Another School Massacre in USA

Http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2248651/Connecticut-school-shooting-Pictures-children-killed-rampage-revealed.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

No words to describe what you feel when you see the faces of these lost lovely young rosebuds.

Stricter Gun laws that would have banned semi-automatics would have prevented/minimized the toll in this, the Columbine High and many other shootings where seemingly normal but angry teens got hold of guns easily and took out masses of innocents. It would not prevent serial killers or like. Countries where semi-automatics are completely banned (Canada, India, China, Russia, Australia and many others) do not have senseless massacres of this kind.

EDIT: This happenned in the 5th safest town in America, according to FBI compiled (not voted) statistics. Just goes to show that no place is really safe when guns are free to own and can be accessed by "disturbed" kids and adults. And yet we hesitate to outlaw semi-automatic guns!

EDIT 2: Adam Lanza used a civilian version of the military-style Bushmaster assault rifle, the weapon used by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, to kill all of his victims, in the very school he attended as a little kid, and only fired his handgun once to kill himself. His mom, a "gun enthusiast" owned all the weapons and showed him how to use them......despite the fact that she knew he had Asperger's and other issues...despite the fact that she pulled him out for home schooling for several years becasue of his "social" issues with this unfortunate condition. Who is really to blame here, I wonder?

With the recent event in Connecticut, May God take Care of our Soul. And May more of us find our Spiritual Selves and The Love for our Fellow Man and for Ourselves - in Our Heart and Our Souls. And May we learn to better Respect and Value this Life that God has given us.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand here's Michigan's response to the tragedy. Give out more guns. Smart.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/121214/michigan-approves-concealed-weapons-law-schools-churches

Guns are readily available to any Tom Dick or Harry in the USA and if that doesnt change this will continue to happen

Or you can just shut your eyes...

From 2010-2012 I worked with little kids in an Elementary School. Kindergarteners through second graders. I think of how goofy, clever, helpless, complex, and fragile they were. I started seeing news reports coming in on Friday, and I just couldn't stop thinking of those kids and their hands holding markers, their shoes, their laughs, all those little tiny lives. I sat at home crying. It just completely sickens me. I don't really want to argue about gun control or mental illness right now. I know those things have to happen, but right now I'm just thinking of how it might as well have been those kids I worked on letters with.

Every few months at school we did lockdown drills. I sat with kids in the dark under my desk while the principal and police officer walked around the school checking for locked doors and noises. The kids would giggle, because they got to sit in the dark, and I just kept thinking "they have no idea." You know? They don't know about Columbine and Virginia Tech. They don't know why we're doing this, and I would so wish that they would never have to know. I think there is something completely wrong, that five year olds should have to go to school and prepare for what they would do if a murderer came through the doors and tried to kill them. That stuff belongs in nightmares, not real life. I wish I could send peace to those kids, victims and not, and their families.

I go to other countries to kill evil people has a soldier, I defend my countrymen and women from threats far away, why is it that we couldn't defend the children who are right here at home?

Truly my wishes are extended to the kids that survived, they have to go their entire lives that have only just started with this burden and its such a horrible event to such young and impressionable minds. They will be scared for life

I know it sounds strange but I feel the one the weapons were registered to is in a better place
Last year my great nephew who pleaded guilty to stealing his neighbors guns did not show up at a half way house while on parole. He was discovered by a policeman who fell for the old my id is in the glove box trick but my great nephew was killed as the cop grabbed the door and shot him in the head after being drug. As many of you know I believe along with a few doctors that I have Asperger Syndrome Symptoms but never have been diagnosed with any other mental disorders
I have been obsessed with the Trayvon Martin case and have taken an unpopular position on a few youtube channels that George Zimmerman has a personality disorder (hero complex). I won't waste your time giving each and every reason I never want to own a gun

If you are emotionally involved in that case and believe TM got what was comming to him
do not click on the youtube bellow Bob Dylan parody and imitation. Now is the time for our tears The Lonesome Death Of Trayvon Martin
YT
http://youtu.be/ISRoUxxaUNc
Blowin in the wind
http://youtu.be/tGO8snK98l0
If you want to let it out
May they R.I.P.

