It was in July that I posted on YES, WE NEED GUN CONTROL. Both sides have their supporters for a variety of reasons, but regarding those two boys, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (Eric on left) of Columbine, how did they acquire the above aresenal? As they were both underage to purchase the shotguns, Dyland's girlfriend got them, plus, they used fake IDs for the pistol.
A friend of mine who I would presume owns a lot of guns sent to his blog list this statement from one of his colleagues:
I find it interesting that gun nuts always think everyone is after their firearms. We've never had any real gun control in this country. More guns, less guns, it doesn't really matter one way or the other. This kind of thing is an anomaly that will continue to happen regardless, and you may have time to pull out your piece or not. Whenever something like this happens, the anti gun crowd says we need gun control, the pro gun crowd says if everyone had a gun this wouldn't have happened. Both camps are self serving and full of shit.
So true, but what can be the solution? This issue is like religion. You have one camp believing that any gun can be a danger, while the other truly needs them for self-protection and/or as a matter of individual liberty. Compelling logic is meaningless in this discussion.
Wikipedia has half a dozen separate treatments of this subject, and they all provide what can be done. Basically, there are crazies, and you can only minimize the potential for shootings through education and gun control. Nothing will insure for total prevention, although, actually, let me mention one idea from another friend: let anyone own a gun; however, if that gun kills anyone, the owner will be terminated. Alas, this would not have worked for the recent killings as all but one of the perpetrators committed suicide. Also there is no reason why anyone should own attack rifles or Glock (largely made of plastic) pistol (they all hold ten or more bullets in a magazine--that is a 17 to the right, which doesn't hold 17 bullets) equivalents. These should be outlawed, period.
Of course you know this answer, but which country has the highest guns/resident?
United States .89
Serbia .58
Yemen .55
Switzerland .55
.
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Singapore .005
Solomon Isle .004
Timor-Leste .003
Tunisia .001
Interesting that Timor-Leste was the 208th country to visit this blog site, while the Solomon Islands were #209, the latest two. Anyway, just about every one in the U.S. owns a gun. Actually, this figure is about one-third, as a few own many. And, of course, Adam Lanza just killed his mother and used her guns to massacre 20 children and those others in Connecticut, so any gun control measure would not have helped.
Well, that tipping point has finally been reached. Touching that President Barack Obama had tears in his eyes in addressing the Nation about the tragedy, but he missed a golden opportunity. He should have also said I will introduce legislation to outlaw firearms of any kind, with exceptions made to qualified hunters and anyone with a court determined need to carry them. I gather he will do something anyway, as he doesn't need to stand for re-election, and almost anything should be able to get through our Congress next year. Anytime later and people forget.
While at this, outlaw the National Rifle Association and American Civil Liberties Union. I'm kidding!
The politics (Republicans own more guns, above) can be a problem, but the matter of protecting your household from the equivalent of "Indians" is nonsense today. I can guarantee you that North Korea will not attack us as in Red Dawn. In any case, "American ingenuity" was used to fight back, not personal guns. Guns at home:
Did you know that the ban on assault weapons expired in 2004? Then there are also home-made bombs, but that is for another time.
So, at the expense of some static from a few friends who are survivalists and patriots, here is how we can reduce firearm massacres:
1. Repeal the Second Amendment. Adopted in 1791 with the Bill of Rights, this law protects the right of people to keep and bear arms. More than two centuries ago there might have been concerns about the British returning or being attacked by native Indians. Today, the British will not be coming, nor the Russians. Sure, a few terrorists, but we have 800,000 law enforcement officials and half a million in the National Guard, plus, of course, around 1.5 million military on active duty and an equal number in reserve. What if doomsday comes and you need to defend yourself? The odds are low that this will happen. I expect feedback from this statement.
2. Make it illegal to own any firearm. Everyone must turn in their weapons by a certain date, with a transition period to gain approval for hunting, self-defense or any truly reasonable cause. Rifles need to be confiscated when out of season. Some states might outlaw hunting. Anyone arrested with an illegal firearm will be fined $100,000 and/or get jail time, depending on the circumstances. A convicted criminal will automatically go to stage two. A second offense will quadruple the penalty. Anyone legally owning a gun will be liable even if stolen and unreported.
3. Education.
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Tropical Cyclone Evan has weakened to 105 MPH, and will pass just north of Fiji, which will still get a lot of wind and rain:
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