Using seatbelts, headlights and buying auto-insurance isn't Federal level regulations, they are state level...as they should be. The same should happen for gun control laws. If a certain state says no, then that leaves the citizen an open door to find another state to live in.

I've actually looked at state gun laws when making a decision on job offers. If the state was too stringent for my liking, that offer was put on the back burner.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Someone saw it all coming and did nothing to stop it.


Dr. Behind Port Arthur Gun Control Now In Maryland

Rebecca Peters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq2IiYldiQY

I am not surprised by all the anti-gun rhetoric; it is a to-be-expected reaction to such a tragedy.

But what about looking closely at the values we accept and value? How many video games trivialize the sort of behavior we are all now decrying? How many people flock to the latest gore and violence-filled movie? We glorify violence, and especially gun violence using weapons with a massive firepower. We congratulate people who run up high scores killing people in video games. One is a fantasy; one is reality. Maybe one is mere rehearsal for the other. Maybe it time to put the 1st amendment advocates up against the 2nd amendment advocates. Or maybe we should take a serious look at the values we teach our kids, and stop wondering where the love of violence comes from.

These are indicators that we, as a society, accept, and even value violence.
I feel like Pogo's famous quote is worth posting here, for the benefit of all of us:
We have met the enemy, and he is us.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

IMHO we have two things at work here:

1. Copy cat syndrome. You have a crazy people who want to go out with a spark and they see all the media coverage that school shootings generate.

2. A society which fails to really help mentally ill people in any way, and discourages them from just offing themselves.

It wouldn't be a bad idea for school systems to start arming security guards, more so since at least in my state they are pretty common in schools but right now are glorified hall monitors. That's really the only way to effectively curtail crazy's like this.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Ban guns for anyone but the military, put all schools under control of the military, establish dorm rooms for the kids to curb weapons entering the compound. They aren't my kids, if you want zero sum, then aim for zero. Enough of this compromise BS.

What I see in this thread are mostly informed, opinionated & responsible people, who agree to disagree on a passionate topic. While I own a handgun, I believe I would be equally fine without one. I grew up in Africa on a coffee farm, and we've been robbed more than once. One time it was a political vendetta, with a contract out for my dad - had he been home, he & likely my entire family would be dead. Owning a gun would've probably got us killed had the robbers known. However, on the same note, I remember so many times my dad and I would wake up in the middle of the night and wonder who the heck was out there. A few warning shots would've solved a lot of problems on those nights.

My point is, guns have a purpose, but so do controls. As a nation, we need to find that balance – where we have some safeguards to prevent nuts like this from accessing deadly weapons. If it means I will be inconvenienced, may have to pay a premium to own a gun, and may be subject to random inspections from local authorities, mental exams, etc. then so be it. I’m fine with all that as long as it helps innocent children who will undoubtedly be impacted by this, sleep better at night.

I absolutely agree. The time for discussion is upon us, before our society either starts taking chunks out of the 2nd or we lose another person every 17 minutes to a gunshot.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Some interesting information...

Halt the Massacre of Innocent Children by Ending Prohibition on Self-Defense in Schools | Libertarian Party

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

That parents are often in denial about their own kids while being hyper-critical about others' is pretty obvious. I remember the parents of one of the Columbine perps... claimed to be completely unaware that he was assembling bombs in their own basement.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Since 9/11 how many commercial airplanes have been brought down in the United States due to terrorism? None.

Since 9/11 how many mass shootings have we had?

Reactive though it may be, the government seems to be doing something right for airline safety.

Two things...

my daughter the pediatrician seems to think the shooter may have had asbergers and spent his days playing shootemup games.

I think I read that his mom was neither a teacher or an employee of the school.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The lack of any terrorist attacks against an aircraft is your answer to the government introducing legislation against mass shootings?



Nice argument.

I read the Asperger's thing too. Don't know if it is just speculation or not. Most asperger's people aren't violent to strangers are they? Why pick a school? Do video games portray school shootings?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

if you are a gamer and crazy, then why not pick a place where you canshoot up targets without a chance of getting shot? Gun free zones have plenty of defenseless targets and when you finish up and realize what you have done, then you just kill yourself.

In other words, a mentally ill person, jaded by games where they kill without danger of being hurt, may seek out a place where they can actually live out that fantasy. Schools, in their sick minds, are perfect places for that.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/335739/facts-about-mass-shootings-john-fund#

If we strip away pure emotion and get down to analytical logic the deal comes down to this: We cannot control A (nut jobs), however, we can control B (ourselves). If every teacher was armed and well trained in the use of deadly force, they would be in a position to stop the carnage at the point of invasion. Bolt bullet proof desks to the floors of each class room. Install a digital security lock on a desk drawer which houses a high capacity hand gun. Require that teachers attend firearms training monthly. Post the teacher's targets/shooting scores in the front entry of the school.

Why all this? Because it is true, a pussy will seek out a venue where they know no defense will be presented, i.e. a "gun free" zone. These pussies know that in a school, they will face very little opposition. Obviously, we are at war and there is an enemy that MUST be dealt with. Banning guns, limiting the amount of ammunition etc etc. are all band aids.

If these whacko psychotic nut jobs are looking to go out in a blaze of glory, give them what they want, only don't allow them take out innocents in the process.