General Gun Violence/Gun Control

[Laughing]

So you're saying that these gun laws are working and no further action is needed?

I'm just trying to understand your earlier post about doing something in regards to American firearms coming into Canada.

And -- again, that is a user problem.

Firearms don't cross borders unassisted. Users already willing to ignore laws are bringing any firearms across the borders.

Is there really any way to determine where these firearms actually are held before showing up in Canada? Are US citizens/users transporting the firearms, or is this user problem citizens of other countries? If not arrested & convicted, how would one know?

If there was any way to have an accurate count, I expect more firearms cross the US/Mexico border in any time period compared to the US/Canada border jmho.

Border problem perhaps needs its' own thread imho.

Any illegal use of a firearm -- is a user problem.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[Deleted member 39678]

And -- again, that is a user problem.

Firearms don't cross borders unassisted. Users already willing to ignore laws are bringing any firearms across the borders.

Is there really any way to determine where these firearms actually are held before showing up in Canada? Are US citizens/users transporting the firearms, or is this user problem citizens of other countries? If not arrested & convicted, how would one know?

If there was any way to have an accurate count, I expect more firearms cross the US/Mexico border in any time period compared to the US/Canada border jmho.

Border problem perhaps needs its' own thread imho.

Any illegal use of a firearm -- is a user problem.

jmho ymmv lrr

Thanks. So banning firearms isn't enough if you have criminals who could care less about these laws and are willing to smuggle guns across porous borders.

 

[Lexiintoronto]

So you're saying that these gun laws are working and no further action is needed?

I'm just trying to understand your earlier post about doing something in regards to American firearms coming into Canada.

There’s an ongoing issue of firearms being smuggled into Canada, so it’s a concern. “Police bust major US-Canada firearms smuggling operation with 42 arrests”
_____

“While the Canadian Justice Department has acknowledged the U.S. is the largest source of illegal firearms that are smuggled north of the border, there has been limited data that tracks exactly how many guns come into Canada every year, where they come from, and what they are used for.

The Toronto Police Service have said that 85 per cent of the city’s crime guns are arriving from the U.S.”

Canada, U.S. vow gun smuggling crackdown with new tracing deal - National | Globalnews.ca

Canada and the U.S. announced steps to improve collaboration in the fight against the smuggling and trafficking of firearms across the shared border.

globalnews.ca

 

[NeverPersonal]

any opinion except for "we need to limit gun access for american citizens" really blows my mind, considering we are the only country where this regularly happens, and we are a laughing stock/saaaad butt of many jokes amongst other nations for how obvious the solution is, but how stubborn Americans are about guns. you cannot kill 10 people with a rock or a knife in 2 minutes. it is so so so different and not even comparable to an AR15 etc.

 

[NeverPersonal]

Thanks. So banning firearms isn't enough if you have criminals who could care less about these laws and are willing to smuggle guns across porous borders.

except ANYTHING would be helpful at this point. we need to start somewhere. simply doing nothing should not be an option. the US isn't passing gun laws, and the US isn't putting its money where its mouth is with mental health care - so what ARE we doing??? just thoughts & prayers seem to be working great.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

except ANYTHING would be helpful at this point. we need to start somewhere. simply doing nothing should not be an option. the US isn't passing gun laws, and the US isn't putting its money where its mouth is with mental health care - so what ARE we doing??? just thoughts & prayers seem to be working great.

I disagree that doing "ANYTHING" is a good policy to stop miscreants from harming innocent people.

I'm not sure I agree with the claim that the US isn't passing gun laws. There's plenty on the books. I do agree that much more investment into mental health care is needed.

JMO

 

[Laughing]

except ANYTHING would be helpful at this point. we need to start somewhere. simply doing nothing should not be an option. the US isn't passing gun laws, and the US isn't putting its money where its mouth is with mental health care - so what ARE we doing??? just thoughts & prayers seem to be working great.