The news over heard says that the mother of this person had five firearms registered in her name FIVE!!!! Who needs that many weapons to protect themselves ???? Threeof them, it's reported, were used in this massacre.

For those of you that just skiMMed over THIS tragedy, The mother was the first former teacher and victim of the massacre murdered in her home

Also if you are bored put "culture of life" in your google and click

Although various authors used the term from time to time, the expression "culture of life" entered popular parlance from Pope John Paul II, who first used it in a World Youth Day tour of the United States in 1993 to counter the culture of death

Yes she was Michael and I have read in various forums that...she had five weapons registered in her name and yet was unable to protect herself in the end....how does this sit with people who claim to only have guns for protection?

Exactly, The gun lovers on youtube threw it up in my face" what if the teachers were armed?" If the dog hadn't stopped to s-it it would have got the rabbit!
I have read that more gun owners are injured with their own weapon than are protected from injury by it

Is there actually a limit on how many guns etc a person can actually own over there? I'm sure there must be some sort of register that says how many you already have when you try to purchase another? What about ammunition....is there any form of record to say that you only bought X amount of rounds last week....what did you do with them...why do you need more already? These type of questions which I would have thought were pretty standard?

CNN: Clues to Jared Lee Loughner's mind on YouTube
http://youtu.be/5aQpE5aBn98

The psycho in the above youtube was refused ammo at one Wal-Mart but went to a supper walmart and purchased several hundred rounds for an extended clip. Ran a stop sign and was pulled over by a game warden on his way to his massacre where he killed shot a congress woman before killing six, one of his victims was nine

Hang on a minute.....you can buy bullets in Walmart....you have to be kidding me?

47% of Americans own a gun, a privilege under the 2nd amendment, so it will be hard to ban guns totally. US has the highest gun ownership in the world, 270 million! So fighting a gun crazy society is not going to win votes.

Clinton was the first one to sign a legislation, HR4296, the so-called Assault Weapon's Ban, banning assault/semi-automatic weapons in 1994, but once he left office, the 10-year ban was allowed to expire in 2004. Even when it was a ban, people figured out ways around the legislation. It failed to curb the crime rate, unfortunately. The Dept. of Justice report incorrectly forecasted that the use of assault weapons in violent crime would be rare...and yet, we have all these violent crimes, with exactly the same kind of weapon. Connecticut, NY, New Jersey, California, Massuchussets and Cook county Illinois have assault weapon bans, but they have loopholes...at least in Connecticut...where the assault rifle used in the mass murder was purchased.

Sadly, this is a no win situation in the US, as long as people continue to craze for guns. It is unfortunate, and more and more young people (with unstable minds) now have easy access to guns.

Tragedies would continue to happen, people will blame a person, or persons who were insane/psychopath, but there would be no solution to this situation until the "fondness" for guns dies down in the American society, sadly.

I don't look around much but not only can you buy bullets I think they sell high tech weapons such as semi automatic pistols that will rechamber rounds as long as your clip dispesses . If loughner had not had to reload after 33 rounds he probably would have went somewhere else and kill more after wiping out the whole crown . It happen to be a brave man the gained control of the gun and another man said you need to get it away beffoer an armed bystander opens fire on you
2011 Tucson shooting
From wikipepia free encyclopedia

"Police reports reveal he had purchased a Glock pistol at a Sportsman's Warehouse store less than six weeks before and attempted to buy additional ammunition for the pistol at a Walmart on the morning of the shooting,[67] but the clerk refused to sell it to him based on his appearance and demeanor"

So...let me get this straight...I can go to Walmart and fill my trolley with everyday items then just casually add some bullets and a few guns? Is there a whole aisle dedicated to death just like there's a whole aisle of toys? Can you ask the store attendant to recommend the best gun...the best seller of the month? Do you have coupon sales sometimes...buy one get one free type of thing? I mean Walmart is generally know for all of the above....the guns/ammo I had not idea....must check their shopping online catalogue!

You have to be over 21 in my State

OMG...

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=guns&ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0

but....these are toys...right?

Federal firearms laws defines a "minor" as someone under 18. Under federal (and Missouri) laws, you must be at least 18 to possess a handgun (except under some specific circumstances).

Just wanted to drop a post that Walmart has the Federal Value packs of .223 with 100 rounds for $39.95.

