Think it is high time we have an intelligent conversation regarding guns
 

We are living in a time where there is a great deal of violence, much of which is related to guns.

Extreme voices on both the liberal and conservative way of thinking seem to drown out the necessary intelligent discussion about what to do to diminish the chances that more gun violence will take more innocent lives.

There are compelling instances of both law and emotion being screamed at each other currently, and no-one is looking at ways that we, as a nation, can address this situation.

As of today, and not counting the possible deaths of any of the surviving people who were injured in the gun violence of Las Vegas, over 407 people have had their lives ended as a result of gun violence this year alone. That does not include the many other instances in past years, but it does warrant the questioning of our leaders why has nothing been done to address this issue?

Currently a gun law that would permit silencers to become legal is before Congress, and just recently a bill was defeated in Congress relating to having background checks be performed before a purchase of a firearm could commence.

It looks like we cannot have confidence in our elected representatives to actually represent you, and me: their constituents. It looks like a national organization which has, in the past, directed significant funds to political candidates that support unfettered access to any kind of firearm, and made huge economic efforts against any who would even have an intelligent discourse about some sort of limitations.

Political groups will now rise up and blame their counterparts, but we will still have the problem before us. We need to actually start talking WITH each other, find solutions TOGETHER, and stop being so divisive as a nation and intolerant of each other.

Please contact your representatives and ask them to start talking with each other to address this, and many other problems. If they are not responsive, consider using your VOTE to change direction from being polarized and blaming each other to being an instrument of making America better and working together for that end.

I believe its time we have an objective national conversation about the inadequate mental health system, providers , facilities and laws we have in this nation.

I believe its time we have an objective national conversation about the inadequate immigration system we have in this nation.

I believe its time we have an object national conversation about sanctuary cities that protect illegal criminal aliens.

I believe its time we have an objective national conversation explaining that law enforcement people are not crooked or bigoted people but people dedicated to their motto of protect and serve.

I believe its time for progressive to give up their push to take away 2nd amendment rights, which is one of the 50 ways government uses to take control over citizens rights.

Personal Best Regards:

Look in the mirror to see a stupid person...

MOST of it done by minorities...90%.

Ban minorities from having guns and you'll eliminate 90%.

Again...ban minorities from having guns and you cut gun violence by 90%.

Over 407 murders in Chicago alone...by blacks...thankfully against blacks most of the time.

90% of ALL violence is committed by minorities...lets talk about what to do about it.

Yes...we will still have rampant violence committed by minorities.

Yes...contact them and tell them...you're tired of the damage being done by minorities.

What do you suggest?
 

I wonder what solutions you would suggest.

Let's look at the shooting in Las Vegas.

1. A "silencer" was not used. Why did you feel the need to bring up the issue of suppressors? (They muffle sound, but they do not silence it.)

2. There is no allegation that the firearms used were illegally purchased. Why do you bring up illegal purchases?

3. It is early in the investigation, but it appears likely that the shooter illegally possessed firearms capable of automatic fire. It is conjectured that he personally, illegally converted the firearms from semi-automatic to full automatic capability. There were "gun control laws" in place to deter what the shooter did, but he broke the laws.

4. He committed mass murder. What gun control laws do you think a mass murderer would feel constrained to obey?

Regarding some of your other statements and "statistics,"

1. Where did you get your figure of "407 people have had their lives ended as a result of gun violence this year alone?" I wonder if it includes Justifiable Homicides and the shooting of criminals by police officers.

More to the point, it is much too low, since it does not appear to include the 527 homicides in Chicago alone this year. That's Chicago, where handguns are pretty much totally outlawed by Chicago law. That demonstrates the ineffectiveness of such laws.

2. The purchase and possession of firearms is one of the most heavily regulated activities of our citizens, with federal, state, and local laws in force. Where do you get the idea "nothing been done to address this issue?"

3. And, of course, you surely know that all businesses that sell firearms are required to have potential firearms purchasers fill out a federal questionnaire and be subject to a National Criminal Background Check prior to the sale of a firearm.

And, purchase and possession of certain firearms, such as fully automatic firearms, are severely restricted. You make a much overblown statement when you speak of "unfettered access to any kind of firearm." That is nonsense.

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Things to consider:

1. The Second Amendment prohibits gun confiscation. Recent Supreme Court decisions have re-affirmed that the amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to "keep and bear arms."

2. It is estimated that there are over 300 Million guns in the United States. Any attempt to outlaw or seize all guns would result in millions of them being tucked away and exchanged on the black market.

3. Experts who are concerned about defense against assassins and mass murders agree that there can never be an absolute defense against occurrences like Las Vegas in a free society.

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So I ask you again. What would you suggest?


Carl in Tampa

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Deport ALL minorities...make America white again.

Well, we have had some contributions on misdirecting discussion away from the actual current topic, and we have had a contribution of the current status quo.

Again, there needs to be some intelligent discourse and problem solving here.

