IMHO, our constitution , even the pledge of allegiance, speak words of unity, equality, respect for those who are different, yet the wealthy and powerful find ways to divide us and override the essence of those words creating false dichotomies such that we oppose each other, while our “elected representatives” serve not us but the wealthy and powerful.
You know something is wrong when someone has ask your political affiliation to determine whether they like or hate you and if they are going to use the most convenient device available to hurt you. Indeed, it’s not the device but the culture of polarization that triggers the violence. (Is this what American exceptionalism has degenerated into?)
Using the facade of political differences, along with doublespeak naming of House bills, and covert Senate bills - (e.g.) McConnellCare - the wealthy and powerful are able to continually lighten their financial responsibilities to the nation and pass these obligations on to the middle class.
The Millennials are my hope for better government and an end to the animus … as the Silent and Boomer generations fade, and the influence the of the wealthy and powerful become less effective.
The SKS he apparently used IS a “military style” weapon, a cheap knockoff of the much better AK-47. Semi-auto is a choice on military weapons btw, and much smarter as it conserves ammunition. In many “contacts” I never once fired my M-16 on full auto, only for kicks on the range. Hit what you aim at is more important than just putting lead out, other than for supprssion Fire to keep their heads down if you don’t care about actually hitting anything. Now, an M-60 from a helicopter, did that too, full auto has a different function as you work tracers in on the target(s).
I am a combat veteran of Vietnam (river boats) and I was trained with, and used, more different types of weapons than most gun owners. I also DO NOT own a gun because I realized when I got out of the service that I had an anger problem. Unfortueately, many owners won’t recognize their own anger management problems, which is why we have guns drawn in road rage and similar incidents.
Stop arguing semantics about “assault rifles” and about which caliber is more dangerous. If the projectile can puncture the body, it can kill. Stop arguing that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Guns allow people to kill each other more efficiently and from a greater distance. If two people are trying to kill each other, they can miss and “accicentitly” kill an innocent person a block or two away who is minding his or her own business.
The problems are with ALL improperly owned guns and with the accessories, such as hundred round magazines so that the shooter can kill more people more quickly, folding stocks and “take down” rifles so that they can be more easily hidden and with similar COMBAT options.
Some people SHOULD NOT be allowed to own weapons and others should loose their right to own them if they draw a weapon in road rage or similar incidents. People who enable others to improperly own weapons should get mandatory jail time or execution if the weapons they provide are used in murder or other crimes.
ALL rights have associated responsibilities. If you abuse the right, you should loose it.
Congratulations, Rags on a very informative comment. No one is talking about taking weapons away from responsible owners, just doing what can be done to prevent them from falling into the hands of those with mental problems. Unfortunately that’s NOT what a lot of people are hearing. That would unfortunately include the injured congressman who stated his support for “every” person to have the right to own guns.
2 days ago – A four-year-old girl, who was known by her neighbors to be full of life, was accidentally shot and killed by her six year old sibling on Friday.
I’ve long contended that what every high school in America needs is a class in life skills. This would include how to apply for a job, how to diaper a baby, how to balance a checkbook, and how to use a firearm safely and responsibly.
Oh, yeah, and we should bring back civics courses, too.
An overlooked fact: many of the violent thugs who decide to use weapons of any kind against members of the public because of whatever manufactured rationale the thug has, gave a strong early warning of their tendencies. Just like the shooter who went after the Republican congress members practicing baseball, these thugs were first guilty of acts of domestic violence. But all too often, those crimes are treated as ‘personal problems’ between spouses or boyfriend-girlfriend, and charges are dismissed. Just like ignoring a kid who tortures puppies until he goes after another kid, ignoring domestic violence only teaches the thug that it’s okay to do this stuff. And if they don’t have rifles, they’ll use knives, as a recent case in Florida showed when an estranged boyfriend broke into the home of the former girlfriend, stabbing her niece and the niece’s husband who were staying with her. If we stop treating domestic violence as an acceptable act, maybe we’ll save a bunch of lives. At the very least, jailing somebody who drags his girlfriend and daughter around by their hair means they won’t be free to shoot members of Congress…
A Republican has been shot by an easily-accessible military-style assault rifle. He had six years from when Gabby Giffords was shot to do something about the gun violence in this country. More of a chance than any other victim of guns. Now will he do anything? Or will we have to wait until the next gun tragedy before something is done?
