Reflections on Gun control.
Dec 24, 2012 05:44:41 #
Watching a film last night brought to mind the recent ongoing - and often heated - discussions on gun control.
In the film a delivery driver saw a young man pointing a gun at his vehicle so he got his gun out and shot the young man. It subsequently turned out that the young man had a mental age of about 5 and was acting out his favourite action hero. The 'gun' was made of wood.
Possibly the driver - like many on UHH - would have previously said that he would have no qualms about shooting someone. Now, possibly his view has changed drastically and he would be reflecting that had he not had a gun - he would not have killed an innocent person.
In the film a delivery driver saw a young man pointing a gun at his vehicle so he got his gun out and shot the young man. It subsequently turned out that the young man had a mental age of about 5 and was acting out his favourite action hero. The 'gun' was made of wood.
Possibly the driver - like many on UHH - would have previously said that he would have no qualms about shooting someone. Now, possibly his view has changed drastically and he would be reflecting that had he not had a gun - he would not have killed an innocent person.
Dec 24, 2012 06:19:58 #
100%, unfortunately in the UK we have a common sense approach not matched by the masses of the NRA in the USA
Things will only change when enough gun owning citizens CHILDREN and loved ones are killed by gun owners.
Things will only change when enough gun owning citizens CHILDREN and loved ones are killed by gun owners.
Dec 24, 2012 08:10:23 #
And would the driver be DEAD if the young man had a real gun ?
Every situation is different. Whether in schools, fast food places, or movies. A deranged person doesn't see youth or adults when their mind snaps.
What is wrong is the ability of a deranged, mentally handicapped persons ability to obtain a weapon.
Sarge69
Every situation is different. Whether in schools, fast food places, or movies. A deranged person doesn't see youth or adults when their mind snaps.
What is wrong is the ability of a deranged, mentally handicapped persons ability to obtain a weapon.
Sarge69
Dec 24, 2012 09:29:28 #
sarge69 wrote:
And would the driver be DEAD if the young man had a real gun ?
Every situation is different. Whether in schools, fast food places, or movies. A deranged person doesn't see youth or adults when their mind snaps.
What is wrong is the ability of a deranged, mentally handicapped persons ability to obtain a weapon.
Sarge69
Every situation is different. Whether in schools, fast food places, or movies. A deranged person doesn't see youth or adults when their mind snaps.
What is wrong is the ability of a deranged, mentally handicapped persons ability to obtain a weapon.
Sarge69
sarge69 wrote:
And would the driver be DEAD if the young man had a real gun ?
Not necessarily. Deaths and injury probably are more certain when both parties are armed. You will no doubt find that the US criminals are more likely to carry guns because the police are armed.
Dec 24, 2012 09:34:36 #
JR1 wrote:
100%, unfortunately in the UK we have a common sense approach not matched by the masses of the NRA in the USA
Things will only change when enough gun owning citizens CHILDREN and loved ones are killed by gun owners.
Things will only change when enough gun owning citizens CHILDREN and loved ones are killed by gun owners.
Here in the US we have other means of killing our children besides a gun. I could point out that if you point a toy gun at a cop - you get shot. He does not know it is real or not. Take away the gun from the cop and it turns out not to be a toy - then the cop gets shot. Reflect on that.
I was shot as a child through the neck with a .22 by another kid from behind. That did't change my views about guns.
Dec 24, 2012 09:44:15 #
Crwiwy wrote:
Watching a film last night brought to mind the rec... (show quote)
If the driver was in his truck, he could have drove off, called the police. If the driver was walking back to his truck and this person was aiming at his truck, the driver could have walked to the place he made his delivery and call the police. Poor judgement on both parties. If the police confronted this person and the police are not sure if the gun is real or not and the person does not respond to the police, this person may get shot. There have been a few times that the police have shot/killed someone with a toy weapon.
Ban guns, toy guns and guns made of wood.
Dec 24, 2012 12:21:57 #
What is wrong is societies, health care professionals,government agencies and legal and court authorities inability to identify the mentally deranged people commiting these acts. Seldom are these acts commited by someone who hasn't had multiple incedents indicating there mental state. Most often it is years of failing to recognize the potential of these sociopaths and psyhcopaths to do great harm. Guns are NOT the issue, these people intent on doing harm will find a way, a car into a crowd of people or home made bomb made from easily accessable and
readily available components are just a few ways. We as a society have to recognize, identify and prevent these poeple from being able to act on there desires to harm others.
readily available components are just a few ways. We as a society have to recognize, identify and prevent these poeple from being able to act on there desires to harm others.
Dec 24, 2012 12:38:38 #
From the Economist, words that show they have common sense and decency across the pond:
If Americans want a society where schools do not, as the one in Newtown did, have to drill their children in emergency lock-down procedures, more drastic measures should be contemplated. Handgun bans, such as those that operated in Chicago and Washington, DC, before the Supreme Court struck them down, would be needed on a national scale. Gun licences, obtainable only after extensive police and medical review as in most other civilised countries, would be needed for hunting and sporting weapons. Tough police action, coupled with an extensive buy-back programme, would be needed to mop up the hundreds of millions of guns that are already held. If, as seems probable, this is held to conflict with the constitution, then the constitution needs to be amended. :thumbup:
If Americans want a society where schools do not, as the one in Newtown did, have to drill their children in emergency lock-down procedures, more drastic measures should be contemplated. Handgun bans, such as those that operated in Chicago and Washington, DC, before the Supreme Court struck them down, would be needed on a national scale. Gun licences, obtainable only after extensive police and medical review as in most other civilised countries, would be needed for hunting and sporting weapons. Tough police action, coupled with an extensive buy-back programme, would be needed to mop up the hundreds of millions of guns that are already held. If, as seems probable, this is held to conflict with the constitution, then the constitution needs to be amended. :thumbup:
Dec 24, 2012 12:41:30 #
Crwiwy wrote:
You will no doubt find that the US criminals are more likely to carry guns because the police are armed.
US criminals carry guns because the police are armed? Tell me you're not serious. 8-)
Dec 24, 2012 12:44:38 #
Crwiwy wrote:
Watching a film last night brought to mind the rec... (show quote)
By the description of the incident the delivery driver was a fool... I could not ascertain how evil the gun was...
Dec 24, 2012 12:44:49 #
Gnslngr wrote:
From the Economist, words that show they have comm... (show quote)
Of course this would be a socialist police state. Any better options.
Dec 24, 2012 12:59:04 #
Look at the statistics for Washington D.C. and Chicgo and how well there handgun bans worked for them. They continue to have some of the highest murder rates in the world, not just America but the world.
Dec 24, 2012 12:59:46 #
Dec 25, 2012 05:45:15 #
Then try to amend it. Dc's murder rate went down after the supreme court struck down that unconstitutional gun ban. For you gun banners out there, why don't you try banning cars because some drive drunk and kill innocent people? Cars kill more people then guns each year too. Do you gun banners realize how much crime would sky rocket just ask the fine folks in Great Britain and Australia. Look at how ridiculous the argument is when you take away the emotions. With over 80 million gun owners, owning close to 300 million guns, the death rate is minuscule, that said every death regardless of the cause is tragic but with life comes danger how you deal with it is the responsibility of the individual and the collective has no right to force their ill-conceived notions on the rest of us. Merry Christmas everyone
Dec 25, 2012 05:53:09 #
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