What would these specific circumstances be for example? And no one has answered my question on how many guns is one person actually allowed to have?

Gun laws in the United States (by state)

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U.S. Firearms Legal Topics

Assault weapons ban
ATF Bureau
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act
Concealed carry in the U.S.
Domestic Violence Offender Gun Ban
Federal Firearms License
Firearm case law
Firearm Owners Protection Act
Gun Control Act of 1968
Gun laws in the U.S. -- by state
Gun laws in the U.S. -- federal
Gun politics in the U.S.
National Firearms Act
Second Amendment to the Constitution
Straw purchase
Sullivan Act (New York)
Violent Crime Control Act

Gun laws in the United States regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition. State laws vary, and are independent of existing federal firearms laws, although they are sometimes broader or more limited in scope than the federal laws. For instance, some US states have created assault weapon bans that are similar to the expired federal assault weapons ban.

Over 70% of our country is rural and even unhabited wilderness. A lot of people live in areas where grizzly bears wolves and in swamps snakes alligators and American pumas crocodilian. Farms are always being invaded by dear, antalope, ground hogs, crows and other farm products destroyers. Living in secluded areas are always opened to invasions of multitude of negatives. Border states have their problems with burglary simple and aggravated. Shop owners through out this country are always under siege. All this preying on the innocent not comes from honest legal gun owners but from those who get their weaponry from underhanded methods. To ban anything is a gift to death certificates to those who are the victims.
Michael mentions Walmart as an everyday event when in fact Walmart must obey laws as written and in no way would allow guns, bullet's to be displayed and reachable at shelve and isle level for anyone to hand pick a cart full. It simply does not exist.
Each state along with federal has its own laws. Statistics reveal that those with lenient laws have no more or are in fact even less apt to have violent gun crimes. I mention Delaware and Pennsylvania as models of lenient laws with low incidence of gun crimes.
Chicago for instance has the countries strictest and also th highest gun crimes committed...same with New York, Philadelphia. So gun laws are proven a negative. Then I point back to those countries that have total gun bans. It don't stop gun crime.
Also I have to mention. Anyone here repeating supposedly said by Police is a rumor. As one state police official said absolutely no detailed information of an on-going investigation. That means no-one knows who how and where as to guns, conditions, or anything else back ground about the shooter...it is all guess work of th guessers at this point. So it is wise not to conclude anything.

Also Zimmerman lives in a high crime area where several citizens appointed themselves as neighborhood surveillance and they because of the crime feel it perfectly legal to arm themselves. Zimmerman has been victim of those assaults. Another news media field day crap. Try em in the press the victim was black...then they red faced found out that Zimmer was also black. "What we do now Tonto?" ... "what you mean we Kemosabi?" ...?" "

Lets do more with mental illnesses and maybe even check in vestibules such as airports have....you don't get in if a metal alarm goes off...or along those lines.

To answer hellon... yes i own. we were brought up in a farming area. everyone had guns. and guess what? no one ever tried to break in to any of my neighbors or houses in any area for miles. and...no one ever got shot in a bar room brawl either. guns were for protection and hunting ...Period.

Yes...the farming communities are still allowed guns here Donald but...the laws are very stringent..have you updated since your farming years?....Can I ask which type of gun you pack now?

Donald is right . In my State you could load your cart with all the beer you want, but tobacco and firearms are secured mostly. I bought benadryl the other day and was asked my date of birth. They will most likely do a full toxicology on the CT shooter. In the Zimmerman case the toxicology was performed on the deceased in the homicide but not the shooter. Zimmerman may not have even been charged in the death of the child because of a stand your ground law but his non emergency call recording revealed he was cursing the kid to the dispatcher which invited a State and Federal investigation. Zimmerman claim ed he original purchased the Kel Tek 9 to protect his wife from dogs. Many people of mixed races believe Zimmerman hunted the kid who turned 17 three weeks prior down like a mad dog and provoked a confrontation.

Asked on arrival in imperial Britain what he thought of Western civilisation, Mahatma Gandhi said, `I think it would be a wonderful idea'

"that means that you're not insane. Congrats! :D"

Yay for me then. Now, can I get that in writing for my friends? ;)

"Maybe health care programs that deal with the mentally disturbed?

