[Abby10]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I think everyone wishes that no one would use guns to harm others.

I think this issue boils down to realistic vs. unrealistic.

If we somehow disarmed every person in this country, (by the way we aren't gun owners) then within a few hours, the unscrupulous would be rearmed. We have laws against drugs and people are dying from Heroin overdoses on an epidemic level.

It isn't that we don't share the same goals, no one we know ever wants innocent people harmed, but what is realistic? I can't imagine how a law could be phrased or implemented; would they go in and search peoples homes?

I think we need to realize that the second amendment is gonna stay. I know that many older and sick people, especially those that have moved here from large metropolitan areas feel safer having a fire arm. Most law abiding people who own fire arms will never cause harm to another.

And the evil, bad people will continue to harm, kill, hurt, rob and shoot innocent people.

When I was small, mentally ill people were put into an asylum, locked up. That in itself is scary. Most of us know someone who has mental health issues and just how to identify someone who could cause potential harm to others is very difficult to define and difficult to act upon.

I think that the whole issue is complicated and the people who argue for stricter gun laws think it is doable. I don't.

Again. Growing up where we lived the only people who had guns were those who hunted. It has been an eye opener moving here.

People who grow older and can't run or fight like they used to fear home invasions. I understand that, and that is the reason they moved here to a low crime area.

Things could change and the second amendment makes it so that if a person feels they should own a gun, can.

I understand your feelings and your view. I am not a gun owner. It is just not realistic to try to disarm people now. Half the country owns guns

Le me start with this - I don't think anyone is against the enforcement of laws that are currently on the books regarding ownership and carrying of guns. This should be step 1 to be sure they are being enforced. But your post brings up at least 4 issues in need of serious discussion before any laws are changed.

The whole concept of "let's just get rid of this or that" is just too simple and will not solve the real problems. In fact, it reminds me of those who go to the doctor and want the simple fix. Give me a medicine to take care of my problem, which often is just the easy way out. It's much harder to make lifestyle changes that may actually solve the problem, not just mask it. That's how I see this gun problem. Some just want what I see as a quick fix, others may want to do nothing, but many of us would rather address the real issues and see the hard work done in order to obtain long lasting and further reaching changes in our society.

[Psa1000]

I agree with you. Get the politics out of this issue and prevent this from happening again. No one needs a AR-15 - ban the sale of these weapons. Getting them off of the street, of course, is another obstacle. The Quick Fix, if there is one, would work for me. I have grandchildren that are at risk by just going to school.

[Bucco]

Originally Posted by Abby10

Le me start with this - I don't think anyone is against the enforcement of laws that are currently on the books regarding ownership and carrying of guns. This should be step 1 to be sure they are being enforced. But your post brings up at least 4 issues in need of serious discussion before any laws are changed.

The whole concept of "let's just get rid of this or that" is just too simple and will not solve the real problems. In fact, it reminds me of those who go to the doctor and want the simple fix. Give me a medicine to take care of my problem, which often is just the easy way out. It's much harder to make lifestyle changes that may actually solve the problem, not just mask it. That's how I see this gun problem. Some just want what I see as a quick fix, others may want to do nothing, but many of us would rather address the real issues and see the hard work done in order to obtain long lasting and further reaching changes in our society.

1. You are correct that simply getting rid of things with no discussion is not good. However, as I keep using as an example...if 18 Cessna planes went down since Jan 1, there would be hearings and public discussion about the Cessna. Yet, all we do on this area of discussions is make speeches to satisfy whatever constituency we want to speak to.....and then wait for the next time our children are killed.

2. There are common sense fixes that should be discussed and integrated. For example, while this had nothing to do with this shooting incident, we had an exec order to not allow recepiants of Social Security benefits who have been already judged not to have the mental capacity to handle their own affairs to get gun permits. That was somehow considered wrong and taken away.

We put people on the terrorists watch lists, YET adamantly defend them to have guns even though we judge them a terrorist threat.

We have open public hearings on many things but this does not seem to rise to the proper importance level and that makes no sense.

I am not against people owning weapons but no one stands a chance against an AR-15 with a handgun and the destruction that they cause is always massive. There needs to be more control over these automatic weapons. I also agree that MUCH more needs to be done for the mentally ill and drug addicted.

[biker1]

An "AR-15 style" rifle is not an automatic weapon. Automatic weapons, with a few exceptions such as for collectors with a Federal permit, are illegal in the US. This is a common misconception by those with little knowledge of firearms and sometimes propagated by the media. An AR-15, as with the majority of firearms including handguns and rifles as well as many shotguns, is semi-automatic.

