(December 15, 2012 at 11:19 am)A Theist Wrote:(December 15, 2012 at 11:00 am)TaraJo Wrote: This, plus, I think we need to do a better job with mental health issues. I've seen way too many of these incidents where the shooter is completely batshit crazy but got a small aresnal of guns completely legally. I'm sorry, but if you have paranoid schizophrenia or other mental health problems you have NO business being anywere near a firearm....and what of alcohol? Everything you just posted can be said for alcohol too....Alcohol related deaths in America kill more people per year than all the deaths by guns and drugs combined...is your opinion the same for alcohol too?.... (the use of alcohol can also seriously impair those who have no paranoid schizophrenia and other mental health issues...but its continued use can lead to those issues)
Interestingly enough, this is one of those areas where universal health care would be a huge benefit. As it is now, if you have a bad enough mental health issue, it usually prevents you from getting a job. Without a job, you can't get money or insurance which, in turn, prevents you from seeking treatment.
I do think there should be laws preventing people from using guns while drunk, too. I don't want to prevent guys from drinking while on hunting trips, but I don't want to see some guy get drunk, be an angry drunk and go on a rampage because of it.
I've heard a lot of NRA people say something along the lines of "More people die from cars than guns, but nobody is taking away the cars" and I'm forced to agree. However, cars are more heavily regulated than guns. Think about it; cars have to be licenced and so do the driver and if you show that you're unable to opperate a car safely that license can be taken away. Cars have to be insured and pass inspection. There are all kinds of traffic laws that directly impact how you can use a car.
Anyway, as far as this shooting goes, I've learned some more facts about it. Turns out the guns were completely legal. One of the victims was the shooters' mother who owned those guns. Once again, the guns she probably had for protection were used against the owner.
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"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama
"If you cling to something as the absolute truth and you are caught in it, when the truth comes in person to knock on your door you will refuse to let it in." ~ Siddhartha Gautama