another school shooting

True. Its just such a tragic shame that the same determination has not been applied to keeping lethal weapons out of the hands of untrained civilians so that they can't so easily end up in the wrong hands.

 

1. Agreed. But, we do not know what security she had; plus, she would take her boys shooting with her; equally, who is to say that she opened any secured (if existant) cabinet under duress?

2. I disagree; owning the machine certainly does *not* indicate an inclination to kill That argument is flawed. One does not necessarily equate to the other. As for it not being a "toy", I'm sure she was well aware of that ... and if she wasn't ... she most likely is now: as a *victim*.

 

Maybe a guard could have at least held him up for a while.

I dont get this problem with assault rifles, yes its designed to kill, but then what other than a starting pistol, is not.

How many guns do you think are circulating in the US, if you banned them outright tomorrow there would be enough to last until the turn of the century.
We have a ban here, but we still get shootings.

The problem lies in the people and their upbringing along with not taking those that show homicidal tenancies out of society.

 

You may have more information than me, Pete; did he exhibit homicidal tendancies?

 

I dunno but I have read reports that he had problems.
I was speaking generally, bearing in mind a few other cases where know nutters have killed people.

 

i knew this thread would turn in to a GUN LAW DEBATE but this is what it actually about



this is not mine but beautiful and i defy any one of you to not choke back a tear, the why how and wherefores will not change this saddest of happenings ...

 

Can't see your attachment Kaz

It is natural for such a debate to evolve (how could it not?) and while you are quite right that it does not change this event, the debate continues in the hope that it may prevent another. Surely that makes the discussion valid?

 

OK, I'm gone.
Dont want to upset anyone.

 

not aimed at anyone pete

there is always this ....http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/us-gun-laws.44914/page-4#post-571528 to continue to debate is you so feel the need

 

My sympathy is with the families.

 

And mine with all the other little ones who have experienced something dreadful, so early in their lives, that they shouldn't have. As President Obama said, they have been robbed of the magic of their childhood,
Jenny

 

Just watched a news report Mrs W had recorded. A father of 3 girls, all now gone, was talking. I just cannot even begin to imagine the pain that family is going through. We suddenly lost an infant many years ago and the initial effect of that on me was like a physical blow from a hammer. The emptiness and pain that parent and the other 19 families are now feeling is quite beyond comprehension. The one thing that may help the families is that they can share their grief and that they will receive massive support, locally, nationally and internationally and this will help - a bit; but every little helps.

The same news report included that fact that while not all american citizens have guns there are as many guns held by citizens as there are citizens. There was also an interview with a chap who'd written several books about mass killings and he reckoned that in the main the perpetrators were social isolates who had felt insignificant and were out to wreak vengeance on the society that had isolated them and make a name for themselves.

To my mind there are two things that just might help reduce the number of mass killings in the USA (never mind the one-off shootings).
1 - Improved monitoring and where appropriate the provision of support/mentoring for social isolates in schools, colleges and universities.
2- The banning of possession of automatic rifles - the weapons of choice in so many mass killings.

Frankly I'd not bet much money on the latter happening any time soon as n) the NRA with a massive membership and budget holds tremendous political clout. I'd love to find I'm wrong!

 

Mod note [ nothing deleted as far as I can see, no intention of doing so]

 

I can't see where anything will change in the States. As most of you know, I worked in criminal and personal injury law in the 60s / 70s for ten years. When I went to work for my one boss, the first thing he showed me was where the gun was in his desk!

I am an anti-gun person. I have had a gun held to my head at an intersection by a nutter and I told t'other half to run a red light and he said he could get done for it ... and I told him I could get killed if he didn't ... he did, and I am here today. Why did this happen ... because we were going along and an intoxicated person pulled out of a club in front of t'other half and t'other half tooted the horn ... that angered the intoxicated person so as we both had to stop at a red light at the intersection, I was the target as I was in the passenger seat next to the car with the aggrieved person.

I was assaulted once in my late teens by a boyfriend and I called the cops. Boyfriend ran and cop arrived and, as I worked in the law thought it strange he took his gun out of the holster and put it on my sofa and then sat to talk, make notes and 'comfort' me ... this was all fine until his unzipped his pants and I picked his gun up and said 'you know if this is loaded but I don't ...' He left and I reported him and his was suspended.

After I married we moved to a 'nice' neighbourhood called Country Club, sort of middle class. We had a bullet put through our front door for heaven only knows what reason.

The week before we left the US we stayed with a dear friend and I went into his bedroom to call my father ... to be confronted with a gun beside the telephone.

There are many stories I could tell about guns being involved in general life there.

When we moved to the UK I joined Toastmasters and was a member for two years touring several southern counties speaking. Your first main speech must be about something you feel strongly about ... mine was gun ownership as I was appalled by it all, and still am all these years later.

So, in my opinion, nothing has changed in 40-odd years and in fact has got worse and don't bother to ask me if I am surprised .... I am saddened by it all.

 

Sorry Dave, I don't agree at all with your thoughts (but I would like to) because it will never happen there.