Another school shooting

[EMAWican]

there is currently less gun violence in the united states than there was thirty years ago. if anything, violent shows and games are helping by giving whacko nut jobs an outlet. so sorry dorks, but csi miami and grand theft auto isn't causing people to go shoot other people in real life. if anything, it's the opposite.

Then we should just focus on preventing mass shootings, and not all encompassing regulations on guns.  The regs in place during this timeframe have obviously seen lower gun violence.

[Dr Rick Daris]

there is currently less gun violence in the united states than there was thirty years ago. if anything, violent shows and games are helping by giving whacko nut jobs an outlet. so sorry dorks, but csi miami and grand theft auto isn't causing people to go shoot other people in real life. if anything, it's the opposite.

Then we should just focus on preventing mass shootings, and not all encompassing regulations on guns.  The regs in place during this timeframe have obviously seen lower gun violence.

i would argue that there is probably less gun violence because a lower percentage of the population currently owns a gun and not whatever dumb thing that you're trying to say.

[EMAWican]

there is currently less gun violence in the united states than there was thirty years ago. if anything, violent shows and games are helping by giving whacko nut jobs an outlet. so sorry dorks, but csi miami and grand theft auto isn't causing people to go shoot other people in real life. if anything, it's the opposite.

Then we should just focus on preventing mass shootings, and not all encompassing regulations on guns.  The regs in place during this timeframe have obviously seen lower gun violence.

i would argue that there is probably less gun violence because a lower percentage of the population currently owns a gun and not whatever dumb thing that you're trying to say.

Not really.   

http://themonkeycage.org/blog/2012/07/21/the-declining-culture-of-guns-and-violence-in-the-united-states/

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150353/self-reported-gun-ownership-highest-1993.aspx

[michigancat]

I will go on record as saying I support helping kids and parents cope w/ ADHD without drugs, helping parents be better parents, stopping the drone strikes, and doing a better job dealing with all forms of mental illness.

[Panjandrum]

there is way less gun violence in the united states today then there was forty years ago. you know why? less people own actual real guns. shocking i know, but it seems to be the case that when tons of people have real guns that can shoot people, you tend to have more people with real guns actually shooting people. video games? violent shows? good grief you guys. it's a great big world out there. maybe spend some time talking to your kids about what's real and what's not and what's appropriate and what isn't and less time running around trying to shelter your kids from them. use them as a teaching tool. a jumping off point for dialogue if you want. have an honest conversation instead of just throwing a blanket over their eyes.

Agree with all of this but am still trying to figure out what age we start exposing them to it so they can properly engage in said dialogue.

That's kind of a moving target (no pun intended).

[Dr Rick Daris]

there is currently less gun violence in the united states than there was thirty years ago. if anything, violent shows and games are helping by giving whacko nut jobs an outlet. so sorry dorks, but csi miami and grand theft auto isn't causing people to go shoot other people in real life. if anything, it's the opposite.

Then we should just focus on preventing mass shootings, and not all encompassing regulations on guns.  The regs in place during this timeframe have obviously seen lower gun violence.

i would argue that there is probably less gun violence because a lower percentage of the population currently owns a gun and not whatever dumb thing that you're trying to say.

Not really.   

http://themonkeycage.org/blog/2012/07/21/the-declining-culture-of-guns-and-violence-in-the-united-states/

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150353/self-reported-gun-ownership-highest-1993.aspx

i'm curious as to what you think i'm saying and what those links said.

[Dr Rick Daris]

I will go on record as saying I support helping kids and parents cope w/ ADHD without drugs, helping parents be better parents, stopping the drone strikes, and doing a better job dealing with all forms of mental illness.

yeah. those things sound great.

[steve dave]

I will go on record as saying I support helping kids and parents cope w/ ADHD without drugs, helping parents be better parents, stopping the drone strikes, and doing a better job dealing with all forms of mental illness.

Yes, all things we should support

[SkinnyBenny]

Onion clowns gun nuts:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/right-to-own-handheld-device-that-shoots-deadly-me,30742/

[kim carnes]

I'm not caught up on this thread.  Are you guys actually suggesting taking away guns people already own?   Cuz that's not going to happen. 

