Gun Control

I was just looking over the last few well-known mass shootings we've had in the US, and it got me wondering. Would any type of gun control, outside of outright bans and years of attrition, have stopped the shooters? Almost all mass shooters seem to have one thing in common: mental illness. Is it even possible to screen these people out during a background check without violating someones personal rights? What is the line between a little odd and dangerously crazy?

Out of respect for the victims of the most recent incident, lets try to keep it civil.

Patrick, I don't think any type of gun control would work, even a outright ban. People will still get them.
Guns will never and should never be banned. I guess the Supreme's could "re-define" the Constitution but I don't see that happening.
Since Congress is so prone to knee-jerk reactions I can see them trying to make a show of it by offering some BS bill.
They would have to amend the Constitution and get it ratified. That will never happen.

I don't mean to sound heartless, and I really do fell for those that lost anyone to ANY senseless shooting. Recently those being children is even more heart wrenching. I think the possibility of this happening is part of the price of our freedoms.

Fred Dase

Patrick Keafer said:

I was just looking over the last few well-known mass shootings we've had in the US, and it got me wondering. Would any type of gun control, outside of outright bans and years of attrition, have stopped the shooters? Almost all mass shooters seem to have one thing in common: mental illness. Is it even possible to screen these people out during a background check without violating someones personal rights? What is the line between a little odd and dangerously crazy?

Out of respect for the victims of the most recent incident, lets try to keep it civil.

I believe the latest mass murderer used his mother's guns, which were purchased legally. My last gun purchase was quite some time ago and the form asked me about my mental status - with no follow up. The form was a joke. The HIPPA laws would make getting this kind of information difficult. I don't believe there is an easy way to obtain this information - no centralized medical database.

Parents bear some responsibility in making sure their guns are properly secured. Of course home protection weapons are useless if they are not readily available but other guns should be locked up.

Most of the problems have to do with the mental state of these killers. In some cases, IMO, parents don't know their children as well as they should. This is in part due to busy lives, both parents working, etc. It seems like after the fact there is often evidence of their troubles that were missed. In other cases maybe there were no outward signs.

I don't see how gun control would be a factor. If guns aren't available legally, they can always be borrowed or stolen. The people who cry out are missing the real problem.

Jim J

Mass shootings are actually down over the last decade. The peak year for mass shootings was 1929. Rose again in the 80's and 90s, then went back down.

So, in the big picture, we are heading in the right direction. Maybe we ARE better at identifying mentally ill people and getting them help. Or it could be random luck.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/mass-shootings-around-the-us-amp_n_2303432.html

Put access to mental health-care over access to fire-arms. Problem largely solved.

But we can't do that because we loves our freedoms, and giving people who need free access to mental health-care, why that's that down-right communist socialism stuff Obama keeps pushing.

We need a societal shift. We aren't fighting the British for our freedom anymore. It's time to realize this simple fact.