Gun Control: Turning to Mental Health Instead of Hopelessness

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-09-23/gun-control-turning-to-mental-health-instead-of-hopelessness?campaign_id=yhoo

Now here's a new idea. Treat mentally deranged people to prevent mass shootings. Who'da thunk it? Oh yeah, the NRA. wayne LaPierre stated that in his TV appearance after the shootings. It was much mocked by the small minded anti-gunners here on VJ, but is now suggested by Obama also. I guess Obama is consulting with LaPierre AND Putin.

Note also that NONE of the measures proposed so far could possibly have had any affect on the shooting last week. The shooter used the same model shotgun Joe Biden owns, held a TS clearance and passed a background check to buy the gun at a licensed dealer. The problem was that our system ignores the problems of the mentally ill. Too expensive. .

Gun ownership is a RIGHT, it cannot be legislated away. It cannot be infringed. The politicians need to find another way to actually solve the problem. In other words...they need to actually produce something.

[duraaraa 203]

It doesn't seem very much like a right to me, based on all the laws. It seems more like a privilege, like driving. If it were a right, people could buy them without any sort of background check, with whatever kind of criminal record.

It seems more like a right*

* Insert restrictions turning it into a privilege here.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Wouldn't change a thing as long as these fallas cold purchase any irearm they desire in a private transaction without undergoing any background check. They could be certified loons and the private transaction seller would never know nor ever care. And that is just the way the NRA and the gun aficionados like it. More bloodshed, more death, more gun sales causing yet more carnage and more death and more gun sales. That's what it's all about: gun sales.

[duraaraa 203]

Wouldn't change a thing as long as these fallas cold purchase any irearm they desire in a private transaction without undergoing any background check. They could be certified loons and the private transaction seller would never know nor ever care. And that is just the way the NRA and the gun aficionados like it. More bloodshed, more death, more gun sales causing yet more carnage and more death and more gun sales. That's what it's all about: gun sales.

That's what it's about in any such industry... Guns, tobacco, soft drinks, whatever's damaging to people's healths, it doesn't matter. It's about making money.... which is what America is all about. If you can't make money, how will you afford your gun, cigarette, and bottle of coke?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's what it's about in any such industry... Guns, tobacco, soft drinks, whatever's damaging to people's healths, it doesn't matter. It's about making money.... which is what America is all about.

That's right.

[Pooky 3,838]

It doesn't seem very much like a right to me, based on all the laws. It seems more like a privilege, like driving. If it were a right, people could buy them without any sort of background check, with whatever kind of criminal record.

It seems more like a right*

* Insert restrictions turning it into a privilege here.

And in a nutshell, you have encapsulated what proponents of the Second Amendment fear most - that the right conferred under that amendment is being steadily eroded by unconstitutional legislative encroachment to the point where it is no more than a privilege.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Also, where as tobacco use can only be described has harmful, a firearm can be used without any harmful effects. (Taking care to wash one's hands after handling ammo etc.) In fact there are families out there that offset much of their meat with game which are probably more healthy than consuming high fat feedlot cattle or caged chickens.

Edited September 24, 2013 by Brown Dwarf

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

And in a nutshell, you have encapsulated what proponents of the Second Amendment fear most - that the right conferred under that amendment is being steadily eroded by unconstitutional legislative encroachment to the point where it is no more than a privilege.

You mean like voting or reproductive rights of women?

Edited September 24, 2013 by Mr. Big Dog

[duraaraa 203]

Also, where as tobacco use can only be described has harmful, a firearm can be used without any harmful effects. (Taking care to wash one's hands after handling ammo etc.) In fact there are families out there that offset much of their meat with game which are probably more healthy than consuming high fat feedlot cattle or caged chickens.

Not really. One could say tobacco improves concentration and prevents parkinson's disease.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Not really. One could say tobacco improves concentration and prevents parkinson's disease.

While at the same time giving you lung cancer, a higher risk of heart attack, mouth cancer, infertility, high blood pressure, gum disease yada yada.....

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

While at the same time giving you lung cancer, a higher risk of heart attack, mouth cancer, infertility, high blood pressure, gum disease yada yada.....

Firearms give you a hgher risk o death by, well, firearms. Your point is?

[Pooky 3,838]

You mean like voting or reproductive rights of women?

Show me where either is explicitly guaranteed as a right under the U.S. Constituion or it's subsequent amendments.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Firearms give you a hgher risk o death by, well, firearms. Your point is?

Inherently they don't. As long as you follow strict guidelines while operating them, and have a gunsmith check them you should have no ill effect.

There are no "safe" guidelines for the use of tobacco other than not to use it.

[slim 1,533]

Are we all ignoring the fact that dude bought his shotgun legally....just like many of the other shooters?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Are we all ignoring the fact that dude bought his shotgun legally....just like many of the other shooters?

Way to identify the problem! How can you tell somebody is mentally deranged before they legally buy a firearm? Look at some of the posters here that admit having guns, and admit having problems with authority - not a healthy mix for a civilized society.