18 Children Among 26 Dead in Conn Elementary School Shooting

LadyJazzer wrote: Gee, we're up to 20 children, and a total of 27... Sounds like he had a chance to reload...

I'm impressed... So glad he was able to get those things...being protected by his "rights" and all....

He could have reloaded a revolver many times as well. Schools, thanks to federal laws, are "gun free zones" after all and, as the saying goes, when seconds count the police are only minutes away. In the time it takes you to lay your hands on a phone and dial '911' you can also draw your own weapon and start returning fire. A lunatic who is forced to focus on their own survival will not be able to focus thier fire on their intended victims, but must instead focus on the force which threatens them. Limiting the number of "gun free zones" will do more to reduce tragedy such as this more than limiting magazine capacity ever could. Disarming, or limiting, the law abiding simply makes the job of the law breakers easier and safer, it does nothing to prevent a tragedy from occurring.

This sucks,

Not debating gun laws, but asking a very specific question.

Do people think that the types of people that do this crap would just stop and suck it up if there were no guns (literally no guns) or do they move onto death gas, blades and bombs?

I too think this has deeper roots in our society and the economy. The longer we drag out this depressing state of opportunity for the masses, the longer the time of tragedy goes on - the more people get shot, the more kids get abused, the more spouses get punched.

People just are not as happy as they were, they have less hope, without hope, people will do just about anything.

Just sucks, and this is likely the tip of the iceberg of innocent people that were hurt, died or otherwise ruined today in the world.

Humans have been finding effective ways to slaughter each other for centuries - guns are a fairly new technology on the scene. But witness the guy in China who stabbed 22 people. Pretty tight gun laws there, and a knife registry as well. The OKC bomber leaps to mind with this truck full of fertlizer. Our recent perp in Aurora (I refuse to type his name) and his booby-trapped apartment. I believe when a person like this breaks they will make others feel their pain in whatever way they can.

I also believe you hit the nail on the head - there is a much deeper problem in our society that triggers these attacks.

Yes, "Some people say..." that "More people are killed by _______________ than guns", which of course, they think absolves them from any discussion about gun-control whatsoever.

Right, just because it would be impossible to stop all of these crimes doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything. If we can impact crime, make it harder for these shootings to happen, make any reduction on the numbers of people shot, then we must consider such options as potential reasonable restrictions. You say, "it's not the gun, it's the person", but there are no mass shootings that don't involve guns. PS and some other conservatives believe the answer is more guns...which works for those who don't mind living in an armed society, constantly on the ready to defend themselves. The reality is most people don't want to live like that. Most people want to live in a civilized society, with a reasonable level of comfort and security that the world is a peaceful place. Some think this is naive and don't believe this is possible, and believe 'an armed society is a polite society'. I would argue 'an armed society is a scared society'. I choose not to live in constant fear. I believe we sacrifice our freedom when we allow our fears to dictate how we live. The answers are in dealing with the problems proactively, address the underlying issues that motivate such crimes. To me, arming teachers, mall security, private citizenry, etc., is reactive and doesn't address the problem.

And gun control would have helped how?

There are so many laws on the books now, and CT being one of the most restrictive states, but it still happens.
Why dont we Ban Insanity?

Tax $$$ are spent on techknowledgies for schools, fire alarms and drills are practiced. what about safe rooms, practice emergency situation drills.
A retired LEO that really doesn't want to be retired but can carry and is trained.

You really think a criminal/crazy is going to resect gun laws. it has worked so far yeah.
Banning an inanimate object will not stop anyone with intent on creating harm. In fact it may result in bigger and more extreme events. Tim McViegh comes to mind.

In the middle east ammo is at a premium so they build lots of devices to do their dirty work.

And the media has a huge part in making the sick come out.
Someone with an issue may watch at how so and so got the weapon, dressed, planned, lived, etc. Then thinking they are just as smart, talented etc, thinks I can do better than that, I can go down in history for something Big.

They read the praise on social media that some weirdos post and see a cult following for themselves even after they are gone.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: And gun control would have helped how?

There are so many laws on the books now, and CT being one of the most restrictive states, but it still happens.

Yes, it still happens, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do anything. You cannot say how many crimes CT's laws may have prevented, because they were prevented...that's the point.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: Why dont we Ban Insanity?

