Change Your Gun Laws, America

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Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,940
113
#1
I've been saving this article for a rainy day. It was posted by a friend of mine on FB, who is an American Christian. It is written by an American, and published by an American magazine, although probably too left wing for some of the right wing extremists in this forum.

But hey! Maybe it is time to look at a different side of this issue.

"Since 9/11, the United States has responded aggressively to the danger of terrorism, taking extraordinary measures, invading two countries, launching military operations in many others, and spending more than $800 billion on homeland security. Americans have accepted an unprecedented expansion of government powers and invasions of their privacy to prevent such attacks. Since 9/11, 74 people have been killed in the United States by terrorists, according to the think tank New America. In that same period, more than 150,000 Americans have been killed in gun homicides, and we have done . . .nothing.

Our attitude seems to be one of fatalism. Another day, another mass shooting. Which is almost literally true. The Web site shootingtracker.com documents that in the first 207 days of 2015, the nation had 207 mass shootings. After one of these takes place now, everyone goes through a ritual of shock and horror, and then moves on, aware that nothing will change, accepting that this is just one of those quirks of American life. But it is 150,000 deaths. Almost three Vietnams.

After last week’s incident in Lafayette, La., the governor of the state and Republican presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, pointed his finger at what has now become the standard explanation for these events: “Look, every time this happens, it seems like the person has a history of mental illness.”

But it makes little sense to focus on mental health. The United States has a gun homicide rate that is at least a dozen times higher than those of most other industrialized countries. It is 50 times higher than Germany’s, for instance. We don’t have 50 times as many mentally disturbed people as Germany does — but we do have many, many more guns.

At least we have stopped blaming gun violence on video games. Perhaps someone noticed that other countries have lots of violence in their pop culture but don’t have this tsunami of gun deaths. Japan, for example, is consumed by macabre video games and other forms of gory entertainment. In 2008, Japan had just 11 gun homicides. Eleven. Why? Hint: It has very tough gun-control laws.
We have become so inured to the catastrophic levels of violence in our cities that we gloss over them. People often ask me if I think it’s safe for them to travel to countries such as Egypt or Morocco. The reality is that many major U.S. cities have homicide rates that are many times higher than those in places such as Cairo or Casablanca. (And it’s worth noting that non-Islamic terrorists — as in Charleston, S.C. — have killed almost twice as many people as jihadis have in the United States since 9/11.)

It is not an act of fate that has caused 150,000 Americans to die over the past 14 years. It is a product of laws, court decisions, lobbying and pandering politicians. We can change it."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-give-up-the-fight-to-reduce-us-gun-violence/2015/07/30/5c7b375e-36e8-11e5-9739-170df8af8eb9_story.html
 
P

PeacefulWarrior

Guest
#2
Makes me wonder how many die due to transit fatalities.
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
12,822
8,596
113
#3
I've been saving this article for a rainy day. It was posted by a friend of mine on FB, who is an American Christian. It is written by an American, and published by an American magazine, although probably too left wing for some of the right wing extremists in this forum.

But hey! Maybe it is time to look at a different side of this issue.

"Since 9/11, the United States has responded aggressively to the danger of terrorism, taking extraordinary measures, invading two countries, launching military operations in many others, and spending more than $800 billion on homeland security. Americans have accepted an unprecedented expansion of government powers and invasions of their privacy to prevent such attacks. Since 9/11, 74 people have been killed in the United States by terrorists, according to the think tank New America. In that same period, more than 150,000 Americans have been killed in gun homicides, and we have done . . .nothing.

Our attitude seems to be one of fatalism. Another day, another mass shooting. Which is almost literally true. The Web site shootingtracker.com documents that in the first 207 days of 2015, the nation had 207 mass shootings. After one of these takes place now, everyone goes through a ritual of shock and horror, and then moves on, aware that nothing will change, accepting that this is just one of those quirks of American life. But it is 150,000 deaths. Almost three Vietnams.

After last week’s incident in Lafayette, La., the governor of the state and Republican presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, pointed his finger at what has now become the standard explanation for these events: “Look, every time this happens, it seems like the person has a history of mental illness.”

But it makes little sense to focus on mental health. The United States has a gun homicide rate that is at least a dozen times higher than those of most other industrialized countries. It is 50 times higher than Germany’s, for instance. We don’t have 50 times as many mentally disturbed people as Germany does — but we do have many, many more guns.

