Another day, another gun massacre

[Cyrano]

Last edited Fri Apr 16, 2021, 12:15 PM - Edit history (1)

We know that most of the civilized world considers America insane when it comes to guns. They're right.

Steps such as "background checks" and "closing loopholes" will do nothing, zero, zip. So here's what I propose. Ban all semiautomatic rifles and pistols. (A semiautomatic is any gun that fires multiple times by just repeatedly pulling the trigger.) This would not stop every lunatic from using guns to attack and kill people, but it would drastically lower the body count.

The reason I'm limiting a proposed ban to semiautomatics is in answer to everyone who likes target practice and/or wants the means to defend their home. Any rifle or pistol which requires you to take some action (pull back a bolt, or cock a hammer) before firing the next shot is sufficient for target practice and home defense.

So who is it that wants an arsenal of high capacity semiautomatics? The military and, in some cases the police, are the only ones who require them. Then there are zealots who want an arsenal to be prepared for when the black helicopters are in flight, and roving, heavily armed bands of "The Wrong Kind of People" are on the attack. These people need psychoanalysis far more than they need guns.

The reality though is that absolutely nothing will happen. The political will of the powers that be won't allow it. So my best advice to all is to practice falling to the floor at a moments notice whenever you're outside. And when you're at home, stay away from the windows. I know it's difficult to live that way, but I doubt very much if we'll see an alternative in our lifetimes.

[secondwind]

1. We are living in strange times, indeed.

This is why we moved to the Caribbean. The pace of life is not frantic, people actually have a conversation with a stranger, etc.

[SoCalDavidS]

7. I Envy You

I'm well on my way out once my parents are no longer alive. I hope it's not too late.

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Where in the Caribbean?

[world wide wally]

2. The ONLY group of people in the world that oppose any kind of gun control are elected Republicans

[hack89]

12. And Democratic Senators from swing states

Let’s remember who killed the AWB after Sandy Hook.

[Ocelot II]

3. I don't disagree with the concept - no civilian needs those things - but

how can it be done? If you are advocating the confiscation of existing weapons from private owners who bought them legally (even if they are compensated), the political blowback would be enormous; I don't think any politician would touch that idea. If the idea is to prohibit selling, manufacturing or importing them, what's to be done with the existing weapons in private hands? There are more guns in this country already than there are people (not all of them semiautomatic, of course), and guns don't deteriorate much over time. Those will still be around pretty much forever. Most people don't buy new ones because their old ones wore out, but because they think more guns = more power or testosterone or some damn thing. It seems that any attempt to restrict the availability of guns makes more people want to buy them. So if you can't legally get your hands on more guns for your arsenal you'll get them illegally via the internet, and it won't be very difficult.

This is not to say we shouldn't try to do something. I just don't know what will work; the problem isn't just the guns themselves, it's the culture that makes people think they need them. They have perversely become a symbol of America and individualism and freedumb, and I don't know how to fix that.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

4. Great post!!!!!

We need to change the violent culture in this country to have effective gun control.

Unfortunately, I fear I won't be around to see this happen, but perhaps my children's children will live to see it happen.

[Cyrano]

5. We could always ban all

ammunition and the fixings for making your own ammo at home.

That way, nothing would have to be confiscated.

However, here too, no politician would touch this. Too bad human beings won't put people in power who will do the right thing rather than start running for reelection on the same day they're elected.

[hack89]

13. That would be a defacto ban and therefore unconstitutional

The SC takes a dim view of back door end arounds of constitutional rights.

[YMB]

14. Gun control in this country

IMO is a lost cause. You will NEVER get the kind of support you need to enact anything meaningful. Theres too much opposition even in own parties. Too many people feel the need to own one due to a whole host of other problem. As you said if ANYTHING happens it pretty much means more guns are going to get sold in a country that already has more guns than it does people. Hell the US alone has something like 50% of the WORLDS entire assortment of small arms.

Even in the past year because everything that has happened people who where anti gun forever now feel the need to buy one. I personally know 3 people in my life who have never owned a gun or wanted to who now own one (or several) specifically because of the increase in cop shootings, racist attacks, right-wing militias, capital storming ect. and just the sheer unease of the country they live in. Everything seems up in the air and uncertain.

If you want to change anything then you need to start at the core. Start to tackle the issues assorted with the unease and you will reform the will of the people so they dont feel like they need one. Forcibly taking away the item just increases their will to feel like they need it and given this country they probably will get it anyway.

[SoCalDavidS]

6. You're Right, NOTHING Will Happen

Background checks, closing loopholes, things you say that are insufficient, THESE WON'T HAPPEN. Forget about anything that will have an impact.

We're a PATHETIC fucking country, always have been, always will be.

When my parents are no longer alive, I will be looking to get the hell out. I cannot take the day to day bullshit anymore.

[BoringUsername]

8. I think even most Americans consider US gun policies insane

But we don't seem to have the majority running the show largely because of the Senate and the Electoral College.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. Isn't it nice to see things getting back to normal?

Of all the things we've missed during the Pandemic, how many of us missed daily mass shootings? Be honest now.

I hope no one thinks I need the sarcasm thingy here.

[Cyrano]

11. I have to admit that I thought the murder of children in Newtown, CT

would force change to happen.

First responders who were on the site will never get those images out of their heads. Some of them were war veterans who had seen bodies before. But that's not the same as seeing the horror of a scene with children as young as six or seven. And the agony of the parents of those children is unimaginable.

Yet, even this changed nothing. Anyone who knows of Newtown, has the power to bring about change yet does nothing, has no soul.