Oh wait, sorry, we don't want to help people, we just want to make them miserable or kill them. Let's put all of our tax dollars into that instead."

I DO agree with this for lighter crimes but..crimes such as this? Rape? Anything to do with kids? Why should we help them, when so many reoffend? Can you truly say if it was your own child, you would want to help the culprit?

"he would have had the best of everything to make us "understand"him better perhaps and....I don't agree with that."

Hellon, I agree completely. I hate when someone commits such an unspeakable crime and then the ECHR gets involved and they have everything handed to them to make their crime 'understandable', to make us 'understand' why they did it etc.

"What do you think Ms. and Mrs. Psych major? :)
or whoever else who love psychology."

LS is this at me? lol. If so...I don't agree...a post I put in another thread sums up my view perfectly, and let me also add my step son to be is autistic/has learning difficulties, doesn't like kids/noise/change/anyone new interacting with his parents or me..yet is absolutely brilliant with his two year old brother (His dad's and my son), is brilliant in helping with him, in understanding him..even WITH his autism AND learning issues, even though he DOES get jealous of him sometimes..which brings me back to my post :

If someone seriously wants to hurt another human being..then they will do. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding it...for example, my favourite artist is Eminem. Who raps about murder, robbery, rape etc. Does that mean I agree with it? No. Does that mean I think it is okay? No. Does that mean I think it is okay to joke about about things such as these? No. Far from it. But the way he raps about it and makes it light hearted doesn't make me want to do it myself.

It's all in the mind frame of each individual in my opinion.

I heard there was another gunman disarmed in a cimema in Texas on the opening of the Hobbit.

Is there anyone here born and raised in the US who feels a need for much tighter gun laws?

Lots of people.

I know this sounds crass in the wake of the most horrific massacre in US history , but when the second amendment was written guns were higher maintenance with a powder horn and ramrod not to mention lead balls and repetitious constant reloading. Even the sickest mind would have a harder time seeing a suicide mass murder as a blaze of glory

Is there anyone here born and raised in the US who feels a need for much tighter gun laws?

^^^^

Jane...I think, when Abby asked this question she was looking for a personal answer from our American members....not just....lots of people...what is you opinion? What is all your opinions on Abby's question...I'd be very interested to hear them but...before you do keep this in mind...1 six year old had no less than 11 shotgun wounds in their tiny body....

This is an article written by a woman who is currently struggling with her 13 year old son who has q psychotic personality...it gives some insight into why more time and effort should be put into creating an environment for those who are mentally unstable rather than just allowing them to fly under the radar before they kill 50 people and then get tossed in prison.

"Three days before 20-year-old Adam Lanza killed his mother, then opened fire on a classroom full of Connecticut kindergartners, my 13-year-old son Michael (name changed) missed his bus because he was wearing the wrong color pants.

"I can wear these pants," he said, his tone increasingly belligerent, the black-hole pupils of his eyes swallowing the blue irises.

"They are navy blue," I told him. "Your school's dress code says black or khaki pants only."

"They told me I could wear these," he insisted. "You're a stupid bitch. I can wear whatever pants I want to. This is America. I have rights!"

"You can't wear whatever pants you want to," I said, my tone affable, reasonable. "And you definitely cannot call me a stupid bitch. You're grounded from electronics for the rest of the day. Now get in the car, and I will take you to school."

I live with a son who is mentally ill. I love my son. But he terrifies me.
A few weeks ago, Michael pulled a knife and threatened to kill me and then himself after I asked him to return his overdue library books. His 7- and 9-year-old siblings knew the safety plan--they ran to the car and locked the doors before I even asked them to. I managed to get the knife from Michael, then methodically collected all the sharp objects in the house into a single Tupperware container that now travels with me. Through it all, he continued to scream insults at me and threaten to kill or hurt me.

That conflict ended with three burly police officers and a paramedic wrestling my son onto a gurney for an expensive ambulance ride to the local emergency room. The mental hospital didn't have any beds that day, and Michael calmed down nicely in the ER, so they sent us home with a prescription for Zyprexa and a follow-up visit with a local pediatric psychiatrist.

