General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "We have to arm the firefighters!!" in 3...2...1... [View all]JohnnyRingo
(18,580 posts)I don't know if we're seeing copycat shooters or if the whole country is driving off the mental and the fiscal cliff at the same time, but we have to find out why- as a nation- unprovoked shootings are becoming epidemic.
It doesn't matter to me that it was an assault rifle- any gun is equally suitable when taking potshots at firemen, but there has to be a reason for the relatively sharp increase in random shootings. Though I'm often sharply criticized here for owning a couple pistols, I don't object to a ban on assault rifle production and common sense regulations with federal background checks. It won't affect me. I also agree that flea markets without paper trails are no place to purchase a gun. I imagine most, if not all, reputable brick & morter gun dealers agree.
I think it would be a good idea to refund the mental institutes closed under the Reagan administration. Their position at the time was that "we have prisons for that", but unfortunately that means a psycho has to commit a crime before we warehouse them in a prison. By then, it's too late.
At least we used to know where these disturbed individuals were, and they were kept away from sharp objects and firearms. Many could eventually be returned to society after their problems were sorted out. It's hard to argue that today's shooter was in any way mentally balanced, but why are we seeing a recent increase in such incidents?