GUNS KILL: LET THERE BE CONTROLS

How many Columbines will it take, before the USA bans hand guns

Published on March 24, 2005 By Bahu Virupaksha In Politics

The recent killing in the shools at Minnesota is only the latest in a long and dreary stream of killings. After each such massacre there is the ususal voive of reason and moderation asking for gun control. The sane voices are soon drowned by a cacophony of noises emanating fro the gun lobby. The time has come to move a constitutional ammendment to out law the sale of guna to any one under thwe age of 30. The guns sold must be registered at the AFT of the Federal Government. The sale of hand weapons that can be consealed on the body must be outlawed altogether. For game hunting guns of lesser calibre may be considered, but assault rifles must be strictly out of bounds to young people. Serious crmes with hand guns must carry a heavier punishment, including prison without parole.

The time has come to consider seriously gun control. The war in Iraq will actually increase the level of violence as young men trained to open fire without any provocastion try ti reenter civilliam life.

Comments (Page 3)

bakerstreet

on Mar 25, 2005

Again, the Left ignores the fact that the vast majority of guns that "flood the inner cities" are already sold illegally, and that the majority of guns used in crimes were acquired illegally.

So, in order to make a plea for more gun laws, they have to ignore how ineffectual their prohibition mentality already is...

messybuu

on Mar 25, 2005

The bottom line is that a gun isn't responsible for killing those people. A person who used a gun is responsible. Big difference. Thousands of people are killed every year in car crashes. Yet no one is running around demanding that we ban cars or even stop making fast ones. Gun control is just another liberal excuse for people who aren't responsible. Hold individuals accountable for their actions. Please, don't punish the rest of us who have done nothing wrong.

When one thinks about it, I can't help but think of Bakerstreet's article about blaming the victim. In this case, the gun control crowd wants to blame the gun owners for the illegal actions of people who have stolen guns from law enforcement and etc. because it's easier to blame somebody like them, who are responsible, then to blame the murderers.

Bahu Virupaksha

on Mar 25, 2005

I do not think that there is a Right and Left side to this issue. There is a great deal of evidence that most of the killings done gby guns are done at the spur of the moment and since the weapon is available they just grab it and do the job. Making it difficult to buy weapons is the only solution. I am not saying the citizens should not bear aRMS, BUT THEY MUST DEMONSTRATE RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT.This means people below the age of 25 cannot buy and hold weapons. Adulte owning weapons must be encouraged to keep their guns out of the reach of children and adoloscents. People like DR Miller seem to think that abuse is a sustitute for asrgument. Unfortunately it is not.

Rightwinger

on Mar 25, 2005

This means people below the age of 25 cannot buy and hold weapons. Adulte owning weapons must be encouraged to keep their guns out of the reach of children and adoloscents.

My best friend is an ex-Marine sniper who served in Desert Storm. He loves firearms, and has quite a collection, which he keeps locked up, unloaded, in a beautiful wooden gun cabinet in his living room. He encourages his children to learn about weapon safety and respect for guns.
His son and daughter each own, respectively, their own .22 caliber rifle and pistol, and his son even has a shotgun, a birthday gift from his grandfather.
The boy is 11, the girl 9. They are well-adjusted and normal. They do well is school and have normal likes and dislikes for kids their age; his son is fascinated with Star Wars and dinosaurs, and the daughter with whatever little girls are fascinated with.
The secret, my friend says, is not for more laws to be passed, but for people who have guns to be more intelligent and cautious about how they use/care for them and in how they pass on that knowledge to their kids. I agree.

You can't punish millions of law-abiding people for the sad, violent and tragic actions of a few.

Rightwinger

on Mar 25, 2005

Again, the Left ignores the fact that the vast majority of guns that "flood the inner cities" are already sold illegally, and that the majority of guns used in crimes were acquired illegally.

---BakerStreet

Exactly.

Rightwinger

on Mar 25, 2005

What is happening to these kids at home and school is the real problem but there is no simple answer to those issues so we will just point the finger at gun control.

--JillUser

So true...you deserve an insightful for that one.

dabe

on Mar 25, 2005

Dabe, I really dislike you. You are the total opposite of everything I believe in. How do you MANAGE it!? I can't find one nice thing about your arguments or anything to half-way compromise with....

