better ideas than mine will come forward. Leadership is important, let the incredible American attitude to achieve produce some great Americans to better its society.

I'm not against guns. I'm perfectly happy for farmers for instance to have a weapon to deal with wild animals or ill stock but NO-ONE needs a military grade weapon in their broom closet. It's just important to start - now! Apparently there are 300 million guns in private American hands - try and buy back 10 million guns next year and go from there. Eradicating some diseases took decades, this might go longer but it's time to start the journey!

Very well put.....We have to start with banning automatic/military style weapons and high volume bullet clips. There are more gun dealers than McDonald's in America, almost as many gun dealers as gas stations and enough guns to arm every human being in our country. Of the 70,000 gun applicants who lied on their applications last year only 77 were prosecuted! Background checks are rarely done at private gun shows!
Today a man was taken into custody after threatening to go into his local elementary school and kill students. Police searching his home found over 70 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
I believe in the right to own a gun for home protection or recreation (hunting and target shooting) but we don't need multiple guns, automatic weapons and 30+round clips.
America has the most guns per capita in the world and the most gun related violence in the world. You can never stop all the criminals or disturbed individuals from committing crimes but lets not make the technology for mass murder so easily available to them!

 

[Peter Reuss]

I am closing this thread as we have moved from grief to 'problem solving,' an inherently polictical conversation.

Our hearts go out to those who suffer.