Do you people honestly think that the passage of yet another lame-brained law will stop someone who has already decided to break the law in the first place? Frankly, I would rather take my chances against someone armed with a rifle or pistol than against someone with five gallons of gasoline and a match…or an automobile…or a jetliner…or a medical degree…or any of the things that kill considerably more people per year than some idiot with a rifle. Stop and consider, if you have that actual ability, what the world would be like if all guns were outlawed and there existed a way to actually enforce such a law. Then the biggest and strongest of the lawless would dominate the weaker, older, less physically able, and, oh, by the way, those who “don’t believe in violence”. It would be the law of the jungle. The evil people of the world are kept in check only by their fear of the consequences of their action. They fear, first and foremost, the armed victim, who has the tool needed to end their worthless existence. Those of you who believe that the law will protect you may prove your argument by walking through the bad side of Atlanta or Philly at night, alone, and unarmed. I am sure the law will keep you safe and unharmed. Grow up and face reality…oh, I’m sorry, you are not capable of that or we would not be having this exchange, would we? People are predators. Top of the food-chain predators. We as a species are the most dangerous thing that walks the planet. Ignore that at your peril…
Rocky said, “…Grow up and face reality…oh, I’m sorry, you are not capable of that or we would not be having this exchange, would we?” .Great, you insulted your opponents; you win the argument.
Not very effective to shoot that much, kill nobody. I mentioned the other day the average mass shooter kills an average of 1.28 people (or did in America in 2015). A 12 gauge pump shotgun with slugs or double ought buckshot would have been more effective. A dump truck driven through a crowd would have been more effective.
It is good crazy people are such incompetents. It is always interesting how people focus on the tool rather than the incompetent, unbalanced tool user. They keep thinking, "If we could simply outlaw this evil weapon, nobody would find some other way to hurt other people.
I’m always surprised that we don’t see more calls for banning (or licensing the use of) machetes, dump trucks, and dynamite after THOSE are used to mass-murder a slew of innocent victims. Why is it only guns that seem to draw that kind of objection?
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 7 years ago
And here come the whiners from the Nations largest Domestic Terrorist group…The N.R.A.!
V45mikky almost 7 years ago
just a regular rifle not an assault rifle
superposition almost 7 years ago
IMHO, our constitution , even the pledge of allegiance, speak words of unity, equality, respect for those who are different, yet the wealthy and powerful find ways to divide us and override the essence of those words creating false dichotomies such that we oppose each other, while our “elected representatives” serve not us but the wealthy and powerful.
You know something is wrong when someone has ask your political affiliation to determine whether they like or hate you and if they are going to use the most convenient device available to hurt you. Indeed, it’s not the device but the culture of polarization that triggers the violence. (Is this what American exceptionalism has degenerated into?)
Using the facade of political differences, along with doublespeak naming of House bills, and covert Senate bills - (e.g.) McConnellCare - the wealthy and powerful are able to continually lighten their financial responsibilities to the nation and pass these obligations on to the middle class.
The Millennials are my hope for better government and an end to the animus … as the Silent and Boomer generations fade, and the influence the of the wealthy and powerful become less effective.
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 7 years ago
It’s SAD that it’s harder to get a license to be a hairdresser then it is to buy a KILLING MACHINE!!
Dapperdan61 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
With enough money and help from Russia one can say there’s no real qualifications to being President. That too is really SAD
kurt.zwicky almost 7 years ago
There is no place for assault rifles and hollow point bullets in the hands of civilians….
Teto85 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
If a few more of these happen maybe the r’tards will finally sit up and take notice to the gun problem in the USA.
Radish the wordsmith almost 7 years ago
The Republicans offer no support for the mentally disabled.
Radish the wordsmith almost 7 years ago
Oh wait, they did make it easier for the mentally disabled on SSI to buy guns.
Dtroutma almost 7 years ago
The SKS he apparently used IS a “military style” weapon, a cheap knockoff of the much better AK-47. Semi-auto is a choice on military weapons btw, and much smarter as it conserves ammunition. In many “contacts” I never once fired my M-16 on full auto, only for kicks on the range. Hit what you aim at is more important than just putting lead out, other than for supprssion Fire to keep their heads down if you don’t care about actually hitting anything. Now, an M-60 from a helicopter, did that too, full auto has a different function as you work tracers in on the target(s).
RAGs almost 7 years ago
I am a combat veteran of Vietnam (river boats) and I was trained with, and used, more different types of weapons than most gun owners. I also DO NOT own a gun because I realized when I got out of the service that I had an anger problem. Unfortueately, many owners won’t recognize their own anger management problems, which is why we have guns drawn in road rage and similar incidents.
Stop arguing semantics about “assault rifles” and about which caliber is more dangerous. If the projectile can puncture the body, it can kill. Stop arguing that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Guns allow people to kill each other more efficiently and from a greater distance. If two people are trying to kill each other, they can miss and “accicentitly” kill an innocent person a block or two away who is minding his or her own business.
The problems are with ALL improperly owned guns and with the accessories, such as hundred round magazines so that the shooter can kill more people more quickly, folding stocks and “take down” rifles so that they can be more easily hidden and with similar COMBAT options.
