If it weren't for the context, the irony could almost be funny.

[conuly]

While the NRA Was on TV Talking About the Need for More Guns Some Guy Was Walking Up and Down a Road in Pennsylvania Shooting People

http://gawker.com/5970497/while-the-nra-was-on-tv-talking-about-the-need-for-more-guns-some-guy-was-walking-up-and-down-a-road-in-pennsylvania-shooting-people

Comments

[marveen.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but it's the truth. Some truths may hurt, but that doesn't make them any less true.

A. The bad guys will get ahold of guns. Smuggled guns, guns it is illegal for them to own (or in some cases, even be in the same room with), homemade "zip" guns whipped up from plumbing supplies, guns it is illegal to import, stolen guns, looted guns, even guns the shooter murders his own mother to obtain (cf. sandy hook).

B. The only thing that fights guns firing AT YOU is guns firing back. Singing, chanting, shouting, logic, quoting (the law/the bible/shakespeare), sweet reason, most everything else fails (cf. standard police procedure). Sometimes, granted, all it takes is the THREAT of guns firing back (cf. clackamas).

C. Finally, no amount of legislation, wishing, hoping, public disapprobation, ranting, raving, or public displays of pathologic hoplophobia will make guns suddenly cease to exist. (Cf. point A, above.)

I'll close by saying I, too, disagree with the NRA's proposal to put a police officer in every school. It won't work, it's expensive, and it's one of those notorious compromises the NRA is (in)famous for.

Would you like to discuss "gun free zones" as well?

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

What that one commenter said: "Ok, so post armed guards in every school, movie theatre, mall and grocery store. What's next? Armed guards in libraries, churches, bars and restaurants, office buildings, dry cleaners, gas stations, virtually every place normal people go on a daily basis? Is that really more effective than an assault weapons ban, heavy taxation on guns and ammo, federal registration and stricter gun prosecution?"

I would add to that, firearms licenses - just like drivers' licenses, with learners' permits issued at 16 after the passing of a written test, and a required safety class for those under 21; a hands-on safety test before getting a license, and provisional licenses with restrictions for those under 21. Medical restrictions, just like with drivers' licenses, such as 12 months free of psychiatric medication. Registration AND insurance required on all firearms, just like motor vehicles.

It ain't rocket science, sheesh - we do it for automobiles, because cars kill people even though that isn't the purpose for which they were designed; why would we not do it for firearms, which are designed to kill? Can you picture how it'd be if we had a National Racing Association always lobbying Congress to disallow 'car control', the same way the NRA does about gun control? Suppose 'car control' was disallowed, but the Highway Patrol was tripled; would that help?

Sure, the 'bad guys' will always get hold of guns illegally, the same way they'll always get hold of cars illegally. Does that mean that there's no point in making it less easy for them? If liability insurance was required on firearms, and the insurance rates were based on safety-and-security criteria, wouldn't there be a lot less theft, not to mention a lot fewer civilian citizens owning guns in the first place?

Yes, Adam Lanza murdered his own mother to obtain her guns. Why did this woman have all these weapons of war in her house in the first place? Why were they accessible to her emotionally-disturbed, psychoactively-drugged, violent-game-addicted young son? From the little information available about her, she sounds very much like the kind of person who ought never to have guns at all - unfortunately, a lot of those are the ones who most want to have them.