At least we have stopped blaming gun violence on video games. Perhaps someone noticed that other countries have lots of violence in their pop culture but don’t have this tsunami of gun deaths. Japan, for example, is consumed by macabre video games and other forms of gory entertainment. In 2008, Japan had just 11 gun homicides. Eleven. Why? Hint: It has very tough gun-control laws.
We have become so inured to the catastrophic levels of violence in our cities that we gloss over them. People often ask me if I think it’s safe for them to travel to countries such as Egypt or Morocco. The reality is that many major U.S. cities have homicide rates that are many times higher than those in places such as Cairo or Casablanca. (And it’s worth noting that non-Islamic terrorists — as in Charleston, S.C. — have killed almost twice as many people as jihadis have in the United States since 9/11.)

It is not an act of fate that has caused 150,000 Americans to die over the past 14 years. It is a product of laws, court decisions, lobbying and pandering politicians. We can change it."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-give-up-the-fight-to-reduce-us-gun-violence/2015/07/30/5c7b375e-36e8-11e5-9739-170df8af8eb9_story.html

This post begs the question, what is YOUR definition of a "right-wing extremist"?
 

Yeraza_Bats

Senior Member
Dec 11, 2014
3,632
175
63
35
#4
Ive heard that even though England has like no gun violence, it still has plenty of violence and murder.
I dont have these statistics, but I mean its not like violence stems from gun ownership alone.


If you remove guns, people find new ways to kill people.




I hate guns, I dont touch guns, I dont like shooting guns. But Im glad that people in the US have them.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,940
113
#5
This post begs the question, what is YOUR definition of a "right-wing extremist"?
Right wing extremist. Someone who isn't Canadian? Just joking!

Someone who thinks that money and individualism is more important than people and caring for their needs. We have them in Canada, of course. Our present dictatorship is supposed to be conservative, but more than right wing extremism, I would say our current Prime Minister is modeling his regime after North Korea.

Hopefully he will no longer be in power after Oct. 19, if Ontario doesn't go Conservative.

Not that I like any of the other parties. One with a goof ball leader (Think an idealistic young teacher) and the other a career politician whose platform is spend, spend, spend!

Can't win for losing where politics is concerned.
 
Mar 22, 2013
4,718
124
63
Indiana
#6
Guns ain't the problem in the United States. I know what the REAL problem is in the US. but were not allowed to talk about the real problem, its considered racist.
 

JoyfulFleur

Senior Member
Feb 2, 2014
230
1
18
#7
Gun control may stop gun violence, but it won't stop evil men's hearts. The Bible says that men only continue to wax worse and worse. So limiting gun ownership isn't going to make any positive and effective difference. We will still have murder, violence, homicide, etc.

Those are some of the consequences we face as we proceed to separate ourselves farther from God.
 
Dec 18, 2013
6,733
45
0
#8
Angela, you make good points, but in America there is a deficit of common sense. See in America if you want to bomb hundreds of thousands of people to death based on a lie, that's considered totally rational. If you want to let the government spy on your own people, which is against the law, that's considered totally rational. If you want to let the government keep giving mass guns to mostly Islamic third world nations to turn against you another day, totally rational.

But if you want to have the government protect it's own people and get guns out of the hands of criminals and try to stop the epidemic of gun deaths, suicides, and accidents, then you must be a totalitarian Nazi communist muslim according Americans' illogic.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
113
#9
Rather get shot than carved up by a dull knife....c'mon outta tha heart the hands will murder.
 
Dec 18, 2013
6,733
45
0
#10
Rather get shot than carved up by a dull knife....c'mon outta tha heart the hands will murder.
So the solution is let them get more efficient weapons to carry out the evil machinations of their hearts?

Think about it for a minute.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
113
#11
So the solution is let them get more efficient weapons to carry out the evil machinations of their hearts?

Think about it for a minute.
Who? The main ones who have guns here in the U.S. are the ones who couldn't care about anti gun laws...the gangs.

Still, regardless, unless you want to turn us into N.Korea people will find a way to murder one way or another.
 
Dec 18, 2013
6,733
45
0
#12
Who? The main ones who have guns here in the U.S. are the ones who couldn't care about anti gun laws...the gangs.

Still, regardless, unless you want to turn us into N.Korea people will find a way to murder one way or another.
Was more of a yes or no type question. Though I agree with you, gang activity is real bad in America. So let's go with where we agree. How can we get guns out of the hands of gangsters? How can we prevent gangsters from getting guns?

