View Full Version : Gun Violence Continued: Ritchie German with shotgun, handgun and handcuffs...
dado potato
7-30-19, 7:28pm
It sounds like the guns belonged to the brother of Ritchie German, 33, from the Chippewa Falls area.
On Saturday German used a handgun to shoot 3 family members in the head: his mother, 66, with whom he had lived since 2004; his brother, 32, and his brother's son, age 8. All were gunshot fatalities.
On Sunday night he used a shotgun to blow open the door of the residence of the Vang family, after texting Laile Vang, a 24-year-old woman. Law enforcement stated that German's text to Laile Vang was "of a sexual nature", and she had replied "Who is this?". He used the shotgun to wound the mother and father of Laile Vang, before killing her with a head-shot, and then killing himself.
German left his car running in the driveway of the Vang residence. Law enforcement stated that in the car they found a handgun and handcuffs, which suggested that German's motive may have been to abduct Laile Vang.
Like the recent 88-day abduction of Jamie Closs in NW Wisconsin, this is close to my hearth and home.
Ultralight
7-30-19, 7:49pm
Crazy, scary stuff.
iris lilies
7-30-19, 8:53pm
Crazy, scary stuff.agreed. We have a lot of it in St. Louis.
Ultralight
7-30-19, 9:23pm
agreed. We have a lot of it in St. Louis.
But why?
iris lilies
7-30-19, 10:43pm
I’m sure you have as many theories as anyone else.
But why?
I’m sure you have as many theories as anyone else
Ultralight
7-31-19, 6:25am
I’m sure you have as many theories as anyone else.
I’m sure you have as many theories as anyone else
That was more of a lament than a real question.
iris lilies
7-31-19, 4:24pm
That was more of a lament than a real question.
oh, ok! :)
frugal-one
7-31-19, 8:21pm
... prevalence of guns. We are now living in the wild west!
As long as no fetuses were killed i don’t see a problem.
"Gun Violence".
So, the gun had volition. It had agency. It sprung out, and committed this crime?
"Gun Violence".
So, the gun had volition. It had agency. It sprung out, and committed this crime?
Stove-top cooking.
iris lilies
8-1-19, 7:58am
As long as no fetuses were killed i don’t see a problem.
This made me snort.
dado potato
8-1-19, 11:20am
From Wikipedia's item on "Gun Violence":
Gun violence is violence committed with the use of a gun. The United States has the 11th highest rate of gun violence in the world, and by far the highest rate of any highly developed nation.
The linked gun violence archive includes a map of incidents of gun violence in the United States Year-to-Date July 19, 2019.
http://www.gunviolencearchive.org
ToomuchStuff
8-2-19, 10:32am
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9552719/stabbing-victim-axe-homebase-fight/
AlaskanGuy
8-4-19, 12:34pm
I am not sure if it is a gun problem.. more like a heart problem. the hearts of people that do this sort of thing are the problem. through out history, some have felt that it is ok to kill thier fellow man. there is nothing new here.. the gun is just the tool of the day.. taking away the tool just invokes the search for another tool in my opinion. history is full of people with the tools of the day killing. most people are law abiding and interested in protecting life, not destroying life. taking away guns is not the answer... sensationalizing is a big part of the problem... if we learned to sensationalize somebody jumping off a 30story building, perhaps that would fix the problem??? give everybody that wants national attention 15 min of national celebrity to jump off a building, nobody else would be killed?
sorry if I offended some.. not intended.
AG
I am not sure if it is a gun problem.. more like a heart problem. the hearts of people that do this sort of thing are the problem. through out history, some have felt that it is ok to kill thier fellow man. there is nothing new here.. the gun is just the tool of the day.. taking away the tool just invokes the search for another tool in my opinion. history is full of people with the tools of the day killing. most people are law abiding and interested in protecting life, not destroying life. taking away guns is not the answer... sensationalizing is a big part of the problem... if we learned to sensationalize somebody jumping off a 30story building, perhaps that would fix the problem??? give everybody that wants national attention 15 min of national celebrity to jump off a building, nobody else would be killed?
sorry if I offended some.. not intended.
