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[zychi]

It's funny that people who don't want gun control forget that we have amended the constitution 27 times. That law is for people in the 1700s and 1800s.

It's really a shame that we kill ourselves more than terrorists do. Gun owners should be allowed to have their 1700 style guns freely. At least itll take ten minutes to reload when they try and harm someone else.

The 4chan post warning about this happening in the Northwest yesterday thats going around is also terrifying. Thats something exactly that the NSA claims they are trying to prevent by spying on us, yet they don't stop it.

Everything is fucked and it's sad nothing is being done about it. Even when the President is pleading for change because the NRA and other companies own the Congress.

 

[mkenyon]

I've still never heard a sane justification for why we shouldn't do what Australia did with their assault weapons ban.

And ignorance of the facts is no excuse for destructive behavior.

Assault Weapons are illegal here. Some states allow them, but you have to go through months and months of paperwork with the ATF to get one.

 

[cdyhybrid]

5 acres isn't enough to have horses, sheep, *and* donkeys.

See, there's a lot of people in the United States, and there's really good reasons for a lot of them to own guns.

There's also a lot of really good reasons to make buying guns more difficult.

Find a middle ground for fuck's sake, rather than vilifying either side.

Real secret: Gun owners love the "OBAMA GUNNA TAKE MUH GUNS" thing cause collectors have been making hand over fist. A rifle I sold paid for my last PC building project (~$2500), paid $350 for it about 8 years ago.

I don't think that's even a secret. Something would have been done a long time ago if people weren't making money hand over fist with the status quo.

 

[Mass One]

I've still never heard a sane justification for why we shouldn't do what Australia did with their assault weapons ban.

And ignorance of the facts is no excuse for destructive behavior.

A big argument (unless I'm mistaken) is that there is so many guns, and so many gun owners, and so many crazy people, and so many people that love the culture more than the lives of their fellow man that the task in pointless.

If you see the task as pointless why even bother? That's at least how I see it.

 

[Mifune]

Very well said by the President, but of course we as a country won't do a damn thing as usual. We don't care enough.

Please stop saying this. The citizens of this country care very much. The problem is the politicians who could do something about it care about money much more.

 

[Bessy67]

It's tragic, but I just don't see what can be done at this point. There are so many guns out there and they are so hard to track. Even if you make legally obtaining guns much harder that doesn't mean people won't use other illegal methods. Heck, I own two guns that were given to me by my grandfather and I have no clue if they're registered or if they even need to be. I guess we need to try something, but if they do heavily regulate guns and find that there's not much change in the frequency of mass shootings then what?

 

[EatinOlives]

...why are they bringing in cancer deaths? Did anyone at any point say "we die more from guns than from cancer"? Is there some powerful lobbying group that actively prevents research being done on a cancer cure? That's just a bizarre non-sequitur.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Unfortunately it's not just the NRA. You can see the responses in this very thread calling for responsible gun owners like myself who need weapons to defend our property to be treated as pariahs. That kind of language and the usual calls to ban all guns is just as bad as the NRA's handwaving and brush offs whenever these tragedies happen.

Defend your property against who?

Yourself?

...why are they bringing in cancer deaths? That's just a bizarre non-sequitur.

It really is

Comparing acts of violence is comparing two similar things.

Comparing cancer to acts of violence is not

 

[B-Dubs]

Please stop saying this. The citizens of this country care very much. The problem is the politicians who could do something about it but care about money far more.

Most people can't even be bothered to go and vote. The money wouldn't matter nearly as much if people actually went out and voted in large numbers.

 

[cdyhybrid]

Please stop saying this. The citizens of this country care very much. The problem is the politicians who could do something about it but care about money far more.

So stop voting them into office.

 

[Stinkles]

It's funny that people who don't want gun control forget that we have amended the constitution 27 times. That law is for people in the 1700s and 1800s.

