Since Saturday's tragic shootings in Arizona, America's cable news channels have been flooded with analysts speculating about why.
They have bemoaned the state of America's political discourse, called for leadership in toning down heated rhetoric, speculated over whether this is a turning point for Barack Obama or Sarah Palin and puzzled over the shooter's mental state.
But one thing that has scarcely been raised is gun control.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12158148
Gun control
Gun control
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
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@meric@nwom@n
Re: Gun control
No matter what spin you try and put on it, it stands.A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
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@meric@nwom@n
Re: Gun control
In your book maybe not in mine. Thank the powers for forefathers with a gift of prescience.
Re: Gun control
Definatley in my book its a shame.
If you had tighter controls, there would be more difficulties for mentally unstable people being armed with guns. I doubt Mr Loughner would have been able to stab as many as he shot.
If you had tighter controls, there would be more difficulties for mentally unstable people being armed with guns. I doubt Mr Loughner would have been able to stab as many as he shot.
Bah!
Re: Gun control
gun controls were just made tighter for the unstable as a result of the Virginia Tech killings. As of this point there is no news (at least as far as I have heard) that his guns were legal or not. though at this point he could have got his guns before said restrictions. this guy has been planning for a while after all.
Okay... There's all kinds of things wrong with what you just said.
Re: Gun control
Back in August Wally World refused to sell me a shotgun.
I've have had a PO Box for an address since I've been out of the Navy back in the late 70s.
I had to have a physical address.
I still get my mail at a PO Box though...
I've have had a PO Box for an address since I've been out of the Navy back in the late 70s.
I had to have a physical address.
I still get my mail at a PO Box though...
Sometimes it seems as though one has to cross the line just to figger out where it is
Re: Gun control
While everyone agrees that "crazy" people should not be able to own a gun, the problem is drawing the line.
Most people ignore or fail to grasp the difference between mentally ill and retarded. How do you handle someone like Keith Obermann - dumb as a rock, but arguably sane? How about someone who is fine as long as they take their meds? How crazy is too crazy? I personally think that anyone who professes the faith of LDS is arguably incompetent. And once found incompetent would it be possible to be rehabilitated, so that you can own a gun?
Thorny issues that no politician would want to have to fcuk with.
Most people ignore or fail to grasp the difference between mentally ill and retarded. How do you handle someone like Keith Obermann - dumb as a rock, but arguably sane? How about someone who is fine as long as they take their meds? How crazy is too crazy? I personally think that anyone who professes the faith of LDS is arguably incompetent. And once found incompetent would it be possible to be rehabilitated, so that you can own a gun?
Thorny issues that no politician would want to have to fcuk with.
Re: Gun control
They managed it here.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Gun control
How?
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Gun control
Banned guns 
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Gun control
I think in this case the controls regarding ownership of guns by the mentally ill isn't the issue.
The issue is that this man's mental illness went undiagnosed/untreated. A HUGE issue in the US.
Granted, in a society with very strictly limited access to guns, he wouldn't have been likely to come into possession of one - but the US is not such a society, and I am not sure it can be made so at this point. We have more guns than Carter's has liver pills.
We could do something about screening for and treating mental illness, however. Our schools provide a perfect place to screen folks when they are at the age most likely to develop said illnesses.
It's just one of those things we don't give much a damn about until something like this happens - and months from now, this will be off the news and we won't give much a damn about the mentally ill again, except when one is a member of our family or we have some other personal interaction that directly effects our lives.
The issue is that this man's mental illness went undiagnosed/untreated. A HUGE issue in the US.
Granted, in a society with very strictly limited access to guns, he wouldn't have been likely to come into possession of one - but the US is not such a society, and I am not sure it can be made so at this point. We have more guns than Carter's has liver pills.
We could do something about screening for and treating mental illness, however. Our schools provide a perfect place to screen folks when they are at the age most likely to develop said illnesses.
It's just one of those things we don't give much a damn about until something like this happens - and months from now, this will be off the news and we won't give much a damn about the mentally ill again, except when one is a member of our family or we have some other personal interaction that directly effects our lives.
For me, it is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
~ Carl Sagan
~ Carl Sagan
Re: Gun control
I'd be interested in knowing what your referral process are for mental health problems there.
Say a guy is picked up buy the cops for acting strangely in a public place.
What happens next if the cops think he may be mentally unwell.
My team get 50% of it's non-GP/other mental health referrals this way.
I often assess at the watch house.
Say a guy is picked up buy the cops for acting strangely in a public place.
What happens next if the cops think he may be mentally unwell.
My team get 50% of it's non-GP/other mental health referrals this way.
I often assess at the watch house.
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Gun control
A 52-50 (In CA) call is made and the person is brought into a mental health facility and held for observation for 48 hrs.
If said person is deemed not to be a danger to themselves or others, they are released.
They cannot be forced to take medication or be forced into treatment.
If said person is deemed not to be a danger to themselves or others, they are released.
They cannot be forced to take medication or be forced into treatment.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Gun control
Why not?
Surely if a person is unwell, and that illness makes it impossible for them to make rational decisions about their health treatment, then treatment should be enforced?
Surely if a person is unwell, and that illness makes it impossible for them to make rational decisions about their health treatment, then treatment should be enforced?
“If you trust in yourself, and believe in your dreams, and follow your star. . . you'll still get beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy.”
Re: Gun control
Well, WHAT mental illness? I've heard some call him (Loughner) schizophrenic...
BUT!
...Schizophrenics are in general, non-violent.
Meaning; no one really knows his motives but he.
BUT!
...Schizophrenics are in general, non-violent.
Meaning; no one really knows his motives but he.
Re: Gun control
Mental Patients have rights.Gob wrote:Why not?
Surely if a person is unwell, and that illness makes it impossible for them to make rational decisions about their health treatment, then treatment should be enforced?
This has been the case since the 1970's when the large "Mental Asylums" were closed down.
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Gun control
No pesky "Second Amendment" to bother with.Gob wrote:Banned guns
eta:
Your collective inability to acknowledge this obvious truth makes you all look like fools.
yrs,
rubato