Eight dead in north FL town of Bell: man kills daughter, six grandkids, himself

[shenmue]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/18/us/florida-deadly-shooting/





Unbelievable.

Mercy.

[SheilaT]

1. Isn't it wonderful that almost everyone in this great country

can get a gun?

And so what if that person kills a bunch of other people? God Bless the Second Amendment!

[NYC_SKP]

2. Would you like to talk about that? Did you know that Australians and Canadians can also get guns?

Over and over again I have explained that removing guns as a solution is like removing books because people can't read.

No Books, No Reading Problem!!!

Or, lets try this, Guns, No Depression!!! Suddenly 18 US Veterans per day aren't committing suicide...

....No Suicide, No Depression Problem.

Man, it makes me shake my head that a handful of progressives don't get it.

BTW, there are two gun discussion groups for this topic.

[SheilaT]

3. But oddly enough, the Australians and Canadians

don't go around murdering each other with guns as Americans do.

What do you suppose is the difference? Is it simply a culture of violence? And so, if it's the American culture of violence that causes such things, then maybe that itself is sufficient reason to limit gun ownership in this country.

Until then, I refuse to wring my hands over these sorts of killings, or act shocked about them.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Limiting gun ownership to solve gun violence is like limiting books to solve illiteracy.

You really don't get the analogy, do you?

I try, that's all I can do.

[Sancho]

5. People Control, Not Gun Control

This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70’s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because it’s clear that they should never have had a gun.

1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learner’s license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.).
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.

Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a driver’s license you need a license to fish, rent scuba equipment, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.

[ChiciB1]

6. While This Mostly Will Never Happen...

this is a very sensible set of rules you've laid out. My husband has a rifle he used to use to hunt deer when we lived in TX, but that's it. I've never shot a gun in my life and have no knowledge about them, but I can react to what they've done to our society here in America. I'm beginning to see less and less reaction to these kind of shootings, less coverage and a ho-hum attitude because we KNOW it's going to happen again and again and again. To me the war is lost if that's what you want to call it.

I can no longer bring up my thoughts and theories about guns when I'm with a group of people, family gatherings, parties or going out to dinner. Maybe people care about those who get killed but I really don't even know that anymore. I feel that unless you are the one suffering any loss you and your family seem to be the only ones who feel the real pain.

There have been times when I get outraged where mind has thoughts that are better left not said out loud. I'm sure if one were to speculate you can figure out what I'm thinking, but even thinking these thoughts bother ME a lot. My views about guns are in no way supportive because this country and it's obsession has turned me against them so much.

But you've outlined some very sensible rules and I agree with you. They aren't any less than we have for so many rules and regulations we have for so many things required when buying or doing almost everything else in this country. When we have proposals that you MUST be drug tested to get food stamps that gets so much more backlash than a person gunning down multiple people at a time, there's something so screwed up. Even if it's just one person, well they're DEAD, THEY'RE GONE!

So I sincerely care about this issue, but this is what this country has become used to and it's an outrage and very, very tragic! Blood and guts don't bother many these days, it's just "balance of nature" as they say when people go hunting for animals. It's only people now. Wonder when we're all going to feel we should wear an orange jacket when we go out?? Where's God when these things occur??

Just my not so humble opinion!!

[SheilaT]

7. Maybe it's more like limiting

car ownership to those who pass a driving test and get insurance. No, that'll never happen. Oh, wait, it has!

[NYC_SKP]

8. No, it's more like eliminating autos to solve auto accidents.

Autos and guns have uses, though not everyone wants one.

I've always advocated for required training for new owners prior to new or used purchases.

Also, annual public school safety training classes for all students and all parents.

And strict penalties for mishaps and firings and injuries do to neglectful storage or handling.

Long sentences for violent criminals, and on and on....

But people who use Australia as a model are looking for a ban, which is entirely different.