Since April 20, 1999 when Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold shot up Columbine High school in Jefferson County, Colorado thirty-one other major mass gun shootings have occurred. During that same time frame only 14 similar events occurred in the entire rest of the world. Gun Violence is epidemic in the United States and the first message out of the White House again was “Now is not the time to talk about gun control.”
We need to discuss our options.
- Enhance mental health services
- Perform background checks on all gun purchases
- Limit the size of ammunition clips
- Ban semi-automatic weapons
- Ban Assault Weapons
- Put more gun-carrying officers in schools
- Train and Arm teachers
Now IS the time to talk about SOLUTIONS to this epidemic. We know the semantics of “gun control” is instantaneously polarizing. We cannot find solutions to this problem if we go to instantaneous polarization. We cannot find a solution without talking as if we are working toward the goal of ending this Violence. We must stay focused on the goal of reducing violence.
Arming teachers is not an American ideal. We live in a better country that this. Suggestions of putting more armed government officials in our schools is a bold idea and it will indeed act to make the community “feel” safer, but does it actually make us safer? My first impression is that it will make our schools into metaphorical prisons. So, I must ask, "Do we really want to raise the next generation of our country this way?" I personally think not. The long term effects would be very detrimental to the collective psyche of parents and children.
At the candlelight vigil held at Perry Hall High School last Sunday night, a news reporter asked “What is it you are asking for? What do you want the authorities to do?”
My response to her was that we need to come together as individuals and talk honestly about solutions. Without our community imput politicians and ambitious elected officials are going to promote an agenda that they feel will get them re-elected or elected to another, higher office. Multiple ideas are far better than one idea better from someone we look up to. We need to participate in our government now more than ever. We need to influence this decision. Our communities are at stake. Our lives could be at stake
Blog articles, here and elsewhere, that allow reader input seem to provoke instantaneous polarization. As soon as background checks are suggested, some pipe up with why that soultion wouldn’t work. Suggest our community limits access to assault weapons and someone else is screaming about taking away his civil rights. My response to that is, “There is a difference between a civil rights and a constitutionally protected right. A unalienable civil right is granted to us in an unchangable way. There are limitations put on the constitutional rights. There are limitations on voting, on free speech, and there are also restrictions placed on owning automatic weapons. Constitutional rights are limited because we voters have the right to change the constitution. And we have more than a few times. What ever happens here will probably be tested at the Supreme Court.
The immediate reaction of many in a position to impact these proposed changes are politicians with partisan agendas. The polarity in these agendas has seemingly little sway at the moment. I am hearing calls for gun ownership restrictions from the Baltimore County Chief of Police, the Baltimore County Executive, our Maryland Governor, our Senator and our President. It feels like a done deal, but I am leery. Will we accomplish anything or will we let this drag out for twenty or thirty more years?
We have had 31 mass gun killings in this country since the Columbine High School mass murder. Yes, it was murder. It was more than a mere gun incident. The tragic mass murder that happened in the Newtown Connecticut elementary school was the straw that broke the “no you can’t” camel’s back. Hundreds of angry citizens marched on the headquarters of the National Rifle Association earlier this week chanting "Shame on the NRA, Shame on the NRA."
Its time for a new solution, We need an assault weapons ban in this country. We need to enhance mental health services in this country and we need a total and comprehensive background checks program in this country and we need these changes now.
Call every single elected official that represents you. This will be on the agenda in Washington DC in very short order. This will also be on the legislative agenda in annapolis. That session will be starting in a few weeks. Tell them how you want them to represent you. Its up to you speak up or live with their decisions.
Your thinking and that's good and your energy is spent on removing all rifles and handguns. Again, your thinking about a material made out of metals and plastic but never once you thought about the person behind the weapon. Now think outside the box. With all the handguns and rifles gone from this world. Use the same creative energy and show me how you would use common house old cleaning supplies, commercial fertilizers, detergents, vehicles, kitchen knives, light bulbs, gas, natural gas and the list goes on and on. You think this will stop? We need to be educated and teach our kids, teachers, police, and parents the signs a signals. Just I was taught what to look for when someone wants to commit suicide. We deny we even saw the signals until it is too late. We teach our kids not to drink or take drugs. Do you know the signs your child could be high?
Once guns are out of the picture something else will come along and take its place and will we be ready for another assault? We have to be firm and determined. You think TSA is doing a wonderful job? Maybe, its the Air Marshal with a loaded weapon on the plane that is deterring people away. These are things we should be looking at the Solutions what works and doesn't.
There hasn't been a school shooting in the United Kingdom since 1996. Coincidence?
Jason, right now about 30.000 people die from gunshot wounds a year for all reason. I'll take my chances on the other stuff. Try building a large bomb with fertilizer now and see how far you get. I don't know how many people I can kill with light bulbs, but I'm sure you will help me out. Jason, yes I know the signs, it is not very difficult if you are paying attention.
Air Marshall, since they been flying around armed the skies have been safe and I hope we can keep it that way. Maybe, its because we copied the Israelis since they have been armed for many years. They even have teachers armed in their own schools too. Again, its a solution and needs to be looked at and see why this works. Right?
Regarding UK, they banned anything that fired "cartridge ammunition". They went for the whole enchilada.
Israeli tighten gun control? A bit hard to mess with a group of people who train to fight, kill and take nothing from terrorists.. They are very experienced with automatic weapons too. That would deter me from messing with them and I would not play around with them. They earned their respect.
That be us, I'm afraid.
A 3% drop in gun murders isn't really solving it.
But a 30% drop in gun crimes is. Actually if there was even 1 less murder by firearm it is successful.
I believe that will significantly decrease murder in the US. But like I also said, it will not pass ever. Regarding shooters, the white male is an attribute, middle aged has been an attribute, but it appears average age is decreasing. Are the crazies getting younger or is the access to the necessary weapon easier?
http://www.academia.edu/1199492/Hegemonic_Masculinity_and_Mass_Murderers_in_the_United_States
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QjZY3WiO9s&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLjNJI54GMM&feature=youtu.be (Who does that remind you of?)
Anyone wishing to purchase a handgun first be required to obtain a license to purchase the weapon from the state police. Proponants of this legislation suggest this is the best way to reduce gun violence because it will substantially reduce "straw purchases," which occurr when people who are prohibited from owning weapons get someone without a criminal record to purchase the gun for them. Straw purchases are the most common way tha guns end up in the hands of people who use them to kill other people. The complete list of goals to prevent gun violence in Maryland are: Requiring a license to purchase a hand gun Banning assult weapons designed to kill and inflict maximum carnage Limiting magazine capacity to 10 rounds per magazine Providing the State Police authority to regulate gun dealers for illegal activity These are common sense measures that will not infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens, or sportsmen that use hunting rifles or shotguns. These are responsible measures to take military-style weapons off of our streets and reign in the sale of hand guns by "straw purchasers" just before they are used in a crime. For more information please go to http://marylanderstopreventgunviolence.org/
https://www.change.org/petitions/support-solutions-to-gun-violence-that-work#