Several People Shot at Gun Appreciation Day Events

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I would expect every one of them to be charged with something.

As per the OP, your expectation won't be met. The fella in NC is not likely to be charged, the fella in IN positively will not be charged and the dude in OH - well, we don't know. Local news report it as an accidental shooting incident, though. I wouldn't hold my breath on charges being filed in that case either. Most likely outcome, no charges and these three guys are going to continue to be "law abiding" gun owners.

[Dakine10 5,452]

In Maine, they just add a couple of "a"s to the word.

As for the gun shows, I guess you can't fix stoopid. in each case, essential weapon safety procedures were missed, or just ignored. It's not criminal, just kinda dumb.

Dumb people are an inherent by-product of a neglected education system. Unfortunately it's part of the greater problem here in the US. Mixing the worlds highest rate of gun ownership per capita with one of the highest rates of dumb people per capita can only lead to a recipe for disaster.

[Pooky 3,834]

Dumb people are an inherent by-product of a neglected education system. Unfortunately it's part of the greater problem here in the US. Mixing the worlds highest rate of gun ownership per capita with one of the highest rates of dumb people per capita can only lead to a recipe for disaster.

Ah, but that reasoning also applies to car ownership, and you can bet that far more people were hurt in car accidents on the same day. If anything, cars require a greater degree of skill and concentration than guns.

How do you propose to change the equation?

[Dakine10 5,452]

Ah, but that reasoning also applies to car ownership, and you can bet that far more people were hurt in car accidents on the same day. If anything, cars require a greater degree of skill and concentration than guns.

How do you propose to change the equation?

It's a different argument, but I do see your point. If the common denominator is too many dumb people, it's a good area to address. Improving the education system would have a lot of positive collateral effects.

[PMartin37 161]

I see you've not changed your user name yet princess.

There were probably 10 times more people who accidentally stabbed themselves with kitchen knives that day. Guns don't accidentally shoot people. People accidentally shoot people.

One crazy fool shot himself reloading his gun. Duhhh....

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

One crazy fool shot himself reloading his gun. Duhhh....

[lierre 224]

This is life's irony at its worst.

But, I find it even more disturbing that some of the posters on here rejoice at having these people hurt in a peaceful demonstration.

The real issue with the mass murders in the US is not gun ownership... It's the lack of a proper health care system good enough to address mental health care needs of mentally impaired individuals.

It pains me to know that the US can have such a shallow knee jerk reactoon to every local act of violence and not address the root of the problem.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This is life's irony at its worst.

But, I find it even more disturbing that some of the posters on here rejoice at having these people hurt in a peaceful demonstration.

The real issue with the mass murders in the US is not gun ownership... It's the lack of a proper health care system good enough to address mental health care needs of mentally impaired individuals.

It pains me to know that the US can have such a shallow knee jerk reactoon to every local act of violence and not address the root of the problem.

The issue that any bozo can get guns just about on every corner. No questions asked. That's the issue. There are too many guns in hands and homes where they should not be. More people died from guns in this country over the last four and half decades than in all wars of the entire history of this country COMBINED. All wars over the entire 200+ year history including the civil war. Fact: Wars have cost this country about 1.2 million lives over the past 200+ years, guns have cost this country about 1.4 million lives over the last less than 45 years. And you don't think there's a problem with guns in this country? Wow.

[lierre 224]

The issue that any bozo can get guns just about on every corner. No questions asked. That's the issue. There are too many guns in hands and homes where they should not be. More people died from guns in this country over the last four and half decades than in all wars of the entire history of this country COMBINED. All wars over the entire 200+ year history including the civil war. Fact: Wars have cost this country about 1.2 million lives over the past 200+ years, guns have cost this country about 1.4 million lives over the last less than 45 years. And you don't think there's a problem with guns in this country? Wow.

Cars. That other metal thing of danger should be banned, too. Oh, and cigarettes. That has killed a lot more people... Those deaths were all preventable.

