Let me ask everyone an honest question:

Why is it when an American does something like this, it's a gun problem. But when someone.. lets say from overseas, does something like this it's a terrorist attack. When WE do it, it's a gun problem. When THEY do it, it's not a gun problem, they are just evil. When a terrorist does something like this.. No one focuses on the gun. Just the act itself. Are we scared that... maybe we may be like the people we fear?
- Deadmau55

Another red herring. No one said its JUST a gun problem. There are many problems. Many threats. Many risks. Answer my question from the prior page. I presume that you cannot.

Yes, legislation needs to be revised and MUCH tougher on gun control and crimes involving guns, but I would say that the biggest problem is how deeply guns are engrained into American culture.

With regards to guns, most Americans have their priorities backwards. Americans are so focused on their individual "constitutional right to bare arms" and how their rights and freedoms would be infringed upon if their guns were taken away when in actuality THE LIVES AND THE SAFETY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL FAR OUTWEIGHS any (frank)in right to bare arms. What about every victim of gun violence RIGHT TO LIFE? Is being allowed to carry a gun more important than that?

America has a serious problem that needs to be addressed NOW! How many kindergarden classrooms, movie theatres, high schools, universities neighborhoods, places of work and public spaces etc etc etc etc etc need to be cut down in gun fire?; How many lives need to be shattered before the people and the leaders of the US grow a pair of balls and deal with this problem?
- As_I_See_It

I get where your coming from but you can easily kill people with other weapons other than guns. I believe handguns an laws for them need to be looked at rather closely. If a person wants to kill he can do so no matter wat he uses. Recently a student brought a pipe bomb to school, should they get rid of all the things to make them? What about cars? That dude could have drove his car into a huge crowd. again your point has meaning but guns arent the cause of deaths, people who are sick are.

The question is a simple one. It does not matter if crazy people have other methods to kill other than guns. It does not matter that people die from other things that may or may not be sufficiently regulated. It doesn't matter that guns (or bombs or automobiles etc) don't kill people, people kill people. It doesn't matter that there may be better ways to protect people than making our gun laws stricter. The simple issue is: will making gun laws stricter save ANY lives? Will it save just one? Will it make that one crazy person get caught or get help before he kills? It is impossible to imagine that it wouldnt do at least that in our country of 300 million people. Now, is that one saved victim worth having the law? Worth restricting the freedom of gun ownership? On that scale, there seems to be a very easy answer.
- FlyersFirst

Here it is again.

Another red herring. No one said its JUST a gun problem. There are many problems. Many threats. Many risks. Answer my question from the prior page. I presume that you cannot.
- FlyersFirst

Excuse me. That's the whole point of this discussion. Gun Control. If the kid was Muslim, the focus would not be on gun control. Because he's an American, it's a gun problem. God forbid he was Muslim, then it would be his fault. As far as your question goes I would love to hear it. Honest. No sarcasm.

Has anyone here read the Hellblazer comic series, and if yes, is it worth reading?

Again, if it is worth reading, the whole series or only some arcs?
- jugkope

This fits in approximately nowhere in this thread.

Yes, legislation needs to be revised and MUCH tougher on gun control and crimes involving guns, but I would say that the biggest problem is how deeply guns are engrained into American culture.

With regards to guns, most Americans have their priorities backwards. Americans are so focused on their individual "constitutional right to bare arms" and how their rights and freedoms would be infringed upon if their guns were taken away when in actuality THE LIVES AND THE SAFETY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL FAR OUTWEIGHS any (frank)in right to bare arms. What about every victim of gun violence RIGHT TO LIFE? Is being allowed to carry a gun more important than that?

America has a serious problem that needs to be addressed NOW! How many kindergarden classrooms, movie theatres, high schools, universities neighborhoods, places of work and public spaces etc etc etc etc etc need to be cut down in gun fire?; How many lives need to be shattered before the people and the leaders of the US grow a pair of balls and deal with this problem?
- As_I_See_It

Again, it's easy to sit across the border and arm chair quarterback the problems of the country your next to and talk like you've got it all figured out. Because I'm certain no matter what happens that there are a couple hundred politicians that don't have it figured out. I'll also say again that hyperbole has no place in this discussion.

You certainly make valid points, but don't under exaggerate the complexity of government change and even more so constitutional amending. It's just not as simple as you portray things in your elementary view on what needs to be done. Yes, we can all say tighter gun regulation and banishment of certain firearms and firearm types, just do it. But again, easier said than done.

Again, it's easy to sit across the border and arm chair quarterback the problems of the country your next to and talk like you've got it all figured out. Because I'm certain no matter what happens that there are a couple hundred politicians that don't. I'll also say again that hyperbole has no place in this discussion.

You certainly make valid points, but don't under exaggerate the complexity of government change and even more so constitutional amending. It's just not as simple as you portray things in your elementary view on what needs to be done. Yes, we can all say tighter gun regulation and banishment of certain firearms and firearm types, just do it. But again, easier said than done.
- MnGump

Assault weapon ban being introduced on first day of congress.

Excuse me. That's the whole point of this discussion. Gun Control. If the kid was Muslim, the focus would not be on gun control. Because he's an American, it's a gun problem. God forbid he was Muslim, then it would be his fault. As far as your question goes I would love to hear it. Honest. No sarcasm.
- Deadmau55

So ??? is the one saved victim worth it? Or do you claim not one could possibly be saved if gun control were stricter ?