We still don't know what's wrong with Michael. Autism spectrum, ADHD, Oppositional Defiant or Intermittent Explosive Disorder have all been tossed around at various meetings with probation officers and social workers and counselors and teachers and school administrators. He's been on a slew of antipsychotic and mood-altering pharmaceuticals, a Russian novel of behavioral plans. Nothing seems to work.

At the start of seventh grade, Michael was accepted to an accelerated program for highly gifted math and science students. His IQ is off the charts. When he's in a good mood, he will gladly bend your ear on subjects ranging from Greek mythology to the differences between Einsteinian and Newtonian physics to Doctor Who. He's in a good mood most of the time. But when he's not, watch out. And it's impossible to predict what will set him off.

Several weeks into his new junior high school, Michael began exhibiting increasingly odd and threatening behaviors at school. We decided to transfer him to the district's most restrictive behavioral program, a contained school environment where children who can't function in normal classrooms can access their right to free public babysitting from 7:30 to 1:50 Monday through Friday until they turn 18.

The morning of the pants incident, Michael continued to argue with me on the drive. He would occasionally apologize and seem remorseful. Right before we turned into his school parking lot, he said, "Look, Mom, I'm really sorry. Can I have video games back today?"

"No way," I told him. "You cannot act the way you acted this morning and think you can get your electronic privileges back that quickly."

His face turned cold, and his eyes were full of calculated rage. "Then I'm going to kill myself," he said. "I'm going to jump out of this car right now and kill myself."

That was it. After the knife incident, I told him that if he ever said those words again, I would take him straight to the mental hospital, no ifs, ands, or buts. I did not respond, except to pull the car into the opposite lane, turning left instead of right.

"Where are you taking me?" he said, suddenly worried. "Where are we going?"

"You know where we are going," I replied.

"No! You can't do that to me! You're sending me to hell! You're sending me straight to hell!"

I pulled up in front of the hospital, frantically waving for one of the clinicians who happened to be standing outside. "Call the police," I said. "Hurry."

Michael was in a full-blown fit by then, screaming and hitting. I hugged him close so he couldn't escape from the car. He bit me several times and repeatedly jabbed his elbows into my rib cage. I'm still stronger than he is, but I won't be for much longer.

The police came quickly and carried my son screaming and kicking into the bowels of the hospital. I started to shake, and tears filled my eyes as I filled out the paperwork--"Were there any difficulties with... at what age did your child... were there any problems with.. has your child ever experienced.. does your child have..."

At least we have health insurance now. I recently accepted a position with a local college, giving up my freelance career because when you have a kid like this, you need benefits. You'll do anything for benefits. No individual insurance plan will cover this kind of thing.

For days, my son insisted that I was lying--that I made the whole thing up so that I could get rid of him. The first day, when I called to check up on him, he said, "I hate you. And I'm going to get my revenge as soon as I get out of here."

By day three, he was my calm, sweet boy again, all apologies and promises to get better. I've heard those promises for years. I don't believe them anymore.

On the intake form, under the question, "What are your expectations for treatment?" I wrote, "I need help."

And I do. This problem is too big for me to handle on my own. Sometimes there are no good options. So you just pray for grace and trust that in hindsight, it will all make sense.

I am sharing this story because I am Adam Lanza's mother. I am Dylan Klebold's and Eric Harris's mother. I am Jason Holmes's mother. I am Jared Loughner's mother. I am Seung-Hui Cho's mother. And these boys--and their mothers--need help. In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it's easy to talk about guns. But it's time to talk about mental illness.

According to Mother Jones, since 1982, 61 mass murders involving firearms have occurred throughout the country. Of these, 43 of the killers were white males, and only one was a woman. Mother Jones focused on whether the killers obtained their guns legally (most did). But this highly visible sign of mental illness should lead us to consider how many people in the U.S. live in fear, like I do.

When I asked my son's social worker about my options, he said that the only thing I could do was to get Michael charged with a crime. "If he's back in the system, they'll create a paper trail," he said. "That's the only way you're ever going to get anything done. No one will pay attention to you unless you've got charges."

