Sen. Feinstein To Introduce "Assault Weapon" Ban

[unregistered]

 

[Ishmael]

It didn't help much.



Actually what’s your plan?

You appear to be against any form of gun control and call it unworkable if it was on the table (despite it being effect in all other western nations).

Rightly, you point out that being mentally ill isn’t a criminal offense and how could you imprison anyone for being mentally ill who hadn’t committed a criminal offense anyway.

With that attitude there is no other possible solution and ask the reader to accept the current status quo; that being the murder/slaughter of innocent men, women and especially children on a regular basis.

So what is your solution to reduce murder and mass murders in your country to the levels enjoyed by other comparable western nations?

Woof!

One way of looking at it.

Murder by firearms has been dropping dramatically in the US. This has occurred in spite of (some suggest because of) a significant increase in gun ownership. (And even including the slaughter in CT the numbers are projected to fall for 2012 as well.)

Looking at the FBI's UCR numbers we find that almost 50% of all firearm homicides are committed by blacks with the victims also being black. Obviously outlawing black ownership of firearms should have the immediate effect of cutting our murder rate by firearms in half. But no one is going to seriously suggest that, The subject won't even be brought up. We've become far too 'sensitive' for that discussion to ever take place.

The FBI has all sorts of statistics about firearms and gunfights. The avg. gunfight lasts 2.3 sec. with an avg of 3 rounds being expended. The banning of hi-capacity magazines would have very little impact on the over whelming majority of firearm crimes.

Rifles (including the so called 'assault' rifles) were used in less than 0.5% (323) of homicides. As a matter of fact there were more murders committed with blunt instruments (495) and fists (723), and we won't even bring up edged weapons (1,694). The numbers just don't support the drama.

Returning to the black crime issue, the blacks in the US represent 13% of the general population yet they represent 50% of all firearm homicides. No one is going to suggest that we strip the black community of their 2nd amendment rights based on the out of control homicide numbers. That would be punishing a racial group based on solid statistics. Instead more than a few politicos are suggesting that everyone be punished. That's 'fair' in their minds.

How does that square with the notion that we cannot institutionalize the mentally ill based on the notion that they might commit a violent crime? Aren't the proponents of gun bans demanding the stripping of rights from the entire population based on the notion that they might commit a violent crime?

We see how well those bans have worked in the UK and the land of Oz, which according the Crime Victimization Report issued by the Hague, are the two most crime ridden nations in the industrialized world. (It's as if they're in competition for the top spot.) And while those nations have an admittedly low firearm murder rate (although that too is on the rise), rape, burglary, robbery, and general thuggish behavior is off the charts. The US comes in a distant 12th on that survey. (Perusing the latest report it appears that the Irish have decided to take the lead and Oz has fallen dramatically. Actually the Oz numbers have fallen an astonishing 40% which should raise a big red methodology flag. The UK is still #2.)

You seem to want to see the general public disarmed, I want to see the mentally ill get help, early, often and whether they want it or not.

Ishmael

 

[SeaDaddy1]

Their opinion differs from yours as to the role that access to firearms plays in these tragedies.

Do you think it's appropriate to consider the need for better mental health care in light of this tragedy? Or is that an offensive personal agenda, too?

Guns don't think. People do. I don't see how the paranoia of over analyzing every person in the world is going to help.

I grew up with guns as a way of life, but the people I know don't go around shooting people. They know how and when to use their guns. There is a time and place for everything.

Most people are against legal gun ownership simply because they haven't taken the time to educate themselves. People are afraid of things they don't understand.

 

[cjh]

Guns don't think. People do. I don't see how the paranoia of over analyzing every person in the world is going to help.

I grew up with guns as a way of life, but the people I know don't go around shooting people. They know how and when to use their guns. There is a time and place for everything.

Most people are against legal gun ownership simply because they haven't taken the time to educate themselves. People are afraid of things they don't understand.

There's obviously room for disagreement there.

Do you think now is an inappropriate time to consider the adequacy of mental health care in our country?

 

[unregistered]

 

[phrodeau]

Phro, shut the fuck up. You're making a fool of yourself (even more than usual.)

So far, I've heard that one might need to spray bullets in all directions, and that it's fun to do so. Neither argument is very convincing, but at least they tried.

 

[Weird Harold]

Actually Harold the pics BB linked were of the M1A, the civilian version of the M14 Rifle which do use interchangeable magazines, not the WWII M1 Garand battle rifle which uses an en bloc magazine.

I meant interchangeable between the two rifles depicted, not replacing one magazine with another of the same format.

 

[Byron In Exile]

Their opinion differs from yours as to the role that access to firearms plays in these tragedies.

I have access to my firearms at all times.

 

[Byron In Exile]

Every gun owner has access to their firearms.

Are you all idiots?

 

[unregistered]

 

[unregistered]

 

[Byron In Exile]

And as I recall Heller mentioned that requiring them to be locked up in the home was in fact denying their use and unconstitutional.

The Federal government has no authority to require anyone to lock up their guns, or lock up their bunny slippers, or their teddy bears.

 

[Weird Harold]

I must have misunderstood your comment. The pics I'm referring to are the same rifle, only with different stacks and barrel lengths, same exact external magazine fed action.

I was referring to these two images:

http://cdn1.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd_images/bgprod/14303.jpg
http://cdn1.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd_images/bgprod/7-GBCWA3F16M4.jpg

 

[unregistered]

 

[mercury14]

Given the mental health aspect of this tragedy, will Republicans try to push Medicaid cuts as part of the current deficit reduction talks?

 

[julybaby04]

Given the mental health aspect of this tragedy, will Republicans try to push Medicaid cuts as part of the current deficit reduction talks?

Have no idea about your question there.....but I don't think makes any difference to those talks. This family was apparently wealthy and could have access (and maybe even did...who knows?) to whatever treatment was needed for Adam.

If anything it shows that there is more to a person than money......and having access to things. Medicaid was not a part of any of this.

 

[mercury14]

Have no idea about your question there.....but I don't think makes any difference to those talks. This family was apparently wealthy and could have access (and maybe even did...who knows?) to whatever treatment was needed for Adam.

If anything it shows that there is more to a person than money......and having access to things. Medicaid was not a part of any of this.

Not this one in particular but Medicaid provides mental health care to millions. Both inpatient and outpatient for very sick and dangerous people. Want to get rid of it?

 

[koalabear]

Not this one in particular but Medicaid provides mental health care to millions. Both inpatient and outpatient for very sick and dangerous people. Want to get rid of it?

The three largest mental health facilities in the country are in prisons.