Yep, it’s just a lump of metal, plastic, gun powder, lead, tin or whatever until someone picks it up and pulls the trigger..Guns are too easily available and are often used to resolve issues in the heat of the moment. And, worse, picked up and used to accidentally hurt or kill someone, often by children.
A few days ago, I pointed out that the base was a Gun Free zone, and was met with criticism and denial by people who should have known better. Today, there are people who are unwilling to research the intended purpose(s) of the 2nd Amendment, and want to “interpret” it to fit their fantasies.The fact remains, this shooter killed himself as soon as he was confronted by someone able to defend herself. Reverse the Clinton directive about guns on military bases so America’s Bravest can defend themselves!
I usually don’t post on gun control; although I favor some reasonable control (whatever reasonable means) I am not opposed to gun ownership overall, and I think that the second amendment gives broad rights for gun ownership. My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that the problem in the US isn’t so much the law but the social attitudes towards guns.+But the point of my post was actually somewhat different. Bruce was claiming that the second amendment needs no interpretation. I don’t agree. Language always has to be interpreted. Sometimes the interpretation is so quick and free of problems that we think there has been no interpretation, but that’s an illusion. For example, the second amendment protects the right to bear arms — well, what kind of arms are included? All kinds? The courts have generally said no, but that’s an interpretation.
Denied a leave pass, Lopez decides he will settle the issue with the aid of a gun. Most certainly a very insensitive approach to a personnel issue..Lopez was a soldier at Fort Hood, a sprawling military base where men are stripped of sensitivity and taught to kill dispassionately, and if you wear the uniform you are hailed a hero. If you do a really good job of killing, you will be awarded medals. If the killing and violence upsets your psyche, you will be treated for mental illness. .Fort Hood, one of around 1000 U.S. military bases and installations around the world for the main purpose of asserting U.S. power and influence on weaker peoples and nations. Where one of the main tools of the trade is the gun, and the deadlier the better..Then there is puzzlement when one of their own attempts to resolve a personal issue with a gun. Perhaps mental illness and/or intellectual issues are at the root. But perhaps they are looking in the wrong place.
You may well be right, and my impression is that that’s the way the courts have interpreted it. But it’s odd that only the one amendment has such a preamble. Anyway, as I said, I’m not arguing that the second amendment doesn’t give broad rights, just that the amendment, like any amendment, has to be interpreted. I could be wrong, but my impression is that the courts have allowed some restrictions on guns — for example, no guns on airplanes. Presumably they came up with an interpretation to allow that restriction.
So maybe the courts will rule that you can take a gun on a plane but can’t take deodorant. Just last week I had to give up a bottle of water. Water isn’t constitutionally protected. Oh, freedom!!
If, as you say, seven states allow firearms in the unsecured areas of airports, can I infer that forty-three states don’t allow firearms in the the unsecured areas of airports? Does that suggest that the lawmakers in those forty-three states believe that such a restriction is not an infringement of the right to bear arms? Again, my point is that the force of the amendment is subject to interpretation.
See the following on the history of punctuation:+Pause and effect : an introduction to the history of punctuation in the WestParkes, M. B.+Probably the last comma indicates rhythm rather than grammar. English writers used to punctuate a lot more than they do now. For that matter, modern German uses commas after restrictive clauses, which modern English doesn’t. If you read a first edition (or facsimile) of Jane Austen, for instance, you’ll find punctuation that gets edited out of modern editions. Is it embarrassing that I know a lot about the history of punctuation? I had to read about it when I was in graduate school, though mostly we were interested in Greek and Latin punctuation.
The REAL problem is the fact thatTake away the personal suicides, and the “mentally ill” are an extreme MINORITY of those killing with guns in the United States. The VAST majority of gun homicides do NOT involve the mentally ill. Most homicides are just the result of criminal activity, or “lost tempers”.
Just one last kick at the can — as I say to my students, grammar is thinking. Learning grammar is not learning a bunch of rules, it’s learning about how to put ideas together so that they cohere.
More food for thought: hypodermic needles and crack pipes are inanimate objects also. Funny how supposedly intellegent humans allow these, and many many other, inanimate objects make decisions for them.
Tobacco, alcohol and cars have killed as many if not more, some with the same lack of regard for others, some self inflicted some after teaming up with another on this list. My point is Cigarettes, whiskey and cars are only the instrument being used by short sighted people, guns are just instruments used by people, if the person has good thoughts and true aim, life is good.
Darsan54 Premium Member about 10 years ago
It’s less likely for the mentally ill to inflict violence than to have violence inflicted on them.
The problem is more our propensity for solving whatever problem with violence and the availability of guns just makes it easier.
Gypsy8 about 10 years ago
It always seems to come down to a culture of guns, easy access to guns, and guns to solve personal issues.