Well, mental health care is not listed in the Constitution, so as I understand it that is by definition left to the states.

We all know that the right to bear arms is guaranteed by the US Constitution in the Bill of Rights. A well-thought out list of protections, the Bill of Rights. (I recommend reading each one, and consider which will be attacked next if citizens give up any one of them.)

How have you encouraged your state senators & state legislators to modernize & support mental/behavioral health programs in your state? Your state office that supervises courts? Your county & municipality?

Contacted a local mental/behavioral health provider to volunteer?

I am wordy enough, won't go through the litany, but as a start mass shootings in Connecticut, Colorado, South Carolina, Maine, and Missouri were failures of mental/behavioral health &/or court handling of mental/behavioral health cases.

Doing something for mental health should be state level programming and local community-specific programming. Federal grant dollars would likely follow. Some changes have occurred -- behavioral health is now included in employer-provided insurance.

And, yes, my state representatives do know how I feel about both sides of the issue, and my work routinely partners with our local behavioral health providers to help citizens in our community.

Primarily, those willing to ignore laws, those permanently or temporarily unable/unwilling to comply with laws are causing the problem.

We are the solution -- talking in circles will not save lives & protect rights.

Actively supporting behavioral health care in your community will. What will you DO about the problems tomorrow?


jmho ymmv lrr

 

[MyBelle]

Please, please, please know that the A stands for the name of the company that developed the firearm -- it is an Armalite Rifle.

Want to reduce gun violence?

Denver decided to do just that:

One City’s Surprising Tactic to Reduce Gun Violence: Solving More Nonfatal Shootings

A Denver police unit started investigating all shootings like homicides. Now other cities are taking notice.

www.themarshallproject.org

Also, consider that NO ONE who was involved with 4H Shooting Sports or the Daisy Air Rifle competition has gone on to participate in a mass shooting:

National 4-H Shooting Sports

Skills for Life - Activity for Lifetime

4-hshootingsports.org

Daisy Nationals - Daisy

Each year the Daisy National BB Gun Championship Match features youth teams from across the nation competing.

www.daisy.com

Some do go on to earn Olympic gold medals for our country:

Colorado 4-H's William Shaner wins Olympic gold - Office of Engagement and Extension

Local Coloradan and former Colorado 4-H participant William Shaner won gold in Tokyo on Sunday in the men’s 10-meter air rifle with an Olympic-record 251.6 points,

engagement.source.colostate.edu

Let's expand those programs to all youth!

De-mystify firearms, teach safety & accountability, train hunters, enable more people to feed their families natural foods.

We all get what we want this way.

Of course media could could be a great help in removing the glory from shooting a fellow human and increase glory (if that's what someone wants) in shooting a target. Plenty of sporting events for that -- but football is prioritized by the media, it seems.

jmho ymmv lrr

Investigating all deaths as a homicide isn't going to solve the mental health crisis in America that is fueling the violent mass shootings.

Earlier this year, Colorado's Governor signed additional gun control measures into law and already a couple are on hold because gun fanatics have filed lawsuits. The public is fed up with politicians who are not prioritizing public safety as this editorial points out: EDITORIAL: If Congress won’t change the gun laws, change the Congress - Sentinel Colorado

JMO

https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/03/09/colorado-gun-bills-2023-legislature-club-q

Ten years after Colorado put in place landmark gun control measures, the issue is once again front and center at the state Capitol.

• Just like a decade ago, a mass shooting — the November rampage at Club Q that left five dead — is driving the conversation.

Why it matters: The contentious debate puts Colorado back in the national spotlight and shows how states are grappling with firearms amid federal gridlock on the issue.

 

[MyBelle]

The Vegas shooting, as horrific as it was, is still a rarity. Still, the most common mass shooting is the gang affiliated street shooting or domestic type shooting. They are all horrible of course and one is too many. But the focus often seems so misplaced.

