Should the Virginia Tech shooting rampage affect gun laws?

Answer 1

No. One psycho should not be able to force an entire nation to change its laws. We accept this kind of risk. Also, if guns were outlawed unfortunately we'd still see shootings like this. If one of the victims had been carrying a gun, they may have ended it and saved lives.

Answer 2

No doubt it will spur some debate, and perhaps some new legislation, but it will not change the law greatly. The fact that this guy was able to purchase two handguns legally kinda underscores the fact that background checks are not effective at sorting the loonies from the normals. For instance, I would personally rather a seasoned 35 year old non-violent ex-felon be allowed to purchase a handgun than someone 21-25 with a perfectly clean record. Please don't take offense at this, but the fact is that many folks (certainly not all) under 25 are not seasoned in how to react to life's pressures. Look at the behavior of a group of 21 year olds "out on the town" at night compared to a group of 40 year olds. The 40-year olds are generally quieter, more serious and there's definitely less testosterone flexing there. This fellow definitely had mental problems, but was also socially immature. Unfortunately, most background checks other than the traditional 2-week FBI check do not reveal mental conditions, due to privacy issues. They ask the question on the federal form, but do not do a check against it. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes, the shooter in this case had the police called in to investigate him for making threats 5 times, he was accused of stalking twice and was deemed to be mentally unstable by a court and ordered into a treatment program yet still LEGALLY purchased a gun. I'm a big supporter of gun rights and ever law abiding citizen that wants one should be able to get one but clearly the system is broken in Virgina and something needs to be done.

Answer 4

I think it should I m starting to belive that every teacher in America should be allowed to carry a gun in the class room Or that every class room be equipped with a bullet proof steel door that slams shut in the events of those at Virgina tech . If a adult would have had a gun this poor sick kid would not have had the guts knowing that he could be shot by anyone else on that campus .

Answer 5

Of course! It's strange however, the media it seems, is concentrating on the fact that the murderer of 32 people was a wacko. A real violent man filled with hatred and violence and the desire to commit mahem.
None of the students interviewed said that they detected that part of his personality. He was seen as a stalker and admonished for that.
I don't believe that authorities are equipped to handle people who hide their plans to make mahem and perform mass murder. I don't see how that can be done legally especially if the wacko hasn't broken any laws.
So, how do we prevent this from happening, again?
Limit access to automatic hand guns with large magazines. Ostensibly, the National Rifle Association; or, as I like to say the National Republican Association, use hunting as a reason to own weapons. The other reason, is that they interpret the constitution to read that any person can own any kind of weapon they want.
We need to control all hand guns. Hand guns are made to kill people. There's no reason to own a handgun.
A shotgun or other hunting rifle should be legal if theres a license for the weapon.
This will not be an issue in Congress because the NRA owns to many congressmen/women both Republican and Democrat.
We will continue to see this kind of carnage on campuses because our congressional leadership is a thing of the past.

Answer 6

Maybe it is a good idea not to sell guns to people that have been in a mental hospital in the last 5 years as the shooter was even though he could of found a way to get a gun anyway.

Answer 7

No. Its the PERSON who kills. If there were no more guns the killer would find other means. But because there are such a thing as guns, the criminals will always find a way to get them, no matter what the law, meanwhile, if the guns are banned to get leagally, the common homeowner has nothing to defend his family with. Check out the 2nd amendment.

Answer 8

There should be a national data base of people who are on prescription medications. That data base should be filed by physicians and submitted to eliminate people who are mentally disturbed from obtaining any type of deadly weapon for any reason

From Columbine to Virginia Tech, there is a problem with sociopaths inter-acting in society.

The Constitution of the United States allows for freedom of speech and expression, but, that does not mean someone could run into a crowded movie theater and yell "fire". There must be limitations to the rights of people to bear arms, especially when that right could cause the deaths of others.

We must always remember what John Stuart Mill (member of British Parliament -1850's-60's) once said regarding the rights of people..."your rights end at the tip of my nose!"

The Constitution of the U.S. is geared to promote life, liberty and the rights of everyone. The Constitution is not a carte blanche instrument to justify people's rights to act irresponsibly and cause others great harm.

If there is something wrong, and a right guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution is not functioning properly as legally outlined by the law, that right needs to be re-visited and properly instituted.

To answer the question...Because I believe medications, alcohol and mental instability should be factored into owning a gun, I believe the guns laws, at minimum, need updating and if necessary, changed.

A national data base originating from every doctor and submitted, who is treating every patient for any mental disorder, should automatically red flag any applicant for any deadly weapon-gun.

Answer 9

If the laws that are already in effect were enforced, perhaps this awful tragedy would not have happened. We don't need even more laws...just enforcement of those we already have.I think the point is more that someone, somewhere should have reported all the strange behavior this man exhibited, and kept on reporting it until something was done to remove him and get him the help he so obviously needed....

Answer 10

no. it's not the gun that killed the people, it's the person. no gun? he'd have used a bomb, or knives, or home-made weapons. the gun might have facilitated that horrid act, but it didn't do it by itself. for gun control to work, ALL guns must be controlled. otherwise we end up with only the criminals having guns, and they're the ones we're trying to rid of the weapons. bad people will do bad things, regardless of the availability of guns.