It's really a shame that we kill ourselves more than terrorists do. Gun owners should be allowed to have their 1700 style guns freely. At least itll take ten minutes to reload when they try and harm someone else.

The 4chan post warning about this happening in the Northwest yesterday thats going around is also terrifying. Thats something exactly that the NSA claims they are trying to prevent by spying on us, yet they don't stop it.

Everything is fucked and it's sad nothing is being done about it. Even when the President is pleading for change because the NRA and other companies own the Congress.

Half the kids in that thread should be prosecuted. And the ones who "lold" afterwards. .. I have nothing to say except that there must be some wretched parenting happening out there.

 

[Sawneeks]

5 acres isn't enough to have horses, sheep, *and* donkeys.

See, there's a lot of people in the United States, and there's really good reasons for a lot of them to own guns.

There's also a lot of really good reasons to make buying guns more difficult.

Find a middle ground for fuck's sake, rather than vilifying either side.

The problem is on both sides. One extreme is guns for all, the other is ban guns period and neither side wants to work together. The huge issue is that those who are moderate tend not to speak up and therefore the smaller but more vocal minorities get the attention over the majority.

Ban guns out right? Never gonna fly. Have less gun laws? Also not gonna work.

What would be a reasonable solution? Ban automatic weapons ( why do people need these?? ), allow for a huge Government issue by-back program for pre-existing gun owners, and make acquiring a new gun a thorough and in depth process.

Literallly just do what Australia did. It worked.

 

[schlongdog]

Oh yes it is. These people are both sides of the same coin. Neither side are willing to deal with this problem sensibly and so what we've ended up with are 2 groups of extremists screeching at each other while people like myself are stuck in the middle, shaking our heads and wishing they'd just shut up. There needs to be reform but that reform needs to be balanced and take into account people who have legitimate reasons for owning guns

I'm interested to hear what you think are some legitimate reasons for people owning guns

 

[LegendofJoe]

Honestly, at this point? I don't care anymore. Every other day there's another mass shooting headline. I brush over them without even paying attention anymore - it's like "car accident" or "local suicide" or any other daily tragedy. How can you not get numb to it? You'd go mad from anguish.

I buy the argument that we're past the point of no return on gun laws - we've seen the worst, shrugged our shoulders, and carried on. It's a fact of life now, blends into the tapestry of the nightly news with the fires and floods and celebrity mishaps.

We're not past the point of no return. If a wealthy country-club, an SEC football game, or a NRA board meeting are ever attacked by a shooter the reactions would definitely be different.

 

[DrForester]

The problem is on both sides. One extreme is guns for all, the other is ban guns period and neither side wants to work together. The huge issue is that those who are moderate tend not to speak up and therefore the smaller but more vocal minorities get the attention over the majority.

Ban guns out right? Never gonna fly. Have less gun laws? Also not gonna work.

What would be a reasonable solution? Ban automatic weapons ( why do people need these?? ), allow for a huge Government issue by-back program for pre-existing gun owners, and make acquiring a new gun a thorough and in depth process.

Literallly just do what Australia did. It worked.

I don't hear many people calling for an outright ban on guns. I hear gun-nuts saying people want an outright ban on guns, but I rarely see anyone actually calling for it.

 

[Poona]

for those wondering what Obama was talking about when he said other countries responded to mass shootings

1996 shooting at Dunblane. 16 children and 1 teacher killed. The UK banned handguns after that.

it works.

There is also the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, Australia.

35 killed, 23 wounded.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Arthur_massacre_(Australia)

 

[weekev]

Oh yes it is. These people are both sides of the same coin. Neither side are willing to deal with this problem sensibly and so what we've ended up with are 2 groups of extremists screeching at each other while people like myself are stuck in the middle, shaking our heads and wishing they'd just shut up. There needs to be reform but that reform needs to be balanced and take into account people who have legitimate reasons for owning guns

Is there a legitimate reason for anyone outside of the army owning automatic weapons?