I don't believe my son belongs in jail. The chaotic environment exacerbates Michael's sensitivity to sensory stimuli and doesn't deal with the underlying pathology. But it seems like the United States is using prison as the solution of choice for mentally ill people. According to Human Rights Watch, the number of mentally ill inmates in U.S. prisons quadrupled from 2000 to 2006, and it continues to rise--in fact, the rate of inmate mental illness is five times greater (56 percent) than in the non-incarcerated population.

With state-run treatment centers and hospitals shuttered, prison is now the last resort for the mentally ill--Rikers Island, the LA County Jail and Cook County Jail in Illinois housed the nation's largest treatment centers in 2011.

No one wants to send a 13-year-old genius who loves Harry Potter and his snuggle animal collection to jail. But our society, with its stigma on mental illness and its broken healthcare system, does not provide us with other options. Then another tortured soul shoots up a fast food restaurant. A mall. A kindergarten classroom. And we wring our hands and say, "Something must be done."

I agree that something must be done. It's time for a meaningful, nation-wide conversation about mental health. That's the only way our nation can ever truly heal.

God help me. God help Michael. God help us all."

"Is there anyone here born and raised in the US who feels a need for much tighter gun laws?"

I'm a fairly liberal American from a very conservative county. I live in a place where hunting opener is like a holiday - teachers tend to not plan much for that day, because a bunch of kids are getting ready to pack up hunting gear and go into the woods with their dads. I don't do it myself, but I understand it, and I think (in general) it's just fine.

My grandparents live on a remote cattle ranch in South Dakota where there is a reasonable need for a firearm. I have shot plenty of Coke cans off of an old fence here. Apart from hunting, there are coyotes and mountain lions to be protected against. It's nice to have a rifle somewhere close, even if you probably won't need to use it. Prarie dogs need to be periodically exterminated, because cows and horses can break a leg in one of their burrows. Also, there's the occasional cow that might need to be put down due to injury or disease. A gun makes sense here.

What I DON'T agree with is the fact that pretty much anyone can walk into a gun shop and walk out with an assault rifle. There's just no reason. I think guns should be allowed when they serve a functional purpose, but there's no reason why my next door neighbor should need need a military-grade gun that has been designed specifically to kill the most people in the smallest amount of time. No reason. Even a case of violent home invasion should not require that.

The biggest case of gun enthusiasts that I've heard is that people need guns to protect against the potential tyranny of a government. I get where that's coming from, but even apart from the fact that there has never yet been full-fledged war against our (representational) government in the last couple of centuries or so, we still ought to draw a line. We don't legally allow citizens to create an array of bombs in their basement. We don't let our neighbors strap military guns to a helicopter and keep them in their backyards. Why? Because those are things capable of killing a lot of people in a short amount of time, and unless you are particularly psychotic, you shouldn't feel a need to do that. We have guns for sale at Walmart right now that can basically do the same thing. And I think that's dumb.

I also don't see the reason for conceal and carry, outside of police officers, etc. Unless you'd actually rather shoot someone, if you're carrying around a gun as a determent, wouldn't it work better if it was clearly visible? And shouldn't other people be able to tell that the work friend they're out at the bar with has a handgun strapped under his jacket? I guess I just don't get that.

So. Functional weapons, sure. But there should be a demonstrated need, and a stronger review process. It wouldn't "solve murder," obviously, but it could be something that could lessen the ability of an odd psychopath to systematically slaughter people.

"What I DON'T agree with is the fact that pretty much anyone can walk into a gun shop and walk out with an assault rifle. There's just no reason. I think guns should be allowed when they serve a functional purpose, but there's no reason why my next door neighbor should need need a military-grade gun that has been designed specifically to kill the most people in the smallest amount of time. No reason. Even a case of violent home invasion should not require that."

Sibs, you just about summed it up for me.

Assault rifles & all semi-automatics are weapons of mass destruction. They need to be banned immediately.

Yes, I did mean US PnQ members, not just the US people in general. I know most of my Australian, UK, Asian and Canadian friends think it is a no-brainer to drastically amend the gun laws in the US, and over the last few days Australian social media has been plastered with posts, stats, graphs and historical data illustrating the apparant idiocy and paranoia of fearmongering American gun-enthusiasts. The whole world is shaming the US. But I have no US friends apart from those on PnQ. I was curious as to what you thought. Jane's response kind of threw me off.

