Mass Shooting Incidents in the United States

[SirBloody Idiot]

Rep. Gohmert (R-TX) also asked, “It does make me wonder, with all those people in the theater, was there nobody that was carrying a gun that could have stopped this guy more quickly?”

and that's why

Well if God wouldn't stop it, why would anyone else?

[BackFootPunch]

However, stats relating to attacks with a knife in the UK are pretty horrific IIRC and glassing attacks on the GC have reached alarming rates

Bottom line is that if some psycho wants to hurt another person then it's odds on they will find a way of doing it

Shootings are so indiscriminate though. Like walking into a movie theatre and just opening fire. It beggars belief.

There will always be people who want to harm others. That's pretty much a given. But this sort of **** is so incredibly preventable it's almost ridiculous.

[Son Of Coco]

However, stats relating to attacks with a knife in the UK are pretty horrific IIRC and glassing attacks on the GC have reached alarming rates

Bottom line is that if some psycho wants to hurt another person then it's odds on they will find a way of doing it

There's a fair chance you won't kill a large number of people in quick succession with a knife or a broken bottle though. I'm yet to see the headline "12 killed and 51 injured in a Knifing/Glassing Attack in Youstinki, Finland". I'm assuming that with a semi automatic weapon (or any gun really) you can kill a lot of people pretty quickly if you want to. And you can do so relatively untouched as you don't have to get close enough to the victim run the risk of physical harm yourself.

I'd say the argument that "if someone wants to hurt someone else they'll find a way of doing it" is exactly the reason why you'd want to try to make sure they don't do it with a weapon that can kill a lot of people very quickly.

[silentstriker]

Being against gun control is part of getting your American citizenship though isn't it?

I find it interesting that you get the 'right to bear arms' argument from many American citizens when the constitution they refer to was drafted back in the 1700's. Am pretty sure they weren't aware semi-automatic weapons would be invented back then. Let alone used on their own citizens whenever anyone got a text message they didn't like.

I think while some do believe that the right is necessary to 'keep government in check' - I think most people realize that in the modern age you won't have much of a chance going against an air-strike or an armored batallion with your 1901 Winfield Rifle, if the government does decide to violently suppress you. People still want it because the culture is different - people go to the range a lot, hunt a lot, etc..and generally just prefer having a gun at home for protection.

I think many people, including a large number of democrats, simply like owning guns and they don't want to give that up.

I know it sounds weird to people in Europe, but people here would rather live in a society where this happens occasionally than part with their guns. Every society has to decide how much risk it wants to take in any area.

[flibbertyjibber]

Why couldn't he have waited a few months till the new Twilight film was released?

[benchmark00]

Full disclosure: am not nor do I ever plan to be a gun owner (but did really enjoy squeezing off round when I was in Police and on the range in general).

Well I don't think you're alone there

[Flem274*]

What I don't get is why people equate gun control with the end of gun ownership and gun sports. Just get a ****ing license like the rest of the world ffs.

[vic_orthdox]

Any idea what percentage of Americans/households own a gun?

[Spikey]

Any idea what percentage of Americans/households own a gun?

State-by-state figures would probably tell the better story.

[Spikey]

But: Gun Control

so 40-45%, maybe

[benchmark00]

Legend.

[Spikey]

what, for taking away my liberty? I oughta shoot you.

[BackFootPunch]

Any idea what percentage of Americans/households own a gun?

47% as of October last year - Self-reported gun ownership

So probably fair to assume it's higher than that when including those who don't admit to it.

[Top_Cat]

tbh, the bigger driver of gun violence in the US these days isn't the prevalence of guns alone, it's laws around the use of them. For example, the 'stand your ground'-type laws which got so much press for the Trayvon Martin death demonstrably increased the gun death rate by heaps as soon as they were introduced.

EDIT: Peep dis.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012...trayvon-martin

[andyc]

Rep. Gohmert (R-TX) also asked, “It does make me wonder, with all those people in the theater, was there nobody that was carrying a gun that could have stopped this guy more quickly?”

and that's why

Haha, what a douche. The theatre was full with tear gas and the dude was wearing a gas mask; random people would have barely been able to see let alone calm themselves enough to hit a target in a room full of people freaking out.