Guns from out-of-state make up the grand majority of city crimes

[Karee 4,190]

This is the sad truth. The guns are already here due to decades of not really doing anything about the issue.

Gun violence will always be a problem in this country since it's clearly impossible to have a conversation about what causes it without one side or the other getting defensive.

Hell, some people can't even admit there IS a problem.

I think there's a problem. But I don't think it's the gun crime. I think it's a much larger and more difficult problem that has to do with poverty and income inequality. Also, parents having kids they don't give a #### about doesn't help.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I think there's a problem. But I don't think it's the gun crime. I think it's a much larger and more difficult problem that has to do with poverty and income inequality. Also, parents having kids they don't give a #### about doesn't help.

There's no doubt that there is a much bigger problem than just guns, but I see the gun problem as a quicker, easier and much less expensive fix rather than trying to transform the economy of almost half our nation.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I think there's a problem. But I don't think it's the gun crime. I think it's a much larger and more difficult problem that has to do with poverty and income inequality. Also, parents having kids they don't give a #### about doesn't help.

I think easy access to guns is a problem. Not THE problem but it certainly doesn't help, especially in poverty stricken areas where opportunities for a life off the streets doesn't seem like a reality.

[Karee 4,190]

There's no doubt that there is a much bigger problem than just guns, but I see the gun problem as a quicker, easier and much less expensive fix rather than trying to transform the economy of almost half our nation.

And that's exactly my point. There is no quicker easier fix. Any lives that you save initially by outlawing guns, will be lost in the violence that occurs later in the illegal gun trade.

[Harsh_77 718]

Why would it be hard for a law abiding citizen to pass a background check for their weapon?

I don't know how many silly threats he gets. Do you?

I wasn't specifically talking about him, I was talking about political figures in general. Unfortunately being well known, especially in politics, puts your life at risk if you're walking around in the public. All it takes is one crazy who wants to harm you or your family.

There's no reason that gas station owner shouldn't have a firearm to protect himself against armed robbers.

Sorry if I don't think he should have AK-47s.

Well since he is an advocate against gun laws he should also practice what he is preaching.

If the gas store owner wants a AK or AR or handgun that should be left upto him.

Background check.... I am not sure how many times this has been posted one cannot buy from a lic dealer without background check.

The govt should go after ppl who failed the background check and were attempting to make a purchase, which they did not do nor they cared about it, that was not the focus as that would not give them any publicity.

Applying background check to individual sale is a completely crazy idea... do you even realize how difficult it was to check the work authorization of applicant.

Why does govt need more and more data on individuals who have not commited any crime nor there is prob cause?

[Karee 4,190]

Well since he is an advocate against gun laws he should also practice what he is preaching.

If the gas store owner wants a AK or AR or handgun that should be left upto him.

Background check.... I am not sure how many times this has been posted one cannot buy from a lic dealer without background check.

The govt should go after ppl who failed the background check and were attempting to make a purchase, which they did not do nor they cared about it, that was not the focus as that would not give them any publicity.

Applying background check to individual sale is a completely crazy idea... do you even realize how difficult it was to check the work authorization of applicant.

Why does govt need more and more data on individuals who have not commited any crime nor there is prob cause?

Yeah that's another point. They want to pass all these laws, yet they don't enforce the existing laws. Passing laws doesn't automatically fix things.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Well since he is an advocate against gun laws he should also practice what he is preaching.

If the gas store owner wants a AK or AR or handgun that should be left upto him.

Background check.... I am not sure how many times this has been posted one cannot buy from a lic dealer without background check.

The govt should go after ppl who failed the background check and were attempting to make a purchase, which they did not do nor they cared about it, that was not the focus as that would not give them any publicity.

Applying background check to individual sale is a completely crazy idea... do you even realize how difficult it was to check the work authorization of applicant.

Why does govt need more and more data on individuals who have not commited any crime nor there is prob cause?

Universal backgrounds checks aren't a crazy idea at all.

