There will be no catastrophe so ghastly that America will reform it's gun laws

[Borstalboy]

Even the NRA is backing away from the insanity of the open carriers. With some hope, this will devour itself from the inside like the GOP.

In which case, I say: GO open carriers!!!

[Kad]

"And if we keep releasing Taliban members I think that possibility increases. But that's a different discussion."

Then why haven't the acts of domestic terrorism- the Columbines, the Sandy Hooks- the attacks ON American soil BY Americans- been thwarted by the citizenry?

[ErikJ972]

The NRA has already disavowed criticism of the open carry demonstrations. They made it clear it was the opinion of one misguided person and not representative of the NRA.
The NRA cares about ONE thing. Selling guns no matter the cost.
NRA official disavows criticism of 'open carry' demonstrations

[kade.ivy]

Kad, I think it has something to do with the fact that guns aren't allowed on school campuses. The law-abiding gun owners that the NRA supports obey laws unlike lunatic murderers. After Sandy Hook, the NRA actually started a campaign to place a resource officer in every school in America.

[Kad]

So the solution is to make guns more widespread?

Armed officials at schools? Malls?

[ErikJ972]

Yes Kad! Because that's the kind of country we want to live in! Armed guards in schools, armed teachers, and bullet proof blankets for 1st graders to hide under. Don't you see how safe that will make everyone feel!?

[kade.ivy]

I would be okay with armed officials at places where guns aren't allowed for whatever reason.

[ErikJ972]

We lose an average of 30 people a day to gun violence.
Armed guards in schools will do nothing to solve this problem.

[kade.ivy]

Well we've seen the possible effects of gun-free schools. Crazy lunatics that the ACLU won't allow us to lock up are the only people who seem to use guns at schools.

[ErikJ972]

I work in a school that has 3 full time, armed, police officers. Over the past three years I've been to the funerals of five current and former students lost to gun violence.
It does nothing.

[ErikJ972]

And kade...you do realize mass shootings in schools are rare. The majority of kids we lose to gun violence every day are not shot in school.
The NRA's idiotic armed resource officer plan does nothing to address the problem.

[Jordan Catalano]

I went to Home Depot this morning to pick up some things for my new apartment. I was walking around for a while and couldn't really understand why, but I just felt really really unsafe. After a bit, I realized that I was feeling so unsafe because I didn't see anyone with assault riffles there to protect me in case something happened. I RAN out of that store before anything bad could happen to me and came right home. I hope I'm never put in that position again!

[ErikJ972]

I'm glad you made it out OK Jordan! That was close!

[kade.ivy]

That's horrible. I can't imagine the grief that has caused you and the school community. Being a family member of a school administrator, I know the effect tragedy has on the morale.

[FindingNamo]

There *was* what kade called a "resource office" (presumably because she knows how deranged calling the person an "armed officer" sounds) at Sandy Hook.

God, these NRA memes are a pain in the ass. I love this idea that they support "law abiding gun owners" and then work to get rid of ANY laws (even the most milquetoast) that would inhibit non law abiding gun owners from getting all the guns they want at gun shows.

[Jordan Catalano]

Funny how this board has so many right wing nuts that post on it. But never at the same time...

[FindingNamo]

Ha!

[kade.ivy]

I know, Erik. Don't misunderstand: I was responding to Kad's examples.

The unifying theme of every murder and injury isn't the type of weapon, it's the character of the perpetrator. Violence is a people problem, not a gun problem. I wish we were debating how to change the hearts of people instead of getting rid of guns.

[kade.ivy]

Are there more right wing nuts? I'd love to meet them: I'm going it alone here!

[Kad]

Violence is a people problem, so give them easy access to the most efficient means to exact violence?

And that AK-47 you said you wish to someday own - in what scenario would the domestic use of that be appropriate? What threat would you use that against?

I have to laugh at your use of "changing people's hearts" coming so soon after your statement about "crazy people the ACLU won't let us lock up."

[kade.ivy]

Well they would probably be changed if they were in mental recovery programs.

[Liza's Headband]

kade. Surely you agree that, at the very least, some kind of mental screening (at the expense of the gun buying applicant) should be MANDATED for any firearm purchase. All mass shooters over the last 25 years have had a history of mental illness -- with the exception of Harris & Klebold -- and most of them legally bought their guns. This should not be. Tell me you can at least agree to this very basic need.

[Jane2]

"Jane, I never said I hunt for sport." "Yes, I've fired my firearm and other hunting rifles for sport."

Your above sentence isn't clear on that.

[Jane2]

"The unifying theme of every murder and injury isn't the type of weapon, it's the character of the perpetrator.

You don't seem to understand that if the perp couldn't have a gun, he couldn't shoot people."

You'll NEVER eradicate mental illness.

[Kad]

Again, I would really like to know what you would consider an appropriate scenario in for the use of an AK-47 or other assault weapon in the day-to-day life of an average American citizen.

[Jane2]

"Well they would probably be changed if they were in mental recovery programs."

Son, you don't know anything about that topic.