AG
No offense taken--I am a pretty progressive liberal, but I tend to side with people who say that "guns don't kill people... people kill people." While I truly feel that restrictions should be placed on assault rifles, I think the issue is definitely a "heart problem"and not a gun problem as you have laid out. No amount of legislation can change the fact that people feel isolated and angry and have lost connection with others in this country. It almost connects with the "Politics vs Religion" thread.
Maybe instead of outlawing guns we should figure out the causes of our disenfranchisement and outlaw that.
dado potato
8-4-19, 1:57pm
I would be at a loss to provide a simple cause-and-effect explanation for the problem of gun violence in the US.
One factor is there are more guns ("the tool of the day") than there are people in the USA... Assuming derangement and homicidal urges affect a certain percentage of the population in any given year, their ability to gain access to semiautomatic rifles results in high lethality.
Do the stresses of maintaining a standard of living and keeping a family together and provided for contribute? The growing inequality of wealth, the so-called shrinking of the middle class arguably aggravate the stress. The term "going postal" came into use in 1993 after a series of incidents involving postal workers shooting co-workers (and themselves).
Another factor, not talked about as much, is violent (as opposed to Non-Violent Communications, as per Marshall Rosenberg's work) judgmental communications... I think violent communications for children result in violent brains as they develop.
Yet another factor, is the tendency in our society for young males to experience shaming. This was identified as a root cause of violence in James Gilligan, Preventing Violence (Prospects for Tomorrow).
I am sure other factors contribute to gun violence.
Since all our thinking and praying hasn't helped (shocker!) maybe bulletproof vests need to become the latest fashion statement.
The problem as I see it is that so many people these days live inside their own minds with grievances they believe are real. They have either not been taught or are not capable of feeling empathy for others for various reasons. They do not know how to consider that their viewpoint has another side. Of course, guns don't shoot themselves but when your society doesn't even attempt to control the way this is playing out, then we are all in trouble. It is saying - fend for yourselves.
iris lilies
8-4-19, 3:18pm
The problem as I see it is that so many people these days live inside their own minds with grievances they believe are real. They have either not been taught or are not capable of feeling empathy for others for various reasons. They do not know how to consider that their viewpoint has another side. Of course, guns don't shoot themselves but when your society doesn't even attempt to control the way this is playing out, then we are all in trouble. It is saying - fend for yourselves.
I like what you wrote in lines 1-3, but it is bogus to say our “society doesn't even attempt to control” gun violence because it most certainly does. Gun laws are all over my city yet it has one of the highest rates of gun violence around. How’s that control working for us? Not so good.
It seems like these mass shootings have just become a normal part of American culture.
So tragic and heartbreaking. Overwhelming.
I think gun control is a part of the answer, but the easy fall guy to blame for other problems. Banning the sale of assault weapons seems to be a popular idea and one that's more than trivial. Maybe it would help, but the talking heads say there are something like 15 to 20 million assault type rifles in circulation. I don't see making the actual possession of assault weapons illegal in any likely future.
I really don't know the best solution, but with a bunch of highly educated politicians, sociologists, criminologists, and other experts, the people in charge need to stop talking and politicking and do something. If it's wrong, we learn and try something else.
Could it be that gun control is a lot like drug control.
For decades and decades the government has tried to wage a "war on drugs."
How well has the prohibition of drugs worked?
How well would a prohibition of guns work?
I am not asking rhetorical questions here. I am asking seriously.
Could it be that gun control is a lot like drug control.
For decades and decades the government has tried to wage a "war on drugs."
How well has the prohibition of drugs worked?
How well would a prohibition of guns work?
I am not asking rhetorical questions here. I am asking seriously.
I don't think people are thinking prohibition of guns. I think they are thinking about reasonable regulations, similar to what you have to do to buy a car, and extending out to restrictions in terms of buying military grade weapons. 2nd amendment folks think, we want no restrictions. If the government falls apart, or some apocalypse happens, or there's a coup, I want what I want to protect my family and my home.
Others think, "you don't need an assault weapon for sport, or for protection. A person invades your space and you don't need a semi-automatic rifle to take him down." And they think, "What's the issue with just asking people to register their firearms the same way people have to register for driving or voting or even fishing!"
A prohibition of guns would soundly not work. It's a delicate balance between protecting the good of society against the rights of the individual.
Long way of saying, I don't have the answer to your non-rhetorical question.
I don't think people are thinking prohibition of guns. I think they are thinking about reasonable regulations, similar to what you have to do to buy a car, and extending out to restrictions in terms of buying military grade weapons.
I would argue that the "reasonable regulations" on cars has not worked... at all. 40,000 automobile related deaths each year. Clearly, it is not working. Of those 40,000 deaths in 2017, 11,000 were drunk driving deaths.
People in the US know that driving is inherently dangerous. They also know that drunk driving is especially dangerous. But people like driving (and driving drunk), so they accept that risk.
Could it be that Americans love their guns and their access to more guns and ammo so much that they are simply willing to accept the risk of frequent mass shootings?
Could it be that Americans love their guns and their access to more guns and ammo so much that they are simply willing to accept the risk of frequent mass shootings?
Yes.
I wonder what would happen if those who are willing to accept the "collateral damage" of free and open gun ownership had a family member gunned down. That IS a rhetorical question.
I wonder what would happen if those who are willing to accept the "collateral damage" of free and open gun ownership had a family member gunned down.
I am not really sure what you mean.
Certainly some NRA members and other gun advocates have lost relatives and friends in these mass shootings.
I think they were just accepting of it. Like a person who loses a family member in a car accident does not stop driving cars. They just accept that them's da breaks. You know?
I am not really sure what you mean.
Certainly some NRA members and other gun advocates have lost relatives and friends in these mass shootings.
I think they were just accepting of it. Like a person who loses a family member in a car accident does not stop driving cars. They just accept that them's da breaks. You know?
You are probably right.
You are probably right.
Essentially I feel that nothing will change. No laws will be enacted. No restrictions or regulations will be enforced.
Police and other first responders will get special training. School children will get special drills. Running with your hands up will become second nature. "Run, hide, fight" will be something kids learn from age 4 when they enter pre-school. Workplaces will have training videos on how to evacuate if there is an active shooter. Stores, malls, nightclubs, and other gathering places will post instructions for what to do if there is a mass shooting. Some will probably have periodic announcements like "In case of..."
This will just be part of American culture, all of this, will simply be part of our culture.
Teacher Terry
8-5-19, 6:06pm
No one should have to live this way. Especially kids. We could make it less common if our politicians weren’t so spineless.
I have to say, restricting guns is not necessarily the whole answer. When we remove the boundaries of a civil society and we applaud nationalism and tribalism and encourage hate and violence, this is what we get.
Beto O'Roarke's handlers were probably going nuts, but I love this off-the-cuff answer to a reporter's question. If you scroll down to the twitter audio clip you can hear his response. https://www.truthdig.com/articles/beto-orourke-comes-out-and-says-it-about-trump-and-el-paso/
No one should have to live this way. Especially kids. We could make it less common if our politicians weren’t so spineless.
What could politicians do? Arrest people for crimes they have not yet committed? Pass some draconian laws about guns? What?
Is it American culture or the rights/power of the individual overwhelming the rights/power and wellbeing of the general population? An unintended consequence?
Did I hear someone comment that with all the guns available in the hands of all the people around the shooter in the El Paso situation, no one used a gun to try to stop the shooter? He surrendered to police.
Bulletproof book bags for kids are now available -- for those that can afford them.
https://fox4kc.com/2019/08/02/bullet-resistant-backpacks-becoming-new-norm-in-retail-stores/
Is it American culture or the rights/power of the individual overwhelming the rights/power and wellbeing of the general population? An unintended consequence?
You are not American, are you?
You are not American, are you?
No, razz is Canadian. Here's a video from Bowling for Columbine. This is just a clip, but the implication is that all of the theories as to why Canada may have no mass shootings while their neighbors to the south have many can be shot down (excuse the pun). It's a big question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-niYj0u_Q8
dado potato
8-5-19, 7:23pm
Canada is not without mass shootings and gun violence. On a total basis and a per capita basis there is much more gun violence in the US.
Canadians (Entre Amis) have a long-standing interest in American society.
Canada is not without mass shootings and gun violence. On a total basis and a per capita basis there is much more gun violence in the US.
Canadians (Entre Amis) have a long-standing interest in American society.
I shouldn't have said there are no mass shootings, but their rates of homocides with firearms is far less then ours. And not sure how the comment about Canadians have long-standing interest in American society relates.
Teacher Terry
8-5-19, 7:49pm
UL, there is a big difference between being the Wild West and common sense gun laws. Trump also got rid of the Obama restriction that helped prevent people with a MI from getting a gun.
UL, there is a big difference between being the Wild West and common sense gun laws. Trump also got rid of the Obama restriction that helped prevent people with a MI from getting a gun.
Give me a list of 5 common sense gun laws. Can you do that? I am asking seriously.
Catherine's already mentioned several common sense gun laws including: people with mental illness diagnoses should be more closely investigated before buying guns. Semi-automatic and assault firearms are not needed for self-protection or for hunting, so they shouldn't be sold. People who have been convicted of domestic abuse or other violent assaults shouldn't be in possession of guns. Regulatory bodies should sign in to one central national clearinghouse, so somebody who has been to have a faulty firearms history can be viewed, thus preventing those who have been blocked from buying guns in one jurisdiction from moving into another jurisdiction, where nobody has any idea of previous violations. A waiting period, with investigation into a national database, should be enforced before somebody can buy a gun. If you want to pick apart each of these items, it's certainly possible to do so. But, for cryin' out loud, let's agree that young white males from teens to age about 40, are the vast majority of these perpetrators of hate-fueled mass shootings, and what are we gonna do about it? (I also lay a lot of blame at the feet of the media, and social media, since I think a lot of the shooters are coming up w/these horrible plans to top the previous mass shootings. But, of course, the media all says "the public has a right to know" and we all get sucked right into it.
Teacher Terry
8-5-19, 8:44pm
Befree, UL enjoys asking questions he either knows the answer to or so he can argue about it. I have gotten tired of playing that game.
Yes, I am Canadian and, yes, we are having increasing issues of gun violence but it seems to be locally gang-based which is not the same as race-based violence.
I am trying seriously to understand using the Constitution and its Amendments as I comprehend it.
How is one individual's right to freedom, pursuit of happiness, ownership of a gun of choice controlled when this right is used by an individual to obtain materials to harm and deny another individual's rights to the same freedom, pursuit, of happiness...? Or, how are the rights of the individual limited so as to not infringe upon the rights of other individuals?
How would the drafters of the US Constitution have answered this question? This has puzzled me for some time.
UL, there is a big difference between being the Wild West and common sense gun laws. Trump also got rid of the Obama restriction that helped prevent people with a MI from getting a gun.I guess you're talking about the regulation President Obama suggested in 2013 but had not yet taken effect when the House and Senate nullified it in 2017 as an example of executive over-reach in violation of the US Constitution. I can't believe President Trump signed properly drafted, debated and approved legislation protecting an erosion of citizens civil rights. The nerve!!!!
Semi-automatic and assault firearms are not needed for self-protection or for hunting, so they shouldn't be sold. When you criminalize the possession or sale of an "assault firearm", how will you define it?
Edited to add: When you say semi-automatic firearms are not needed, do you realize that semi-automatic refers to the fact that when you pull the trigger one time, it fires one bullet? The 'automatic' part comes from the standard semi-auto's ability to feed the next round into the chamber without user input. Of course, the same thing happens with my old .38 Chief Special revolver, so I wonder why you say they are not needed for self-protection or hunting. What makes them different in your mind?
Give me a list of 5 common sense gun laws. Can you do that? I am asking seriously.
Does gun sales criminal background checks from licensed gun dealers qualify, in spite of the gun show loophole in states that don't have universal checks. If not, would we be better without criminal background checks for gun purchases.
Teacher Terry
8-5-19, 9:20pm
I hope the younger generations can make the changes that ours failed to do. Our founding fathers could have never imagined the weapons we know have.
I hope the younger generations can make the changes that ours failed to do. Our founding fathers could have never imagined the weapons we know have.Probably not, but I'm certain they would approve of citizens possessing the equal of any military weapons, but we're not as open minded as they were.
This is how Mayor Pete HAS NOT handled it.
https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/publicsafety/shootings-have-spiked-in-south-bend-driven-by-incidents-with/article_2668983b-0712-52d1-a00b-eced437e9d6c.html
Catherine's already mentioned several common sense gun laws including: people with mental illness diagnoses should be more closely investigated before buying guns.
I agree. Though I do wonder which mental illnesses would prevent someone from buying guns?
Again, let's take this back to drug prohibition. Can mentally ill people buy drugs illegally? I think they can and do, and often. Perhaps they could buy guns illegally. I don't know what the illegal gun market is like. The few guns I ever bought (for hunting) came from licensed dealers.
Semi-automatic and assault firearms are not needed for self-protection or for hunting, so they shouldn't be sold.
For hunting all a person really needs is a single shot rifle and a double barrel shotgun. Most hunters can get by with a bow (or crossbow) and a double barrel or even single-shot shotgun. Would you suggest that these be the only long guns someone can own?
People who have been convicted of domestic abuse or other violent assaults shouldn't be in possession of guns.
I agree.
Regulatory bodies should sign in to one central national clearinghouse, so somebody who has been to have a faulty firearms history can be viewed, thus preventing those who have been blocked from buying guns in one jurisdiction from moving into another jurisdiction, where nobody has any idea of previous violations.
I agree. Though this is not the case? When I bought an Italian shotgun for shooting sporting clays a few years back I had to go through a federal background check.
A waiting period, with investigation into a national database, should be enforced before somebody can buy a gun.
They already do federal background checks at gun stores. How long should the waiting period be?
But, for cryin' out loud, let's agree that young white males from teens to age about 40, are the vast majority of these perpetrators of hate-fueled mass shootings, and what are we gonna do about it?
Do you have suggestions? Would you be okay with profiling young white males age 18-40?
What I would like is to see some research that shows clearly that the efforts you suggest actually work.
I have an old .22 revolver, which is a family heirloom. I also have a Browning pump shotgun I have used to shoot clay targets and to go hunting with. I keep both locked up in a huge metal safe at a relative's house because I don't really go shooting or hunting anymore.
I am very critical of gun culture in America and of the gun industry in America.
But I really have no idea how to solve these problems. I still think these issues are worth discussing.
Buying a gun should be as regulated as getting an abortion. Maybe requiring someone that wants a gun to have to travel to the one store in their state that sells them and then spend the night and then watch a video regarding the dangers of guns followed by a bunch of protesters getting in their face would intimidate at least a few from buying death machines.
It might also be a good thing if we didnt have a president that foments hatred and violence against minorities but we’re stuck with the asshole that a minority of the country wanted as president. Another sad flaw of our constitution.
Teacher Terry
8-5-19, 10:37pm
JP, great idea.
Ultralight
8-5-19, 10:38pm
Buying a gun should be as regulated as getting an abortion. Maybe requiring someone that wants a gun to have to travel to the one store in their state that sells them and then spend the night and then watch a video regarding the dangers of guns followed by a bunch of protesters getting in their face would intimidate at least a few from buying death machines.
I actually like this idea!
The thing I keep pondering is what exactly is causing so many young males to go down a path of no return? I see many of them since moving to middle - disaffected, stoned/addicted, aimless, violent/abusive. Is it bad parenting, violent culture, shaming/bullying, public school culture?
Pinkytoe, interesting ideas but i can say that public school culture is much harder on other groups than young white males. Discipline statistics show a lot of imbalance towards students of color, no surprise. I dont think that the answer is easy at all,
AlaskanGuy
8-6-19, 10:16am
i find this interesting...
2918
i find this interesting...
2918
Those Texas weapons aren't as violent as the Illinois ones.
AlaskanGuy
8-6-19, 12:43pm
I actually like this idea!
I personally dislike the idea... your idea places personal protection into the hands of the elite few that could actually afford that.. are you saying that folks that cant afford it should not be granted their 2nd ammendment rights??? is one persons rights more important then others rights??? i see celebritys run around and voice thier opposition to guns, and yet their bodys guards are all packing?? whats is the word for that??? hypocrite? if somebody doesnt want guns, be sure they are part of the problem first. maybe its time to work on healing the hearts of our young people.. removing guns will not heal the heart. perhaps we should heal our nature, our media. violence is everywhere, in all our films and generally our heros on tv are killers.. and we are surprised when our young people turn to killing? when I was a kid, folks were in an uproar over a single person killed. seems to me anything else just treats the symptoms, not heal the disease.
maybe we should fix our media, and our morals? and forget about the guns? its the media folks and greed that ruined the heart.
AG
ToomuchStuff
8-6-19, 1:58pm
Did I hear someone comment that with all the guns available in the hands of all the people around the shooter in the El Paso situation, no one used a gun to try to stop the shooter? He surrendered to police.
I am sure that is accurate. How many of those around the shooter, were doing what one is supposed to and trained to do, when taking a concealed carry class. First responsibility is to AVOID the situation IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. Protect (put yourself and your gun, between you and your family) and escape, rather then charge. Next, if you charge, remember Law enforcement, may not identify you, before taking you out in that situation. And once the situation if over, expect to have a minimum of $50K in legal expenses. (possible criminal and typically civil suit from either the shooter or their family)
1.Catherine's already mentioned several common sense gun laws including: people with mental illness diagnoses should be more closely investigated before buying guns.
2.Semi-automatic and assault firearms are not needed for self-protection or for hunting, so they shouldn't be sold.
3. People who have been convicted of domestic abuse or other violent assaults shouldn't be in possession of guns.
4.Regulatory bodies should sign in to one central national clearinghouse, so somebody who has been to have a faulty firearms history can be viewed, thus preventing those who have been blocked from buying guns in one jurisdiction from moving into another jurisdiction, where nobody has any idea of previous violations.
5. A waiting period, with investigation into a national database, should be enforced before somebody can buy a gun. If you want to pick apart each of these items, it's certainly possible to do so.
6. But, for cryin' out loud, let's agree that young white males from teens to age about 40, are the vast majority of these perpetrators of hate-fueled mass shootings, and what are we gonna do about it? (I also lay a lot of blame at the feet of the media, and social media, since I think a lot of the shooters are coming up w/these horrible plans to top the previous mass shootings.b , of course, the media all says "the public has a right to know" and we all get sucked right into it.
1. How are they not? If they bought a gun legally, that is a question on the form, upon filling gets them checked through the government databases.
2. See an above post for the legal definition of a semi automatic, that would entail almost all firearms. Define "assault", as firearms could be used for assault or defense. (and AR stands for ArmaLite Rifle)
3. Again, on the form you fill out, before your background check, if you have a conviction, you are.
4 You mean like the FBI, who handles the NCIC and background checks for FFL'S, now?
5. Like the one now, that is you wait until the FBI gives the FFL the clearance to give you the gun (could be as little as a few minutes to a wait of unknown time)
6. So ignore the minority ones? In the end you can only blame the one that pulls the trigger.
Yes, I am Canadian and, yes, we are having increasing issues of gun violence but it seems to be locally gang-based which is not the same as race-based violence.
I am trying seriously to understand using the Constitution and its Amendments as I comprehend it.
How is one individual's right to freedom, pursuit of happiness, ownership of a gun of choice controlled when this right is used by an individual to obtain materials to harm and deny another individual's rights to the same freedom, pursuit, of happiness...? Or, how are the rights of the individual limited so as to not infringe upon the rights of other individuals?
How would the drafters of the US Constitution have answered this question? This has puzzled me for some time.
Most of our violence, is NOT mass shootings. I expect the drafters, answered it. They wanted some ambiguity. The way the Amendment is written, I would say generally it is agreed upon that it is written as DEFENSIVE in nature.
