We had primary elections here recently. Two of the Republican Candidates ran on their A+ rating with the NRA and of course ended with “Conservative.” They won. I think that says it all for this part of the world.
If the goal of the people who defend the unconditional right to own a weapon capable of murdering other people was to frighten children and their parent, … you’ve done a great job.
That school has to be a place of fear instead of learning and growing up to navigate the world, they have to learn to navigate a place to hide from a shooter. Go grief I’m glad I’m old.
Don’t expect any help from the democrats in the House of gun/oil Representatives. The DCCC has endorsed a Jeff Van Drew (100%NRA) for NJ 2nd against two progressives: Tanzie Youngblood and Wil Cunningham.
There is no point in outlawing guns. They are out there, there are millions, they are made of metal and will last for a thousand years if they are kept oiled. Failing that, I could find materials in my basement that would produce a workable gun, and it doesn’t take much knowledge of the subject to figure out how to do it.
Bullets, on the other hand, are time consuming to make and require specific equipment. Production of enough to do serious damage would require planning and patience that are not characteristic of those who shoot up elementary schools. And, working on such a project might attract the attention of someone sane.
Bullets can be individually stamped, and their sale can be registered and the sale entered into a computer base, so that every bullet can be traced back to the person who purchased it. This way, a guy who wants to buy a couple boxes of bullets to go shoot deer, or the woman who wants a box to keep with the gun in her bedside drawer, won’t set off any warning bells. But the guy who is buying an arsenal will attract attention before he finds a more lethal way to do it.
While searching for information on shootings I came across the rampage killing sections in Wikipedia. Not my favorite source by any stretch, but the data is the data is the data.
The definition for a “rampage killer” in consistent throughout. The articles include all weapons as opposed to just firearms, but are clearly marked as to what was used.
I used the year sort function, going earliest to latest. What jumped out at me almost instantly was the scarcity of incidents prior to the 1980’s, and the growing frequency from that point forward.
What also struck me was the increase across the globe. Regardless of weapon, it appears that rampage killings in schools by deranged persons has been on the rise since the early 1980’s.
I then did the same operation on the broader topic of all rampage killings. Again, there is a relative scarcity of incidents prior to the 1970’s or 1980’s, depending on the region. With a growing frequency from that point forward.
Most with firearms, but quite a few with blades, fire and other weapons.
Sort by year and think about it. This increase in incidents is growing, all over the world. It is not an exclusively American problem. It is not limited to firearms.
I am a firm believer in the United States Constitution. I tend to believe in what is sometimes called an Originalist interpretation of that document, which places me right along side of the late Antonin Scalia! All that being said, I consider myself a progressive – not a conservative! Tony and I were on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but both of us believed that, if you’re going to follow the Constitution AT ALL, you must, as far as is humanly possible, follow the dictum laid down by the authors of that document!
Which means that you CANNOT ignore the purpose of the first FOUR WORDS of the Second Amendment! Since a lot of people love to wrap themselves in that particular Amendment while really having no clue of its ACTUAL wording, let me refresh your memory of those four words! They are as follows, “A well regulated Militia…”!
Let me further interpret those words for you: it is NOT saying that every idiot and moron with enough money to buy a gun should be allowed to buy a gun! It is saying that every idiot and moron who wants to help protect and defend our nation by JOINING a militia, should be allowed to have a gun – FOR THAT PURPOSE, ONLY! Militias = Guns. Guns = Militias. That is the sum total of the 2nd Amendment! Period. End of Sentence!
Here’s a bit of historical background for that Amendment, as well. The framers of the American Constitution DID NOT WANT America to have a “Standing Army”. They considered such an entity financially irresponsible AND politically very dangerous! So the idea of various “militias” available if needed but not having to be paid for in the meantime, a clearly intelligent alternative! That is the “raison d’etat” for the Second Amendment in its entirety – it serves NO OTHER FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE!
The Second Amendment is EXACTLY like a person’s appendix – totally useless, today, but occasionally able to become inflamed, causing illness or death.
Daeder almost 6 years ago
There will be no break from mass shootings until we admit the need to implement the obvious solution the NRA doesn’t want to allow.
Hint: Australia made the necessary changes.
Melki Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Now you’ll just need to avoid malls, movie theaters, churches . . .
DanFlak almost 6 years ago
We had primary elections here recently. Two of the Republican Candidates ran on their A+ rating with the NRA and of course ended with “Conservative.” They won. I think that says it all for this part of the world.
Dani Rice almost 6 years ago
The NRA membership accounts for approximately 6% of the American population. How can that few people account for so much carnage?
superposition almost 6 years ago
If the goal of the people who defend the unconditional right to own a weapon capable of murdering other people was to frighten children and their parent, … you’ve done a great job.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/18/a-majority-of-u-s-teens-fear-a-shooting-could-happen-at-their-school-and-most-parents-share-their-concern/
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/pew-research/
Radish the wordsmith almost 6 years ago
Gun lobbies sell guns, Republicans take bribes from them and they don’t care how many school children die.
