Thread: The Gun Thread
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Old 04-16-2009, 01:33 PM
DieselAddict DieselAddict is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels View Post
I also don't think it is the greatest idea in the world. I just don't know what you can do to stop -- not prevent-- the kind of mass murder that has been going on lately. By the time the cops can respond one of these killers can kill dozens of people who cannot fight back. I think that if you let students and faculty carry the weapons they already have albeit with proper training and safety courses and you let it be known that Johnny and Mrs Fisher are armed, you could either force a killer to look elsewhere or put him down before he kills 1/2 the school.

As for psych testing to get a gun permit, I have a few questions.

Who would administer the tests?
What would the definition of mentally ill be that is used to stop somebody from getting a gun? If they test hard enough we would all be labeled 'abnormal' "Do you ever get angry?", "Yes?", "FAIL!"
How often do you have to be tested? Once? Once a year? Once a week? How can a test taken, say, five years ago be considered valid? Do need to be tested every time you go to the range? I mean you could be "normal" and then a week later snap and go hunting people,right? Look at the tragedy in Binghamton. The shooter was 'normal' right up to the first shot...
There are no easy answers. I'm sure if guns didn't exist we'd see fewer mass shootings like this, but it's too late for that, and I'm not sure I'd want all guns removed even if that were possible & legal. I'm a pragmatist and I don't care for ideologies. What I'd like to see is a reinstatement of the assault weapon ban and better enforcement of background checks to reduce easy access to guns for (would-be) criminals. Once that's implemented, I wouldn't mind allowing law-abiding teachers and students to carry concealed if they have a valid license to do so. I don't think it should be publicized who is armed and who is not, that would be dangerous. Make the potential killer wonder who may be armed, just like airplane hijackers have to wonder if there's an undercover marshal on the plane.
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