This is only and example: Car safety

Years ago, car safety was not a very popular subject. When seat belt laws were introduced, there was negative banter from both citizens and car manufacturers about the "negatives" of seat belts.

Gradually, car manufacturers, prescribed by law, eventually started to design cars with more safety features. Some were successful, some not, but over the past years, car safety has become one of the most popular ways that manufacturers have to "sell" their products.

Gun regulation will take time, but it really must start someplace and there have been technical advances that have been quashed by both manufacturers and gun advocates. Examples are the "smart guns" utilizing the Safe Gun Technology.

Other possible means to keep mentally unstable people from owning, and using firearms could be utilized and enforced.

No, not all things will completely solve the multi-faceted problem we face with gun related violence, but as with advancements in automobile safety, more and more people are surviving. Isn't that something to look at?

Deny MINORITIES access to guns and you cut 90% of gun violence.

90% with ONE simple act...WHY won't you consider it?

The problem that you're having is that you are being fooled into thinking that legislation will have an effect on what's going on. I'll say it again, LAWS DO NOT PREVENT CRIMES.

This shooter in Las Vegas broke several laws including some gun laws. The guns that he used are basically (though not technically) illegal to own in this country. That did not stop him from acting.

People who want to kill people will find a way to do it. All states have laws against murdering people but people are murdered every day.

Most guns used in gun crimes have been obtained illegally. We already have laws that do not prevent crimes.

We already have laws in place that are supposed to prevent mentally unstable people from getting guns. The problem remains that mentally unstable people get guns through illegal means.

Safe gun technology presents a danger to gun owners.
If you are you familiar with fingerprint technology on cell phones you know how frustrating it can be when the device doesn't read your fingerprint correctly.

In a situation where a person is forced to use a gun to defend himself, they do not have the luxury of moving his finger around the trigger until it unlocks the gun. When a gun is used in self-defense it is usually used within 3 seconds of a threat being presented.

Maybe this might be something to look at in the future if the technology can be perfected and additional fingerprints can be added to make the gun work. I'd like my wife to be able to shoot my gun. But right now, the technology is too new and imperfect.

And like all technology, this would certainly be able to be overridden. Someone steals a gun they are going to be able to pick the lock so to speak.

[QUOTE=DON BLACK: MOST of it done by minorities...90%.

Ban minorities from having guns and you'll eliminate 90%.

Again...ban minorities from having guns and you cut gun violence by 90%.

Over 407 murders in Chicago alone...by blacks...thankfully against blacks most of the time.

90% of ALL violence is committed by minorities...lets talk about what to do about it.

Yes...we will still have rampant violence committed by minorities.

Yes...contact them and tell them...you're tired of the damage being done by minorities.[/QUOTE]

Don Black aka Don Baldwin is a former KKK leader and publisher of hate website called Stronghold. He married his first cousin (some reports are he married his sister) and has a retarded son named Derek Black.

Disregard any posts by this pervert, Black.

Your solution?
 

Once again YOU attempt misdirection.

You bring up "smart guns" which has nothing to do with the Las Vegas shooting. The shooter owned the guns. "Smart" technology would have changed nothing.

We will not be able to keep firearms out of the hands of people who have been evaluated as mentally ill as long as medical privacy laws prevent sharing of the fact of their mental illness.

Now, you have made several "gun control" suggestions, including:

1. Prohibiting "silencers."
2. Preventing illegal purchases.
3. "Smart gun" technology.
4. Keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally unstable.

None of these would have had any effect on the Las Vegas shooting.

Specifically, what would you suggest that would have prevented the Las Vegas shooting?

Carl in Tampa

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These are certainly problems with SOME technologies that have been introduced, but there are others that do not depend upon just fingerprint technologies.

Again, this is a process, and without good ideas and methods to overcome problems, the problem of gun violence still exists.

It is not only MASS gun violence, but also unauthorized gun usage such as children obtaining and firing firearms that have injured and killed other children as well as others.


This country needs to address this problem, just as it has addressed car safety and other things of mass consumption: food and drugs to mention just a few.

There are many ways of doing things, but when there are differing statutes, in differing areas, there are always going to be "cracks" in the legal system that allows the criminal element to obtain firearms without much trouble.
There will always be a criminal element, but that should not put the brakes upon an effort to do things that will prevent more unnecessary deaths.

I never directed any of my remarks toward JUST the Las Vegas incident. Please stop putting your words in my remarks

For those who are stepping up on the gun band wagon again where were you yesterday?

And those who continue to advocate stricter gun laws keep the following in mind:

New York City/State
Los Angeles
Chicago
Washington, DC

ALL have the strictest gun laws in the country.
Using Chicago as the example, proof positive, strict gun legislation is a partisan, arm waving exercise proving it is not the laws or the guns that are the problem.

Until and unless something is done without prejudice about the kinds and types of the people who are abusing the currently in existence laws and who statistically prove day in and day out they are the killers.
That has not happened and will not happen in our current permissive, violent society until the politics and special interest and minorities are made accountable.

That will require calling a spade a spade and that is the impediment in our society today.