1ºSpeaking as a progun person, heres A reason (one of perhaps many), that we get pissed off everytime a politician talks about banning “assault rifles”
1. There are an average of 16k gun murders a year in the US. Statistically, per FBI data, rifles of ALL types (not just black scary ones) account for around 500 of those deaths per year (about 3-3.5% of the total).
2. Handguns are the weapons used in the overwhelming number of murders, BUT THERE ARE NO CALLS TO BAN THOSE.
3. Statistically, (Gun Violence Archive), young black males make up the majority of the shooters. A large percentage of those can’t legally own a firearm because of age or criminal record, BUT THERE IS LITTLE TO NO EFFORT MADE TO GO AFTER THESE PEOPLE.
4. One of the stated purposes of the 2nd amendment is to provide civilians a last ditch method of resisting an out of control government should that occur. YET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS DONE NOTHING TO LIMIT ITS ABILITY TO ABUSE THE RIGHTS OF ITS CITIZENS WHILE TALKING ABOUT BANNING WEAPONS SUITABLE TO RESIST THAT. There are no calls to require law enforcement or the military to come to OUR aid in the event of governmental abuse.
So…take these comments into consideration. Understand that the overwhelming percentage of gun owners simply want to live in peace and be left alone, but until our “leaders” start addressing the real problems, assigning blame where it PROPERLY belongs, and stop trying to us, we choose to remain armed.
2ºTim Wolfskill that is the truth. The shame is that so many innocent people pay the price. I don’t know how we fix this, but I know we have to try. I coach young people and I’m always encouraging inclusiveness and tolerance of others who are different from us. I denounce bullying and discourage making anyone feel less than. I look out for the kid who looks like he’s having a problem fitting in. My hope is the next generation gets it right because ours is too jaded and separated. That’s why I don’t argue politics much because in most cases they are two sides of the same coin.
3ºDes Wade - If he used the weapon that some claim he did, it was a gun that fired handgun ammo. If that is the case, he could have easily bought two handguns with 40 round magazines, held one in each hand and caused a lot more fatalities. There are also rumors that he actually used a hunting rifle? Banning a certain type of gun will not stop an evil person. You can buy what you would consider a hunting rifle that is semiautomatic and fires the same rounds as an AR15. It has a detachable magazine and works no different than an AR. If he had used a hunting rifle, would it make you feel better?
4ºAlan Irvin Yes. No more committees on how to make schools into high security prisons and teachers into armed body guards (which of course wouldn’t protect us in grocery stores, and parades and church, etc.).
“Instead, the Senate is "going to vote on gun legislation," the New York Democrat said, asserting that Americans "are tired of moments of silence, tired of the kind words offering thoughts and prayers." (Quote from article)
We need to get rid of all “weapon of war” guns. Period. Unless you’re in the military or on a SWAT team. Nobody else has any legitimate need for them and they should absolutely be unavailable.
But the republicans still belong to the NRA and prefer their guns to public safety and will block any bills that will actually deal with the problem.
5ºLots of new info coming out about the shooters history. Cops had to be called to his house twice in the past. Once because he threatened to kill himself then the second time threatened to "kill everyone". Even though the cops removed 10 plus knives from his possession they couldn't take action because none of the family members would press charges. Also reported he was seen by mental health professionals. And here's the biggy. His father sponsored him getting five guns. Then there are the disturbing things he posted on line. So, you all can blame guns but in this case maybe we need to also hold the mental health professionals responsible who didn't have this nut case locked up for being a threat to himself and others and also his father for helping his son get the gun despiteo his son's obvious problems.
6ºTim Wolfskill I agree it’s the same with most politicians. All talk and little action. I also agree that new laws won’t do much to stop mass shootings as there are so many guns in America that any head job who is so inclined and can do so much damage. We need to change what we can to make it harder to get a weapon designed to kill as many people as possible, but we need a collective effort to protect folks. It’s not a red or blue issue for sure cause both are getting killed. This man should never have been able to buy anything. Chicago has its problems but this was an affluent suburb. It’s happening everywhere.
7ºPatricia Krewson Wainscott So you claim to not take away my Right to defend myself from tyranny while you take away my Right to defend myself from tyranny..... The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed upon.
No local, state or federal government make laws that infringes upon my right to keep and bear arms. Not just guns....If Military has it I can too!
That is the Constitution of the United States of America if you have a problem with that then amend the Constitution.... Quit making laws that are unconstitutional we are not a communist country!
8ºDes Wade - The weapons of which you speak don't fire any different ammo than any other gun. The AR semiautomatic is no different than any other semiautomatic and banning them would have stopped nothing. Please define remote shooting? Also, these are not weapons of war. The AR has never been used by any army in the world. And please tell me what ammo you intend to ban? The AR doesn't have some mystical round. The round it fires is a popular hunting round. There is nothing magical about it. If he did use a gun that fired handgun rounds, these rounds are no more or no less deadly than if they were fired from a handgun. You have fallen for the media BS of glamorizing and or demonizing a certain gun. I can show you half dozen guns that are actually all the same, fire the same round, and are again, exactly the same other than appearance. I will guarantee that there are some you wouldn't have a problem with and some you would want to ban only because of your lack of knowledge.
9ºWelcome to the Radical Trump Republican Party’s USA where no community is safe! They want to tell a woman what to do with her own body but don’t you dare pass reasonable gun laws!
A 2 year olds parents were slaughtered by weapons of war that have no place on our street! These weapons are a threat to all our safety and no one should own them outside our military!!! No one! Your so called right to a weapon of war is outweighed by public safety!
When do we say enough?
Pack the Court, Codify Roe.
You want reasonable gun laws! Vote blue! Roe to be codified vote blue!!!
10ºDennis Winstead I love how some of you love to say "law abiding citizens ', my man, I don't know you from Adam, I know you must be able to walk down the street, and tell who the law abiding citizens are by just looking at them, but most of us can't. Just because you call yourself a law abiding citizen, doesn't mean sh_t. Everyone is a law abiding citizen, until their not, there is a first time for everything. And reading some of the replies here, there is a lot of you that shouldn't be anywhere near a gun, and from some of the replies here, some of you need to have law enforcement pay you a visit, because some of you a just a bit out there mentally.