FBI

The Gun is Only One Element

Following school shootings people naturally react by wanting a solution that will prevent such terrible events. The availability of guns is blamed, seemingly foremost. And something is wrong when young people are able to get their hands on guns.

But a deeper cause of violent behavior is more important than guns. There is a disturbing disorder in the mind and emotions of kids who incline toward lethal violence against others. What do we know about preventing such psychological pathologies?

Evil children find ways of hurting others even when no guns are available.

As a species and society we need to explore the root causes of anti-social behavior and stop wasting time blaming guns.

Our radio stations are part of the conversation with news accounts of tragic events and certain battle songs from time to time.

Banning guns is not the answer although in a civilized society why does anyone need one, but the point is here in Canada it's not like the US. You don't have the right to bare arms and guns can't be had by anyone except farmers and hunters with lots of rules and qualifications to get a rifle.

But still someone who wants a handgun can get one illegally. Even when they are banned if they want to do a crime.

While I don't own any guns - although I used to own a pistol about 20 years ago which I eventually traded for a set of wheel rims for my 69 Ford RV - but other than that and a few target range and skeet shooting I did in my late teens, I've never really had much of a gun orientated mindset.

But.. I honestly beleive that the objective behind banning gun ownership to the general public has little to do with actually protecting the public, and more to do with weakening resistence should the crap ever hit the fan. -- It's a matter of control, not public safety.

I think the goverment actually likes it when these senseless shooting occur as it gives them more leverage to taking away the right to bear arms.

Even if they make guns illegal to posess, a criminal will find a way to get one.
Just because high powered transmitters are illegal to use without a license doesn't mean any one can't buy or build one and broadcast beyond the legal limits of part 15.

Street racing with motorcycles and import cars is technically illegal and yet it still happens everyday on the interstates and backroads.

It is human nature to go against the grain, even if it is wrong. We are to a degree, hard wired to be rebels. Some people more than others. Banning anything will NOT stop people from gaining access to the things that they want the most.

As for these school shootings, this is a push for eventually banning the public from having a gun. It won't stop these mentally disturbed individuals from destroying other people. Some of this crap is copy cat crimes, another way to get famous quick, which seems to be the thing nowadays. Everyone wants to be noticed in a big big way, even if it is sick.
Richpowers said it well,

"

But.. I honestly beleive that the objective behind banning gun ownership to the general public has little to do with actually protecting the public, and more to do with weakening resistence should the crap ever hit the fan. -- It's a matter of control, not public safety.

I think the goverment actually likes it when these senseless shooting occur as it gives them more leverage to taking away the right to bear arms."

We are well on our way to a police state in America. Total control of the masses at all times. Big Brother didn't go to sleep, he's been creeping around in the shadows.
1984 has come to be.

Barry
BBR 1200 AM

if guns are a right then healthcare should be a right as well so the victims of these mass shootings don't need to set up a go fund me account to pay their medical bills (which funds are taxable btw) and if the mass shooter has an estate or in the case of a minor the parents, then that estate should be forfeited to the government to offset the medical bills and / or burial costs of the victims.

How do you explain the fact that in every country with gun control, crime rates and mass shootings go down significantly.

I agree that guns are not the problem.  People are the problem. Something has changed.  When I was a kid we had a rifle team in our high school and no one was hurt.  I took a gun to school for show and tell in the 4th grade and no one was hurt. 

"How do you explain the fact that in every country with gun control, crime rates and mass shootings go down significantly."

One cannot explain this because it is not generally true.  Where did you get your information?

Here's a link which you might find interesting.  Note that there are many references in the bibliography supporting the statements made.

http://www.gunfacts.info/gun-control-myths/guns-in-other-countries/

Do a web search on "Britain gun control crime rates" and you will find many credible sources on the topic.

 We need to find another solution(s) to this problem.

It's amazing the amount of misinformation 'out there' that attempts to legitimize gun ownership.

