I agree, I don’t envy any of us in this country when we have a political class that in all reality does not care about us at all, but then again, we have the government people have voted in. However, I am supposed to be living in a Republic, and not a Democracy, but as usual, I am getting off subject.

I would also like to say that while this massacre is obviously terrible, it also makes great news headlines. Did you hear about the gunmen that stopped his killing spree while in another “No Gun Zone” when someone, breaking the law by carrying defensively, simply unholstered his weapon and the gunmen then turned the firearm on himself and took his own life? Most haven’t, it would not fit in with the agenda. Most of these “crazies” are just smart enough to understand, if you want to go on a killing spree, you are better off doing it where you believe no one will be able to fight back. We don’t hear of to many people walking into a police station looking for a fight, do we?

While it is easy to say “We need to ban all of these terrible firearms”, we are really not, as a society, getting to the root of the problem. Most of these mass shootings are being committed by young, white males who are outcast of society. Why are they? What kind of medications are they on? I do not know how it is across the pond, but doctors here in the states like to hand out anti-depressants and other mind altering psychiatric drugs like candy. While there is a time and place for these medications, I believe they are often over prescribed, since “we” as Americans would rather take a pill to fix all of our ills rather than get to the bottom of the issue.

Again, most of the murders, a disproportionate number based on population, are of young, black males in inner cities. Why should I, someone who lives within 100 miles of the inner cities of Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC, give up my rights because of a bunch of gang bangers? I could say a solution to that problem would be to shoot on sight within the borders of the cities, but, that would not be rational, would it? I want to get to the bottom of these problems without infringing on anyone else’s rights. But since politicians are more interested in getting reelected, and any discussion of race in this country will get you immediately branded a racist, nothing ever changes.

That is what is so shockingly sad and disturbing. We have the answers in front of our faces, but no one is willing to tackle and talk about these tough issues because it is not politically expedient.

And finally, yes, there are well over 300 million firearms in this country and growing. But, and this is pretty easy to figure out, how many of those firearms are used maliciously? The percentage is very low.

Great conversation gents, hopefully I can help anyone out with any further questions/ideas.

Thanks for that insight into the US gun owner’s pyche. I am sure we all found things within it that were enlightening.

But if I may just address your last paragraph. Should we take that to mean you think that primary school teachers should be routinely armed?

Moggy

I think anyone that wants to be armed for defense should have the ability to do so, as long as they are not a crackpot of some sort. To put it simply, I believe we all have personal choice, and it is not correct for me to place my beliefs on another, or vice versa. That pretty much sums up my feelings on the law. Here is a better way of saying this, written by a much more articulate man than myself, and it is basically my mantra when it comes to government and politics.

http://federationist.org/platform.html

It is a website but that page will sum up the general idea, among a myriad of other things.

By the way, I appreciate the fact that quite a few people have said it is not their business when it comes to how we choose to govern ourselves. Believe me, there are quite a few of us in the states that are fed up with Washington DC’s talking out of both sides of it’s mouth when it comes to foreign policy, but again, I do not want to derail this topic.

The facts are still coming in as to how he was able to get his mother’s firearms. However, rather than what you opined I think the last thing going through her head was how could he kill his own mother.

As I am from across the pond, I figured I would throw my two cents in, since apparently a few people did ask.

Many Americans, myself included, believe that it is an unalienable right to keep and bear arms, just as the other 9 original amendments can not be thrown away (However, a lot of us Libertarians are getting quite annoyed at how the Federal government continues to use our Constitution and Bill of Rights as toiletpaper, but I digress.)

What many people do not understand across the pond, let alone in this very country, is that the 2nd amendment was put in place not just to form a well regulated militia, or to allow people to carry firearms and defend themselves, it was also designed to be the last and final check against a government that no longer served at the will of the people. This is the fundamental, very basic reason this clause was put in the Bill of Rights. The founding fathers (Well most of them, there’s always a few plants here and there) thoroughly detested and did not trust government. We have come a long way as a nation since then, and have seen the size, scope and power of the Federal Government increase exponentially. Now, many of us will argue about this fact, but again, I will try and stay on topic.

