shootings in the usa

[Roger Dyer]

The world is full of 'good' men who, overwhelmed by the seeming pointlessness of remedial action, are prepared to yield to the folly of their fellow-men. They accept what they percieve as the inevitable and do nothing. I hate to say it, but reading some of the comments of my 'shipmates' fills me with dread. Yes, of course, it will require a monumental change in thought and deed to put the 'brake' on the level of gun-related death which has now evolved as a blight on U.S. society ( and they are not alone). You don't have to be a rocket-scientist to figure out the reasons why.

To simply sit back and say that it's too late, that any attempt to modify the existing gun-culture is unworkable or a waste of time, is to accept the inevitability of further madness. Just because a large section of the community believes in the furtherance of poorly regulated gun control, doesn't make it right. To surrender or offer no resistance to the folly of such thinking would be wrong, more than that, it would be morally corrupt. It may well seem like 'mission impossible', but simple acceptance of the 'status quo' does, by ommission, give succour to those hell-bent on increasing the level of aggression and madness already existent in the modern world. Is it so unreasonable to imagine that a change of attitude by the U.S. government, in relation to domestic gun-use, might actually serve as an example to the rest of the world ?

Finally, Rob, your suggestion that a machete wielding lunatic could just as easily create the level of carnage witnessed at Newark, isn't really valid. In general terms, the truth is, a person firing a semi-automatic rifle or pistol can kill a great many more people in a fraction of the time it would take a person armed with a knife or machete. You can outrun a machete, but you can't outrun a bullet. It is a sad fact, the act of murder will remain with mankind until the end of time, but to encourage the use of firearms and allow their easy availability to the general public will not, in the long term, deter violence , but rather, create an unwelcome propensity for greater loss of life.

.........................Roger

[Red Lead Ted]

Correct me if i am wrong !!!!!!!!! Wasn,t there something tabled in Congress in 1968. After the 2 Kennedy,s and Martin Luther Assassinated to control long arms and ammunition being available. Which was backed by most law enforcement agencies. And president Lyndon Johnson signed. I understood they were the biggest although not the full implement that president Johnson desired in the then Safe Streets and Crime Control act in obtaining long fire arms since the 1930s. Considering these episodes are becoming more frequent in the U.S. Isn't it time the N.R.A. Took a long hard look at how times have changed over the last 40 odd years and instead of opposing any change. Or in your opinion are things really that bad over there that most people feel it is the only line of defence to own an automatic rifle as well as handguns. I have been the victim of gun crime here in the U.K. I was fortunate after tackling this piece of crap who walked into my house it turned out to be a replica firearm not that i new at the time i have been called an idiot and a hero i am neither, You cant predict what your reaction will be unless it happens to you if i had been in possession of a firearm would i have used it {YES} he is now behind bars. But it could so easily have been me doing jail for shooting him. I cant see there ever being a solution to the gun culture in the U.S.A. Give up your arms and the only ones with guns are the bad guys you are in a catch 22 situation. Roger it is a known fact that you have a far less chance of being burgled in the U.S.A. While at home than you do if you are not at home because the burglar knows there is the likely hood of the guy or girl at home will own a firearm. Regards Rod Terry.

[Roger Dyer]

[QUOTE=red lead ted.... Roger it is a known fact that you have a far less chance of being burgled in the U.S.A. While at home than you do if you are not at home because the burglar knows there is the likely hood of the guy or girl at home will own a firearm. Regards Rod Terry.[/QUOTE]

Terry, mate, I would imagine the scenario you describe is not just peculiar to the U.S., but would apply in most parts of the world, gun or no gun.

..............Roger

[Keith at Tregenna]

Whatever Words are used or said,
cannot make up for those now dead.

The children should not suffer:

Words fail me. K.

[happy daze john in oz]

There was a law passed in USA some years back that to some extent banned semi automatic weapons, that law was repealed about 8 years ago. One man who claimed to be a hunter said he needed an AK47 to go Deer hunting!!! If a hunter equires such a gun then he either a bd shot or thinks he is Rambo when he shoots the Deer. I can to some extent understand the hand gun for protection, but an AK47?????
Apparently the Right to bear arms came into law at a time when the frontiers were being opened up but were meant only for the malitia.

[Ivan Cloherty]

On the news this morning an American gunshop owner being interviewed in Newtown said he had his best sales day ever yesterday and was looking forward to today when he expected to sell more. At no time did he express any regret for what happened in his town, but seemed quite pleased with his sales turnover....................Think that says it all.

[Neville Roberts]

I read somewhere that the American constitution was , mainly taken from the magna carta ,on people,s basic rights . the right to bear arms ,and local militias was started because the USA could not afford a standing army at that time so the government could call on the militias in times of need . so you could bringt your own gun to war .(cheapos). the present armed forces are volonteers that give the forces 2 or 3 weeks a year training , and recieve a monthly check for thier service once war is declared they are the first ones called upon . rather than have conscription . like the old days . its far to late here for meaningfull gun control . the USA will remain the most violent country in the western world .I am a dual citizen of UK and USA . and am very sad at the decline of the USA ,s policies toward the working class .ever since the Reagan era the working class has been losing ground to the greed of corporations , and politicians .now they are making entitlements sound like welfare ,and trying to cut the pensions that we paid into all our working lives . the Reagan administration got the great idea of using the ssi pension fund too take care of welfare recipients ,that previosly was the individual states responsability.and now its broke, so the workers will have to make it up ,by deep cuts in benefits . God bless America land of the free . Free my **** . gonna get me another beer to drown my sorrows .thats enough of my bichin for one day. EEEEK

[Red Lead Ted]

Terry, mate, I would imagine the scenario you describe is not just peculiar to the U.S., but would apply in most parts of the world, gun or no gun.

..............Roger

That was my point mate most Americans own guns and have the right to draw arms, Not the case everwhere in the world. Regards Terry.

[Jacyn Wade]

I made the very foolish mistake of posting an "opinion" on one of the myriad of online news postings. While the majorty seemed to agree with my thought, my opinion also resulted in an onslaught of name-calling and pointing out how wrong I was, the general feeling of these people being that, ultimately, gun ownership is a "right" and required for the sake of protection. This "right" having been exercised, 27 people (in this case) are now dead, along with thousands of others in other cases. For me this begs the question: How many people have actually pulled out their guns when in a threatening situation and actually protected themselves? I'd guess very few.

After attempting, unsuccessfully, to explain my reasoning, I bowed out of the discussion. There are those whose thinking will not be changed no matter what one says, but I have to believe this fear and paranoia mentality can be altered over the course of time. I don't think we can expect to move mountains in a day - all part of the evolution of the human race, I suppose.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Know how you feel Jacyn, the gun seller interview said it all for me (#56) It's going to be a long hard road to change that mentality