Feelings are quite mutual, I assure you.

Draginol

on Mar 25, 2005

Laws don't stop criminals. Enforcement of laws do.

We have plenty of gun laws. The problem is a lack of enforcement.

ParaTed2k

on Mar 25, 2005

Let's see, the shooter in this situation stole his grandfather's gun, murdered his grandfather, took a gun to school, murdered a security guard, then murdered 7 kids and killed himself.

Yet you still come on your blog and make innane remarks about how "laws" would have prevented this tragedy. Do you really think that a kid who would do all of the above would think twice out of fear of breaking a "gun law"?

Quit being a total knee-jerk moron and think about what you're saying!

drmiler

on Mar 25, 2005

You get abuse from me when you put out garbage that shows you have done zero research on what you are trying to talk about. Like this subject and your original post. Most times you try to talk about something that you have no understanding of. Like gun control. You obviously do not live in the US so the *only* info your getting is from the media (EU or otherwise). So you talk without knowing. First off you have NOT been able to buy a firearm at the spur of the moment fo quite a long while. You first have to pass a NICS check and "most" states have a waiting period. The 25 year old bit is just another leftwing talking point. I have owned firearms since I was 13 and have yet to shoot someone. What this whole thing boils down to is education! Teach them about guns early and often! And most grownups are no better. More controls are NOT going to help. Stiffer penalties might. People need to make sure it VERY difficult for a child to get their hands on a gun. No matter how difficult you make it though, some will find a way around it. Goes to an old saying: Locks are made to keep honest people honest

Rightwinger

on Mar 25, 2005

Yet you still come on your blog and make innane remarks about how "laws" would have prevented this tragedy. Do you really think that a kid who would do all of the above would think twice out of fear of breaking a "gun law"?

I agree here.....if the grandfather had taken more care to keep his guns locked up or off the premises, it might not have happened.
But then, if the kid was really that determined, he'd just have gotten the guns elsewhere.

bakerstreet

on Mar 25, 2005

"I agree here.....if the grandfather had taken more care to keep his guns locked up or off the premises, it might not have happened.
But then, if the kid was really that determined, he'd just have gotten the guns elsewhere."

or he would have downloaded instructions and whipped something up himself? Funny how people scream about how assault weapons are the terrorists weapon of choice, and yet when you go to nations brimming with $20 AK-47s, the weapon of choice is the bomb.

I wonder how popular chemistry class would become if these deranged loners couldn't get guns? I wonder how many more people would die?

What I don't have to wonder about is whether they would kill someone or not. Any "child" that has the ability to pre-plan and stand and murder someone isn't going to just shrug the situation off. Not because his first choice in hardware isn't available.

We should try and figure out what was wrong with this kid, and try to figure out how to notice it sooner. Every minute we blame the gun is a minute we leave kids like that roaming around with the will to murder. The tools they use are irrelevant.

Rightwinger

on Mar 25, 2005

We should try and figure out what was wrong with this kid, and try to figure out how to notice it sooner. Every minute we blame the gun is a minute we leave kids like that roaming around with the will to murder. The tools they use are irrelevant.

I wonder what his family life was like. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't seem to recall things like this happening in the old days, when mom was home and dad was working, you know? Too bad things are so much more complicated now.

couchman

on Mar 25, 2005

Should we now require everyone who wishes to purchase gasoline to demonstrate "responsible conduct?"

Looks like I may not be able to buy more Zippo lighter fluid....

bakerstreet

on Mar 25, 2005

"I wonder what his family life was like. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't seem to recall things like this happening in the old days, when mom was home and dad was working, you know? Too bad things are so much more complicated now."

I think if you go down that road too far you are simply shifting the blame to different victims. This kid walked around with the propensity to do this, and the hate to back it up. There has to be some way that we can find out what to look for so that this doesn't happen so often.

To me, the issue isn't blame. The only one to blame is the killer. The issue is prevention. We see after decades that gun laws don't stop people from committing these acts. They either acquire them illegally or find other methods to kill.

Too many people come from single parent homes, latch-key situations, abusive families, and never even have the urge to commit an act like this. Other kids end up monsters with great families. There has to be some "switch" that they have in common.

Has anyone else heard that this was another "prozac" killing? Worth looking into.

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