[MixBerryCrunch]

Guns don't kill people, psychopaths kill people. There should be mandatory testing for biological and genetic traits of psychopathy at the gun owners expense before a person can buy a gun.  There should be a certain ratio of teachers that should carry guns. And these teachers will be tested for psychopathy in the same way, but at the school districts expense. They will also have to go to firearm lessons once a month.  That is all.

[EMAWican]

there is currently less gun violence in the united states than there was thirty years ago. if anything, violent shows and games are helping by giving whacko nut jobs an outlet. so sorry dorks, but csi miami and grand theft auto isn't causing people to go shoot other people in real life. if anything, it's the opposite.

Then we should just focus on preventing mass shootings, and not all encompassing regulations on guns.  The regs in place during this timeframe have obviously seen lower gun violence.

i would argue that there is probably less gun violence because a lower percentage of the population currently owns a gun and not whatever dumb thing that you're trying to say.

Not really.   

http://themonkeycage.org/blog/2012/07/21/the-declining-culture-of-guns-and-violence-in-the-united-states/

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150353/self-reported-gun-ownership-highest-1993.aspx

i'm curious as to what you think i'm saying and what those links said.

i would argue that there is probably less gun violence because a lower percentage of the population currently owns a gun

From 1991 to 2010, the violent crime rate and murder rate dropped almost 50%, while self-reporting gun ownership decreased around 8%.  What about the guns being readily accessible to non-owners?  The NRA reports that there are 80 to 90 million registered gun owners in the nation (forget the unregistered people who had guns inherited/private sale, etc. and people in states like Utah).  The Census Bureau estimates 120 million households in the U.S.  These numbers illustrate the possibility of an even higher percentage of the population with access to a gun, all the while, violence dropped substantially.

Look, my main point after reading this thread is that to decrease the possibility of mass shootings, we need to look at the root cause, not incorporate all-encompassing gun regulations.  More gun control is not the solution to the problem, it's addressing the symptom and hoping for the best.         

[steve dave]

nobody has said we shouldn't do whatever we can to address all the causes of all violence. what people are saying is that gun violence is a problem and the availability of handguns and assault weapons to anyone who wants one is part of that problem and should be addressed. all the gun people are doing is defending guns, not supplying other solutions that address their perceived other causes.

[sonofdaxjones]

Ironic . . . people within the administrative infrastructure of the world's largest arms dealer, engaged in exporting billions of dollars in weapons world wide every single year.   Weapons used to kill 1000's and threaten millions . . . are talking about banning gun sales in the United States.

[steve dave]

Ironic . . . people within the administrative infrastructure of the world's largest arms dealer, engaged in exporting billions of dollars in weapons world wide every single year.   Weapons used to kill 1000's and threaten millions . . . are talking about banning gun sales in the United States.

that's not irony alanis

[OK_Cat]

Ironic . . . people within the administrative infrastructure of the world's largest arms dealer, engaged in exporting billions of dollars in weapons world wide every single year.   Weapons used to kill 1000's and threaten millions . . . are talking about banning gun sales in the United States.

that's not irony alanis

 

[sonofdaxjones]

Ironic . . . people within the administrative infrastructure of the world's largest arms dealer, engaged in exporting billions of dollars in weapons world wide every single year.   Weapons used to kill 1000's and threaten millions . . . are talking about banning gun sales in the United States.

that's not irony alanis

Okay . . . reality, try that one.

[sonofdaxjones]

Expansive Gun Control in Mexico . . . how's that working out?

[Dr Rick Daris]

there is way less gun violence in the united states today then there was forty years ago. you know why? less people own actual real guns. shocking i know, but it seems to be the case that when tons of people have real guns that can shoot people, you tend to have more people with real guns actually shooting people. video games? violent shows? good grief you guys. it's a great big world out there. maybe spend some time talking to your kids about what's real and what's not and what's appropriate and what isn't and less time running around trying to shelter your kids from them. use them as a teaching tool. a jumping off point for dialogue if you want. have an honest conversation instead of just throwing a blanket over their eyes.

Agree with all of this but am still trying to figure out what age we start exposing them to it so they can properly engage in said dialogue.

That's kind of a moving target (no pun intended).

my opinion would be that the time to start having the conversation is when the child is actually old enough to have a conversation. for most kids that's probably around 4.

again and this is just me personally, but i'd far rather have my child grow up thinking that it's completely normal to have a fake toy gun and watch an occasional fake violent show then to lump those things in with real guns and real violence and act like they're all bad and should be avoided or that they're all even similar in some way. like draw a freaking line in the sand. one is real and kills people and one is fake and doesn't.

