I'm thinking of safety today, and the people who protect us, and the odd, awful story of a man who lost his hold on himself, hell only knows why. What unbearable heartbreak, that police officers die for us. How I dislike being glad that the perpetrator is dead.
I don't care what anyone says. Hand guns and automatic weapons are for murdering people. If we don't outlaw these guns, we need to change our laws about murder.
For instance: If you pass the background check, you are obviously allowed to commit murder, but who are your victims, legally speaking? Should there be priorities? Like, for example, schoolchildren are #1, law enforcement officers #2, families of the above #3, etc? Or maybe your own family gets first priority, your spouse's family second, and so on.
It's going to take Congress a long time to iron all this out.
Gratitude can't begin to describe what I feel to the officers who died, and to those who live on. That's much too simple. I am also grieving, and angry, and glad this one's over. There will be a next one, and a next one, and a next one, before we get this thing solved.
In my neighborhood, I've never seen these exact ride ons... Your neighborhood must have a ton of those that can cause some havoc... As far as gun control I agree w/you... and we all know it ain't the guns, its the one holding the gun, the weak laws as well... Piers Morgan spoke of how in the UK gun crime is lower than ours- maybe its time our legislatures look at other countries and figure out why those countries have less crime, etc... I've also found that Americans want too much, are concerned too much w/their so-called rights... When my kids got their driver's license I told them driving is a privilege not a right... just as owning a gun should be considered a privilege... When it comes to lethal weapons- be it auto or gun, that's when thinking or 'rights' should be weighed.
ReplyDeleteI too grieve for the victims of this man. Such a senseless waste of life. Gun control, gun laws--all have to be addressed, though I am not all that hopeful much will be accomplished until people begin to value life and think differently about their "rights". Living in the south has been an education, especially about guns. Everybody owns a gun, even the children. The Second Amendment around here is more like the bible. Ironic isn't it.
ReplyDeleteStrict gun control in the UK, KBF, as I understand it. Isn't that funny how that works?
ReplyDeleteYeah, Bayside, ironic. I don't doubt that a lot of people disagree with me. Although I dislike hunting I think people have a right to do it where game is plentiful. That's a different kind of gun, though. Surely southern kids don't carry around handguns and AK47s? More like rifles, right?
The gun lobby is very vocal here, and it's a pity they fund a lot of the politicians, because I doubt anything will be done. I feel much safer in Britain, which is crazy as the gun supporters here tell us it's the guns that keep us safe.
ReplyDeletePasadena City is now issuing criminal misdemeanor citations to all walkers in the Lower Arroyo that have their dogs off the leash - no first warning, it's an immediate citation. That's a $375 fine, a court appearance, and a criminal record. A teacher could lose her job if she lets her dog off the leash - but she's allowed to carry a handgun!
ReplyDeletePasadena's government is looking more and more ridiculous every minute, I'm sorry to say.
ReplyDeleteI like those vehicles.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many guns in circulation, that I don't think we'll see any immediate benefit from stronger gun control laws. But still, I'm very much in favor of implementing something comprehensive as soon as possible. One day when the existing weapons break down and cease to function, they won't be so easy to replace. (Ammo is another matter; how come all these guys have hundreds or thousands of rounds? Is there no way to keep track of that, starting now?)
Since I have been living here in the UK, I appreciate the work of our 'Bobbies' who do their job, wearing no guns. I hope that doesn't change. Regrettable gun crime is not absent here and there are armed police that can be called upon.
ReplyDeleteRighteously ranted, Petrea. Guns belong in the military; when your country needed a well-regulated militia it lacked a standing army. Now it has a standing army it no longer needs a militia.
ReplyDeleteAnd "well regulated?" What went wrong?
Well said, Petrea! And it's worth noting that this man's guns were legally purchased, some sent to PO boxes according to reports.
ReplyDeleteAs for hunting--some people do depend on it to provide food, and it has a place in thinning herds or controlling invasive species. But hunters don't use assault weapons because it would destroy the game.
