GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, OR DO THEY?

[Duchess]

It's not easy to hit a moving target with a little gun, certainly not as easy as it is when one's gun can spray bullets in a rapid fire manner. So we've got running, screaming kids, someone with a gun that shoots bullets by the dozens and a teacher trying to get a shot off without shooting an innocent student. Picture that.

I'm not even sure why the answer for some is more guns will mean less shootings but that's the NRA's party line and people buy into that and parrot it. The NRA rules by fear and paranoia.

Good luck, everyone!

[Jimbone]

A semi auto handgun (little gun) can spray bullets just as quickly as a semi auto rifle (big gun). The magazine capacity would be the limiting difference, although there are plenty of concealable handguns that have magazines capable of holding 15+ rounds.

Given the facts we know so far about this incident, I'm really not sure why the NRA is the foil here. If anyone is looking for a place to lay blame, seems like an odd choice. As I've said in the past, the NRA is just an effective advocate for their cause. And compared to other advocates for different causes, the amount of money they spend politically isn't near as much.

Is the NRA right on every stance they have? No, I don't think they are. Change is coming to gun laws, and that's a good thing. What I hope also happens is that there will be more vigorous adherence to existing gun laws as well. The fringe on either side of the argument need to get out of the way so a reasonable discussion and solution can be had.

[Maggot]

If one kid is killed by a stray bullet intended for a perp that is killing as many as he can its the price paid for protection. If the perp is killed he is stopped and does not continue to kill more. Or he will drop his gun like the masked gunman in the movie theater did that was confronted by a guy with a gun.

[HairOfTheDog]

The NRA has been a foil, to me, for years. It's not incident-specific, it's systemic.

They've given multi-millions of dollars to some politicians (Trump, Rubio, Scott, McCain...) to support their stances; stances which help gun manufacturers make as much money as possible.

The NRA has been very successful on that front -- they've consistently succeeded in preventing increased safety measures from being enacted into law, like universal background checks which 97% of the public support (including conservatives and gun owners).

Other politicians haven't received so much financially, but still benefit from the NRA-loyal single-issue voters (who are very vocal and can carry rural districts). Those politicians essentially become tethered to the NRA which can make or break a politician in such districts depending on how the NRA grades the politicians' support of the NRA agenda.

There's nothing illegal about any of that, but it's shady and detrimental to public safety, in my opinion -- especially since the NRA is constantly using fear-mongering and incendiary rhetoric to keep some gun lovers riled up and pledging allegiance to their guns with total disregard for others.

[HairOfTheDog]

Anyway, since Congress hasn't done anything substantial to address the gun problem for years and years -- in large part due to NRA influence, in my opinion -- I was glad to see Florida Governor Rick Scott enact some statewide safety and control measures.

I'm hoping other states follow suit, especially if the federal government continues to do very little to nothing to seriously address the problem nationwide.

And, I was surprised and glad to see that Dick's Sporting Goods isn't relying on hopes and prayers that Congress or state governments will do something meaningful after yet another mass slaughter.


Instead its CEO, Edward Stack ^, has taken his own initiative to help keep the wrong guns out of the wrong hands.

Effective immediately, the many Dick's retail sporting goods stores nationwide won't be selling guns to anyone under 21, won't be selling assault-style rifles, and won't be selling high capacity magazines. Story: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/busin...ifles.html

That's major and may well negatively affect their bottom line financially, but it's a principled position which I admire.

[Duchess]

That's major and may well negatively affect their bottom line financially, but it's a principled position which I admire.

That's exactly how I felt early this morning when it was breaking news. The simple fact that they would take the initiative is admirable for sure.

[Duchess]

If one kid is killed by a stray bullet intended for a perp that is killing as many as he can its the price paid for protection.

Okay

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm working from home today and just watched the bi-partisan gun strategy session with congresspersons and President Trump.

There were a lot of good (though mostly old) ideas and points made by Democrat and Republican legislators.

I don't agree with Rep. Scalise and his push to keep concealed carry reciprocity tied to the FIX NICS bill. Despite being shot by a nutbag, he's still very much an NRA loyalists and gun advocate.

So, it was good to hear Trump tell Scalise that concealed carry reciprocity needs to be removed from FIX NICS and from an expanded version of FIX NICS, which Trump indicated should include raising the age limit to 21 on all guns, stronger background checks, ability to remove guns from mentally ill who pose a danger to self and others right away (without court declaration), etc.

I don't support some of Trump's notions and proposals when it comes to gun safety/control, but some of what he said made sense and he seemed committed to supporting serious legislation which can be passed soon.