 

[Suikoguy]

The problem is on both sides. One extreme is guns for all, the other is ban guns period and neither side wants to work together. The huge issue is that those who are moderate tend not to speak up and therefore the smaller but more vocal minorities get the attention over the majority.

Ban guns out right? Never gonna fly. Have less gun laws? Also not gonna work.

What would be a reasonable solution? Ban automatic weapons ( why do people need these?? ), allow for a huge Government issue by-back program for pre-existing gun owners, and make acquiring a new gun a thorough and in depth process.

Literallly just do what Australia did. It worked.

Yes, and couple this with very strict penalties if your gun gets used in a crime.
People need to be penalized if they are leaving guns lying around.

 

[Mifune]

Oh yes it is. These people are both sides of the same coin. Neither side are willing to deal with this problem sensibly and so what we've ended up with are 2 groups of extremists screeching at each other while people like myself are stuck in the middle, shaking our heads and wishing they'd just shut up. There needs to be reform but that reform needs to be balanced and take into account people who have legitimate reasons for owning guns

This is such bullshit.

There is only one side of this debate who refuses to even have a debate. Even the most minor policy changes are rejected outright. We can't have a conversation because the RIGHT - gasp!! -- refuses to have a conversation.

 

[Elfforkusu]

Assault Weapons are illegal here. Some states allow them, but you have to go through months and months of paperwork with the ATF to get one.

If "here" is America, this simply isn't true. The assault weapons ban expired in 2004. Also, it banned a few specific firearms -- hardly the kind of comprehensive approach you need for reducing the proliferation of devices capable of mass slaughter.

A big argument (unless I'm mistaken) is that there is so many guns, and so many gun owners, and so many crazy people, and so many people that love the culture more than the lives of their fellow man that the task in pointless.

If you see the task as pointless why even bother? That's at least how I see it.

This is an attempted justification for apathy, not a compelling argument. Just IMO!

You phase them out. Institute a buy back program, ban sales of new assault weapons. Gun owners who have stocked up can keep their arsenals, and they'll slowly break down or rust from disuse.

 

[B-Dubs]

Yes, and couple this with very strict penalties if your gun gets used in a crime.
People need to be penalized if they are leaving guns lying around.

See, this makes way too much sense to actually be implemented.

 

[FrenchMovieTheme]

Didn't want to put it in the OP, but I also found this.


Totally insane gun nut responds to speech. Like "I don't even know if this thing took place" crazy. This is what we're up against.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeD0eR3ol6c

holy fuck this guy is off his rocker. the sad thing is, this is what you get with most of these gun nuts. real shame :/

 

[Bladenic]

I couldn't help myself and commented on that YouTube video of the nut job spewing incorrigible shit. A mistake but I couldn't help it

 

[mkenyon]

The problem is on both sides. One extreme is guns for all, the other is ban guns period and neither side wants to work together. The huge issue is that those who are moderate tend not to speak up and therefore the smaller but more vocal minorities get the attention over the majority.

Ban guns out right? Never gonna fly. Have less gun laws? Also not gonna work.

What would be a reasonable solution? Ban automatic weapons ( why do people need these?? ), allow for a huge Government issue by-back program for pre-existing gun owners, and make acquiring a new gun a thorough and in depth process.

Literallly just do what Australia did. It worked.

Automatic firearms are illegal without insanely expensive and very lengthy work with the ATF, and even then, they're outlawed in many states. They are, for all intents and purposes, illegal.

But yes, I'd like to see buying a new gun generally more difficult. Even just requiring the kind of effort you have to put in to have a concealed weapon in Texas, for example, would be amazing.

 

[MC Safety]

We can only hope.

Don't like the NRA, but being a baby and wanting to punch its head in the mouth is not at all cool.

 

[NullPointer]

Half the kids in that thread should be prosecuted. And the ones who "lold" afterwards. .. I have nothing to say except that there must be some wretched parenting happening out there.