Here's a novel idea. Most of you people that want to cling to the guns are old people. Not many of you old people go on gun rampages. A lot of these shootings this year are done by young white men, young black men, young muslims, young gangsters and terrorists. It is even the shame of my generation. Could simply raising the age limit to buy a gun lead to a reduction in gun violence without penalizing the elderly?
 
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jennymae

Guest
#13
Sometimes reading all these ban guns threads leaves me wondering...have people forgotten all about what America is?

Have people forgotten what the nation was founded on? Have people forgotten American history? I can fully understand people outside the US, they are used to their ways, but Americans should know better than talking freedom down.

First and foremost, America isn't part of Europe, East Asia, or the Common Wealth like Canada is...what's good for those countries might not be good for America. America is a free nation under God, and that freedom should not be taken away. This freedom was what people came here searching for. This freedom developed this country.

People need to comprehend that societies are different, and that guns are a part of some socities culture. But of course, if some states wants to put a ban on guns - fine, thats whats state rights are for, but gov cant force a state into doing that.

I believe people are killing people, no matter weapons.

And...the person who wrote this reply is not old, not a male, and not a Republican...just sayin...
 
J

jeremyPJ

Guest
#14
to the op-

I'm sorry, you're probably not going to like my response, but here it is.

America was founded on Guns, Guts and Glory. We fought our way to freedom, and aren't going down without a fight, whether the Left likes it or not.
We have basically two sides of the coin in America. One side are virtual Thugs. These are the ones you see causing all the trouble in our nation, when it comes to guns. They just think they are bada$$e$. Period. They are the ones who make a good point for others to point out that America needs to get rid of their naughty guns. And they know it.

Problem is, if the legal gun owners (it's a known fact that legal gun owners are not criminals, but concerned citizens exercising our second amendment right of the Constitution to bear arms.) And I am very aware that our present leadership flagrantly ignores the Constitution at will.

You see, people in the large cities are the kind who cater to this junk, because it will make the news there. The United States Media, unfortunately has a terrific grip on what happens in our country. Our political system is no longer the simple one we were taught about it school, it's a whole 'nuther beast...Look at Chicago, for instance. Gun-free zone..hooray, right?

Wrong, more crime there than most anywhere. Why? Because the Guilty know there will be no fight, by the time the cops come all will be done. Come out to a country house and try that! That doesn't make the news (of course!) but it makes Facebook. The thugs who come in and hold Grandparents hostage, rape the kids...and get shot dead by Grandpa!! End of story. We won't have to pay to house him in jail the rest of his life, he's gone. Too darn bad. If others see this, maybe they think twice...ya think...

Austrailia has lost their right to bear arms, and look at the results! I did a report on this, one segment of Aussies had a 70% increase in crime. 70 percent!! If criminals have no fear, if they are the only ones who are armed, heck why not just let the thugs have everything? Does anyone truly believe that way? Cause if they do I've got some oceanfront prperty in Arizona I will sell, and move away rich!

You see, thugs will be thugs. Armed citizens or not. But don't make the citizens helpless to these cowards by taking out only defense til' the police come. Please...
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,940
113
#15
Sometimes reading all these ban guns threads leaves me wondering...have people forgotten all about what America is?

Have people forgotten what the nation was founded on? Have people forgotten American history? I can fully understand people outside the US, they are used to their ways, but Americans should know better than talking freedom down.

First and foremost, America isn't part of Europe, East Asia, or the Common Wealth like Canada is...what's good for those countries might not be good for America. America is a free nation under God, and that freedom should not be taken away. This freedom was what people came here searching for. This freedom developed this country.

People need to comprehend that societies are different, and that guns are a part of some socities culture. But of course, if some states wants to put a ban on guns - fine, thats whats state rights are for, but gov cant force a state into doing that.

I believe people are killing people, no matter weapons.

And...the person who wrote this reply is not old, not a male, and not a Republican...just sayin...
The Commonwealth is a loose association of former British colonies. It has absolutely no power or governance over Canada. Nor does Great Britain. (We meet for Games every so many years, and that is about it!) Our constitution has been repatriated since 1982, meaning we make our own laws with no input from any other countries.

We are a very free country. We are a parliamentary democracy, which has a lot of merits over the American system, according to a fellow seminary student (American) who was a history major before entering the ministry.

While the courts have been given a bit too much freedom to interpret laws lately, all our laws are made by our elected officials. We are proud we do not have gun violence.