I could get a gun faster and with less hassle than I could adopt a pet from the humane society in my county.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Yeah that's another point. They want to pass all these laws, yet they don't enforce the existing laws. Passing laws doesn't automatically fix things.

Of course not. No laws will ever stop illegal things from being done. That doesn't mean laws shouldn't exist.

I don't know why guns are such a sore subject for some who want to at least have a discussion on what can be done about them.

There's no response other than "that's their right, their choice, their decision, it's in the constitution" ... easy access to guns is a problem. Whether you like guns or not.

I don't pretend to know what the solution is, if there even is one at this point considering how deep the problem goes.

But a conversation cannot be had in this country about the subject, it seems.

The gun-crazy culture that I see here is like nothing I've ever seen before. I have no idea why that is.

How did it get like this. What makes America stand out from other civilized countries? Why is gun violence SUCH an issue here?

Edited August 1, 2013 by Penny Lane

[Teddy B 17,252]

And that's exactly my point. There is no quicker easier fix. Any lives that you save initially by outlawing guns, will be lost in the violence that occurs later in the illegal gun trade.

I disagree with that assertion. Whose lives will be lost and how?

[RGinWA 816]

Thats a good thought but does not work that way.

Criminals will find a way to get their hands on weapons either way, it will be the law abidding citizen who would have hard time getting a weapon.

So the idea is to have the wild west and even less laws?

The reasoning for your argument is that since this mythical "criminal" will just get the weapon anyway we as a country should do nothing? Well, except flood the streets with even more weapons?

With that logic:

Since stray dogs may bite humans, flood the cities with even more dogs to attack the stray dogs. Thus protecting more people.

This is nuts...

I disagree with that assertion. Whose lives will be lost and how?

It's the mythical argument. There isn't any data.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I honestly can't go a day without seeing bumper stickers about the NRA, treading on rights, don't take away my guns, etc...

It's like the only issue some people are passionate about. The fear that someone is going to come in and steal all their guns.

[slim 1,525]

Why can't mayor Bloomberg keep his criminals out of my state?

Just like Obama, he's blaming someone else instead of fixing his own problems.

[Karee 4,190]

I disagree with that assertion. Whose lives will be lost and how?

It's probably a bad comparison, but here goes. I'll use prohibition as an example The reason for prohibition was the wives of this country thought their husbands were turning into a bunch of lazy no good drunks. Alcohol I'm sure caused alot of violence back then and still does. Then they came along and outlawed alcohol. The alcohol become somewhat more difficult to obtain, but people that wanted it, still got it. I doubt prohibition had any real effect on domestic violence, alcoholism, laziness, whatever. What it did do, was create an illegal market for criminals that I would argue ended up being much worse than the alcohol itself. The point being that outlawing something that people want, doesn't really solve the problems. In fact, it has the unintended consequences of creating new problems. The trick is to get people to not want it. That's the hard part.

It's the mythical argument. There isn't any data.

I see your remedial reading class let you out early today.

Edited August 1, 2013 by Karee

[RGinWA 816]

I see your remedial reading class let you out early today.

As your remedial response class did as well.

And you cried about personal attacks...what a hypocrite. LOL

Try responding without the 3rd grade retorts.

It's probably a bad comparison, but here goes. I'll use prohibition as an example The reason for prohibition was the wives of this country thought their husbands were turning into a bunch of lazy no good drunks. Alcohol I'm sure caused alot of violence back then and still does. Then they came along and outlawed alcohol. The alcohol become somewhat more difficult to obtain, but people that wanted it, and still got it. I doubt prohibition had any real effect on domestic violence, alcoholism, laziness, whatever. What it did do, was create an illegal market for criminals that I would argue ended up being much worse than the alcohol itself. The point being that outlawing something that people want, doesn't really solve the problems. In fact, it has the unintended consequences of creating new problems. The trick is to get people to not want it. That's the hard part.

Yes you were correct...it was a bad comparison.

But some people seem to get high off owning a firearm.

[slim 1,525]

I like liberty.