Elementary school shooting gun control pissing contest

[merithyn]

I don't remember saying this, but then, you don't seem to care what I say or don't say, so it doesn't really matter.

You said

People like you are as much the reason why nothing gets done as the NRA nutjobs. The worst part is that neither of you see yourselves as the problem.

and elaborated by saying

People who start screaming about gun control and policy changes citing a mass shooting with zero information on how those may have helped - or not - are no different than people screaming that if everyone had been carrying a gun none of this would have happened. They're screaming to hear their own voices, not to actually affect real and useful change.

That to me suggested that you were saying that people who scream for gun control and policy changes (with zero information) are just as much the reason why nothing gets done as the NRA nutjobs. Like I said, I think that's absurd.

If that's not what you meant, I apologize for misunderstanding you; however, it leaves me unclear what point you were making.

The part in parenthesis is not an addendum but the actual point.

[Queequeg]

And it's still flat out absurd not to assume that an American civilian madman with a handgun didn't qt some point benefit from lax gun regulations somewhere in the United States. Your point is still obviously invalid.

[merithyn]

And it's still flat out absurd not to assume that an American civilian madman with a handgun didn't qt some point benefit from lax gun regulations somewhere in the United States. Your point is still obviously invalid.

At some point, a madman with a bomb benefited from lax library laws and learned how to build an explosive. Should we then tighten all laws regarding what people can check out?

That's an absurd statement to cover the fact that your statements in the immediate aftermath made no sense and were based entirely on gun control rhetoric and not at all on the situation at hand.

[crazy canuck]

Which is predictable?

I'm not sure what you mean by the question...

The gun isnt going to shoot by itself. The gun doesnt decide that.

And a person isnt going to shoot without one.  You need both a person and a gun for a person to shoot a gun.  The argument that only the person is a variable is a bit absurd.

[Queequeg]

Complete non sequitor, Merithyn. You are flailing.

We have q policy meant to prevent this. This keeps happening. It happens again. Examining the policy is the only rational option.

[DGuller]

And a person isnt going to shoot without one.  You need both a person and a gun for a person to shoot a gun.  The argument that only the person is a variable is a bit absurd.

The problem is not with dirty bombs, the problem is with the people who want to explode them in densely populated places.

[Queequeg]

You can keep trying to ride this false equivalency train as long as you like, but that was one of the most angrily worded posts that's ever been directed at me and all of the assumptions you made it on were horseshit.

[11B4V]

Which is predictable?

I'm not sure what you mean by the question...

The gun isnt going to shoot by itself. The gun doesnt decide that.

And a person isnt going to shoot without one.  You need both a person and a gun for a person to shoot a gun.  The argument that only the person is a variable is a bit absurd.

The person decides to pull the trigger at another human being.

[merithyn]

Complete non sequitor, Merithyn. You are flailing.

We have q policy meant to prevent this. This keeps happening. It happens again. Examining the policy is the only rational option.

If you can't see how your response could at the very least be considered over-the-top and therefore liable to turn reasonable people off to your way of thinking, then there's no point in continuing this discussion.

[Admiral Yi]

Squeelus, I think virtually everyone in this country would agree that madmen should not have access to firearms.  The issue is how to implement it.

[Grey Fox]

You can regulate the guns all you want. They are not the variable in the equation. We are.

they are a variable in the equation, just as the human beings committing these crimes.

I disagree. Guns either
1. Do nothing
2. when used, destroy what's in their trajectory

Bottom line. Humans are the varible.

I disagree. Atomic bombs either
1. Do nothing
2. when used, destroy what's in their trajectory

Bottom line. Humans are the varible.

Yet, you can't have them in your homes.

[Grey Fox]

I'm not sure where to put this thought, so here will do.

Can anyone explain to me how one attempted shoe bomber equals removing our shoes at airports, but regular massacres don't equal gun control?

Shamelessly stolen from social media.

[Scipio]

Probably a good idea. 

Look, we've gone through this how many times this year?  People are massacred, hecklers scream about how it's "not the time for politics", and then everyone forgets about it within two weeks.  It's a sick process.

Yet violent crime rates and gun crime rates continue to decrease.  Nobody gives a shit when gang-bangers splat each other all over the pavement.  So, there you go, giving a fuck when it ain't your turn to give a fuck.

[crazy canuck]

Which is predictable?

I'm not sure what you mean by the question...

The gun isnt going to shoot by itself. The gun doesnt decide that.

And a person isnt going to shoot without one.  You need both a person and a gun for a person to shoot a gun.  The argument that only the person is a variable is a bit absurd.

The person decides to pull the trigger at another human being.

Yes, but I think you would agree that if there was no trigger to pull the decision becomes moot.

[CountDeMoney]

Yet violent crime rates and gun crime rates continue to decrease.

Meh, that's a little debatable, as public agencies have a habit of fucking with statistics for their own purposes.

Nobody gives a shit when gang-bangers splat each other all over the pavement.  So, there you go, giving a fuck when it ain't your turn to give a fuck.

Exactly. Why be shocked over mass shootings when it's happening every day.

People smoke, knowing full well they can get cancer.  Alcohol is legal and people drink, knowing full well they can turn their automobile into a 2 ton weapon.  It's our right to do so, and it's our right to demand relatively unfettered access to firearms.  Incidents like today are simply the price of admission for living in America.
   
So, sorry kids.  Wrong place, wrong time.  It happens.  You just happened to have rolled snake eyes in the American casino of life.  At least you got it out of the way early.

The only real public policy alternative in all this is not to prevent school shootings, but to hope it's not your kids' school.  There are no other viable alternatives left.