Some people SHOULD NOT be allowed to own weapons and others should loose their right to own them if they draw a weapon in road rage or similar incidents. People who enable others to improperly own weapons should get mandatory jail time or execution if the weapons they provide are used in murder or other crimes.
ALL rights have associated responsibilities. If you abuse the right, you should loose it.
RAGs almost 7 years ago
Guns also make people stupid. Problems that you could solve another way can only be solved with a gun if you have one.
mr_sherman Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Congratulations, Rags on a very informative comment. No one is talking about taking weapons away from responsible owners, just doing what can be done to prevent them from falling into the hands of those with mental problems. Unfortunately that’s NOT what a lot of people are hearing. That would unfortunately include the injured congressman who stated his support for “every” person to have the right to own guns.
Radish the wordsmith almost 7 years ago
2 days ago – A four-year-old girl, who was known by her neighbors to be full of life, was accidentally shot and killed by her six year old sibling on Friday.
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 7 years ago
I’ve long contended that what every high school in America needs is a class in life skills. This would include how to apply for a job, how to diaper a baby, how to balance a checkbook, and how to use a firearm safely and responsibly.
Oh, yeah, and we should bring back civics courses, too.
NeoconMan almost 7 years ago
^ Too bad the four year old wasn’t packing herself so she could have stood her ground and returned fire.
Argy.Bargy2 almost 7 years ago
An overlooked fact: many of the violent thugs who decide to use weapons of any kind against members of the public because of whatever manufactured rationale the thug has, gave a strong early warning of their tendencies. Just like the shooter who went after the Republican congress members practicing baseball, these thugs were first guilty of acts of domestic violence. But all too often, those crimes are treated as ‘personal problems’ between spouses or boyfriend-girlfriend, and charges are dismissed. Just like ignoring a kid who tortures puppies until he goes after another kid, ignoring domestic violence only teaches the thug that it’s okay to do this stuff. And if they don’t have rifles, they’ll use knives, as a recent case in Florida showed when an estranged boyfriend broke into the home of the former girlfriend, stabbing her niece and the niece’s husband who were staying with her. If we stop treating domestic violence as an acceptable act, maybe we’ll save a bunch of lives. At the very least, jailing somebody who drags his girlfriend and daughter around by their hair means they won’t be free to shoot members of Congress…
Mr. Blawt almost 7 years ago
A Republican has been shot by an easily-accessible military-style assault rifle. He had six years from when Gabby Giffords was shot to do something about the gun violence in this country. More of a chance than any other victim of guns. Now will he do anything? Or will we have to wait until the next gun tragedy before something is done?
Rocky Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Do you people honestly think that the passage of yet another lame-brained law will stop someone who has already decided to break the law in the first place? Frankly, I would rather take my chances against someone armed with a rifle or pistol than against someone with five gallons of gasoline and a match…or an automobile…or a jetliner…or a medical degree…or any of the things that kill considerably more people per year than some idiot with a rifle. Stop and consider, if you have that actual ability, what the world would be like if all guns were outlawed and there existed a way to actually enforce such a law. Then the biggest and strongest of the lawless would dominate the weaker, older, less physically able, and, oh, by the way, those who “don’t believe in violence”. It would be the law of the jungle. The evil people of the world are kept in check only by their fear of the consequences of their action. They fear, first and foremost, the armed victim, who has the tool needed to end their worthless existence. Those of you who believe that the law will protect you may prove your argument by walking through the bad side of Atlanta or Philly at night, alone, and unarmed. I am sure the law will keep you safe and unharmed. Grow up and face reality…oh, I’m sorry, you are not capable of that or we would not be having this exchange, would we? People are predators. Top of the food-chain predators. We as a species are the most dangerous thing that walks the planet. Ignore that at your peril…
NeoconMan almost 7 years ago
Rocky said, “…Grow up and face reality…oh, I’m sorry, you are not capable of that or we would not be having this exchange, would we?” .Great, you insulted your opponents; you win the argument.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 7 years ago
Not very effective to shoot that much, kill nobody. I mentioned the other day the average mass shooter kills an average of 1.28 people (or did in America in 2015). A 12 gauge pump shotgun with slugs or double ought buckshot would have been more effective. A dump truck driven through a crowd would have been more effective.
It is good crazy people are such incompetents. It is always interesting how people focus on the tool rather than the incompetent, unbalanced tool user. They keep thinking, "If we could simply outlaw this evil weapon, nobody would find some other way to hurt other people.
Richard S Russell Premium Member almost 7 years ago
I’m always surprised that we don’t see more calls for banning (or licensing the use of) machetes, dump trucks, and dynamite after THOSE are used to mass-murder a slew of innocent victims. Why is it only guns that seem to draw that kind of objection?