Am just catching up with this story now, and I can't believe what I'm reading.

According to the source close to the investigation, authorities are looking at social media posts between a person they believe may have been the shooter, and others.

The conversation happened Wednesday night on 4chan.

In it, the writer talks about planning to carry out a shooting. Others egg him on, giving him suggestions on how to do it, and the type of weapons to use.

The responses are mixed -- with some users characterizing the would-be gunman as a pathetic loser. Others called him a twisted hero.

Sick psychotic anonymous online fucks with no empathy, who see human tragedy as entertainment. Its hard to believe I share a planet with these people.

 

[Skinpop]

Oh yes it is. These people are both sides of the same coin. Neither side are willing to deal with this problem sensibly and so what we've ended up with are 2 groups of extremists screeching at each other while people like myself are stuck in the middle, shaking our heads and wishing they'd just shut up. There needs to be reform but that reform needs to be balanced and take into account people who have legitimate reasons for owning guns

so ban anything but hunting rifles, and strictly control/regulate how they are bought and handled. doesn't that sound reasonable? or do you need handguns and automatic weapons to protect your property?

 

[Tugatrix]

Can't america reelect the man? He really seem the only guy in american politics focused on correcting problems and seem motivated to do so

 

[Sawneeks]

I don't hear many people calling for an outright ban on guns. I hear gun-nuts saying people want an outright ban on guns, but I rarely see anyone actually calling for it.

They exist as much as the other side, smaller in number sure, but they are out there.

Another problem I'm noticing here is that a lot of people are equating 'ban guns' or 'more gun laws' automatically means get rid of ALL guns. Not just automatic weapons but handguns and hunting rifles as well. It's a distinction I think politicians need to talk about because a lot of people assume things that are not necessarily true, the whole gun debate is a huge example of this issue.

 

[Zetta]

This is one of the saddest I f***ing told you so I've seen in a while.

 

[Stinkles]

If "here" is America, this simply isn't true. The assault weapons ban expired in 2004. Also, it banned a few specific firearms -- hardly the kind of comprehensive approach you need for reducing the proliferation of devices capable of mass slaughter.

Talkimg about assault weapons feeds directly into the poorly crafted semantics trap advocates love. They will now explain that you dont know enough about guns to understand an AR15 is just the same as xx gun. Handguns, btw are a bigger problem anyway, but the semantics bingo played around semi automatic weapons is annoying and a distraction.

 

[mackattk]

...why are they bringing in cancer deaths? Did anyone at any point say "we die more from guns than from cancer"? Is there some powerful lobbying group that actively prevents research being done on a cancer cure? That's just a bizarre non-sequitur.

It is just to bring things into perspective. "See? Cancer kills over half a million a year. so 10k lives is so low it is almost not worth mentioning, especially in regards to gun control."

 

[SilentRacoon]

You can feel the sincerity in his words, the frustration on how powerless he is to make anything about it, he is exhorting people to open their eyes to reason, but they refuse to see past their own nose.

And the ones in a position to do something about it can't see past the green piles of cash they make everyday at the expense of thousands of innocent lives.

 

[mkenyon]

If "here" is America, this simply isn't true. The assault weapons ban expired in 2004. Also, it banned a few specific firearms -- hardly the kind of comprehensive approach you need for reducing the proliferation of devices capable of mass slaughter.

The "assault weapon" justification is dumb as fuck. Look, this does not classify as an assault weapon. It's Semi-Auto, and shoots 7.62x39 carbine rifle cartidges. It would be legal.

This is a Zastava M70. It is a Semi-Auto that shoots 7.62x39 carbine rifle cartidges. It would be illegal under an "Assault Weapon" ban.

The only meaningful difference is that one looks more evil. Generally though, "Assault Weapon" is a meaningless distinction made to make people feel better and garner more attention. Assault Rifles are not legal, but people assume the guns described by "Assault Weapons" are the same thing. Hence the hatred.