I thought it was fairly obvious that my statement referred to violent gun-related crime, since I lumped mass shootings into the statement.  If, in fact, you google homicide and gun control you will find numerous references to the links between ownership of guns and violent crime.  Here's one: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/firearms-research/guns-and-death/

Australia is notable in that there hasn't been a single mass shooting since they instituted strict gun control laws (as a result of a severe incident).

Unfortunately, the Internet link given in the previous post - The Gun Control Project - demonstrates that there are lies, damn lies and statistics.  Never mind that there is no obvious individual or set of individuals who are willing to step forward and claim that website (other than to ask for donations, to promote books and attack those of the left political persuasion who have differing viewpoints).

I read somewhere that the popularity of violent video games is a possible cause of stone cold violence by immature males.

At that same time I had my own impression that action movies should be suspected as probable promoters of violent behavior.

During spare time I find free movies on YouTube and am astonished by the huge number of mafia, dirty cop, crime spree and other films based on winning by having a loaded gun in hand when the adversary runs out of bullets.

In these movies the top killers are the best dressed, most respected, have all the girls and ride in the back of a stretch limo.

Young people who don't get adulation from sporting achievements could easily try compensating by holding a gun.

here is a thought,,,

If little Johnnie or Jane shoots up a school and it is found that the parents knew or should have known the child was disturbed and/or it is found that the child used firearms obtained from the parents then the parents should be held just as legally liable as the minor and all the parents assets should be confiscated by the federal government to help offset the costs (victims medical and/or burial costs) involved in the shooting and in the case of an adult in addition to criminal penalties imposed all assets and monies should be confiscated by the government to help offset costs to the victims.

I'm sure it would comfort me greatly if I was shot dead by little Johnnie but knew that the government was going to get paid.

Part15Engineer thinks: "If it is found that the parents knew or should have known the child was disturbed and/or it is found that the child used firearms obtained from the parents then the parents should be held just as legally liable as the minor and all the parents assets should be confiscated by the federal government to help offset the costs."

The first half of that might be unmanagable for two reasons: 1.)  It is likely that an enormous number of youngsters are "disturbed" and it is not likely parents will make good judges of what the children are capable of doing; 2.) But it does seem reasonable to hold parents liable if their own weapons are mismanaged.

Our religiously directed society places virtual life sentences on parenthood, even pressuring parents to have children they may not want. Given the punitive nature of regulating parenthood we should exercise caution in judging people trying to live under life's pressures; they may not have any clue that their child might resort to a school massacre.

Finding one day that one's son is a murderer is a major trauma already amounting to punishment. Taking their property away is likely to penalize other siblings who did no wrong.

The only solution is to stop the proliferation of guns.

You do that by:

1.  Making it impossible for those with mental issues or a criminal past to legally obtain or own a gun.

2.  Making it more difficult and time consuming and expensive for ordinary individuals who have no need to own a gun to legally obtain one.  Many will likely not bother

3. Increasing the penalties for the illegal use and ownership of guns.

Those that truly need a gun, or think they do, and are willing to take the time and effort, will still be able to get one.

You can't stop someone obtaining a gun who is willing to plan and illegally obtain one.  You CAN stop people from grabbing a readily available gun on the spur of the moment and using it in an emotional or unstable outburst.

Sure, there's still gun violence in countries that have gun control.  We have it here in Vancouver, BC, Canada.  But the majority, if not all, of the shootings are targeted, criminal against criminal.  Few, if any, truly innocent lives are affected.  And in those few cases, it's generally accidental.  Criminal activity is a different situation, which requires a different approach.

So to pick and choose statistics to attempt to say that gun control doesn't stop innocent lives being lost is just being disgenuous at best, and outright false at worst.

I find it amusing that there are still those who promote fear of government, and think gun ownership will somehow stop an out of control administration.  We're long past that point- control is now more about technology, and getting the message out, not force.  The current U.S. administration is an excellent example of that.

Still, there's an entire industry (and a willing government, seemingly at their behest - which should tell you something) promoting the message, and getting rich in the process.

Education and knowledge, not fear and ignorance, is needed.