["storm"nut]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/sandy-hook-shootings-prompt-bloomberg-politicians-to-seek-tough-new-gun-laws-enforcement-1.4339196

Good start.

Extend ban to new handguns larger than than .22 caliber, clips larger than 6 cartridges for all guns, increase wait time for all guns to 4 weeks and increase depth of background checks to include people living at same address as person applying.
Make mandatory education and certification courses for any person wishing to purchases a firearms.
Mandatory Reporting laws should be expanded to include any threats to act out in violence.
Gun shows should be held to the same standard as any other firearms dealer.
Registration of all firearms should be required and kept up to date.

Just a few things that just need to be done, so shut up gun nuts and lets get this done.

[nicname]

there is way less gun violence in the united states today then there was forty years ago. you know why? less people own actual real guns. shocking i know, but it seems to be the case that when tons of people have real guns that can shoot people, you tend to have more people with real guns actually shooting people. video games? violent shows? good grief you guys. it's a great big world out there. maybe spend some time talking to your kids about what's real and what's not and what's appropriate and what isn't and less time running around trying to shelter your kids from them. use them as a teaching tool. a jumping off point for dialogue if you want. have an honest conversation instead of just throwing a blanket over their eyes.

Agree with all of this but am still trying to figure out what age we start exposing them to it so they can properly engage in said dialogue.

That's kind of a moving target (no pun intended).

my opinion would be that the time to start having the conversation is when the child is actually old enough to have a conversation. for most kids that's probably around 4.

again and this is just me personally, but i'd far rather have my child grow up thinking that it's completely normal to have a fake toy gun and watch an occasional fake violent show then to lump those things in with real guns and real violence and act like they're all bad or that they're all even similar in some way. like draw a freaking line in the sand. one is real and kills people and one is fake and doesn't.

Yeah, I never understood the whole sheltering thing.  I'm not saying that I'm going to sit my kid down and have him watch "The Expendables" with me at four years old, but it is probably better to be realistic about the world.  I played "cowboys and indians" "cops and robbers" and "war," my kid plays with toy guns.  It's fun.  The overprotective attitudes of a lot of parents baffle me.  Whatever works for them I guess, but I'll pass.

[HeinBallz]

nobody has said we shouldn't do whatever we can to address all the causes of all violence. what people are saying is that gun violence is a problem and the availability of handguns and assault weapons to anyone who wants one is part of that problem and should be addressed. all the gun people are doing is defending guns, not supplying other solutions that address their perceived other causes.

All I've tried to say is it would have very little effect if any at all. 

[steve dave]

nobody has said we shouldn't do whatever we can to address all the causes of all violence. what people are saying is that gun violence is a problem and the availability of handguns and assault weapons to anyone who wants one is part of that problem and should be addressed. all the gun people are doing is defending guns, not supplying other solutions that address their perceived other causes.

All I've tried to say is it would have very little effect if any at all.

Yes, that's what my post says

[Panjandrum]

Guns don't kill people, psychopaths kill people. There should be mandatory testing for biological and genetic traits of psychopathy at the gun owners expense before a person can buy a gun.  There should be a certain ratio of teachers that should carry guns. And these teachers will be tested for psychopathy in the same way, but at the school districts expense. They will also have to go to firearm lessons once a month.  That is all.

Absolutely not.  If anything, we can/should increase the number of trained law enforcement staff at schools (all levels) that are trained in situations that would require the use of a firearm. 

Never, under ANY circumstance should a teacher have a gun.  That sends so many wrong messages and puts the power of life and death in the hands of an underpaid, overworked school teacher.

The answer to the gun problem may not be easily identifiable, but it most certainly isn't arming more people that have no business being armed in the first place.

["storm"nut]

Guns don't kill people, psychopaths kill people. There should be mandatory testing for biological and genetic traits of psychopathy at the gun owners expense before a person can buy a gun.  There should be a certain ratio of teachers that should carry guns. And these teachers will be tested for psychopathy in the same way, but at the school districts expense. They will also have to go to firearm lessons once a month.  That is all.

Dear god, that is the last thing to do. More guns is not the answer, the only answer is fewer.