Anyway.......I'm really hoping a good strong comprehensive bill comes out of this session and it gets passed quickly. It would suck big time if this push for smart bi-partisan gun safety/control legislation to solve a decades-long problem winds up following the same path as DACA resolution, whereby Trump reached across the aisles and made televised pledges and agreements to get things done, but shortly thereafter walked them back.

[BigMark]

If one kid is killed by a stray bullet intended for a perp that is killing as many as he can its the price paid for protection.

Okay

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/02.../23373522/

[HairOfTheDog]

The issue of gun violence depictions in movies, tv, and news corrupting our culture was broached today too. That's something Biggie mentions a lot as a big problem, in his opinion.

The idea of a gun permit was also proposed at today's session. I remember discussing that with F.U. years ago. I don't remember which congressman put the idea forward today, but I definitely think it's worth exploring further.

The way it would work: someone wants to buy a gun from a street vendor after universal backgrounds checks are passed. The buyer would need to go to a licensed gun dealer and pay them for a permit which would be issued after passing a NICS background check. The buyer would then need to present the permit to the street dealer before the gun could be legally sold and purchased.

The congressman indicated that the permit requirement would give LE a lot more power to bust shady street dealers and street buyers via undercover cops posing as wanna-be buyers.

[Duchess]

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/02.../23373522/

I don't even know what to say. The whole world has gone mad.

[BigMark]

Hot Denise, more specifically violent video games. Very addicting and promotes bizarre reasoning.

[Maggot]

How many mass shooters were under 21
Parkland was 18 I think and Newton was 20? The rest were over 21 I believe.

Dicks sporting goods move was great, they stopped selling guns to anyone under 21 and stopped selling AR-15's They realized that their buyers under 21 were rare and that they hardly sold AR-15's. Which was relegated to the far back of the store. They are now expecting an influx of people buying boots and outdoor wear to compensate for the low sales of either. Capitalism at its finest! Congrats Dicks! Walmart was soon the next large chain to announce no gun sales to anyone under 21 after Dicks move. I say good for them.

[Midwest Spy]

There have been many, many school shooters under 21.

Virginia Tech shooter Cho had psyche issues and yet was able to legally purchase his guns.

However, I feel like most of these kids have simply used their parents/guardians guns.

Legally purchased and easily accessible.

[BigMark]

There have been many, many school shooters under 21.
Maybe because the vast majority of people in school are under 21?

Virginia Tech shooter Cho had psyche issues and yet was able to legally purchase his guns.
Hopefully that will change soon, it was already technically illegal.

However, I feel like most of these kids have simply used their parents/guardians guns.
My kids are not insane and should be part of the plan to protect the family against intruders.

Legally purchased and easily accessible.
Have you ever been part of a scenario where you realized law enforcement will not be there for you when you need it the most?

[HairOfTheDog]

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/02.../23373522/

I don't even know what to say. The whole world has gone mad.

This is the Georgia teacher who lost his shit on campus and fired a gun the other day. Luckily, no one was hurt.

The social studies teacher was taken into custody after a 45-minute standoff with police and later refused to discuss what led to the shooting.

In the aftermath of the incident, the school's principal Steve Bartoo described Davidson as an 'excellent teacher' who was well thought of, and 'as far as I know he was fit to be at work.'

Dalton police revealed on Wednesday that they had encountered Davidson twice in recent years exhibiting odd behavior and wrote in one report that he 'may be delusional.'

In a 2016 report, police wrote that Davidson had walked into the department and told a rambling story about wanting to confess to killing a woman.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...z58WLJGN3a

[SIXFOOTERsez]

How many mass shooters were under 21
Parkland was 18 I think and Newton was 20? The rest were over 21 I believe.

Dicks sporting goods move was great, they stopped selling guns to anyone under 21 and stopped selling AR-15's They realized that their buyers under 21 were rare and that they hardly sold AR-15's. Which was relegated to the far back of the store. They are now expecting an influx of people buying boots and outdoor wear to compensate for the low sales of either. Capitalism at its finest! Congrats Dicks! Walmart was soon the next large chain to announce no gun sales to anyone under 21 after Dicks move. I say good for them.

I agree, its a win for them. They curry ataboys from the left, but a few awshits from some on the right but not many I suspect. So great publicity and no real downside. I always found their prices to be high on firearms and ammo, much better deals out there. BTW sales are booming

[Duchess]

MS, you're going to love this. These people worship their guns and were encouraged to bring them to church in order to be blessed. I think they all need a goddamn psychiatrist.

Don't ask me to trust people like this with a weapon.

[Midwest Spy]

Yeah, I’m not so sure what to make of those folks.

Lotta crazy going on.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Holy shit, I knew these kind of crazy fux were out there, but Damn