While in Arizona for vacation, the shooting rampage, targeting a Congresswoman took place.
The incident has captivated our nation. A U.S. Judge was killed along with a 9 year old child. 33 shots were fired for a Glock semi-automatic with a high capacity magazine.
There is disucssion about gun control and increasing the security for public appearances of our elected feederal officials. How do you feel about these two issues?
SAM
I think gun control policies are not solid enough but are hard to make better. People are going to and can get guns by other means (illegally), and when done legally the background check is not fierce enough. I think fear fuels more people than anything for people to have guns thinking they are protected if they have guns. They had a documentary done from when the Columbine shooting happened which they went to Canada where lots of people had guns but there seemed to be less crime and violence there than the United States which I thought was interesting. I don't think increasing security would hurt but all things that happen cannot be prepared for I'm sure the security that was there was well trained and prepared for anything to happen but you can't prepare for the unexpected completely.
ReplyDeleteSide note -- The mentioned documentary is Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine".
ReplyDeleteHaving just received my class A license to carry I realize how difficult getting a gun license in MA is.I now have a newly found appreciation for gun owners who get their guns legally and do what the state asks. I first had to take a firearms safety course which cost $100. Then I had to apply for the actual license in my hometown for another $100. A full background check was done on me and only when that comes in can a be eligible for an L.T.C. This is not to say that the process is excessive, but that it is fair and necessary.Unfortunately people tend to generalize when they talk about guns when they think that guns are only used for crime. It is both unconstitutional and irrational to deny law abiding citizens the right to own a firearm. And even though some may say MA gun laws are very strict, I do feel that they are necessary for the safety of the applicant as well as the public. Unfortunately the Tuscon shooter was one example of an individual that should have never been able to purchase a gun. Arizona is known as a state which is very liberal pertaining to gun control which some are saying is the reason for the shooter being able to have the gun in the first place.
ReplyDeleteSteve D
I am of a similar opinion as the last poster. I recently acquired my LTC. I completed a firearms safety course, then once I obtained an application from Worcester Police Dept. I was advised the process would take "quite some time". Understandably, I was anxious to get my license so I could participate in a new sport that I was just beginning to master. It took roughly a month. My background was checked (have had done before for work) and letter of recommendation assuring sound mind.
ReplyDeleteAs it turns out, I am of sound mind and have no criminal background. I am guessing there are many mass killers who were able to say the same- before. The Tucson shooting and many others are instance where someone snaps. Maybe they’ve been pulled waaaay too tight for years, or, perfectly “normal”. Gun control in as much as it makes for a few hoops to leap through that any law abiding citizens wouldn’t resent, I also have no issues with- the control in the end just impacts the rate at which you get the gun.
Starting off, prayers go out to those victims and their families for the tragedy that occured. To answer the gun control issue...Guns do not kill people, people with INTENT kill people (by sqeezing the trigger of a condition one firearm and aiming). Some gun control laws are absolutely neccesary but let's all look at another issue stemming from this one. Many civilians are against guns being legal because they are not educated on a gun and have never utilized one before. I am an active military member who has experience on multiple weapons from knives and simple firearms to heavy machineguns. When you are trained properly to deploy a weapon and are disciplined to store and properly operate a weapon than you should able to own. I believe that half the problem with gun control laws comes from fearful, uneducated, untrained civilians who just need to be educated on the positives and easy safe operations of a weapon (gun). The laws are actually being tightened on those responsible owners. Let's face it, if a criminal wanted to obtain a firearm than they can and will just as drug laws are not stopping addicts from obtaining their supply. There needs to be another form of control produced for both of these issues. Tightening the laws out of fear is causing more harm to the good responsible citizen, rather than actually restricting and detering the criminal. Just my opinion from the perspective I see the world from. (B. Sosc)
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