Originally Posted by fw102807

I am not against people owning weapons but no one stands a chance against an AR-15 with a handgun and the destruction that they cause is always massive. There needs to be more control over these automatic weapons. I also agree that MUCH more needs to be done for the mentally ill and drug addicted.

[biker1]

Are you proposing a ban on all semi-automatic firearms? Any meaningful discussion must start with an understanding of the facts.

Originally Posted by Psa1000

I agree with you. Get the politics out of this issue and prevent this from happening again. No one needs a AR-15 - ban the sale of these weapons. Getting them off of the street, of course, is another obstacle. The Quick Fix, if there is one, would work for me. I have grandchildren that are at risk by just going to school.

[JimD215]

Can someone please define what an assualt weapon is?

[8notes]

We are a laughing stock to the rest of the world. The Sydney Herald had this to say:
"It is incomprehensible to us, as Australians, that a country so proud and great can allow itself to be savaged again and again by its own citizens. We cannot understand how the long years of senseless murder, the Sandy Hooks and Orlandos and Columbines, have not proved to Americans that the gun is not a precious symbol of freedom, but a deadly cancer on their society.
We point over and over to our own success with gun control in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, that Australia has not seen a mass shooting since and that we are still a free and open society. We have not bought our security at the price of liberty; we have instead consented to a social contract that states lives are precious, and not to be casually ended by lone madmen. But it is a message that means nothing to those whose ideology is impervious to evidence."
• Demand background checks
• Demand a ban on assault weapons
• Demand a ban on all modifications to convert weapons to semi or fully automatic
• Demand accountability by the Senators and Representatives on the NRA payroll."

[JimD215]

An AR15 is just a scary looking rifle. Works the same as any other rifle. You pull the trigger every time you want to shoot it. The only difference is the capacity of rounds you put into a magazine. All rifles are assault weapons when they are used against someone. Makes no difference what they look like. A limit on magazine capacity may help but without a resistance people will be able to shoot lots of people no matter what weapon they use.

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by JimD215

Can someone please define what an assualt weapon is?

A scary term made up by the media and politicians.

Rifles are broken down by function. There are muzzle loaders, there are bolt action rifles, there are semi-automatic rifles and there are automatic rifles.

The media and politicians would have you believe that any rifle that is black, has a pistol grip and can accept a magazine is an "Assault Weapon"..

[GoodLife]

Originally Posted by jimd215

can someone please define what an assualt weapon is?

Here is the Hello Kitty version

[Psa1000]

No, I am not knowledgeable on guns - I am a Mom and my knowledge is from the heart. I would like those that are -- to do something rational based on our needs right now.

[biker1]

There are background checks. What we need is an ironclad national database that includes data on mental illness, HiPPA laws be damned.

There is no such thing as an "assault weapon" - it is a made up media term. The sooner people stop using that term the sooner rational discussions can proceed.

The majority of firearms are manufactured as semi-automatic and are legal. Automatic weapons, and anything converted to an automatic weapon, is already illegal.

Originally Posted by 8notes

• Demand background checks
• Demand a ban on assault weapons
• Demand a ban on all modifications to convert weapons to semi or fully automatic
• Demand accountability by the Senators and Representatives on the NRA payroll."

[Abby10]

Originally Posted by Bucco

1. You are correct that simply getting rid of things with no discussion is not good. However, as I keep using as an example...if 18 Cessna planes went down since Jan 1, there would be hearings and public discussion about the Cessna. Yet, all we do on this area of discussions is make speeches to satisfy whatever constituency we want to speak to.....and then wait for the next time our children are killed.

2. There are common sense fixes that should be discussed and integrated. For example, while this had nothing to do with this shooting incident, we had an exec order to not allow recepiants of Social Security benefits who have been already judged not to have the mental capacity to handle their own affairs to get gun permits. That was somehow considered wrong and taken away.

We put people on the terrorists watch lists, YET adamantly defend them to have guns even though we judge them a terrorist threat.

We have open public hearings on many things but this does not seem to rise to the proper importance level and that makes no sense.

I concur with what you say here, again, as long as the law is followed and not abused painting any specific group with a broad brush. It's important that the right to gun ownership only be taken away on an individual basis after careful scrutiny of facts.

The importance of a discussion on these issues is a no brainer - can't imagine why someone would want to shut that process down and yet they will.

Originally Posted by biker1

An "AR-15 style" rifle is not an automatic weapon. Automatic weapons, with a few exceptions such as for collectors with a Federal permit, are illegal in the US. This is a common misconception by those with little knowledge of firearms and sometimes propagated by the media. An AR-15, as with the majority of firearms including handguns and rifles as well as many shotguns, is semi-automatic.

You are correct, I did not know this but still believe that there needs to be tighter control over who can own one as it is till a dangerous weapon.