 

[LiquidSword]

...why are they bringing in cancer deaths? Did anyone at any point say "we die more from guns than from cancer"? Is there some powerful lobbying group that actively prevents research being done on a cancer cure? That's just a bizarre non-sequitur.

Oh I think we know why they did that. Look at the title of the article its from.

 

[shadowsdarknes]

Sad to see so many fellow leftists being in favor of government control.

yeah fuck laws lets get rid of all of them

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

I think most americans do empathize and share the feeling of helplessness with Obama. What can we, regular citizens, do? We can write our governors, senators, and vote every election. Besides that, our hands are pretty tied, just like Obama's at this point. It is a rather frustrating feeling.

It'll be the same under President Sanders, President Clinton, President Trump, or whoever gets elected. They won't be able to implement all their change even if we all march and protest in DC for days.

 

[Elfforkusu]

The "assault weapon" justification is dumb as fuck. Look, this does not classify as an assault weapon. It's Semi-Auto, and shoots 7.62x39 carbine rifle cartidges. It would be legal.

It comes down to semantics. That's a fucking assault weapon, no matter what the NRA says.

 

[Hip Hop]

Oh yes it is. These people are both sides of the same coin. Neither side are willing to deal with this problem sensibly and so what we've ended up with are 2 groups of extremists screeching at each other while people like myself are stuck in the middle, shaking our heads and wishing they'd just shut up. There needs to be reform but that reform needs to be balanced and take into account people who have legitimate reasons for owning guns

Pretty much, well said.

As long as people go for the extremes, nothing will be done.

 

[GnawtyDog]

Majority of libs,which make up the majority in this nation kept themselves at home twice in midterms and gave the crazy party of america power.

Want stricter gun laws? VOTE the fuckers out.

In my own state, why did we re-elect Rick Scott again? Not to mention waterboy Rubio... Charlie was bad but clearly not as bad as what these two clowns represent...

Sad day, bound to be repeated again. Hope I am not next.

 

[dabig2]

It is just to bring things into perspective. "See? Cancer kills over half a million a year. so 10k lives is so low it is almost not worth mentioning, especially in regards to gun control."

It's a hilariously dumb argument. "Hey guess what guys, the movement of time is the biggest killer out there. Why even bother talking about guns, cancer, etc. when the entropy of the universe will kill you and everyone else regardless."

 

[Sawneeks]

Yes, and couple this with very strict penalties if your gun gets used in a crime.
People need to be penalized if they are leaving guns lying around.

Completely agree. I am unaware of how the legality of it works right now but guns should have the same laws in place that cars do. Transferring of licenses and responsibilities and the like.

Automatic firearms are illegal without insanely expensive and very lengthy work with the ATF, and even then, they're outlawed in many states. They are, for all intents and purposes, illegal.

But yes, I'd like to see buying a new gun generally more difficult. Even just requiring the kind of effort you have to put in to have a concealed weapon in Texas, for example, would be amazing.

For all purposes they are illegal...in some places. They may be hard to get but they can still be acquired by the general populace which is something that has always struck me as odd. I can understand a love for guns but what place does an automatic rifle have in a person's home?

Exactly! Some sort of universal safeguard or system in place that allows people to get weapons if they really wish to! I'm not saying to make it impossible to acquire one but to make it so people who wish to do harm to others have a harder time acquiring the means to do so.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

I made an argument on Facebook asking why someones right to own a gun supersedes anothers' right to life.

To be met with "Well at least Kansas and Texas are trying to fix that with their open and conceal carry laws. Soon it will be legal to carry them on campuses."

I responded. "Yeah... that won't make anyone any safer, and has nothing to do with what I said."

They then changed the subject to the kid with the clock.

I'm well past done trying to argue with these complete fucking morons.