About the murder rate in this county: Fact- Most of the murders that happen are young black males in inner cities, and it is usually over drugs/turf war (same difference). These are not made up facts, this is the god’s honest truth. I don’t have the statistics in front of me, but if anyone wants them just let me know and I will go digging.

My answer to this problem? End the drug war, legalize all drugs (We have already seen what happens in this country with prohibition). However, this will have complications obviously, but with some common sense they can be overcome. However, the Law Enforcement, State and Prison entities will not like this as they will loose out on a lot of money each year, well into the billions, so that is another issue of special interest getting in the way of common sense.

Now some of you may ask why I don’t care about those in the inner cities or these young children that were killed at the school. I do care, I’ve been called a racist and I will admit I do have racist tendencies from time to time, I think most of us would be lying if we said we never did. However, they are still people on the same rock as me, but I want to fix the problem, and not put a bandaid on it.

As for the children I feel that it is a travesty and a great shame. Hopefully, once we have all the facts (and not cherry picked facts as our news media over here likes to do) we can get the answers we need and use it as a teaching lesson, if there is anything to learn. We can’t say for sure how he got his mother’s firearms. If she was careless with how she kept them, well then once again, we can learn that you keep your firearms locked up. Or, he could have threatened her with a knife to open the safe. We still don’t know.

I think the other thing that was asked was about regulations on quantity, etc etc. This is something that is going to vary from state to state. But here in Pennsylvania, I can own as many firearms as I want and as much ammunition as I please. In order to buy a Shotgun, Rife or “Assault Rifle” I simply go to a store, they do a background check, and I walk out with it. If the deal is between two private individuals, transfer is done simply by a shake of the hand and money exchanged.

Handguns are a little more intensive, but I can still go into any store and walk out with one that day. Transfers between individuals is prohibited, you have to do it with a “go between” federally licensed dealer.

To finish, I would also like to say that the number of crimes prevented in this country because of someone bearing a firearm is also very high. Don’t forget, we already had laws on the books to prevent this sort of occurrence, the School, as all schools in the country, are Gun Free Zones, with very strict penalties. But this time, as with most emotion based legislation, it only served to disarm the people that needed to be armed the most.

I hope this has helped answer some questions and if you have anymore, I will do my best to reply

Thanks!

My collection is, well, I think some would say excessive. But I have firearms that Have been in my family for one hundred years, along with a nice WWII collection and a “modern day” collection also.

My personal favorites would have to include my M1 Garand from 1944, my current day M-14 (M1A to be technically correct, since it is semi-auto only) and A Springfield Armory XD 45 handgun. But my collection is varied and interesting to say the least.

I am currently saving money so that I can make a 1919A3 Browning Machine Gun into a semi-automatic. Yes, in case anyone was wondering, all these firearms have been bought legally and will be kept legal, otherwise I would not be posting about it on the web 😀

I know it is crazy, but why not continue Harrier production? It seems the RN is out of the STOVL business, and in reality, why can’t the US Marines use a “new” Harrier? Cut off the whole F-35B production and upgrade the airframe/avionics on the harrier, let alone build new ones. I’m sure there isn’t all that much room for growth, but hell, what more do you need anyways. Let’s face it, the Marines are for Expeditionary Warfare and will not go toe to toe with China, Russian, or Hell, even the EU in any future conflict by themselves. Let’s just give them what they need, in a timely and cost effective manner, and I think they should be fine.

Then again it is late at night and I have been know to be a bumbling idiot. But do the Marines need the F-35? In all reality….no….how is the Harrier used? My main problem, and it is just an idea, is the payload and performance of the F-35B compared the the Harrier, which I am sure it is better, but at that cost?

Then again, I know there are a few export orders depending on the F-35B so I am sure it will not go out without a fight. But hey, what can I say? Newer is always better right?

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

….and if it wasn’t for us, you might well be typing in French. :p

Yeah, I like your reasoning Grey Area, Blame the French! HA! 😀

Just joking of course, I just felt I would keep this simple yet funny thread going haha.

So how come the Met office have just issued a early darkness warning for tomorrow night??

If I may ask, “A WHAT?”

Seems to me people would be able to tell by opening their eyes, but I know that people are wholly incapable of helping themselves anymore, so I am not really surprised.