It has become the one thing that unites us all:The Children..I am glad the schools here in Florida are tightening their security because of this… if only to defend the children that go to said schools.
I live in California. We have probably some of the tightest gun regulations in the nation. 15 day waiting period for purchase with 3 background checks done. For purchase of a handgun you must pass a proficiency test on handling and safety. High cap. magazines are illegal. Transporting firearms is specified so ammunition is not “conveniently” available to the firearms. Gun cases must be locked. All firearms have to be cleared by the California Dept. of Justice before they can be sold in the state. Many aren’t. In some cases if you are a collector you must have gun safe level of storage. It’s inconvenient and more expensive but it does help to limit kids getting “accidentally” shot by guns left unsecured. Personally i would like to see the law extended that gun safes were mandatory for all firearms owners.Unfortunately in spite of all these rules and regulation Los Angeles still has a terrible death rate from shootings, most of it from gang and drug related shootings. Chicago has highly restrictive laws regarding firearms and it is the murder capital of the country. The shooting in the mall in Oregon was a rifle stolen from a friend. The shooter in Newton was using his mother’s guns. Would these have been prevented if the owners had to keep them locked in a safe? Good possibility. In today’s violence glorified culture I think we need to exercise every precaution we can for preventative purposes. Many states in the country do not have the same regulations California does and that’s one place people can slip through the cracks in purchasing. I have trained dozens of people, men women and children in safe handling of firearms. Respect for the deadly capability of all guns was a big part of it. Prohibition doesn’t work. History proves it. Drunk drivers killed (approx) 10,500 in the U.S.. Firearms related deaths were 9,150 in that year (2010). Do we outlaw alcohol? 75 million people own firearms in America and purchases have gone up dramatically in the last four years. The fact is, America has always been a gun owning culture. China has security in most of their elementary schools because they have had so many attacks on children in recent years, mostly by people considered “mentally ill.” Most of them used knives and axes, because China does not allow any gun ownership. The latest was 22 children attacked by a “disturbed” man with a knife.I believe there is a lot of room to improve the gun laws, but I think if we focus our efforts on treating mental health conditions we would be far ahead. The Colorado theater shooter was seeing a therapist that should have reported him. The Newton shooter will be shown to have serious mental health conditions. I would almost guarantee you that his mom didn’t have the guns stored in a locked safe or secure inaccessible storage. My heart breaks for the families in Newton. There is nothing more heinous than violent crimes against children. Unfortunately when we have a tragedy like this our reaction is to ban something instead of dealing with the underlying problems in our society. I didn’t even want to get into a written confrontation over this because so many people are understandably in pain, but I hoped maybe some would at least consider another side of the discussion.
Ever wonder why you never hear of things like this happening in Switzerland? Thats because they require every citizen to not only own guns, but be trained on how to use them. They have the lowest gun crime rates in the world. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the victims.
“HAPPY”I wouldn’t go that far. Perhaps “happier”. Switzerland without drugs?! Are you joking?Illegal immigration, drugs or violence is not absent from Switzerland nor Germany. I do not know what you’re attempting to portray here, but it certainly is not true.Switzerland or Germany are certainly not less immune to stressed out, clinically depressed citizens than the USA.
We certainly shouldn’t require the rich in this country to chip in and pay for an improved mental health care system, that might prevent such incidents that gain us the world’s “sympathy”. Maybe what the rest of the world should say is just, "What the “F”??? AGAIN!".
It pleases me to have read so many excellent comments with which I can agree in part or in total under this cartoon. My son’s church had a Christmas event put on by the children who were between 4 and 10 years of age. I wondered if any of the children killed had been practicing for such an event in their own churches and found myself more effected than usual at such events. I truly don’t know how to respond. A parent’s worst nightmare is living longer than their child and when the child is so young….What can one say? Thank you to those who have responded with intelligence and eloquence to this topic. I find myself lacking in both.helplessly,C.
A minority of people own firearms? 75 million is a minority? 25% of our population? And of course your emotional argument ignores that only a minute percentage abuses those guns? I in no way condone or excuse the actions of people like the school shooter. My basic post was that we need to standardize stricter controls on all levels, gun shows, security of storage, and mandatory training, nationwide. Right now there is a big imbalance between the states. If the kid’s mother had her guns secured with trigger locks or were in a gun safe, he would have had no access. That is much stricter controls, but obviously you don’t see it as such.Forces of evil? A bit over the top I would say and totally illogical considering you just broad brush millions of people. You want forces of evil? Go to the real shooting galleries in South Central L.A. , Chicago and D.C which have the strictest gun laws on the books. They don’t buy legal guns and often kill each other for drugs, making their stripes or even just trendy tennis shoes. Those are “forces of evil.”You need to lighten up. You are really being hard on yourself…
Ketira over 11 years ago
It has become the one thing that unites us all:The Children..I am glad the schools here in Florida are tightening their security because of this… if only to defend the children that go to said schools.
Hartford, Connecticut — I grieve with thee.
Mickey 13 over 11 years ago
I live in California. We have probably some of the tightest gun regulations in the nation. 15 day waiting period for purchase with 3 background checks done. For purchase of a handgun you must pass a proficiency test on handling and safety. High cap. magazines are illegal. Transporting firearms is specified so ammunition is not “conveniently” available to the firearms. Gun cases must be locked. All firearms have to be cleared by the California Dept. of Justice before they can be sold in the state. Many aren’t. In some cases if you are a collector you must have gun safe level of storage. It’s inconvenient and more expensive but it does help to limit kids getting “accidentally” shot by guns left unsecured. Personally i would like to see the law extended that gun safes were mandatory for all firearms owners.Unfortunately in spite of all these rules and regulation Los Angeles still has a terrible death rate from shootings, most of it from gang and drug related shootings. Chicago has highly restrictive laws regarding firearms and it is the murder capital of the country. The shooting in the mall in Oregon was a rifle stolen from a friend. The shooter in Newton was using his mother’s guns. Would these have been prevented if the owners had to keep them locked in a safe? Good possibility. In today’s violence glorified culture I think we need to exercise every precaution we can for preventative purposes. Many states in the country do not have the same regulations California does and that’s one place people can slip through the cracks in purchasing. I have trained dozens of people, men women and children in safe handling of firearms. Respect for the deadly capability of all guns was a big part of it. Prohibition doesn’t work. History proves it. Drunk drivers killed (approx) 10,500 in the U.S.. Firearms related deaths were 9,150 in that year (2010). Do we outlaw alcohol? 75 million people own firearms in America and purchases have gone up dramatically in the last four years. The fact is, America has always been a gun owning culture. China has security in most of their elementary schools because they have had so many attacks on children in recent years, mostly by people considered “mentally ill.” Most of them used knives and axes, because China does not allow any gun ownership. The latest was 22 children attacked by a “disturbed” man with a knife.I believe there is a lot of room to improve the gun laws, but I think if we focus our efforts on treating mental health conditions we would be far ahead. The Colorado theater shooter was seeing a therapist that should have reported him. The Newton shooter will be shown to have serious mental health conditions. I would almost guarantee you that his mom didn’t have the guns stored in a locked safe or secure inaccessible storage. My heart breaks for the families in Newton. There is nothing more heinous than violent crimes against children. Unfortunately when we have a tragedy like this our reaction is to ban something instead of dealing with the underlying problems in our society. I didn’t even want to get into a written confrontation over this because so many people are understandably in pain, but I hoped maybe some would at least consider another side of the discussion.
http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp#ownership
http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html
http://www.chinanationalnews.com/index.php/sid/211386916/scat/9366300fc9319e9b
chfields over 11 years ago
Ever wonder why you never hear of things like this happening in Switzerland? Thats because they require every citizen to not only own guns, but be trained on how to use them. They have the lowest gun crime rates in the world. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the victims.
OmqR-IV.0 over 11 years ago
“HAPPY”I wouldn’t go that far. Perhaps “happier”. Switzerland without drugs?! Are you joking?Illegal immigration, drugs or violence is not absent from Switzerland nor Germany. I do not know what you’re attempting to portray here, but it certainly is not true.Switzerland or Germany are certainly not less immune to stressed out, clinically depressed citizens than the USA.
Hamishmacaw over 11 years ago
Thank you, Mr. Davies. You’ve said it all.
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
We certainly shouldn’t require the rich in this country to chip in and pay for an improved mental health care system, that might prevent such incidents that gain us the world’s “sympathy”. Maybe what the rest of the world should say is just, "What the “F”??? AGAIN!".
chazandru over 11 years ago
It pleases me to have read so many excellent comments with which I can agree in part or in total under this cartoon. My son’s church had a Christmas event put on by the children who were between 4 and 10 years of age. I wondered if any of the children killed had been practicing for such an event in their own churches and found myself more effected than usual at such events. I truly don’t know how to respond. A parent’s worst nightmare is living longer than their child and when the child is so young….What can one say? Thank you to those who have responded with intelligence and eloquence to this topic. I find myself lacking in both.helplessly,C.
Mickey 13 over 11 years ago
A minority of people own firearms? 75 million is a minority? 25% of our population? And of course your emotional argument ignores that only a minute percentage abuses those guns? I in no way condone or excuse the actions of people like the school shooter. My basic post was that we need to standardize stricter controls on all levels, gun shows, security of storage, and mandatory training, nationwide. Right now there is a big imbalance between the states. If the kid’s mother had her guns secured with trigger locks or were in a gun safe, he would have had no access. That is much stricter controls, but obviously you don’t see it as such.Forces of evil? A bit over the top I would say and totally illogical considering you just broad brush millions of people. You want forces of evil? Go to the real shooting galleries in South Central L.A. , Chicago and D.C which have the strictest gun laws on the books. They don’t buy legal guns and often kill each other for drugs, making their stripes or even just trendy tennis shoes. Those are “forces of evil.”You need to lighten up. You are really being hard on yourself…