Why don't we treat insanity, and stop ignoring it? Probably because that requires tax dollars.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: Tax $$$ are spent on techknowledgies for schools, fire alarms and drills are practiced. what about safe rooms, practice emergency situation drills.
A retired LEO that really doesn't want to be retired but can carry and is trained.

Because I don't think it's up to you decide my kid has to live in a 3rd world country, where everywhere you go there's a guard standing there with a gun, where a kid doesn't have the freedoms I had when growing up. I don't think we need to give up on America. I don't think we need to live by the 'criminals' rules.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: You really think a criminal/crazy is going to resect gun laws.

I don't care what criminals/crazies respect. If the gun isn't available to them, then they can't shoot anyone.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: it has worked so far yeah.

Again, you are being illogical to make this argument as you can't say how many crimes were or weren't prevented by gun legislation as those crimes didn't happen,

Martin Ent Inc wrote: Banning an inanimate object will not stop anyone with intent on creating harm. In fact it may result in bigger and more extreme events. Tim McViegh comes to mind.

I cannot argue this, however it is clear that it is an even smaller minority of people who would take these steps. If making gun access inconvenient prevents any shootings, then it's worked. If criminals are driven to use new weapons and means, then we will take measures to combat and prevent those actions.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: In the middle east ammo is at a premium so they build lots of devices to do their dirty work.

You can never prevent a motivated person intent on violence, but you can work to make it a lot less convenient for them. I know they're out there, and we'll never eliminate them, but I don't have to hand them the gun they want to shoot me with.

Is Israel a 3rd world country?
The gov. put a stop to crimes on school grounds by arming their teachers.

Martin Ent Inc wrote: Is Israel a 3rd world country?
The gov. put a stop to crimes on school grounds by arming their teachers.

I wouldn't say Israel is a 3rd world country, but I certainly don't see them as a model we should follow...do you? Doesn't Israel require everyone to serve in the military? Another example of a model I don't think we should follow.

I'm surprised you'd trust teachers with guns...they are a group that hasn't garnered a ton of respect from yourself and other conservatives in the past. You don't think they know how to teach, mooch from society with their unions, and are all indoctrinating children into liberalism and socialism...but you want to give them guns? No consistency there.

I don't think schools should be armed because they deal with children who are NOT responsible for themselves yet. Children do wild, crazy, sometimes even violent things...sometimes they break into teacher's lockers. Sometimes they threaten teachers when they're dealing with teenage angst and hormones. Having a firearm present multiplies the chances for tragedy, not reduces it. In the possibility of a violent attack, having two people hurl lead through the air may not necessarily solve the problem, and certainly runs the risk of compounding it.

Dear "Sorry generation",
I am sorry that no one ever said "no" to you. We plied you w/ video games to keep you quiet.A lot of those games were so violent that you might of been traumatized but we never said no to you bc we wanted you to "fit in" or maybe we just wanted to be your "friend" instead of your parent. Sorry...that we gave everyone an award at the sports event. You missed a basic lesson in pride and achievement, that even if you weren't the star player, you could have tried harder, like Michael Jordan did after he was cut from his freshman basketball team. We all have adversity- but you wouldn't know that, bc we indulged in the sense of entitlement that you felt you were "owed". You'll never know that sense of accomplishment when you "beat the odds". Sorry that we allowed you to participate in "social media"- it left you with no social skills and no real friends. We stopped showing you after school specials w/morality lessons- bc we didn't want to "impose" our morals. We mocked guys like Tim Tebow and idolized Charlie Sheen. We bred you on witches, vampires, ghost and zombies and then wonder why you don't respect human life. Sorry we never made you say the "Pledge of Allegiance". The lesson was less about "under God" and more about that a pledge was your bond and allegiance was loyalty- both qualities you lack. We should have taught you to be pro choice. Pro choice, not referring to abortion but that no matter what has been done to you- you have a CHOICE to be moral, decent, ethical person. Sorry we have become a society that blamed everything from conservatives, liberals, immigrants, native ppls, gays, straights, the rich, the poor, wifi, dial up, doctors,police, lawyers, comedians, actors,athletes, and even @Emeniem for the problem. We searched for answers that were right in front of us.
We failed you and now YOU are the problem.