How do we keep our children and ourselves safe from gun violence?

1. 65

   SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years ago

   How do we keep our children and ourselves safe from gun violence?
   
   As I watched television all day last Friday I found I couldn't remove myself from needing to know what was going on in Newton, CT. At first I was relieved that only 3 people were injured and then when the real truths started to come out my heart, my soul and my spirit couldn't stop crying. We need to attack this issue on multiple fronts  Do we need to start screening our youth for mental instability? Better gun licensing procedures. What can we do because we can't keep waiting for someone else?

   replyreport
2. 60

   AJoJoposted 11 years ago

   We all have strong opinions in this area but no matter what we think it will be their way not ours.  But, on the subject, I recently lost my husband and being on my own is scary!  Because of the flailing economy, our living area is not as "nice" as it used to be and some pretty bad things have been happening, one of which involved a gun being held to a neighbor's head while the other guy robbed them.  I want to get a gun - I want to go to classes and learn how to properly and safely use it - I would feel 1000 percent better if I knew I had a chance at protecting myself if someone would decide to kick my door in or break out my window.  I don't want to lose my freedom to purchase protection for myself.  Maybe a solution would be to start at the time of the gun purchase...I don't know what they ask or do when you buy a gun but if they don't do this I think they should - and that is check on the mental state.  Again, I don't know how they would do that and probably it would come up that that is some kind of violation of privacy or something to that affect.  But - if they could do that - and it was found that the person applying for the gun had a negative mental status then they should not be allowed to purchase a gun or get a license.  But in the case that is in the news currently, the guns were given to the boy, he was taught how to use them by his mother and his mother knew he was unstable.  So would that help or not - maybe - maybe in some ways.  But if she were still alive maybe she would be held responsible for what happened.  Or maybe when a person reaches a certain age they have to register their mental illness status (like a sex offender).  Maybe doctors or psychiatrists could be required to report names of mental illness patients to a special agency that alerts the gun dealers.  I really don't have an answer, obviously, but someone has to find a way and I hope they do soon.

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I lived in the inner city for 20 yrs so I understand your feelings. But if you purchase one legally, get training, get licensed and keep it locked up there's a difference. Right now any unstable yahoo can buy an assault rifle at a gun show. Dee

      replyreport
   2. 75

      JustSimple infoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't believe there is a difference if its purchased legally and locked up.  Guns are stolen all the time that were locked up.  People that purchase guns legally, still shoot other people for no reason at all, we just don't hear about it.

      replyreport
3. 73

   Rosana Modugnoposted 11 years ago

   I had an answer, but decided not to put it up.  I agree with you about the gun shows.  They need to monitor who takes what home and assault rifles shouldn't be allowed for anyone period.  But until we can control drugs in this nation, I don't believe guns will go away.

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry you feel a need to edit yourself. Any respectful contribution to the conversation is helpful. Your point about drug trafficking is so on point. But if we can reduce the numbers it has to make a difference. Doing nothing is unacceptable.

      replyreport
4. 62

   nightwork4posted 11 years ago

   look at what other countries do and follow that path. do other countries have the same problems? no they don't. what laws do the U.S. have that other countries don't and that should help answer the question.

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      My feelings exactly. We are not doing something that we need to do. Thanks. Dee

      replyreport
   2. 75

      JustSimple infoposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I always wondered, what makes the president more special than the rest of us?(I know why) but another person's life is just as important as mine.  I can't just stroll into the White House. Why Can we just stroll into a school? It's not weapons.

      replyreport
5. 75

   JustSimple infoposted 11 years ago

   You can't.  Society in itself cycles back around.    There are more people that live in society than there was 50 years ago.  But 50 years ago, society was still killing each other.  The cycle of violence will not change. I wish it would.  Nobody deserves to be killed, but it only makes national headlines when its a shock like this recent event was.   A guy was shot and killed a few months ago in my city driving through a part of the city with his family.  It didn't make national news, because national news didn't care.  Yes it made local news, but it ended at that.  If multiple people were killed like recently then it would make the news.  And a call for action and gun rights pro's and con's and debates will happen, but just like it always does, we will move on to the next subject.  The right to bear arms will never change.  We as a society need to live our lives the best we can, and pray for those that do not.  We can't control others, we have our own path.  Newton, CT will happen again, I wish it wouldn't.  Society has to change from the foundation we are built on, and that unfortunately will never change.

   replyreport
   1. 65

      SEXYLADYDEEposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Many of us don't have a problem with the right to bear arms. But a rifle that rapid fires and clips with 30 bullets are only needed for a zombie Apocalypse. Attrition may be normal. I question that. But we know that  Mass murder isn't.

      replyreport
6. 60

   Mikeg422posted 11 years ago

   I would like to interject my thoughts on this whole "gun control" issue. For anyone wondering why we need assault rifles to be legal the answer is simple...that is the weapon of choice for our military. Why should we have the same armament as the military you ask? Again simple, our country was founded by rebels, thus our forefathers installed laws garunteeing that revolution would always be possible. Our Second Amendment right is not for hunting, self defense, or sport shooting, it is so the American people can never be ruled by tyranny, so our government is always afraid of our wrath.
   
   "God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
   
   The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
   
   wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
   
   they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
   
   it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...
   
   And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not
   
   warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
   
   resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
   
   to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
   
   in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
   
   time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
   
   It is its natural manure." Thomas Jefferson
   
   Another point of view that is often forgotten in this debate is the level of National security our gun owners offer to our country. Allegedly in WWII, Isoroku Yamamoto Commander in Chief of the Implerial Japanese Navy was quoted saying "You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass." You really have to think about the truth of this statement, any foreign general even thinking of invading the mainland US would be faced with a logistic nightmare. Our military is having a hard enough time in the Middle-East, and their gun ownership statistics pale in comparison to ours. This is honestly the reason no US president has been foolish enough to try and ban guns in the US.
   Also perhaps the way to make our schools safer is to make all the teachers, and school staff armed personell. Statistically criminals, and mentally unstable people will attack the most defenseless targets, and shy away from scenarios where they know they will be met with force. I'm sure if you asked the teachers at Sandy Hook they would tell you that they would have gotten in line to put a bullet through that monster to save those poor children.

   replyreport