The focus on gun violence right now isn't misplaced. I'd like my family to be able to go to a restaurant, bowling alley, shopping mall, school and not be in fear some nut job is going to open fire with a military style assault rifle.

It is impossible for LE to know who is mentally unstable and who is not. That is why red flag laws are so important. The goal is to protect public safety. If my elected officials don't share my values, I don't vote for them.

JMO

 

[MyBelle]

Well, mental health care is not listed in the Constitution, so as I understand it that is by definition left to the states.

We all know that the right to bear arms is guaranteed by the US Constitution in the Bill of Rights. A well-thought out list of protections, the Bill of Rights. (I recommend reading each one, and consider which will be attacked next if citizens give up any one of them.)

How have you encouraged your state senators & state legislators to modernize & support mental/behavioral health programs in your state? Your state office that supervises courts? Your county & municipality?

Contacted a local mental/behavioral health provider to volunteer?

I am wordy enough, won't go through the litany, but as a start mass shootings in Connecticut, Colorado, South Carolina, Maine, and Missouri were failures of mental/behavioral health &/or court handling of mental/behavioral health cases.

Doing something for mental health should be state level programming and local community-specific programming. Federal grant dollars would likely follow. Some changes have occurred -- behavioral health is now included in employer-provided insurance.

And, yes, my state representatives do know how I feel about both sides of the issue, and my work routinely partners with our local behavioral health providers to help citizens in our community.

Primarily, those willing to ignore laws, those permanently or temporarily unable/unwilling to comply with laws are causing the problem.

We are the solution -- talking in circles will not save lives & protect rights.

Actively supporting behavioral health care in your community will. What will you DO about the problems tomorrow?


jmho ymmv lrr

BBM. The 2nd Amendment right has no guarantee: Second Amendment Does Not Guarantee the Right To Own a Gun (From Gun Control, P 99-102, 1992, Charles P Cozic, ed. -- See NCJ-160164) | Office of Justice Programs.

Health care isn't mentioned in the Constitution, but Congress has enacted national laws addressing health care such as Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare.

The President recently signed an Order addressing mental health care.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $200 Million To Support Youth Mental Health

$200 Million for youth mental health

www.hhs.gov

If a current member of Congress doesn't care about protecting public safety with common sense gun control measures, I think they'll lose re-election.

JMO

 

[Betty P]

BBM. The 2nd Amendment right has no guarantee: Second Amendment Does Not Guarantee the Right To Own a Gun (From Gun Control, P 99-102, 1992, Charles P Cozic, ed. -- See NCJ-160164) | Office of Justice Programs.

Health care isn't mentioned in the Constitution, but Congress has enacted national laws addressing health care such as Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare.

The President recently signed an Order addressing mental health care.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $200 Million To Support Youth Mental Health

$200 Million for youth mental health

www.hhs.gov

If a current member of Congress doesn't care about protecting public safety with common sense gun control measures, I think they'll lose re-election.

JMO

In a country where many Americans can’t afford health care even if they have cancer, there’s little hope for providing mental health care.

JMO, start by restoring the ban on automatic weapons as we did with the Brady Bill in the 90s.

 

[PrairieWind]

In a country where many Americans can’t afford health care even if they have cancer, there’s little hope for providing mental health care.

JMO, start by restoring the ban on automatic weapons as we did with the Brady Bill in the 90s.

Automatic weapons are already banned. Well not really banned but you must have a specific license that is not easy to get and is quite expensive.

 

[MyBelle]

In a country where many Americans can’t afford health care even if they have cancer, there’s little hope for providing mental health care.

JMO, start by restoring the ban on automatic weapons as we did with the Brady Bill in the 90s.

BBM. The Brady bill banned the sale of assault weapons, but it allowed those who already owned them to keep them. More is needed. I think gun control will be a huge issue during the 2024 elections.

I'll base my votes on whether the candidate supports common sense laws designed to protect public safety. CT is on the right track.

