<p>I am growing increasingly horrified that because the Mother was found in the home shot in the face that the issue behind identifying the children (and therefore removing their bodies) is that they too were shot in the face making their identities very hard to determine for anyone. </p>
<p>But I agree that now is the time to talk about gun control in this country. The NRA’s battle cry of Guns don’t kill people, people kill people is absurd. It is easier to get a gun in this country than it is to adopt a pet. It was reported that on the day after thanksgiving more requests went through than any other time in history. Even if you believe in the 2nd amendment, who needs assault rifles? Who needs multiple rounds fired? And even if it is the case that people bought guns following a home invasion resulting in the death of a woman and two children, do we really believe that if that homeowner had had a gun, he would have had time to get the gun and use it? </p>
<p>While it would take a while to see widespread acceptance of a society that makes gun ownership unlawful (and yes, it would take a while for the law to catch up with the unlawful), it would happen. We regulate all kinds of things in this country due to the irresponsibility of a few - banking, food, drugs, etc. on and on and on. And yet, we sell guns and have conceal and carry laws protecting gun owners…</p>
<p>Just answer this… who’s protecting 5 year old kindergarteners? How much insanity is this country willing to accept because if nothing else, guns that can fire 100 of rounds have no place in a civilized society. None.</p>
<p>I apparently offended a coworker today by mentioning the words “gun” and “control” in the same sentence (he is a gun owner and dealer and competitive marksman). He responded by saying it’s not the guns, it’s the people, and it happens everywhere. He mentioned that unstable people in other societies just use different weapons. Yeah, but the 22 kids attacked in a Chinese school today by a knife-wielding freak are ALIVE.</p>
<p>There are several petitions out on the White House petition website on this topic now (where people can create petitions for things they want the WH to address). There is one that seems to be gaining steam with about 45,000 signatures so far to introduce gun control legislation in Congress.</p>
<p>So apparently the guns were purchased by and legally registered to the killer’s mother Nancy. She was a kindergarten teacher. Even with more gun control, would she be rejected?</p>
<p>No with control she wouldnt be rejected- but.
The gun used in the Clackamas shooting earlier this week was stolen, the guns used today were not used by their owner.
I think people need to take more seriously their responsibilites when purchasing weapons & one of those is to keep it away from anyone but the legal owner.
I also think if we had a higher bar to obtaining them, people might do so.
We have to pass a test to drive a car, we have to renew the liscense, our car has to pass safety checks, & we have to insure each one seperately.</p>
<p>“So apparently the guns were purchased by and legally registered to the killer’s mother Nancy. She was a kindergarten teacher. Even with more gun control, would she be rejected?”</p>
<p>Yes if the law says you cannot own a gun like in Japan. Or if you cannot own more than one semi automatic gun that you can quickly change large clip of ammo or you can’t get a clip that is more than 5-6 rounds at a time. All these things can make a huge difference, it depends what you mean by gun control. The question again, why do you need all these fire powers? Why does a school teacher need an assault rifle?</p>
<p>emerald, It wasn’t as easy as you think for us to get a legal gun here in NY. It involved getting written character references, background check, waiting period, and then the sheriff came to our house to interview me (spouse of the person requesting gun license). Sheriff stayed at the house quite a while explaining everything from storage safety to how to contact the dept. if needed. He also made a point of telling me that if I ever felt threatened, felt there was a change in personality (mental health), or wanted the gun out of the house, I could call and the dept. would come and remove the gun.</p>
<p>On the other hand, obtaining an illegal gun is another story.</p>
<p>I still believe the problem is multi-pronged.
violent culture
mental illness care (lack of) and the laws involving mental illness (can’t make someone get help)
<p>^Your statement is pure supposition. You don’t know what a 20 year old with autistic tendency can or cannot do given whatever situation he got into. If the guns were not there in the house for easy access, maybe this would never have happened.</p>
<p>TatinG - if his mother hadn’t owned the guns, this gunman wouldn’t have had access. She wouldn’t have been shot and 20 five year olds would be home tonight instead of dead. I do not want to debate who can and who can’t have guns… but the other day in MN a man killed his own granddaughter because he thought it was an intruder in the house. When you look at the statistics of the rest of the world, we are on the wrong on our gun laws.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine why anyone would say or believe that. This disturbed individual was able to get guns because they were right there at hand. There’s a huge difference between grabbing guns that are available, versus going out to buy a gun and having to endure filling out an application, waiting through waiting period, and enduring a check for sanity (which he might not have passed). There’s no reason to believe this shooter was an arch-criminal plotting in his lair. </p>
<p>You can’t just grab a gun and shoot if there is no gun there to be grabbed.</p>
<p>TatinG, I wonder what happen when you use a gun as supposed to when you use drugs or alcohol? I wonder if you know the potential and proportional difference in outcome of their usage each and every time they are being utilized? And you call yourself a realist?</p>
<p>The mother owned the guns legally. Maybe the mother was foolish to own guns when her son had mental problems but the law can do nothing about that. </p>
<p>This kid didn’t just grab the guns and go. He had on a bullet proof vest. He’d planned this thing. I don’t think it was just spur of the moment. </p>
<p>The only place I’ve ever seen a machine gun is in a restaurant in Switzerland. Every young man in there had one slung over the back of his chair. All families have their military grade weapons stored at home! Yet they don’t have the gun violence we have. I doubt they have any sort of violent crime, stabbings, arson, etc. that we have. Part of it is the small size of the place but I suspect it’s because they are a close knit country with strong feelings of community. They likely know who the deranged ones are in town and watch out for them.</p>