 

[zychi]

I made an argument on Facebook asking why someones right to own a gun supersedes anothers' right to life.

To be met with "Well at least Kansas and Texas are trying to fix that with their open and conceal carry laws. Soon it will be legal to carry them on campuses."

I responded. "Yeah... that won't make anyone any safer."

They then changed the subject to the kid with the clock.

I'm well passed done trying to argue with these complete fucking morons.

I abandoned facebook. I live in democratic Illinois, with the most racist, idiotic people. Facebook is the lowest level of social media where all the idiots try and get their "voice" out. Its disgusting, and you're better off getting rid of it.

 

[LiquidSword]

Oh yes it is. These people are both sides of the same coin. Neither side are willing to deal with this problem sensibly and so what we've ended up with are 2 groups of extremists screeching at each other while people like myself are stuck in the middle, shaking our heads and wishing they'd just shut up. There needs to be reform but that reform needs to be balanced and take into account people who have legitimate reasons for owning guns

Except it only seems that there are extremists from one side that are in our government with, you know, positions of power.

 

[Komo]

Best president

What would realistically happen if the US banned all firearms outright, say tomorrow?

It's obviously the best case scenario, as it's proven to work, but I would imagine the uproar would cause a small civil war, and that would be awful.

 

[Elfforkusu]

I abandoned facebook. I live in democratic Illinois, with the most racist, idiotic people. Facebook is the lowest level of social media where all the idiots try and get their "voice" out. Its disgusting, and you're better off getting rid of it.

If you think Illinois is bad, try Missouri.

Spoiler

don't

Best president

What would realistically happen if the US banned all firearms outright, say tomorrow?

It's obviously the best case scenario, as it's proven to work, but I would imagine the uproar would cause a small civil war, and that would be awful.

I mean, it would be considered the equivalent of banning free speech by a good portion of the country. So... pretty bad. Probably not a small civil war.

The thing is, you don't have to ban all firearms outright. We just need nasty semiautomatics off the streets, or at the very least buried behind walls of regulation.

 

[Damaniel]

Japan has very strict gun control, yet a man was arrested there last year for having five 3D-printed guns. Two were lethal, but he didn't have bullets.
Here's a piece by Wired on a 3D-printed AR-15 they made.

Give it 10 years and people will be printing automatic rifles. No laws will be able to prevent blueprints from being shared over the internet. It's time to think about long-term solutions, background checks or whatever won't do shit to prevent any of this.

Easy enough - life sentences with zero parole for people involved in the production or distribution of 3D printed gun parts. Zero tolerance from the very beginning.

At this point, I'd settle for nothing less than a total ban. The NRA and the gun nuts have shown a complete lack of willingness to budge on any aspect of gun control, so I'm of the opinion that they should have no say in the solution.

And yes, I know that none of this will never happen, but it should. The US is a warzone, enabled by people who value their instruments of death over the lives of the tens of thousands who are shot and killed every year.

 

[TestOfTide]

I made an argument on Facebook asking why someones right to own a gun supersedes anothers' right to life.

To be met with "Well at least Kansas and Texas are trying to fix that with their open and conceal carry laws. Soon it will be legal to carry them on campuses."

I responded. "Yeah... that won't make anyone any safer, and has nothing to do with what I said."

They then changed the subject to the kid with the clock.

I'm well past done trying to argue with these complete fucking morons.

You should have asked them why they are so concerned with something that causes less deaths than gun violence.

 

[dabig2]

Pretty much, well said.

As long as people go for the extremes, nothing will be done.

Yeah, no. There's only 1 side here that is actively preventing all debate and even research into the matter. That side would be doing this regardless of the other "extreme" side - which is already a paltry mention considering that side has no power, wealth, or lobbyists for it.

Most people don't want nor argue for complete bans. What they do argue for is something in the style of australia, UK, Israel, and every civilized nation that - surprise surprise - doesn't have that 1 side preventing and stopping any sort of solutions.