JMO

After Maine shooting, CT officials promote gun buyback program

CT officials and advocates are calling for participation in a program designed to protect children and communities from gun violence.

ctmirror.org

“It’s retraumatizing for our community to just repeat; we’re on a repeat cycle,” said Murray, who resided in the Sandy Hook community when the 2012 mass shooting transpired. “Over and over, we do the same thing over and over again. And if not now, then when will Congress act to ban assault weapons and pass a set of comprehensive gun laws that will start protecting American lives?”

 

[Betty P]

Automatic weapons are already banned. Well not really banned but you must have a specific license that is not easy to get and is quite expensive.

Yeah, I'm good with banning all of them again. These current "regulations" are obviously Swiss cheese. Then there's the whole problem of anybody buying anything they want at gun shows, on Craigslist, etc. Current regulations are so weak they're laughable. Not worth the paper they're written on. It's window dressing for the "See, regulations don't work" crowd. Public policy tricks that are as old as the hills. JMO

 

[Betty P]

BBM. The Brady bill banned the sale of assault weapons, but it allowed those who already owned them to keep them. More is needed. I think gun control will be a huge issue during the 2024 elections.

I'll base my votes on whether the candidate supports common sense laws designed to protect public safety. CT is on the right track.

JMO

After Maine shooting, CT officials promote gun buyback program

CT officials and advocates are calling for participation in a program designed to protect children and communities from gun violence.

ctmirror.org

“It’s retraumatizing for our community to just repeat; we’re on a repeat cycle,” said Murray, who resided in the Sandy Hook community when the 2012 mass shooting transpired. “Over and over, we do the same thing over and over again. And if not now, then when will Congress act to ban assault weapons and pass a set of comprehensive gun laws that will start protecting American lives?”

I don't understand why the rights of average Americans are meaningless. Everyone has the right to be safe in their communities, schools, etc. We shouldn't be living in fear of being shot down in our homes, workplaces, out shopping at Walmart, etc. But these days, those rights no longer exist. Those rights have been taken away from us.

 

[MyBelle]

I don't understand why the rights of average Americans are meaningless. Everyone has the right to be safe in their communities, schools, etc. We shouldn't be living in fear of being shot down in our homes, workplaces, out shopping at Walmart, etc. But these days, those rights no longer exist. Those rights have been taken away from us.

BBM. It's not that rights are meaningless; it is that they aren't guaranteed which is why the 2nd Amendment was ratified. But times have changed dramatically.

We used to leave our front door not just unlocked but also wide open so our dogs and kids could enjoy the sunshine streaming through the glass storm door. I'd leave my purse in my car in the garage. Then, our neighbors had their van stolen out of their garage. Our son was robbed at gunpoint. Now, all doors remain locked at all times, and we installed security cameras.

To say that we are among the Americans who are fed up with politicians who refuse to pass common sense gun laws is an understatement.

JMO

 

[NeverPersonal]

Automatic weapons are already banned. Well not really banned but you must have a specific license that is not easy to get and is quite expensive.

my schizophrenic brother with 10+ years of charges if you google him got an Ar15 at a gun show.

 

[Betamax]

my schizophrenic brother with 10+ years of charges if you google him got an Ar15 at a gun show.

Just to clarify, an AR15 is a "semi automatic" vs an "automatic". The OP was talking specifically about "automatics" which are very hard to own ie expensive to license etc. But I understand your point.

 

[Laughing]

my schizophrenic brother with 10+ years of charges if you google him got an Ar15 at a gun show.

ay there’s the rub, Hamlet, in Hamlet

I'd rather see that specific municipality/state arrange for appropriate safeguards than carve away the civil rights of others.

Continues as a user problem.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[PrairieWind]

my schizophrenic brother with 10+ years of charges if you google him got an Ar15 at a gun show.

How did he do that? He didn't buy from a usual vender apparently. And have you turned him in?