Surely it's the access to guns that's the problem? I doubt if he'd walked into that school with just his bare hands, he would have been able to kill 27 people. Mental illness or no mental illness. Or even if he had a brick. Or a slingshot. Or a big stick with a nail in the end. Or anything else you like. It's the firearm that allows him to rack up a death toll. It's the firearm that distinguishes him from a frustrated young man, to a dangerous murderer. Every country has unstable people, not every country makes it so easy to access guns. If someone does flip in America, there's a reasonable chance a gun will be easy to find, like in this case with his mother having a collection of them. I personally don't understand why, but then I've grown up in a non-gun culture. I'm not sure I've even ever seen a gun in this country. It's still a shock when you go abroad and the cops have 'em in airports. It is a problem for America. I don't think they'll be able to remove guns as people appear to fetishise them so much over there, so I'm sure massacres will continue to happen on an almost annual basis. It seems that is the price to pay for the right to a gun in America, and to me it's madness. But why would they listen to an English person like me? They wouldn't give a ****.
These are great points. How many children did that man injure in China with a knife? 22 (plus an adult) How many did he kill? None. Before this happened I grew tired of debating with my 'Pro gun' friends/acquaintances . Not a single one of them would chat with me after this tragedy. There really was nothing that can be said.
Totally agree that the easy access is a huge issue, but it is not the sole issue. There is more than enough info out there to make bombs, cause arson or even, a airline pilot to crash a plane - suicide is all too often a final act. There are plenty of legal guns in this country and their use is also abused, although assault weapons are not an issue, thank God! As an international society we must pull together and that means legislation across borders. I lived and worked with all manner of firearms for 20 years and I would happily see a total ban tomorrow - sport, farming, everything. people's sensibilities and a few lost chucks are nothing against the life of a innocent. Armed police have been a feature of our airports for more than 40 years.
Ellewood - this is positive; get behind it and believe! 'Two pro-gun US senators have called for changes to firearm laws, as the first victims of the Newtown school shootings were buried in Connecticut. Democrats Mark Warner and Joe Manchin, who have "A" ratings from the National Rifle Association (NRA), now say action is needed after the massacre.' BBC News
Yep it is positive and it does seem that we will get something done. I think it wont go as far as you or I would like but hey any change would be a positive thing.
Sorry to be negative, but it will not change anything. The only thing that will happen is that some deranged patriot will decide that its all a threat to "his" country and will punish more innocents. Ellewood, I dont think that americans in general understand the British as much as they think they do and it certianly works the other way. I did not expect the USA to be as "foreign" to me as it was. We have so many TV series on our screens that portray life in the states, that I felt that I knew just what to expect, but I was wrong.
Sorry Mel, but I think you are wrong. There is already change and any further incidents will only magnify the public's focus. It will be small and slow and it will suffer set-backs, but change will come. I sometimes have trouble understanding the guy in the shop, pub, stand, forum, et al; I know that a couple of my American friends feel trapped by 'their' power and how it is expected, even courted, yet despised in the same quarters. Their army (1980s) was once poor and embarrassing, my friends are from that era; they worked at it and are now a force to be reckoned with. Nobodies perfect, not even us, Mel!
It is inconceivable that gun ownership in America will change in any of our lifetimes. I believe that it would require 75% of states to be in support of a change in the Constitution - that just isn't going to happen. However, even if somehow there was such support, then what are you going to do? Enter people's homes and look for guns? I believe that roughly 40% of US homes possess guns, and that seems to be from polling data (so I imagine there are more who have guns tucked away, who don't like admitting it). Whatever you interpret the second amendment as, however it was intended - it has become a central part of what Americans see as their right. To repeal the second amendment would be a limitation/infringement on their rights, which just isn't going to go down well. I believe that gun ownership is somewhat of a quirk in the nature of how America came to be the modern country it is today. The Constitution is a great document, and certainly at the time gun ownership was a vital right to bestow upon the people. Naturally, there was never a point in which collectively the country thought "right, that's it, we are okay now, let's do away with guns", and it has become ingrained in the country. I don't think that you can blame Americans really. Gun ownership is a consequence of the time and method in which the country was founded - and although we wouldn't wish for increased gun ownership in this country, it is a very different thing to give rights than it is to take them away.
Mel I only know english people from Hull in real life. So I just assume that all english people are like you all.
Mel, I have been to the States a lot, and what is portrayed on their TV which we see in this country is nothing like reality.
Lest we forget! I do hope some things change. Even the NRA hasn't tweeted or put anything on Facebook since the shooting. They also haven't done any interviews. Quite telling, really.
I was reading that this was their new internal policy regarding these incidents. They are supposed to lay low until the news starts talking about someting else then rally support through their lobbying arm to stop any legislation. The 2 senators that have come out and said they want legislation are both democrats. The telling thing will be if any republicans come out and make similar statements.
i imagine there would be a threat to the breakup of the union before anything is passed to outlaw gun ownership across America . Not that i see either of them happening anytime soon . also is it still true that in some states its illegal to conceal a weapon and in others its illegal to not have the weapon concealed ?