Bellis, a teacher cannot carry guns into schools, and she would not lose her job over a misdemeanor. She would lose her job if she took a gun to school, but not if her unleashed dog severely bit a child.
If criminals paid attention to gun laws, I'd be clearly for more legislation...but I'm not convinced that that is the primary issue...I think there's a lot more responsibility in the media for highlighting these stories. Dorner most likely would have passed all the legal requirements for guns...and yet he was still out there, declaring his manifesto...etc...
ReplyDeleteI don't know what the answer is and I do believe in federal gun registration and mental health regs...but in all honesty, I don't have a clue about the different types of guns and ammo to say what should and shouldn't be allowed...I've got ideas of what would be safer...but I'd need to do more research...
Another troubling perspective to this is that Chicago has tough gun laws, and yet has one of the highest murder rates in the US...
Honestly...I think it all starts with our kids and the ability/inability of the school system to actually discipline kids with real consequences. I also think the fact that there are far fewer stay at home moms truly affects the way our kids develop. Forgive my generational observation, but when I was a kid, our parents generally knew what we were doing before we got home!!! And we were held accountable... at home and at school...
This is such a good, civil discussion, thanks everyone. This issue can be so emotional but we're doing fine here so far today.
ReplyDeleteI agree that military-style weapons have no place in private hands. I'd like to see records kept on ammo sales and training required for gun owners. But we need to do more for mental health, including taking a hard look at the popular model of issuing prescriptions with very little talk therapy. People who take psychoactive drugs aren't adequately counseled on the risks including the danger of going off them too rapidly. Also interactions with other substances may have catastrophic consequences and research needs to be increased. Something has caused an increase in "crazy" violence and it could be medical or environmental rather than social.
ReplyDeletewhen Newtown happened, a number of people were up in arms. Both sides pushed hard. The reality is, we will not eliminate all weapons. Won't happen. There are some folks who do legitamtately need weapons for jobs or hunting to feed themselves. The other reality is that no one, other than a soldier in war, "needs" a 50cal high volume magazine rifle. Certainly hunters don't.
ReplyDeleteWhat I proposed after Newtown was this: if you "need" to retain your high capacity rounds in an automatic weapon to have fun firing off a few thousand rounds, then follow some simple rules. These weapons only may be kept at a Federally licensed gun club and you may only fire them at such a club. These weapons can only be transported with proper permit to another club for club shooting or in transfer of sale, WITH police escort. Anyone caught with such weapons outside of the permissible laws is subject to a minimum 30 year Federal prison term, no early release. You still have the ability to use your weapons for the "fun" you see fit, but it keeps the general public safe. Won't stop *all* folks, but even some of the more heretical folks would think twice with a 30 year sentence staring them in the face.
I also think that we need annual reviews of sanity as well as licensure. Week long class, proving you know your weapon and can operate it safely. Don't have to be a perfect shot, but you need to prove you won't accidentally shoot someone while loading your weapon and that you aren't a complete nutcase even after purchasing the weapon.
We can do this better, but both sides need to realize there are points in which to give without losing the entire case.
In the Angelus Oaks case--the weapons were legally obtained, but somewhere along the way, he went off the rails. I think LAPD (and other orgs) need to rework their psych intake evals as well as continued evals. It takes a special kind of person to be a LEO, but sometimes, they can go off the rails waaay too easily if things don't go perfectly according to Hoyle. I'm glad the immediate situation seems to be over. Angelus Oaks, Big Bear, Riverside, Corona and the entire LA Basin won't ever be the same, but I hope for the communities, they can find some solace in knowing they survived a siege and have come out on the other side a little dinged up, a few persons less, but still a wonderful place to be despite some difficult situations. We can't make every place safe---see also the bus crash on Hwy 38 in Mentone the previous week, but perhaps we can all get along a little better and not be so angry with others all the time.
Peace people!
Much coverage of the American gun debate in the UK media. The general view here is that people don't see the need for private citizens to have a gun. We don't even like seeing our police with guns. When I see police with guns at UK airports it makes me feel less safe, not more!
ReplyDeleteNo kidding! Me, too.
ReplyDelete