It seems Sib and Larry are for the gun bans that are current in Australia. My husband's father has a couple of guns registered in his name. He lives with his family in the middle of 250 acres of remote jungle. He needs it, and he still has to abide by some very strict policies to store them in his home.

When there is no genuine reason or genuine need (I believe both of these phrases are legal terms here), no one gets to own a gun, period. It took one massacre to get that to happen. I remember the uproar in the 1990s and writing countless 'Argumentative Essays' in English class about gun laws. But it was one massacre and it was one massacre too many.

I am very liberal about personal rights and freedom, but this is surely different. I have no doubt that attention needs to be paid to mental health awareness and the way media glorifies massacres. But I see absolutely no logic in doing this INSTEAD OF amending gun laws in the meantime. Treating mental health is never foolproof. Fantasies of killing lots of people should not be made so easy, let alone the practicality of it.

I double what Abby said!!

I suppose I was thrown off by your question too, Ab. Where I live is extremely anti-gun, and I'm about the only person I know who has fired a gun and has a minimal desire to own one.

I live in the opposite of a rural, Southern, Republican, or otherwise type place.

I agree with what Sibs had to say on the matter, per usual. I also didn't read the "anyone [here]" part of your question. I thought you meant anyone in the US, and it confused me.
My response to you must've seemed disparaging.

"I have no doubt that attention needs to be paid to mental health awareness and the way media glorifies massacres. But I see absolutely no logic in doing this INSTEAD OF amending gun laws in the meantime."

Too right you are.

I've just watched this one....good on them for getting together so quickly to put this message out there. I hear another 3 people were shot in Pennsylvana yesterday...

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/2012/12/22/11/00/us-stars-in-video-demanding-gun-control

Every time a gun is used in a horrific situation leaky sap runs from the trees. A bomb blows up an airplane, a building; no one calls for more stringent requirements for dynamite...why? Cause we already have stringent requirements for the use of dynamite. Yet, things still get blown up and people die.
Back in the past,... have to Google when to refresh my memory, was a crazy farmer who blew up a school house and killed dozens of children. With dynamite. Knives, ropes, lamp chords, bare hands, all can kill and every day of the week do. JFK was killed by a single shot rifle not a semi automatic. Oswald rapped off 3 or 4 shots in seconds. All pistols are semi auto- matic which means it reloads automatically with each pull of the trigger. Most have clips that hold 8 shots and experienced man/women can re-clip in less then a second. Quick enough to kill a lot of people in a quick amount of time. I've seen guys reload double barrel shotguns in seconds...holding reloads in hand while they shoot.
Yes guns kill, and more so the ones who hold them in hand. I argue how ever the way it is spoken in general, "walk in a gun store and walk out with an assault weapon when in 99% of states its not so. And not so for any weapon. Even in states where gun laws are lenient there is a registrar requirement and waiting period or at least a back ground check.
We have federal laws, state laws, and local town ordinances that restrict gun uses. In the town I left a few years ago you couldn't even discharge a gun without risk of being arrested.
And I listen to terminologies, such as, "assault weapon" what the hell in the wrong hands a broken beer bottle is an assault weapon. Or a big mans fist when it hit's a small mans head. Cars kill 30/40000 year. Drugs kill untold amounts of school children. Women kill (abortion) a million pre-schooler's every year in America. Accepted practice.
Did we just witness a magnitude horror act? You bet. What did we witness? We witnessed a wacko insanely do an insane deed. What are we witnessing now? We are witnessing retarded politicians who prey on retarded citizens to advance an agenda. What is that agenda? To yet takes another freedom away. Why? Because they do not want people to have any freedoms that will interfere with their obsession for control. Besides it's a good way to make constitutionalist out to be the bad guys. Out come will be, yes, more gun laws , but a very unimportant addition to the already 1000 gun control laws we already have.

Politicians should spend more time protecting this nation from drugs, crimnal alien illegals, those who would attack and harm our citizens with their outmoded religious beliefs and anti irreligious beliefs and wacko theorists with their money sucking scientific hoaxes perpetrated. And their misplaced world obsessions with destroying the one country in the world that professes mans only left chance at peace and freedom.