27 dead at Connecticut school, including 14 kids

[Rum]

I see Obama has decided to try to re-introduce a ban on assault weapons.

I'm not sure, given all that is on his plate, he will do much more than this.

I see nothing significant changing in the USA on this issue frankly.

I have already written to my Senators and Representatives to let them know that if they vote for additional gun control, I will not vote for them.

More fool you.

[Jason]

I see Obama has decided to try to re-introduce a ban on assault weapons.

Called it!

It makes the most political sense. He has to do something, but he can't piss off the pro-gun crowd too much, so he targets assault weapons, which already have a set precedent of being banned, have been used in both the latest mass murders, and have a relatively small, but unreasonably vocal, group who is committed to them being legal. Targeting handguns would be tilting at windmills. At least this way he has a chance of doing something, or making a reasonable stir while attempting to do it. It's the best option both politically and pragmatically.

[Svartalf]

I see Obama has decided to try to re-introduce a ban on assault weapons.

I'm not sure, given all that is on his plate, he will do much more than this.

I see nothing significant changing in the USA on this issue frankly.

Probably get nixed in senate, as that still is under NRA funded Republican control...

[Rum]

..but Obama gets to say he tried..

[mozg]

It makes the most political sense. He has to do something, but he can't piss off the pro-gun crowd too much, so he targets assault weapons, which already have a set precedent of being banned, have been used in both the latest mass murders, and have a relatively small, but unreasonably vocal, group who is committed to them being legal.

And the last time they were, in 1994, things did not really go so well for the Democrats in the midterm elections. What followed was 12 years of a Republican majority in both houses of Congress.

The so-called 'assault weapons ban' was never proven to have any effect whatsoever on crime, nor did it relate in any way to actual functionality or ballistic properties of firearms. It was a bullshit, feel good piece of legislation aimed at things that were black (and therefore scary), and the only impact it really had was to drive up the price of firearms and accessories that were manufactured prior to 1994.

[Svartalf]

..but Obama gets to say he tried..

No excuses, we want actual results, or we lose whoever your party nominates in 2016...

[Gallstones]

Gallstones, considering that you recently had a reminder, this is a warning that this post contains a personal attack on another member, which is a violation of the rules. Please refrain from such language. Thank you.

I would just like to state publicly that I strongly disagree with Gallstones just receiving another warning. Her attacks her blatant and continuous. She's as bad as Seth and deserves a 24 hour suspension.

[Kristie]

Gallstones, considering that you recently had a reminder, this is a warning that this post contains a personal attack on another member, which is a violation of the rules. Please refrain from such language. Thank you.

I would just like to state publicly that I strongly disagree with Gallstones just receiving another warning. Her attacks her blatant and continuous. She's as bad as Seth and deserves a 24 hour suspension.

[Blind groper]

It's not ludicrous it's the law.

And as so famously said by Charles Dickens (through the mouth of Mr. Bumble) - the law is an ass.

In this case, it is the second amendment that is so asinine. At the time when it was promulgated, it made sense. It makes none today.

Out of the 24 richest nations, all put together, the USA has 80% of all firearms murders. It has four times the murder rate per capita of almost all those other 23 richest nations, and over half those American murders are done with firearms.

Anyone who thinks that the second amendment is a fine thing is an idiot, and the belief that lots of guns are good flies in the face of the facts. Too many guns lead to human misery and death. 8,000 gun murders each year. 12,000 gun suicides. 80,000 people each year who manage to survive are left maimed by gunshot wounds.

[Gallstones]

Excerpt from a biased source

Official U.S. Concealed Carry Association Page - USCCA
http://www.facebook.com/USCCA/photos_stream

I have no doubt that there are many people who would be outraged by the idea of our schools having responsibly armed personnel protecting our kids, but my response to them would be the same as Concealed Carry Report writer John Caile’s response:

“…these same people who barely raise an eyebrow at the idea of armored car guards carrying guns to protect bags of cash, suddenly go apoplectic over the prospect of teachers carrying guns to protect young children. If that’s not misplaced priorities, I don’t know what is.”

Just an idea.

[Jason]

While I respect your ability to actually respond in a crisis situation due to your training, I cannot say the same for the average idiot who has a CCW and has never been trained. I'd say they're as likely to freeze up and be killed, providing the attacker with another weapon, or panic and fire wildly, killing innocent bystanders before they are killed themselves.

[Coito ergo sum]

To reiterate what is invariably the comment in response to any American criticism of what goes on in other countries -- why do you care? Mind your own business.

Anyone who thinks that complete gun bans are good is an idiot, too. As is fairly common, either of the extremes is unworkable. In the US, some action needs to be taken to reduce the violence perpetrated with and without guns. What is forgotten by folks commenting from afar, though, is the vast majority of gun violence is committed in inner cities and involve the drug and other criminal rackets. So, a lot could be done to reduce gun crime if we would decriminalize and commercialize the currently illegal drugs, such that gun violence would not be necessary to defend the trade in drugs.

Banning guns from farmers, hunters, etc., however, would not do anything to significantly reduce gun violence. There are states in the US with loose gun laws and France level gun deaths -- these states also happen to have low drug crime levels.

I also think we need to have a serious analysis of the kinds of guns out there, because there is a difference between full-auto stuff and a trap shooting rifle. I think there can be reasonable regulation of type and features and functionality of guns and it would still be within the "well-regulated militia" portion of the 2nd amendment.

[Jason]

To reiterate what is invariably the comment in response to any American criticism of what goes on in other countries -- why do you care? Mind your own business.

It took me a moment to realize what you're actually saying here because that is invariably the response by Americans of any criticism of what goes on in their country. I've rarely seen it the other way around.

[Svartalf]

To reiterate what is invariably the comment in response to any American criticism of what goes on in other countries -- why do you care? Mind your own business.

It took me a moment to realize what you're actually saying here because that is invariably the response by Americans of any criticism of what goes on in their country. I've rarely seen it the other way around.

Hard to tell'em that when you don't have nukes to gift them should they try messing up with you.

[Gerald McGrew]

Future job announcement:

"Wanted: Elementary school teacher. Must have extensive weapons training and complete regular refresher courses."

Funny how many of the same people decrying public school teachers as irresponsible, lazy, and uncaring (only in it for the bennies, money, and time off) are now arguing for them to pack heat in classrooms.

So will teachers now be eligible for hazard pay?