Monday, April 16, 2007

The NRA - Protecting our right to die at the end of a gun

Coincidentally the NRA is holding their annual meeting in St Louis, it ends tomorrow. I wonder how they announced the shooting deaths of 32 people today. Did they say "Get ready to protect your second amendment rights" or "Sadly some people were killed today with a gun our lobbying ensured could hold more bullets" or did they just ignore it? No idea, but I hope there can be some serious discourse on gun control following this tragedy. I was living in Australia when Martin Bryant killed 35 people in Tasmania. Gun laws were changed quickly and resulted in a massive reduction in the availability of firearms. Since then the number of gun related incidents in Australia has dropped. Get rid of the guns and you won't solve all the worlds problem, but if it stops just one slaughter it has to be worth it. Ask the parents of the dead kids at Virginia Tech what they think...

8 Comments:

Blogger Jack Mercer said...

I'm lobbying to get the automobile off the road, Mochi--also, I want to bring prohibition back because of all the alcohol related deaths...

-Jack

11:54 AM  
Blogger mochi said...

That's fine with me as long as we legalize heroin and issue machine guns to high school students.

7:18 PM  
Blogger Jack Mercer said...

Hey, why not! We give them other lethal weapons they use to kill many people--cars. Of course, I am starting to agree somewhat with the anti-gun lobby. I am beginning to think that as time passes generations become less and less responsible, more and more immature, more self-centered and egoistic, more self-absorbed. It seems like that maturity - real maturity - is at an all time premium. I wouldn't want immature people having guns, automobiles, drugs, or anything else that takes maturity to responsibly use...

-Jack

11:52 AM  
Blogger DM said...

We are an irresponsible immature society where violence is glorified, and some people are influenced by that. Now we hear if someone in the school had a gun other than the gunman, or if there were stronger gun control laws, and so on. With guns, people cannot control the sense of empowerment they may feel when they hold one in their hands. It is so simple- pull a trigger and look at what you can do. And some people have no self-control, no sense of responsibility as it is. But how best to combat that? Stricter laws- but if someone wants to get a gun, I think that someone is going to get a gun. Honestly, I dont think gun control- whether you are for or against it- is the real issue here. I think Cho would have found a way to achieve his aims regardless. This wasnt ridiculous like Columbine where those teenagers were buying guns at gun shows with no trouble whatsoever. I think the real issue is when these warning signs are right there and not enough is done to help someone. I am sure we will come to find out, but I do wonder what his family life was like too and how his personality developed the way it did. Ive heard the whole "he was teased and made fun of" bs. But everyone has dealt with that, obviously some worse than others, but people grow up after a while. There is far, far more to a psychopath's motivations than "he was made fun of in middle school."

3:21 PM  
Blogger Jack Mercer said...

I agree, Dan, look what a couple of nuts with box cutters was able to accomplish...or for that matter, a guy with a truckload of fertilizer and diesel fuel...

-Jack

1:33 PM  
Blogger Jack Mercer said...

Mochi,

Doug is a liberal like yourself, but has an interesting take on the whole gun control issue.

He posted an interesting article:

http://unitedcats.wordpress.com/2007/04/19/gun-control-leftist-conspiracy-or-sensible-social-policy/

Regards,

-Jack

9:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I fully support the second amendment right to bear arms. That doesn't mean we shouldn't have reasonable regulations in place to make sure the people bearing arms are mature, responsible, law abiding citizens. Something to keep in mind regarding gun control. Most gun control is designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Of course, criminals don't really abide by laws to begin with, so gun control laws don't matter or mean much to them.

This was a different situation. Cho was clearly mentally imbalanced. He should never have been allowed access to firearms. In this case, new controls are necessary, and have been put into place.

2:56 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You guys are all big talkers behind that keyboard. Right up to the point you or a family member is getting ready to be harmed or even worse by some hopped up junkie with a big knife. Then while it is happening you can pat yourself on the back for being part of the reason the bad guy does not have a gun and neither do you to save your family.

4:41 PM  

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