Fun Stuff > CHATTER
North Illinois University Shooting
Sox:
--- Quote from: SonofZ3 on 14 Feb 2008, 20:53 ---Kids don't buy guns legally. Our background checks and weapon laws work just fine. Kids take guns from their parents, or buy them off the street. Making it harder for law abiding citizens to get firearms doesn't change the ability for criminals to obtain illegal firearms.
--- End quote ---
I don't know how old you have to be to own a gun over there, but this was a university shooting. Perhaps we have different opinions of what it means to be a 'kid'? I use the 'cowboy' definition of the word, where everybody who isn't as old as John Wayne is referred to as 'kid'. Therefore, I am a kid. You are a kid. However, I am legally old enough to own a gun. Are you?
I'm going to make a point of saying this again. Where I live, gun control laws are so strict, and such action is taken to ensure those laws are being followed, that it would be almost impossible for me to acquire a gun, legally or illegally. As a result of this, I have never seen a real gun outside of a museum unless I have left the country. I have certainly known enough people over the years who are unstable enough that had they owned a gun, they'd almost certainly have used them. I'd rather not get into specifics, but to sum things up, I've known people whose attitude towards another person/persons has been something to the effect of 'I would shoot the crap out of you, if only owning a gun in this country wasn't so insanely difficult!'. Unfortunately, these people are still walking the street and abusing people, but on a positive note, while they have stabbed people, they haven't been able to shoot anybody. I do, however, know somebody who used a crossbow in an assault.
Saying that strict gun control laws don't work is ridiculous. A dangerous person is going to find it just as difficult, if not more difficult, to acquire a gun as you or I. The country I live is evidence enough of this. If you're so afraid of being shot when gun control is strict, why not own an illegal gun? Surely, if mentally unstable or dangerous people are capable of obtaining one, you are just as capable? Are you worried about breaking the law?
The USA's gun control laws are not effective at preventing gun related crime. The figures show this. The UK's gun control laws seem rather effective to me, I've seen a lot of people not get shot.
I'll be honest, I am biased. Any country that so many laws in place that make it legal to kill a man, any man, in my opinion, is barbaric.
valley_parade:
--- Quote ---Simon's Rock College of Bard shooting Great Barrington, Massachusetts, United States December 14, 1992
--- End quote ---
One would think I'd have some memory of this, being so local. Huh.
0bsessions:
On the other hand, Shane, you were like four or five.
--- Quote from: jhocking on 14 Feb 2008, 21:06 ---That said, good point as far as causes, it just wasn't necessary for you to present it in an accusatory fashion.
--- End quote ---
jhocking:
--- Quote from: tommydski on 14 Feb 2008, 17:29 ---
--- Quote from: Trollstormur on 14 Feb 2008, 16:39 ---Also i'm not turning this into a gun control debate. I'll be deleting and/or editing any posts to this effect.
--- End quote ---
Including your own? On what grounds?
Are you saying that you will willingly censor posts on this subject, despite the undeniable relevancy?
That definitely needs some further explanation.
--- End quote ---
Although I agree that trollstormur was being hypocritical and setting a bad example, the overall point is that this thread really should be about expressing grief and sympathy, not taking advantage of the tragedy in order to grandstand about pet issues.
That said, my condolences to the people affected.
Sox:
I believe the point in a discussion forum is to discuss these issues when they arise. It's up to the mods whether or not we should split this into two separate threads, one for sympathies and the other for discussion of gun control laws, but what would that accomplish, besides making the discussion harder to follow?
I have my doubts that anybody is 'taking advantage' of this thread in order to "grandstand about pet issues". This is a deeply affecting topic and people are going to have very strong opinions on the matter, especially those of us who have been affected personally. While grief and sympathy were the reason this thread was started, the topic of gun control was always inevitably going to be called into question, and given the circumstances, I don't think anybody has the right to put a censor on that discussion. If a person lost somebody in this horrible incident, and posts an angry rant about guns in this thread, would you honestly tell them to put a lid on it? Why should anybody else be treated any differently?
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version