Truly dreadful.

 

And sad too is the refusal of some people to accept that ready access to guns of all kinds can only mean that such incidents will be more prevalent.

 

Massacres happen elsewhere of course. And you don't need a gun. But as a Brit living in a country where the wretched things are generally inaccessible I can only wonder at what it is that convinces so many in US society that it's a good thing that almost anyone can have one.

 

After the Dunblane massacre in this country we changed the law and banned domestic ownership of handguns. Could such a move ever happen in the US?

 

I'm not being 'political' or seeking to stir knee-jerk reactions. I'm just so saddened about this tragedy. Surely it's right to hope that something positive might yet come from it?

 

Ian

 

Unfortunately it isn't so simple. Gun ownership is a constitutional right in the States and the founding fathers of America had very good reasons for making it so. They didn't want the average Joe to be defenseless against the kinds of tyrannical governments that existed and exploited the European populaces at the time.

 

An oversimplification I know and other reasons are probably involved too but as I understand it that was one of the main reasons. Anyhow this isn't really the place to go into it so I'll leave it at that.

 

My deepest sympathies to those poor kittens and their parents. I hope God is with them in these dark hours and that their hearts may one day be healed.

Being a grandfather of 6 young children this NewTown disaster has hit me almost personally. The horror and grief on the faces of the moms and dads looked like what I can imagine could have been on my own son and daughters faces. There but for the grace of God go any of us. Maybe mine or yours might be next.

 

This is an evil act of an evil and/or deranged young man from an armed camp. Consequently there are some profound moral, legal and constitutional lessons taught here that are so foundationally obvious that reasonable, free thinking people should move mountains to prevent unstable fringe elements from being armed to the teeth. Is that type of readily available means to kill in mass a worthwhile expression of freedom and liberty to insure the pursuit of happiness? I just don't know.

 

Isn't there a publically acceptable balanced rights/responsibility policy that is enforceable and works without political wars?.These questions are haunting me, and I am sure one or two more. No policy position will ever bring back what happened here. The plain facts are that the butchered, for the most part were just little kids, litte boys and girls, our future hope, now gone forever. Repulsive.

 

Kind regards,

Unfortunately it isn't so simple. Gun ownership is a constitutional right in the States and the founding fathers of America had very good reasons for making it so. They didn't want the average Joe to be defenseless against the kinds of tyrannical governments that existed and exploited the European populaces at the time.

 

 

Exactly. So maybe this ghastly event will lead to a fresh debate as to whether an historical precedent established over two centuries ago has any validity in a modern society changed beyond all recognition.

 

That's my opinion, and my hope.

Yes let's alter the Second Amendment, after that the pesky Fourth it gets in the way of law enforcement. And that First, some people say things that get them killed so its for our own good we abolish it as well. After all they're outdated from hundreds of years ago.

 

Politics have nothing what so ever to do with evil. Evil is what happened. Criminals do evil things. I'm flabbergasted that political garbage has already poked its head into this thread.

This incident rocked my foundation and as much evil as I've seen in people I deal with professionally, I never could have imagined just how deeply disturbed someone can be to bring it down to this level.

 

Gun control is a hot issue in the USA and I happen to be an avid supporter of the second amendment and concealed carry laws. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. We should not penalize law abiding citizens the right to defend themselves because of a few bad eggs out of hundreds of millions. Even if a complete ban was in effect, there will always be ways for criminals to get them, or they will just find other ways to create violence.

 

I think we need to not blame the tool, but blame the person in any tragedy. After all, you never hear anyone blaming a car when it kills someone in a DUI crash. I've seen and read about many good and innocent lives being saved by that very tool--many that wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for concealed carry and pro-gun laws that protect innocent people.

 

I'm very disappointed though at how fast politics came up after this horrific event.

I'm very disappointed though at how fast politics came up after this horrific event.

 

To me it's more than disappinting - it's positively disgraceful.

 

Innocent children have been murdered and their families are grieving yet some people feel its necessary immediately to drag politics into this.

 

 

To me it's more than disappinting - it's positively disgraceful.

 

Innocent children have been murdered and their families are grieving yet some people feel its necessary immediately to drag politics into this.

 

I'm glad there are others that feel this way. I was beginning to think I'd gone mad. Prayers, thoughts, positive energy in whatever you believe in is all that's required. They'll be another time and place for the other stuff.

I'm glad there are others that feel this way. I was beginning to think I'd gone mad. Prayers, thoughts, positive energy in whatever you believe in is all that's required. They'll be another time and place for the other stuff.

I agree :(

In a population our size, with its diversity, vagaries of mental health and the abundance of provocative stimulus, I'm terrified by the prospect that these heinous acts are simply the harbingers of even more unspeakable and despicable deeds.

 

In my mind, its not unreasonable to believe there isn't yet another someone this morning somewhere plotting.

 

Regardless of the spectrum of the beliefs and opinions we all have regarding freedom of speech and weapons, who among us is not sobered by the possibility that 'our chickens may be coming home to roost'?

In a population our size, with its diversity, vagaries of mental health and the abundance of provocative stimulus, I'm terrified by the prospect that these heinous acts are simply the harbingers of even more unspeakable and despicable deeds.

 

In my mind, its not unreasonable to believe there isn't yet another someone this morning somewhere plotting.

 

Regardless of the spectrum of the beliefs and opinions we all have regarding freedom of speech and weapons, who among us is not sobered by the possibility that 'our chickens may be coming home to roost'?

true, it will happen again and we can't stop it.

Ya know - I'm passed being shocked - not much would actually phase me these days... It's just another bad news story... Americas's favorite new pastime for some of the late teens to early 20 something's - go kill as many innocents as you possibly can before ending your own miserable life... I'm unhappy and miserable - being part of the most coddled generation in the history of mankind - I don't want to live anymore so I'm going to inflict as much - death - grief - and - destruction - as I possibly can before I take myself out... There is no personal accountability anymore - everything is someone else's fault... I'm being bullied - so its my god given right to lash out... Maybe it's just the point in their lives where the stark realization sets in that the world doesn't revolve around them - which has been drilled into their heads from day one... Talk about case studies for narcissistic behavior... End of rant - I'm just tired of this - or - maybe I'm just getting old... My respects to the victims and families involved - not too far from where I live...

 

Regards,

Scott

I think there's no way of stopping this kind of horrible attacks as long as there are plenty of people with severe psychological problems and guns, which obviously is really bad mix.

 

Regardless of politics I think it's pretty obvious that something should be done to prevent people with bad mental issues from getting access to guns, that's what was done in here Finland after two major school shootings that we had...

 

And secondly something should be done to make society better place where less people get mental illness and those who get are treated better. For example here in Finland we had no school shootings and similar horrible happenings committed by young people, now during last 6 people we have had two major school shootings and several smaller ones... In my opinion it shows that there's something seriously wrong with most western societies nowadays, I wish some day I will emigrate away to some country where humanity goes over money and productivity. And of course there are people with mental problems everywhere, but still majority of this kind of attacks seem to happen in certain countries.

I see multiple tragedies in this situation, and the sense of helplessness is severe. My only objection to discussing contributing factors is that we have been here before. We know from experience exactly what will be said, and we know that little will change..

 

Those being the facts, the best we can do is give our very best wishes to the families and all others involved and affected. They will need every ounce of our support.

Well I definitely think I must be going mad. If this isn't precisely the time to bring up the 'politics' of universal gun ownership then when is?

 

I'm amazed that it's still regarded as such a sacred cow.

 

And with such attitudes you're right. Nothing will change.

 

 

Kaitlin Roig :clapping: :good: