Study shows gun control would prevent mass shootings

[Doctor Professor Timon]

Exactly how do you define an "assault weapon" as opposed to a "normal" weapon? You can assault someone with any weapon, really.

The 1994 "Assault Weapons Ban" was more of a moratorium on cosmetic features that made a firearm "look frightening." It's like trying to prevent drunk driving by outlawing cars that "look fast." Banning pistol style grips and bayonet mounts, for one, is rather asinine in the grand scheme of things.

Besides, who the fuck ever heard of a "drive-by bayoneting?"

I think it was called a spear or jousting.

 

[Duke Nukem]

I think it was called a spear or jousting.

Don't worry, a nationwide ban on all sharp and pointy objects will put an end to that!

 

[kookerpie]

Do you have evidence to support this claim? I've heard quite the opposite.

Read up on it. Neither kid was bullied and Dylan was even fucking an adult woman.

 

[kookerpie]

I've read Eric's journals. He whined about not getting laid a lot. Doesn't particularly strike me as someone who was popular.

He was literally fucking an older woman

Sorry I thought that you referred to Dylan. Eric did seem like more of a loveshy

 

[Duke Nukem]

Read up on it. Neither kid was bullied and Dylan was even fucking an adult woman.

There's a lot of different stories about both of them, it's hard to know exactly what to believe. I think Dylan did have an 18 year old girlfriend, but I don't know how far that went, really. I believe Dylan had friends, but Eric was more of an outcast himself, from what I've heard.

So many myths and stories, but very little hard evidence.

 

[kookerpie]

There's a lot of different stories about both of them, it's hard to know exactly what to believe. I think Dylan did have an 18 year old girlfriend, but I don't know how far that went, really. I believe Dylan had friends, but Eric was more of an outcast himself, from what I've heard.

So many myths and stories, but very little hard evidence.

You should read the book "Columbine"

 

[Duke Nukem]

You should read the book "Columbine"

If it has hard evidence instead of hysterics, it might be worth looking into.

 

[kookerpie]

Okay so we got the names mixed up. Eric Harris was the dominant partner and he was having sex with a 23 year old. Dylan Klebold was the kind of incel.

http://ericharrisblog.tumblr.com/post/59294516807/girls-that-eric-dated-and-had-a-crush-with

 

[Watcher]

Speaking as a Canadian. I don't think gun control is the answer in the US.

The US is full of guns. Something like there are 10 guns for every one person. There's so many guns if you tried to create stricter laws you'd just cause a black market to erupt. Something that would cause further problems.

There's also the case that in a lot of mass shooter instances, they get these guns illegally, and in states that already have tight gun restrictions. (I can remember Elliot Rodger who lived in California, and stabbed two of his victims).

I think the best solution has more to do with giving people superior access to mental health facilities. Something the Government is extremely apathetic toward and something big pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in keeping for profit.

I don't see a broad strokes Federal gun control bill as doing anything more than causing more problems.

 

[MrTroll]

The US is full of guns. Something like there are 10 guns for every one person. There's so many guns if you tried to create stricter laws you'd just cause a black market to erupt. Something that would cause further problems.

That's crazy talk. We ban drugs and those are almost impossible to find illegally.

 

[autisticdragonkin]

There's a lot of different stories about both of them, it's hard to know exactly what to believe. I think Dylan did have an 18 year old girlfriend, but I don't know how far that went, really. I believe Dylan had friends, but Eric was more of an outcast himself, from what I've heard.

So many myths and stories, but very little hard evidence.

I have heard the exact opposite
Dylan was the outcast and Eric was the popularish one.

 

[Duke Nukem]

I have heard the exact opposite
Dylan was the outcast and Eric was the popularish one.

It depends on what source you're looking at, I know that neither one was considered a member of the "in" crowd though. Certainly not on the level of the football team, at least. But yeah, there's a lot of misinformation going around about the event.

 

[Sanshain]

The media is also at fault in a lot of school shooting cases, at least when it comes to inspiring 'copycat' crimes and encouraging the perception that it's a fast way into the history books.

This video (narrated by Totalbiscuit of all people) provides quite a comprehensive explanation of this phenomenon, and I'm sure there are others out there if you look hard enough.

 

[Marvin]

Gun control is like trying to prevent drunk driving by making it tougher for sober people to own cars.

I don't follow.

The aim of gun control isn't to make it harder to own guns, it just makes the system more responsible. Perhaps training, registration and background checks might have the unintended consequence of making it harder to own guns, but in the same way that requiring new drivers take a class and get licensed might make it harder to own a car. It's a trivial tradeoff.

What sort of gun control could possibly have that serious an impact on owning guns?

 

[Duke Nukem]

I don't follow.

The aim of gun control isn't to make it harder to own guns, it just makes the system more responsible. Perhaps training, registration and background checks might have the unintended consequence of making it harder to own guns, but in the same way that requiring new drivers take a class and get licensed might make it harder to own a car. It's a trivial tradeoff.

What sort of gun control could possibly have that serious an impact on owning guns?

It was a quote I read on IGN in someone's signature, not sure where it originated. In theory, that may be the case, but in practice, it doesn't really do much to "make the system responsible." The quote is not about the intent, but rather, the actual effect, and rather, touches on human nature in general.

The point is, even the best intentioned things don't always have the desired effect. People will drive drunk, or commit violent crimes, regardless of how hard it is for sober people to own cars, or for law-abiding citizens to own firearms. I'm fine with things like background checks and stuff, but I think banning rifles because of trivial cosmetic features, such as having a threaded muzzle or a pistol-style grip, is asinine as all fuck.

 

[Hummingbird]

Nah man, what would make you think that? Just cuz I'm kinda liberal and love surfing does not mean I am from California, bro. When I am not hear on the kiwi board, I am totally on my surfboard, dude.

Seriously, I am pretty conservative on some things and actually believe that some gun ownership is good. I just want tougher standards and people to be responsible with weapons. We have too many idiots in the US who are careless with weapons and no place for crazy people to be treated and locked away when they need it. Just like the first amendment has limitations, the second should too.

I cannot yell fire in a crowded theatre or slander someone with my freedom of speech, because that would be irresponsible and it harms others.

Is it too much to ask for people to have any standards or responsibility for gun ownership and sales activity? Rights have responsibilities attached to them. They are always double edged swords.

I agree with you. Sometimes a number pro-gun advocates are their own cause's worst enemy. From the ones that bring high-powered rifles into public places where everyone can see them to the ones that act like its an automatic badass pass, all they're doing is scaring people, acting like an attention whore (for the first) and being careless. Despite how nutty he got, I think Jesse Ventura said it best, "Guns are tools used to kill and should be respected as that."

 

[Watcher]

The media is also at fault in a lot of school shooting cases, at least when it comes to inspiring 'copycat' crimes and encouraging the perception that it's a fast way into the history books.

This video (narrated by Totalbiscuit of all people) provides quite a comprehensive explanation of this phenomenon, and I'm sure there are others out there if you look hard enough.

The unfortunate reality of this is that the media isn't going to change

Fear mongering is big buisiness. It's been proven people are more likely to tune in to a story of a school shooting than they are for something like a political speech or a news story of an event overseas. This is why they focus so much on the killer and why they focus so much on details like the body count. Perpetuating this fear of mass shooters and giving these killers more motivation to commit these acts makes them more money both short term and long term.

While I would agree if the media stopped doing this there'd be less mass shootings. I don't see it happening.

 

[wheat pasta]

A couple of years ago, there was a shooting at a mall near where I used to live. The guy managed (if I recall correctly) to kill three people before someone else, a man with a concealed carry permit, took him down with his own gun to prevent any more lives being lost.
With gun control, would that situation have still occurred? I can't really say, but I can't help thinking guns are not the root of the problem.

Really, it's a sticky issue and I don't think there's a simple way to fix this by any stretch of the imagination. Better awareness of severe mental health issues in individuals is a good step, but not even that measure alone can totally eradicate the problem.
Neither would getting rid of guns help the issue, as many others have stated it's easy enough to acquire them illegally.
Certainly, keeping firearms around has not helped substantially to prevent mass shootings either.

Of course, the media is a good chunk of the problem as well, as others before me have said. The people pushing these headlines don't care about anything except getting more attention and spreading chaos, which I think is a hideous thing to do in the face of tragedy.
How, then, do we identify the core issues? It's rather a tangled web and I'm afraid the people in charge of this country are, well... idiots.

 

[Dudeofteenage]

I don't see a broad strokes Federal gun control bill as doing anything more than causing more problems.

I think you're partly right. The USA has deeper problems than access to guns, although I'd point the finger at economic inequality more than mental health.

But on the other hand, I find the idea that an armed populace is some kind of democratic necessity deeply ridiculous so it's hard not to argue against it even if it isn't the singular cause of gun violence.

 

[Watcher]

But on the other hand, I find the idea that an armed populace is some kind of democratic necessity deeply ridiculous so it's hard not to argue against it even if it isn't the singular cause of gun violence.

Now that I'm in agreement with. The thought that you require guns to fight a tyrannical government in the modern day is very silly and as history has shown would be a completely one sided altercation. Especially given how militarized the police and military are.