Statement of Senator Webb on the School Shootings at Virignia Tech.

[Greeby]

http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=272414&

Statement of Senator Webb on the School Shootings at Virginia Tech

The following is a statement from Senator Jim Webb regarding the school shootings at Virginia Tech:

"I am truly saddened to hear of the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech. My heart goes out to the parents and families of the victims of this senseless act. My office has been in communication with the Governor's office and officials at Virginia Tech to offer any assistance."

[demnan]

1. Leave it to Jim Webb to act quickly and offer help.

n/t

[Schema Thing]

2. and to leave politics out of it for now...

even though he is very much pro gun rights.

[frazzled]

3. Here's two ways Senator Webb could help

If I were a constituent of his (which I am not), I would ask him to:

(1) Reconsider his position on issues of gun control: specifically the sale of automatic weapons or their components. Those who would respond that people bent on violent acts would find a way to do them anyway are just letting the addiction speak. It's time to acknowledge that we should make it harder for people to get their hands on these types of weapons, which should only belong to law enforcement.

(2) Make a serious issue of mental health in our current discussions of health care issues. Identifying and treating mental health is a key to lessen the number of such horrific incidents as this.

[piedmont]

4. Automatic weapons aren't a problem.

1) How many people in the U.S. have been killed by automatic weapons?
2) I agree with your second point greatly.

[frazzled]

6. Start with 31 today

from what was apparently a semi-automatic weapon. No one needs these things. We ban plenty of crap in this country: there is no reason why semi-automatic or automatic weapons need to be on the market. If we can ban cigarettes in bars, we can certainly find the courage to ban killing machines.

[piedmont]

10. Semi-automatic isn't the same as automatic.

The weapons used today were a 9 mm handgun and a .22 cal gun of some sort. If you outlaw those, you'd outlaw ALL firearms.

[frazzled]

12. I did mean semi

and I still think gun rights fanatics are just not facing reality. It's not the main issue in this particular incident ... but it's a good reason to bring it up again. I make no apologies for my desire to see gun control issues a part of the Democratic platform again: I guess our politicians are just too lily-livered to touch that. The meme has been put out that most Americans love their guns, and no one wants to cross the gun lobby. Some brave soul really should.

[piedmont]

13. He was lightly armed.

see post #7. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=667955&mesg_id=668222

If you want a ban on all guns, you should just come out and say it.

[tandot]

7. are 9-mm pistols and 22-caliber handguns considered automatic weapons?

MSNBC said that:

"...gunman carried two weapons, a 9-mm pistol and a 22-caliber handgun..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18134671/

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Agreed on #2.

[davepc]

9. automatic weapons or their components have been heavily regulated since 1934

I don't know why we'd want Senator Webb to change his stance on supporting legislation that has worked very well for 70+ years.

To acquire automatic weapons or their components (a piece of metal that can make a non-automatic firearm an automatic weapon is considered by the ATF to be in of itself a firearm) one must pass a FBI background check (including fingerprints, and interviews with character witnesses), must have permission from the chief of Police in the jurisdiction where the firearm is to be stored, submit to random checks by the ATF of the storage of the firearm, and must pay $200 to the government in the form of a tax stamp.

Since Ronald Regan closed the National Firearms registry in 1986, no new automatic weapons can be sold, only ones existing prior to the 1986 change in the law. Because of this freezing of supply, automatic weapon retail now for in excess of $10,000.

I don't think automatic weapons are the problem.

[Recursion]

11. Sigh

The gunman didn't use automatic weapons, and automatic weapons are for all practical purposes impossible to legally buy as it is. Can we focus on solutions to the actual problems happening here?

[Greeby]

5. Governor Kaine is flying back from Tokyo today

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/

Statement of the Governor on Shootings at Virginia Tech

April 16, 2007 – RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine released the following statement regarding today’s shootings at Virginia Tech:

“It is difficult to comprehend senseless violence on this scale.

“Our prayers are with the families and friends of these victims, and members of the extended Virginia Tech community.

“The state is working closely with Tech officials, local law enforcement, and the community health system to provide whatever additional resources and support may be needed.

“My staff has made arrangements for me to leave Tokyo today, where I was set to begin a two-week Asian trade mission, so that I can return to the Commonwealth on Tuesday.

“I urge Virginians to keep these victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.”