Let me ask everyone an honest question:

Why is it when an American does something like this, it's a gun problem. But when someone.. lets say from overseas, does something like this it's a terrorist attack. When WE do it, it's a gun problem. When THEY do it, it's not a gun problem, they are just evil. When a terrorist does something like this.. No one focuses on the gun. Just the act itself. Are we scared that... maybe we may be like the people we fear?
- Deadmau55

Every gun crime is a problem no matter where it occurs. Gun violence occurs in just about every country worldwide, but NOBODY has the same number of incidents that the US does. It's not even close and statistics EVERY YEAR prove that.

Can you really compare a single incident i.e. in Norway or "the lawlessness" of gun use in the Middle East or Africa (by Western standards) to that of the US? No.

Assault weapon ban being introduced on first day of congress.
- robin_steele264

I don't think the majority of level headed Americans have any problem with that.

This fits in approximately nowhere in this thread.
- eichiefs9

I know but one can always ask for advices.

I mean, sure, I could talk about guns, but I just think they lack style and dignity and should be replaced by swords and daggers.

Yes, legislation needs to be revised and MUCH tougher on gun control and crimes involving guns, but I would say that the biggest problem is how deeply guns are engrained into American culture.

With regards to guns, most Americans have their priorities backwards. Americans are so focused on their individual "constitutional right to bare arms" and how their rights and freedoms would be infringed upon if their guns were taken away when in actuality THE LIVES AND THE SAFETY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL FAR OUTWEIGHS any (frank)in right to bare arms. What about every victim of gun violence RIGHT TO LIFE? Is being allowed to carry a gun more important than that?

America has a serious problem that needs to be addressed NOW! How many kindergarden classrooms, movie theatres, high schools, universities neighborhoods, places of work and public spaces etc etc etc etc etc need to be cut down in gun fire?; How many lives need to be shattered before the people and the leaders of the US grow a pair of balls and deal with this problem?
- As_I_See_It

I'm with you 100%!

I don't think the majority of level headed Americans have any problem with that.
- MnGump

I would agree.


It will be interesting to see who opposes it.

I don't think the majority of level headed Americans have any problem with that.
- MnGump

That's a very small number.

Assault weapon ban being introduced on first day of congress.
- robin_steele264

That's half a loaf in my book. All the political wrangling for such a small step. In addition they should go for a much more stringent system with real background checks and no gun show loopholes etc as the political fight will be just about the same.

Every gun crime is a problem no matter where it occurs. Gun violence occurs in just about every country worldwide, but NOBODY has the same number of incidents that the US does. It's not even close and statistics EVERY YEAR prove that.

Can you really compare a single incident i.e. in Norway or "the lawlessness" of gun use in the Middle East or Africa (by Western standards) to that of the US? No.
- As_I_See_It

My question is... Why isn't this considered a terrorist attack?

My question is... Why isn't this considered a terrorist attack?
- Deadmau55

Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or, ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (civilians).

Missing info to qualify as such.

Here it is again.
- FlyersFirst

Clearly no one is paying any attention to you.

My question is... Why isn't this considered a terrorist attack?
- Deadmau55

Who cares? That's a meaningless label. How would it change anything?

My question is... Why isn't this considered a terrorist attack?
- Deadmau55

"Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, often violent, especially as a means of coercion"

Okay, that's from Wikipedia, but still, terror, terrorism.

When you go shoot random people, it's hardly to create an atmosphere in which people fear for their life. It's about self satisfaction.

That's a very small number.
- Scooby_Doo

don't be a Richard.. Lots of idiot Canadians too (see stanley cup riots)

Clearly no one is paying any attention to you.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

No kidding.

Frankly, I think that no one against gun control can honestly respond to it.

Well...I guess I have nothing better to do than jump in here, with a radical (or not so radical) point of view. I do believe the discussion of gun control is tantamount to the survival of this republic striving to maintain a working democracy. But for a discussion to work, both sides have to open their minds to the other side. Events like Friday's massacre are indicators that something is broken in America. According to my records, it's been broken for a while. The damage is so deep that I don't think arm-chair Constitutional experts and weekend psychologists are going to help the matter. Connecticut's tragedy is a time for us to come together and support those who have need. Listening and learning have to be part of this process. I suspect we need to evolve in some direction. The best way? I don't pretend to have the answer. Many of us need to stop pretending.

Of course, I could be wrong. In that case, never mind.

don't be a Richard.. Lots of idiot Canadians too (see stanley cup riots)
- Arctic_AARDVARK

Couple hundred versus couple hundred million.

Again, it's easy to sit across the border and arm chair quarterback the problems of the country your next to and talk like you've got it all figured out. Because I'm certain no matter what happens that there are a couple hundred politicians that don't have it figured out. I'll also say again that hyperbole has no place in this discussion.

You certainly make valid points, but don't under exaggerate the complexity of government change and even more so constitutional amending. It's just not as simple as you portray things in your elementary view on what needs to be done. Yes, we can all say tighter gun regulation and banishment of certain firearms and firearm types, just do it. But again, easier said than done.
- MnGump

The political barriers are certainly there. Another one of the screwed problems in our Country. Regardless of the roadblocks, it needs to be done. That's why we need tough leaders to do tough jobs. Let's see if Obama backs up what he said tonight.