Odon Premium Member about 10 years ago
Food for thought: Cigarettes are inanimate objects also.
cjr53 about 10 years ago
Yep, it’s just a lump of metal, plastic, gun powder, lead, tin or whatever until someone picks it up and pulls the trigger..Guns are too easily available and are often used to resolve issues in the heat of the moment. And, worse, picked up and used to accidentally hurt or kill someone, often by children.
midaswelby about 10 years ago
A few days ago, I pointed out that the base was a Gun Free zone, and was met with criticism and denial by people who should have known better. Today, there are people who are unwilling to research the intended purpose(s) of the 2nd Amendment, and want to “interpret” it to fit their fantasies.The fact remains, this shooter killed himself as soon as he was confronted by someone able to defend herself. Reverse the Clinton directive about guns on military bases so America’s Bravest can defend themselves!
ConserveGov about 10 years ago
We used to just put the crazies in a psyche ward, but thanks to the ACLU we now live amongst them.
lonecat about 10 years ago
I usually don’t post on gun control; although I favor some reasonable control (whatever reasonable means) I am not opposed to gun ownership overall, and I think that the second amendment gives broad rights for gun ownership. My opinion, for what it’s worth, is that the problem in the US isn’t so much the law but the social attitudes towards guns.+But the point of my post was actually somewhat different. Bruce was claiming that the second amendment needs no interpretation. I don’t agree. Language always has to be interpreted. Sometimes the interpretation is so quick and free of problems that we think there has been no interpretation, but that’s an illusion. For example, the second amendment protects the right to bear arms — well, what kind of arms are included? All kinds? The courts have generally said no, but that’s an interpretation.
dzw3030 about 10 years ago
“We need a better people.” And you’ll define “better”? I think lichentunes has an accurate description of our problem.
Gypsy8 about 10 years ago
Denied a leave pass, Lopez decides he will settle the issue with the aid of a gun. Most certainly a very insensitive approach to a personnel issue..Lopez was a soldier at Fort Hood, a sprawling military base where men are stripped of sensitivity and taught to kill dispassionately, and if you wear the uniform you are hailed a hero. If you do a really good job of killing, you will be awarded medals. If the killing and violence upsets your psyche, you will be treated for mental illness. .Fort Hood, one of around 1000 U.S. military bases and installations around the world for the main purpose of asserting U.S. power and influence on weaker peoples and nations. Where one of the main tools of the trade is the gun, and the deadlier the better..Then there is puzzlement when one of their own attempts to resolve a personal issue with a gun. Perhaps mental illness and/or intellectual issues are at the root. But perhaps they are looking in the wrong place.
fofinho about 10 years ago
mental illness needs to be treated. Ignoring it and hoping for the best is not an option.
lonecat about 10 years ago
It’s illegal, I suppose, to take a loaded gun onto an airplane. Is this an unconstitutional infringement of second amendment rights?
lonecat about 10 years ago
You may well be right, and my impression is that that’s the way the courts have interpreted it. But it’s odd that only the one amendment has such a preamble. Anyway, as I said, I’m not arguing that the second amendment doesn’t give broad rights, just that the amendment, like any amendment, has to be interpreted. I could be wrong, but my impression is that the courts have allowed some restrictions on guns — for example, no guns on airplanes. Presumably they came up with an interpretation to allow that restriction.
lonecat about 10 years ago
So maybe the courts will rule that you can take a gun on a plane but can’t take deodorant. Just last week I had to give up a bottle of water. Water isn’t constitutionally protected. Oh, freedom!!
lonecat about 10 years ago
If, as you say, seven states allow firearms in the unsecured areas of airports, can I infer that forty-three states don’t allow firearms in the the unsecured areas of airports? Does that suggest that the lawmakers in those forty-three states believe that such a restriction is not an infringement of the right to bear arms? Again, my point is that the force of the amendment is subject to interpretation.
Phantom Marine about 10 years ago
You didn’t check that out though did you. You might be surprised!
lonecat about 10 years ago
See the following on the history of punctuation:+Pause and effect : an introduction to the history of punctuation in the WestParkes, M. B.+Probably the last comma indicates rhythm rather than grammar. English writers used to punctuate a lot more than they do now. For that matter, modern German uses commas after restrictive clauses, which modern English doesn’t. If you read a first edition (or facsimile) of Jane Austen, for instance, you’ll find punctuation that gets edited out of modern editions. Is it embarrassing that I know a lot about the history of punctuation? I had to read about it when I was in graduate school, though mostly we were interested in Greek and Latin punctuation.
Dtroutma about 10 years ago
The REAL problem is the fact thatTake away the personal suicides, and the “mentally ill” are an extreme MINORITY of those killing with guns in the United States. The VAST majority of gun homicides do NOT involve the mentally ill. Most homicides are just the result of criminal activity, or “lost tempers”.
lonecat about 10 years ago
Just one last kick at the can — as I say to my students, grammar is thinking. Learning grammar is not learning a bunch of rules, it’s learning about how to put ideas together so that they cohere.
William Bednar Premium Member about 10 years ago
More food for thought: hypodermic needles and crack pipes are inanimate objects also. Funny how supposedly intellegent humans allow these, and many many other, inanimate objects make decisions for them.
gm2usnr about 10 years ago
Tobacco, alcohol and cars have killed as many if not more, some with the same lack of regard for others, some self inflicted some after teaming up with another on this list. My point is Cigarettes, whiskey and cars are only the instrument being used by short sighted people, guns are just instruments used by people, if the person has good thoughts and true aim, life is good.