Time for a "Mass Shootings" Forum?

I don't want to ignore it, I think it is only a part of the larger problem. You have to treat the symptoms but still fix the cause.

 

What do you suppose is the cause?

 

Sadly I don't know. I truly wish I did. I wish I could give you an answer to that question and I will honestly think about what that answer may be. I can only hope that while I am thinking about it smarter people than I will find the answer first.

 

Wow.

So an entire kindergarten class was murdered this morning. And this comes right on the heels of mass shootings in Oregon, Colorado, Wisconsin (and probably others I'm not recalling at this moment). And your response to this is:
1. Banning or regulating guns wouldn't do anything worthwhile to stop these types of shootings or to make them less deadly.
2. Talking about mental illness and how we respond to it as a society is equivalent to excusing the killers.
3. Let's just think real hard and hope that somebody smart figures out why this is happening.

As I said: Wow.

I tell you what. While you're thinking real hard and hoping real hard, the rest of us are going to SPEAK UP and TAKE ACTION to save lives.

 

And prevent them from getting weapons. Most schizophrenics who do these acts do so with legally obtained guns. And almost all of them have a history of diagnosed mental illness. The problem is there in no working mechanism in place to prevent a nut from getting a gun.

For those who support the NRA's approach to gun control (i.e. do not compromise an iota), what is the solution ? You feel that your right to own a gun is so important that you will accept mass shooting of children in exchange ? I am interested to hear from some one who does NOT support gun control, what should be done to prevent these incidents.

 

I think you have a valid point, there will always be mentally disturbed persons that will be willing to commit these atrocities. But the thing is, that is not exclusive of the United States (unless you have data that shows that the percentage of the population that is this disturbed in the US is significantly higher than other first world nations). The big difference is how easy it is to acquire this type of firepower in the US, coupled with the prevalent "gun culture". Unless those two things are addressed, I don't think you'll see these horrific events becoming more rare.

 

Mike Huckabee essentially just said this happened because God has been taken out of public schools. ********er

 

stay classy.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Conservative-Hammer/206783309358337

 

Make a law when attempting to purchase a gun, one must show his mental health record?

 

Ok so now you are deciding to just be a prick and put a post out that misreprents what I said.

For bullshit point 1. Where did I say banning or regulating guns would do anything worthwhile to stop these types of shootings? I did say that even if you removed them you still have people who would either find the weapons they want, or use other weapons to carry out whatever sick fantasy they have in mind.

2. WTF? Where did you come to such an idiotic, unfounded statement? I said that people know what is right and what is wrong. I have also been saying from my first post here that we need to address the cause of what makes these sickos do what they do. You object to my use of terms, still doesn't change who and what they are. Millions of people have issues and seek help. Not all get the help they need. That needs to be addressed.

3. Well I can certainly tell you will not be among those to figure this out.

The action you take will be the same as always. Blame the tool not the person behind it. I can at least admit to not knowing what the cause is, can you? I can tell you this, it isn't that piece of metal. It takes a person to pull the trigger. That is what you need to address. Find out why they do what they do.

 

Bloomberg hits the nail on the head:

 

Are you serious?

 

He's right, no way God would've been outgunned by this ************************.

 

I am not sure many of them can be "helped".
Medications do help but eventually many paranoid schizophrenics stop taking them.
And its really really hard to get anyone committed in this country anymore. So you cant "make" them take their meds.

I want to punch all the TV pundits who are saying...."we dont know his motive "

Yeah we do...I've never seen the guy nor inteviewed him but I guarantee he is a paranoid schizophrenic. That means = no motive.

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...guns-and-mass-shootings-in-the-united-states/

Some interesting points, and not just from one side.

 

He is dead on accurate. Now what is he actually proposing be done?

 

So you think that regulating or even banning guns would be worthwhile and helpful?

You believe that we should collectively make efforts to remove the stigma from mental illness and its treatment? You think that we should expand the availability of mental health care in the United States?

The cause of what makes mentally ill people do what they do, is mental illness. There. You're welcome, I solved your thorny problem. You can stop thinking about it now and start working to prevent future tragedies.

 

I love when these idiots call for the public to be better armed, especially in cases where the perp is wearing body armor.

 

http://prospect.org/article/ten-arguments-gun-advocates-make-and-why-theyre-wrong

 

Agree.
Along with our gutless politicians, I blame the NRA too. They needed to get out in front of this years ago. They needed to propose a workable system by which sane, law abiding citizens could own guns for protection and sport, but limiting the ability for criminals and the insane to do so.

 

If only the first graders were packing.....................

 

But this speaks to a much larger problem in how we treat schizophrenia. People shouldn't have to lobotomize themselves on meds in order to live safely and not harm others. They shouldn't have to be committed to institutions. There have to be other options.

And, at the very least, they shouldn't be able to obtain firearms.

 

we do not need privately run well-regulated militia to protect against foreign and domestic enemies.
we already have a state-run well-regulated militia to do that.
private citizens have not need and should not have access to assault weapons.
indeed, private citizens do not need anything beyond a simple handgun for home protection, and a rifle (not semi automatic) for hunting.
handguns will remain a problem, I realize that. but it's at least a step in the right direction. maybe limit private citizens to single action revolvers which would slow down the rate of fire as you would have to manually cock the trigger mechanism every time.