As for American history, our country was founded in part by United Empire Loyalists who escaped from the US when the Revolutionary War started. Our nation was not birthed in violence, like the US was. And because of that violence, guns have been enshrined in your constitution. Our country has resulted from numerous conferences where the territory or provincial reps have gotten together to agree to bond together as a nation. No violence necessary!

I don't understand why freedom has to be a part of the package which comes with violence, esp. by guns. The Revolution is long over, you have a military to protect yourself as a sovereign nation. I certainly begin to see the fear that leads to the need for guns, but how much better to take the United States in a different direction, and start being a safe nation, because guns are not readily available.

That could mean raising the age to buy a gun, needing a waiting period and background check. And if it violates hippa laws - well change the law! No one has the right to privacy if they are a danger to people.
 
J

jeremyPJ

Guest
#16
Guns ain't the problem in the United States. I know what the REAL problem is in the US. but were not allowed to talk about the real problem, its considered racist.
BINGO! truth spoken.
 
J

jennymae

Guest
#18
Kinda scary that folks dont understand that a ban on guns will make guns a tool exclusively available for thugs. Looks like Windy city...figuratively...is now familiar with the saying 'reap what you sow' after putting a ban on guns...
 
A

atwhatcost

Guest
#19
I've been saving this article for a rainy day. It was posted by a friend of mine on FB, who is an American Christian. It is written by an American, and published by an American magazine, although probably too left wing for some of the right wing extremists in this forum.

But hey! Maybe it is time to look at a different side of this issue.

"Since 9/11, the United States has responded aggressively to the danger of terrorism, taking extraordinary measures, invading two countries, launching military operations in many others, and spending more than $800 billion on homeland security. Americans have accepted an unprecedented expansion of government powers and invasions of their privacy to prevent such attacks. Since 9/11, 74 people have been killed in the United States by terrorists, according to the think tank New America. In that same period, more than 150,000 Americans have been killed in gun homicides, and we have done . . .nothing.

Our attitude seems to be one of fatalism. Another day, another mass shooting. Which is almost literally true. The Web site shootingtracker.com documents that in the first 207 days of 2015, the nation had 207 mass shootings. After one of these takes place now, everyone goes through a ritual of shock and horror, and then moves on, aware that nothing will change, accepting that this is just one of those quirks of American life. But it is 150,000 deaths. Almost three Vietnams.

After last week’s incident in Lafayette, La., the governor of the state and Republican presidential candidate, Bobby Jindal, pointed his finger at what has now become the standard explanation for these events: “Look, every time this happens, it seems like the person has a history of mental illness.”

But it makes little sense to focus on mental health. The United States has a gun homicide rate that is at least a dozen times higher than those of most other industrialized countries. It is 50 times higher than Germany’s, for instance. We don’t have 50 times as many mentally disturbed people as Germany does — but we do have many, many more guns.

At least we have stopped blaming gun violence on video games. Perhaps someone noticed that other countries have lots of violence in their pop culture but don’t have this tsunami of gun deaths. Japan, for example, is consumed by macabre video games and other forms of gory entertainment. In 2008, Japan had just 11 gun homicides. Eleven. Why? Hint: It has very tough gun-control laws.
We have become so inured to the catastrophic levels of violence in our cities that we gloss over them. People often ask me if I think it’s safe for them to travel to countries such as Egypt or Morocco. The reality is that many major U.S. cities have homicide rates that are many times higher than those in places such as Cairo or Casablanca. (And it’s worth noting that non-Islamic terrorists — as in Charleston, S.C. — have killed almost twice as many people as jihadis have in the United States since 9/11.)

It is not an act of fate that has caused 150,000 Americans to die over the past 14 years. It is a product of laws, court decisions, lobbying and pandering politicians. We can change it."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-give-up-the-fight-to-reduce-us-gun-violence/2015/07/30/5c7b375e-36e8-11e5-9739-170df8af8eb9_story.html
The three toughest gun laws in our country are -- in order proper order -- Chicago, New York and Detroit. Look at your news story for more deaths by guns. Bingo! They match.

Next? The problem isn't legal guns. It's illegal guns.
 
P

PeacefulWarrior

Guest
#20
Guns ain't the problem in the United States. I know what the REAL problem is in the US. but were not allowed to talk about the real problem, its considered racist.
Not allowed to talk about racism in Ukraine, or ... ?

(I think the real problem has already been revealed: the hearts of men.)