Help me respond to a pro-gun blurb on FB

[Orrex]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Sissyk (a host of the General Discussion forum).

One of my "friends" wondered why so many mass shootings happen in "gun free" zones, and a predictable torrent of "I agree" replies appeared minutes. One of the replies asserted "There has only been one mass shooting in America outside of a gun free zone."

That simply doesn't seem right to me. Is it? Can someone point me to facts-n-figures on this particular statistic?


Thanks awfully!

[Blanket Statements]

1. No it's not right. Most public areas are not gun free zones

There have been mass shootings in restaurants and on city streets

[Orrex]

2. Thanks

I'm sure he's referring to school shootings specifically, but that conveniently omits a ton of other shootings, because those don't help him prop up his agenda.

[Kaleva]

3. Here's a link to a list of the 25 deadliest mass shootings

Most of them are not in what one would consider "gun free zones".

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/16/us/20-deadliest-mass-shootings-in-u-s-history-fast-facts/

[Orrex]

5. Excellent information. Thanks! (nt)

[Lizzie Poppet]

4. The assertion is false.

While it is true that the rather large majority of such killings in recent times occurred in places where weapons are not permitted (EDIT: to anyone not law enforcement), there are multiple exceptions to that rule, and certainly not all of them during earlier times when gun-free zones were uncommon. This Wiki page, listing US mass killings, contains several examples: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mass_murder_in_the_United_States

[Orrex]

6. Also terrific info. Thanks! (nt)

[Lizzie Poppet]

7. You're welcome!

Depressing page, but good info...

[world wide wally]

8. I would ask them to point out one incident where an armed civilian stopped a mass

shooting by taking out the shooter.

[Orrex]

11. Good idea!

Actually, no one has replied to the thread since I posted my initial response a few hours ago. In it, I pointed out that the problem isn't "gun free zones," but rather that murderous, psychotic assholes can get their hands on guns more readily than they can get mental healthcare, thanks in large measure to Reagan's disastrous policies. I appear to have quenched their fires of righteous indignation, at least for now.

When the conversation picks up again, I'll raise your point and see how they respond.

[Ranchemp.]

16. 1997-Pearl High School-Pearl, MS.

Asst. Principal Joel Myrick went to his vehicle and retrieved his personal .45 and confronted Luke Woodham who had already killed 2 students.

There are other instances also of an armed citizen stopping potential mass shootings.

[NYC_SKP]

17. I dunno. Google took me to an article describing 9 such incidents:

Of course, because the mass shootings didn't occur, they didn't make big news.

9 Potential Mass Shootings That Were Stopped By Someone With A Personally Owned Firearm

Can law-abiding citizens with guns combat mass shootings? posted on September 17, 2013 at 7:45pm EDT


1. The Pearl High School shooting



Oct. 1, 1997
Luke Woodham fatally stabbed and bludgeoned his mother and went on to kill two students and injure seven others at his high school. Woodham was stopped by Assistant Principal Joel Myrick, a U.S. Army Reserve commander, who detained Woodham by using a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol he kept in his truck, until authorities could show up.

Myrick stopped Woodham from going across the street to the middle school.

2. The Parker Middle School dance shooting



April 24, 1998
Andrew Wurst showed up to his middle school dance with his .25-caliber pistol. He fired it, killing a teacher, wounding a second one, and injuring two students. The 14-year-old’s shoot-out lasted about 20 minutes. It was ended when James Strand, the owner of the banquet hall the dance was happening in, confronted Wurst with his personal shotgun. He ordered Wurst to drop his weapon and held the teenager in place for 11 minutes before finally getting him to drop the weapon and lie on the ground, and then searched him for other weapons.


And seven more at the article:



http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/10-potential-mass-shootings-that-were-stopped-by-someone-wit

[LeftyMom]

9. Navy Yard. Fort Hood. nt

[firsttimer]

13. That was gun free

Not a good example

[LeftyMom]

14. "That" is not a word used to refer to two items without further specification. Learn to English.

[firsttimer]

15. I had a cat on my lap top

but you are correct and funny

[seveneyes]

19. Kind of like verbing a proper noun?

[LeftyMom]

21. Yes, I personally invented that particular construction. It's entirely new to the internet.

[johnp3907]

10. Two possible responses:

"Unfriend" or "Block User."

[Orrex]

12. Planning to, but I want to see how it plays out first.

[seveneyes]

18. Stopping a shooter is difficult without a weapon

That's why people intent on mass murder choose unarmed locations and people.

[Orrex]

20. That's why they're asserting that there should be no "gun free" zones.

Maternity wards, public libraries, daycare centers. All of these and more should be staffed and populated by heavily armed civilians.

[Sissyk]

22. Locking

Against SOP for GD. Please consider reposting in one of the gun groups.