Shootings! Shootings! Shootings! Today's and tomorrow's shootings!

[Broadway Joe]

Because I do think we should have the right to protect ourselves, especially at our homes. Carrying concealed weapons I'm more on the fence about.

I know we don't see stories like this as much but in this situation I'm glad the father had a gun in his house and I would want the same thing.

http://wtvr.com/2014/06/10/dad-shoots-kills-man-who-held-gun-to-teen-daughters-head/

I don't think banning all guns will be a solution Because the gangs are still going to get their hands on them.

I'm all for stricter laws on making the process of obtaining a gun as safe as possible but it's never going to be a perfect situation.

[FindingNamo]

"Carrying concealed weapons I'm more on the fence about."

Because you're in "The Middle," where forming an opinion and being able to articulate it while trying to take in new informations is just impossible.

[Reginald Tresilian]

"The majority of deaths caused by guns are gang related."

That isn't true. It's true that the majority of gang-related homicides are (unsurprisingly) caused by guns. But the majority of gun deaths are suicides.

"There were 1,824 gang-related killings in 2011. This total includes deaths by means other than a gun. The Bureau of Justice Statistics finds this number to be even lower, identifying a little more than 1,000 gang-related homicides in 2008. In comparison, there were 11,101 homicides and 19,766 suicides committed with firearms in 2011."

Even if those 1,800 gang-related deaths (and remember--not all of them were by gun) are included in the 11,101 total of homicides, it's still a small percentage.
HuffPo article

[Jane2]

Oh right, Matt, I keep forgetting about those pesky militias. So ubiquitous!

Broadway Joe, How do you compare one instance of someone protecting themselves by having a gun, to the everyday shootings and killings with guns? By you stating that guns will still be available even if outlawed, I guess you're saying we might as well keep letting people buy them.

[FindingNamo]

You're asking him to go out on a limb and take a stance. I'm afraid that's not possible in "The Middle".

[Broadway Joe]

Reginald - do you think suicide rates would go down or would people go about suicide a different way if guns didn't exist?

A poster earlier posted about the man who went to a shooting range and committed suicide with a gun there. Problem with that is there are tons of people who will pass background checks that are still depressed or have mental health issues. I'm not sure how we can ever go about preventing issues like that.

Jane - I'm saying in a situation in one's home I do believe that we should be able to protect ourselves. Many years ago when I moved into a new place for work my house was broken in to. Thankfully I wasn't home that night because who knows what would have occurred if I was. Hopefully I never have that situation again but if I do i will protect myself.

I'm for stricter gun laws. I'm for every possible background check to make it as safe as possible for guns to be purchased by citizens. I never said we should let just anyone walk in and buy a gun.

Namo - when I said my views lie in the middle I mean I don't have a conservative or liberal view of looking at everything. Depending on what the subject is my view can either be conservative or liberal.

[Broadway Joe]

*double post

[FindingNamo]

Yes. I know that's what you're saying. And I am saying it's BS.

[Borstalboy]

This could be fake, but still...rights and all

[Jane2]

Broadway Joe, I'm saying that the second amendment no longer applies to our world. Secondly, history has proven that the gun problem we have now has reached gigantic proportions and it's because of that amendment. Don't ignore the world around you because you like having a gun. or guns, who knows.

[Broadway Joe]

I'm not ignoring that gun control is a problem. That's why I've been saying we need stricter laws.

[FindingNamo]

Then I guess that makes you a hero.

[Reginald Tresilian]

BwayJoe, I have no idea what would happen to suicide rates if gun laws changed. I imagine that people who are determined to end their lives will always find a way to do it. I'm just refuting the notion that most gun deaths are gang-related.

[Jane2]

^ And guns kill so instantly! Maybe if the suicidee has to take longer, they'll chicken out.

[Broadway Joe]

Yes you were right Reginald.

This is such a hard topic because I don't think it's ever going to really get solved. The NRA are a bunch of fools who don't want to give in to any regulations. At the same time I think the people who want all guns gone are just unrealistic.

I really have no idea how this situation will ever be worked out.

[Jane2]

Joe, you do realize that the longer this problem goes unchecked, the more likely it becomes that you yourself might be shot in the street. Just sayin'

[Broadway Joe]

Again, I said there should be stricter gun laws and that it is a problem. I'm not opposed to it.

I just don't think banning all guns is a realistic situation because I don't see it ever happening. If we could live in a society that never needed guns I'd be for it but they aren't going anywhere so we need to try to make the laws as strict as possible to try to make sure that guns don't go to the wrong citizens.

[Jane2]

okay, I see that this is getting nowhere. Hence, the situation still exists.

I agree with Joe on one point- nothing will happen for a long time, if ever.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Borstal,

That video is sad on so many levels. And it's what kids today are thinking! They can just go buy a gun, wave it around and demand 'respect'.

My brother put a hole through our TV set one day, when I was sitting in front of it, watching Starksy and Hutch. He then failed to graduate school on time, got a GED and spent his life in the military. I just saw him over Father's Day weekend and he's still an arrogant ****who thinks he's always right. And he owns more guns than any one person would actually need.

I'm glad I was born with a penis.

[FindingNamo]

Maybe comedy coverage from Second City is the way to go?


That Trump Tower sign in Chicago is so ugly. Also, a whole lot of people got shot last night.

[Jordan Catalano]

Namo, that article made me really happy that people are still able to exercise their God given 2nd amendment rights before black obama takes them away forever.

[Mister Matt]

Jesus Loves Guns!

[Mister Matt]

Thank God He Was Able To Protect Himself!

[Taryn]

My friend just linked me this article, and I had just read a different one last month with the same guy in the most recent Bitch Magazine. There's alway so much talk about mental illness but so little about gender issues.
Fifteen years after Columbine, are we still asking the wrong questions?

[Borstalboy]

Marching thru the Fifth Ward. There are simply no words.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Siblings murder-suicide