I am not normally a TV watcher but on occasions when I am considering a Netflix film or flipping through network channels...I am amazed at the level of violence. At some point, it sure went over the edge. I can't even imagine young, developing minds watching that stuff.
I am not normally a TV watcher but on occasions when I am considering a Netflix film or flipping through network channels...I am amazed at the level of violence. At some point, it sure went over the edge. I can't even imagine young, developing minds watching that stuff.
Indeed. And that's not to mention the gamers who entertain violent adolescent gun play fantasies daily.
As good as some of the ideas sound, realistically the best I can hope for is universal background checks and standardization of conceal carry permits across the different states. However, until the drivers of the bus change or the NRA stops dropping millions into conservative issues and candidate support, I suspect a month or months from now nothing meaningful will have happened.
Maybe we should look at how other countries handle all the mass shootings caused by video games and mental illness and violent movies and domestic abuse perpetrators and try to emulate them. Since no other civilized country has anywhere near the amount of mass killings they must be doing something right.
Maybe we should look at how other countries handle all the mass shootings caused by video games and mental illness and violent movies and domestic abuse perpetrators and try to emulate them. Since no other civilized country has anywhere near the amount of mass killings they must be doing something right.
What do other nations do?
dado potato
8-8-19, 9:48am
Marksmanship is highly regarded in Switzerland. Compulsory military service for all able-bodied males results in near-universal firearms training in the vast majority of Swiss households. I understand that it is usual for Swiss men to have permits to continue to own their military-issued rifle, but it is conditional on annual approval by the popularly elected local (cantonal) government. I understand that alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, criminal acts, or certain mental health problems would be grounds for revocation or non-renewal of an individual's permit.
Swiss society is diverse, in terms of the 3 official language groups. Compulsory military service has a tendency to create male bonds across linguistic and cultural differences... lasting friendships in their "band of brothers" ... thus military service tends to foster unity and understanding.
I have never lived in Switzerland. From what I have read, the Swiss have little to fear in terms of gun violence in their home country.
Teacher Terry
8-8-19, 12:00pm
So the gun used in the Gilroy massacre came from a gun dealer in Nevada. They are having a fundraiser anticipating they will be sued and asking people to donate. How ridiculous! That should be one of their costs of doing business.
News today is that T is backing off any gun control measures and is focusing instead on mental illness. That was almost predictable.
He said we need more more “mental institutions” for all those mental people who pull the trigger.
The USSR had lots of those.
flowerseverywhere
8-17-19, 7:30pm
Even if all the “mentally ill” were incarcerated and we just played Pac-Man and watched Leave it to Beaver guess what? People would still die from gunshots in the US. I have asked many people who are against ainy kind of gun control what the solution is of our out of control murder rate and I have yet to hear one.
After years of listening to the NRA supporters fret that Obama and Hillary were going To declare martial law and take your guns Trump and McConnell might be the ones to do it. Ha ha. Wouldn’t that be funny.
I read an interesting factoid this morning. You are three times more likely to die choking on food than you are to die in a mass shooting.
Dare I call it food for thought?
I read an interesting factoid this morning. You are three times more likely to die choking on food than you are to die in a mass shooting.
Dare I call it food for thought?
And a child is more likely to die drowning in a backyard swimming pool than by gunshot wound.
But some things are under our control, and others aren't. We may not be able to outlaw ham sandwiches or swimming pools, but we can still create reasonable safeguards to prevent unnecessary deaths. Look how many deaths seat belt laws prevented.
iris lilies
8-22-19, 6:46pm
And a child is more likely to die drowning in a backyard swimming pool than by gunshot wound.
But some things are under our control, and others aren't. We may not be able to outlaw ham sandwiches or swimming pools, but we can still create reasonable safeguards to prevent unnecessary deaths. Look how many deaths seat belt laws prevented.
I am in favor of any gun control laws that will keep guns out of the hands of people who will commit murder, including mass murders.
I am not in favor of any gun control laws that will keep guns out the hands of people who will not commit murder, including mass murders.
So ya’ll go make that happen, please.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.