Originally Posted by davidmash (Post 3067187)

And yet the weapon of choice is almost always a gun. Why is that?

Originally Posted by Txjake (Post 3067260)

How was she irresponsible? Do you have evidence that shows the Lanza boy ever exhibited dangerous behavior before? :confused:

Originally Posted by jplinville (Post 3067273)

How hard would it have been to stab his mother, take her keys, and get the guns out of the safe? Pretty damned easy.

Hve you ever broken into a small safe before?? I have broken into 6 of them this year...really easy to do. I had to break into a small handgun safe in July of this year, and didn't even break a sweat doing it.

You won't get a suggestion out of me because there is nothing that could have stopped this guy. He wasn't wired right, and because of his mental issues, he became a murderer...NOT because of guns. Given enough desire to kill, anyone is capable of anything, period. Taking guns out of the equation does nothing to stem that thirst, when there are other tools just as deadly available.

I'll give this as a suggestion...allow armed security at the schools. Heck, even a guard with a Taser would have been an improvement over what they had as security.

Originally Posted by ruchase (Post 3067290)

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. The idea is 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.

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel (Post 3067292)

Please answer this question.

Does our country have an acceptable or unacceptable number of gun homicides every year?

Originally Posted by jplinville (Post 3067300)

Country or government?? Your question has many variables...

Originally Posted by Txjake (Post 3067243)

I bet that any banks in New Town have armed guards. Why should schools be any different, considering the human capital stored there? Are they no less valuable than our deposits? A few years ago, I might not has recommended this, but the nutcases are out there.

Originally Posted by Txjake (Post 3067245)

Then I would say that you are a person with no real survival instinct. Not a bad person, but certainly a person who will not save themselves by means that remove the threat.

Pray to whatever you believe in every night to the humans out there who will do what it takes to keep people like you safe, at least most of the time.

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel (Post 3067311)

Country. Simple question.

Yes or no.


Although I'm sure we will all want a subsequent explanation regardless of the answer.

Originally Posted by jplinville (Post 3067273)

How hard would it have been to stab his mother, take her keys, and get the guns out of the safe? Pretty damned easy.

Hve you ever broken into a small safe before?? I have broken into 6 of them this year...really easy to do. I had to break into a small handgun safe in July of this year, and didn't even break a sweat doing it.

You won't get a suggestion out of me because there is nothing that could have stopped this guy. He wasn't wired right, and because of his mental issues, he became a murderer...NOT because of guns. Given enough desire to kill, anyone is capable of anything, period. Taking guns out of the equation does nothing to stem that thirst, when there are other tools just as deadly available.

I'll give this as a suggestion...allow armed security at the schools. Heck, even a guard with a Taser would have been an improvement over what they had as security.

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel (Post 3067311)

Country. Simple question.

Yes or no.


Although I'm sure we will all want a subsequent explanation regardless of the answer.

Originally Posted by jplinville (Post 3066707)

I, as well as many on this board, grew up in homes with firearms that were never locked up in a safe, nor did they have trigger locks on them. Growing up, my dad always had a 1911, loaded with one in the chamber, sitting in the nook of his headboard. Under his bed, there was a shotgun, again fully loaded, as well as an M1 carbine, again fully loaded. Mom always had her .22 pistol loaded and in the nightstand. I didn't grow up and become a serial killer or a mass murderer. My friends were raised in homes with guns in pretty much the same way...and none of them became serial killers or mass murderers.

We were taught at a very young age to treat all weapons as if they were loaded. We were taught how to check to see if the safety was on, as well as how to properly handle the weapon. We learned at a young age that they are deadly, and not toys. I was 6 years old the first time I got to shoot my dad's M1, 8 when I was given my first .22 rifle, 10 when I was given a shotgun, and 18 when dad gave me my first .38. *GASP* Oh, the horror...how did this young man ever survive his childhood??

Someone, please tell me...How can this be? Why is it that we can have generations of people grow up around guns, and have them all their lives, yet they don't go out and become mass murderers??

Today's youth don't understand consequences anymore. They don't understand that if you don't follow the rules, that you'll be punished. Why is that?? Because years ago, the courts stepped in and started telling parents that they weren't allowed to bust their kids on the ass for breaking the rules. If you did, the child could call the cops, and you'd be hauled off in handcuffs. We, as a society, are now afraid to punish our kids. We're afraid to do much more than tell little Johnny no and put him in time out.

Sorry folks, but a bit more kids getting their rumps beat for breaking the rules at a younger age would teach them about consequences. It worked for the generations prior to mine...it will work for today's generation too.