Radish the wordsmith almost 6 years ago
NRA President Oliver North Ironically Blames Drugs,
Not Guns For Texas Tragedy, Gov. Greg Abbott Backs Him Up
Radish the wordsmith almost 6 years ago
The only answer is to stop voting for Republicans.
feverjr Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Fund federal research into gun violence and after the facts are in, let the market decide. What is the NRA afraid of?
FrannieL Premium Member almost 6 years ago
That school has to be a place of fear instead of learning and growing up to navigate the world, they have to learn to navigate a place to hide from a shooter. Go grief I’m glad I’m old.
lobo1939 almost 6 years ago
Coming home from school is getting to be like having a soldier son, daughter coming home from combat in _____________(fill in the blank)
lobo1939 almost 6 years ago
Don’t expect any help from the democrats in the House of gun/oil Representatives. The DCCC has endorsed a Jeff Van Drew (100%NRA) for NJ 2nd against two progressives: Tanzie Youngblood and Wil Cunningham.
Diane Lee Premium Member almost 6 years ago
There is no point in outlawing guns. They are out there, there are millions, they are made of metal and will last for a thousand years if they are kept oiled. Failing that, I could find materials in my basement that would produce a workable gun, and it doesn’t take much knowledge of the subject to figure out how to do it.
Bullets, on the other hand, are time consuming to make and require specific equipment. Production of enough to do serious damage would require planning and patience that are not characteristic of those who shoot up elementary schools. And, working on such a project might attract the attention of someone sane.
Bullets can be individually stamped, and their sale can be registered and the sale entered into a computer base, so that every bullet can be traced back to the person who purchased it. This way, a guy who wants to buy a couple boxes of bullets to go shoot deer, or the woman who wants a box to keep with the gun in her bedside drawer, won’t set off any warning bells. But the guy who is buying an arsenal will attract attention before he finds a more lethal way to do it.
Mr. Blawt almost 6 years ago
The NRA and Republicans are working on a fix for that. Why should kids get the summer off from being hunted when there are more guns to buy?
Andylit Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Set aside your pro or anti gun sentiments.
While searching for information on shootings I came across the rampage killing sections in Wikipedia. Not my favorite source by any stretch, but the data is the data is the data.
The definition for a “rampage killer” in consistent throughout. The articles include all weapons as opposed to just firearms, but are clearly marked as to what was used.
I used the year sort function, going earliest to latest. What jumped out at me almost instantly was the scarcity of incidents prior to the 1980’s, and the growing frequency from that point forward.
What also struck me was the increase across the globe. Regardless of weapon, it appears that rampage killings in schools by deranged persons has been on the rise since the early 1980’s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rampage_killers_(school_massacres)
I then did the same operation on the broader topic of all rampage killings. Again, there is a relative scarcity of incidents prior to the 1970’s or 1980’s, depending on the region. With a growing frequency from that point forward.
Most with firearms, but quite a few with blades, fire and other weapons.
Sort by year and think about it. This increase in incidents is growing, all over the world. It is not an exclusively American problem. It is not limited to firearms.
What is going on?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rampage_killers_(Africa_and_the_Middle_East)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rampage_killers_(Americas)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rampage_killers_(Asia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rampage_killers_(Europe)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rampage_killers_(Oceania_and_Maritime_Southeast_Asia)
wellis1947 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
I am a firm believer in the United States Constitution. I tend to believe in what is sometimes called an Originalist interpretation of that document, which places me right along side of the late Antonin Scalia! All that being said, I consider myself a progressive – not a conservative! Tony and I were on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but both of us believed that, if you’re going to follow the Constitution AT ALL, you must, as far as is humanly possible, follow the dictum laid down by the authors of that document!
Which means that you CANNOT ignore the purpose of the first FOUR WORDS of the Second Amendment! Since a lot of people love to wrap themselves in that particular Amendment while really having no clue of its ACTUAL wording, let me refresh your memory of those four words! They are as follows, “A well regulated Militia…”!
Let me further interpret those words for you: it is NOT saying that every idiot and moron with enough money to buy a gun should be allowed to buy a gun! It is saying that every idiot and moron who wants to help protect and defend our nation by JOINING a militia, should be allowed to have a gun – FOR THAT PURPOSE, ONLY! Militias = Guns. Guns = Militias. That is the sum total of the 2nd Amendment! Period. End of Sentence!
Here’s a bit of historical background for that Amendment, as well. The framers of the American Constitution DID NOT WANT America to have a “Standing Army”. They considered such an entity financially irresponsible AND politically very dangerous! So the idea of various “militias” available if needed but not having to be paid for in the meantime, a clearly intelligent alternative! That is the “raison d’etat” for the Second Amendment in its entirety – it serves NO OTHER FUNCTIONAL PURPOSE!
The Second Amendment is EXACTLY like a person’s appendix – totally useless, today, but occasionally able to become inflamed, causing illness or death.