The problem is that it's just too easy to get hold of guns in America. And, at risk of angering the entire American .Org population, they're not really needed either.
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The problem is that it's just too easy to get hold of guns in America. And, at risk of angering the entire American .Org population, they're not really needed either.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Craterus
:furious3: :furious3: :furious3:
I don't think the problem is it's too easy to get them, I think the problem is it's too easy for lunatics to get them. The gun doesn't kill another person, a person fires the weapon which ultimatley kills the person. To get guns, I think one must pass a psychiatric test. If they are seen as unstable in any way, they cannot bear arms.
Also, you have to remember that the US was founded on many beliefs; One of those is the right to bear arms and defend yourself. Criminals can always get weapons wether they are banned or not, that's why they are criminals. The problem with taking away self-defense weapons for the "victims" in a country like the US would be devistating...seeing as we have much foreign trade and many, many enemies. Im not saying we would all be re-living the Die Hard movies, but taking away guns when your enemies have them is not the smartest thing to do.
It is related. The topic of this thread is school shootings. We have an example of many schools (entire districts) where affection is outlawed and other schools (entire states I think) where weapons are permitted. How long until the same school permits handguns and outlaws kissing? It's insanity. It's not human.Quote:
Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars
What kind of a message do you think this sends to young people? Because they do pick up on these things. Sitting around the breakfast table a girl can tell her mother she got detention for hugging her boyfriend at high school while she watches her brother put a 9mm with spare mags into a holster before heading off to college. It's... nuts.
I'll check that out. If true, it's as stupid here as it is anywhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars
Tell you one thing, though, Canada will land a man on the surface of the sun before we ever legalize handguns at school.
So it's ok to limit some people's rights but not others? Way to level the field...Quote:
Originally Posted by TruePraetorian
That was a long time ago and a completely different situation. There is less of a need for guns now.Quote:
Originally Posted by TruePraetorian
And yet, I'd bet a significant percentage of gun crime happens with legally-purchased weapons.Quote:
Originally Posted by TruePraetorian
Many enemies? Sounds like the constant state of fear thing. Contrary to what the American media has to say, not everyone is out to get you.Quote:
Originally Posted by TruePraetorian
Fine - let us experimentQuote:
Originally Posted by Beirut
We are letting you experiment with gay marriage.
We are talking about universities - you are talking about 12 year olds. You bring up a stupid rule at a middle school and make it seem like the two things are comparable. They are not. Have you found a university with a "no hug rule"?
The reality is that there are not as many school shootings at middle schools that end with as many casualties as those in higher ed. Since the kids in those schools tend to be immature and there are not as many threats to their safety, guns should not be on the premises. The likelihood that those kids would turn a situation like virginia tech around is not very. There are more school shootings in highschools/universities where the merits of trained conceal carry are much more arguable. Possible reforms could include moving the 8th grade into high schools or special preparatory programs that train them for HS without as much shock. shooting list
I like guns and wouldn't feel uncomfortable if people could carry them around after some training and background checks. In NY the laws are awful - we have some of the highest crime in the developed world and hardly anybody on long island has conceal carry licenses except for off duty cops. Criminals with guns outnumber law abiding citizens with them.
Certain states take the law a bit too far and could stand to be tempered a bit. My concern is my situation in my state - which I believe to be quasi-unconstitutional and foolish. I wish we had castle law here and a few people with guns on university campuses.
I suspect the big difference is just that, that your gun culture affects the criminals in such a way that you average joe criminal gets a gun.Quote:
Originally Posted by TruePraetorian
Foreign trade and many enemies? :inquisitive: Don't you uhm know that you got an army for that? And guns vs tanks won't end nice, especially if the guys with tanks does'nt care much about the collateral damage.Quote:
Originally Posted by TruePraetorian
Well, I noticed an NIU shooting thread here but it seems to have gotten wildly off-topic.
I am an NIU student. I walked by Cole not even half an hour before it happened. If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to field them.
As for how things are lately, for most of us, it's gotten somewhat close to normal. The memorials on campus have been taken down. Our classmates are buried. The WBC was successfully kept off campus. (google Westboro Baptist Church if you don't know who I'm talking about.) The semester will go back a week to make up for the time we lost. Most everyone is just trying to get caught up in their studies.
The big arguments now are what to do with Cole Hall (it's remained closed since the shooting) and whether memorials should include a 6th cross for the shooter. (the 6th cross on the nearby Lutheran church property has been burned once already.)
As for gun-control, I'll save my comments for another thread. I have my own ideas about it but I rather talk about what happened at NIU in this thread.
Thanks for the personal insights, Privateerkev.
Did the 6th crossburning raise much concern in the community or on campus?
No problem. People seem curious in general so I'm happy to help.Quote:
Originally Posted by KukriKhan
As for the 6th cross, it's mixed. If by concern, you mean concern over crime, then no. Mainly there is just heated debate over whether the shooter should be memorialized.
Some say he does not deserve to be in the same spot as the 5 victims. In the memorials that were on campus, any 6th cross/memorial marker would be moved or turned around.
Others say he was a victim and his families are definitely victims. Therefore he should get a cross.
The church that had their 6th cross burned argues from a religious standpoint that there should be a cross for the shooter.
And, just to show that these things bring out all sorts of people, the WBC argues that God has punished NIU for being a friendly LGBT atmosphere and that He actually sent the shooter.
With its frequency it must be like taxes. Unavoidable.