Is it time for America to re-consider its gun laws in the light of another tragedy?

Question

I am British and just find the American preoccupation with guns baffling...

Answer 1

heck no.

criminals don't care if it's illegal to carry guns -- nevermind the totally insane killing-spree type of criminal.


neither extreme on gun control makes much sense, because overly strict gun control will stop innocents from defending themselves against criminals, and too loose gun control will put guns in the hands of too many people who shouldn't have them

Answer 2

Nope, in fact it falls way short of solving the problem, but the gun control crowd would never admit to that. There are a whole lot of good ideas out there that would help prevent another tragedy. There are also a lot of idiotic ideas that sound good, but do nothing in reality. Heck yes! Follow the suggestions of the gun control crowd, when they make sense! Fix the gun show loophole, get the violent mentally disabled and diseased in the instant check database to prevent them from legally buying firearms. Even look at a restriction in magazine capacity. I could live with a law restricting ownership of magazines that hold more than ten rounds AND extend below the frame of the firearm. not as "the whole solution" but as part of the solution. Other things that should be considered: Improving access to mental health care for the citizens that need it. Some people with mental diseases or defects are more likely to be victims of violent crime than the rest of the population, others are more likely to COMMIT acts of violence than the average citizen. Getting adequate treatment for both would reduce the probability of another incident. Improving security at schools and other government mandated gun free zones. This could include video surveillance of the compound, improved locks on the doors, and a "rapid response team" of qualified firearms owners that work inside the gun free zone. This trained and disciplined force would be the primary security for the site. Get a dedicated RRT in every government mandated gun free zone, (airports, schools, government owned or leased buildings and spaces). Privately owned places would be on their own (malls, stores, factories, etc) ... would they go with an RRT? Allow concealed carry for anyone with the proper permit? Some other option? Who knows! The decision would (and should) be made by the owners of the property. Are there other possibilities that I have not thought of? I am sure there are! Let's bring the experts together and see what they come up with. Gun control advocates, gun owner groups, security professionals, educators, mental health professionals, and even politicians. Hash out a rational policy that brings us as a society closer to ending these mass killings.

Answer 3

I am American and do not see a preoccupation with guns. Only a small percentage use guns for fun. If you tell people they can’t carry weapons, only the law abiding will listen. A criminal can get a gun if they wanted to. In countries that ban all weapons, they can still be obtained illegally. The average person can be trusted with a gun. Even in the most violent neighborhoods in our country, 99% of the residents do not break the law and would use a handgun only to protect themselves. My parents had more access to guns and their generation was a lot less violent. It is a matter of changing the culture and human hearts. This campus was a place that wouldn’t allow guns – so only the criminals had them. It is quite possible that a student with a gun could have ended all of this. More gun laws against the law abiding will only make everyone less safe. We need to do everything we can to keep guns away from criminals while letting people defend themselves.

Answer 4

I'm British too! but like them I do feel the need to protect myself and my property though my choice is legal has 4 legs and a tail and is highly visable! She's also a breed respected or feared and instantly recognisable so has never needed to be put to the test with an unarmed criminal! They aren't my reasons for having her they are the added bonus that comes with the breed, but she wouldn't be much use against a gun carrying criminal and would be their first victim! I'd be no opposition even if I had a gun and could get to it. So legal or otherwise it would never be an option and I've never grown up with guns like American's do!
Problem >The law abiding citizen should have rights but no-one is a 'criminal' till they are caught. The availability it requires for the 90% 'good' works even better for the 10% 'bad'. I just pray we never go that route here in the UK, but fear we will.
It's the senselessness of the latest tragedy that makes me feel as angry as any American and I grieve with them for those lost!

Answer 5

We don't have a problem with law abiding citizens, it's the thugs that have guns that go out and rape, murder and steal.

Do you really think that thugs go out and buy legal guns?
To buy a gun you have to give your ID, they do a background check on you and you have to wait 7days before getting one.
For a permit to carry you have to do take training and have a license from the State.

Thugs get guns illegally, so whats the point? All you would do would be taking guns from people that want to protect themselves from the thugs.
I can tell you this that we own several guns, rifles and handguns. I would use it in a skinny minute if someone tried to break in my home and do harm..you would find one dead SOB for sure.

Answer 6

Here we go again. Everyone loves to blame everything but the actual problem. The problem was the individual's sick mind, not the firearms.
Maybe it wasn't the guns fault, maybe it was the bullets fault? Or the gunpowder companies fault? Or the company that makes the bullet casings? Maybe the mine that mined the metal to make the bullet casing. Hmm, maybe the landowner of the land that the mine is on that the metal was mined from?
Or maybe it was just the manufacturer of the alarm clock that woke the guy up that morning. If only he had slept in.
I'm not belittling the terrible incident, but it's very tiresome when people immediately jump on the firearms bandwagon every time a firearm is used.
How many people die in auto accidents every year? According to your logic we should ban automobiles too?

Answer 7

I'm British. To be fair, we don't have this gun legislation, but it doesn't stop people getting hold of them does it? Every 5 minutes there's a shooting in Manchester or London, they get them from somewhere. We should be able to own firearms to defend ourselves, subject to some very tight vetting procedures; no, I don't know llike what, but I' m sure the "powers that be" could come up with some.

Answer 8

People...
Please READ the second amendment..
Nowhere does it say that the American people have a RIGHT to bear arms.

It does say that a private person can bear arms, when part of a properly organised State Militia to defend the State from attack.

Answer 9

We already have laws prohibiting firearms on campus. They did a lot of good. It will be interesting to see how or where this maniac was trained. Latest reports are he was using 2 pistols. Rushing on adrenaline, hands shaking, it's not that easy killing that many people using handguns. Basically you need to hit the head or the heart to kill quickly, other than that the person has a very good chance of living.

Answer 10

Let me put it to you this way, like it or not it's the person doing the killing, not the gun, the gun is just the tool. Would you be asking the same question if he had stabbed 32 people to death with a knife, or beat 32 people to death with a baseball bat?

Answer 11

Even with gun laws changed if a person wants to commit mass murder they will find away people just don't seem to value other people lives. What happened today is so tragic