My point is that a gun is just an instrument. A man who has the urge to murder cannot be impeded by just a law that disallows him to have guns. He will find other ways... Like using a knife or his bare hands instead.

Stricter firearm limits should be enforced. Even better would be a stricter law on screening who gets to have a gun.

But, a gun didn't lead to those deaths. It was the person behind the gun that did it. He is the root of the problem.

Simply getting rid of guns won't get rid of the ugly violence seen in the US.

Edited January 21, 2013 by ivyanddan

[scotinmass 588]

Cars. That other metal thing of danger should be banned, too. Oh, and cigarettes. That has killed a lot more people... Those deaths were all preventable.

My point is that a gun is just an instrument. A man who has the urge to murder cannot be impeded by just a law that disallows him to have guns. He will find other ways... Like using a knife or his bare hands instead.

Stricter firearm limits should be enforced. Even better would be a stricter law on screening who gets to have a gun.

But, a gun didn't lead to those deaths. It was the person behind the gun that did it. He is the root of the problem.

Simply getting rid of guns won't get rid of the ugly violence seen in the US.

Not the stupid "let's ban cars" argument again! Yawn.

Cigarettes are self inflicted death and it's really hard to go on a killing spree with a carton of cigarettes. Great comparison!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Simply getting rid of guns won't get rid of the ugly violence seen in the US.

No it wouldn't. But much less of that violence would result in death. There would be tens of thousands of lives saved if we could simply ensure that only those capable to responsibly handle a gun can own one. If we did nothing but make sure that the back door to gun acquisition is sealed tight, we would make a giant step toward more safety. That's not an unreasonable position to hold. In fact, it's unreasonable to oppose it.

Not the stupid "let's ban cars" argument again! Yawn.

I don't even respond to that nonsense anymore.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

A man who has the urge to murder cannot be impeded by just a law that disallows him to have guns. He will find other ways... Like using a knife or his bare hands instead.

Most of the people that kill with a firearm are not even capable of killing with their bare hands. For lack of a better description, they're not man enough to do that. It's not easy to pull the trigger but it's a lot harder - a lot harder - to kill someone up close with a knife, let alone with bare hands. Very few can pull that off. But thousands manage to squeeze the trigger. There was a story just the other day where a guy killed I think it was three people - after he went to buy a gun. He could have just killed them with his bare hands but no, he went down to the local gun store, bought a piece and then went back and snuffed them out. Doesn't look like he could have done it any other way. And that right there is why the easy and ready access to firearms for every bozo in this country IS in fact responsible for the insane amount of gun deaths we have here.

[Pooky 3,834]

No it wouldn't. But much less of that violence would result in death. There would be tens of thousands of lives saved if we could simply ensure that only those capable to responsibly handle a gun can own one. If we did nothing but make sure that the back door to gun acquisition is sealed tight, we would make a giant step toward more safety. That's not an unreasonable position to hold. In fact, it's unreasonable to oppose it.

Focusing on gun registration has to happen. No question.

Action on the weapon type and magazine size will make barely a dent in the firearm fatality rate for years, maybe even decades.

Working on the people end of the equation is the only way to move the issue forward.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Most of the people that kill with a firearm are not even capable of killing with their bare hands. For lack of a better description, they're not man enough to do that. It's not easy to pull the trigger but it's a lot harder - a lot harder - to kill someone up close with a knife, let alone with bare hands. Very few can pull that off. But thousands manage to squeeze the trigger. There was a story just the other day where a guy killed I think it was three people - after he went to buy a gun. He could have just killed them with his bare hands but no, he went down to the local gun store, bought a piece and then went back and snuffed them out. Doesn't look like he could have done it any other way. And that right there is why the easy and ready access to firearms for every bozo in this country IS in fact responsible for the insane amount of gun deaths we have here.

Exactly. I can learn to defend myself against most forms of attack, not have to respond with excessive force, and probably survive the encounter. However, an idiot with a gun is another story completely.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I can't believe people are still making the guns vs cars argument.