I just can't with this.

[mamaalysson]

Three of our neighborhood schools were put on lockdown this afternoon because of a couple of idiots walking down the street in a school zone carrying rifles.  You know, to rally for their right to be armed.  DD's school is just east of where the concern was, so they were not locked down, but our neighborhood high school, a special focus school, and the parochial school all within a mile of us were all locked down for at least half an hour, with students hiding under their desks in silence.

I'm sick over this.

[Deleted]

That's so awful. I'm sorry.

[andrewsgal]

Texas becomes open carry on Jan 1st I expect a lot of lock downs due to this.

[cna]

Oh hell no. You don't get to terrify a bunch a kids because second amendment rights. Idiots.

[jag01]

It's a shame that an old law that was created hundreds of years ago that gives people the right to guns, to make them feel safer, is allowed to make so many others feel unsafe.

[abs]

Oct 7, 2015 6:21:11 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Texas becomes open carry on Jan 1st I expect a lot of lock downs due to this.

I'm dreading this. Our governor is a freaking idiot. Who thinks this is a good idea???

All the shootings are really getting to me. It's so sad yet nothing changes.

[jag01]

The other memes that are pissing me off are the ones that are saying that this is all because they took God out of schools.

[mamaalysson]

Oct 7, 2015 8:40:45 GMT -5 @mama2b said:

Oct 7, 2015 8:37:10 GMT -5 jag01 said:

The other memes that are pissing me off are the ones that are saying that this is all because they took God out of schools.

Yep, the meme I just referenced ended by blaming it all on us living in a Godless society.

I've seen lots of the "it the person not the gun that kills" type memes and posts on my feed. I kind of want to yell and scream at all of them.

[ashb62]

We had a local middle school on lock down recently because a woman had a gun in the parking lot. So scary.

It's completely unnecessary and ridiculous to protest near a school and terrify kids.

[Deleted]

That's horrific. I'm so sad about all the gun stuff. So sad for all our children

[jag01]

Oct 7, 2015 9:06:27 GMT -5 @itsbritt said:

That's horrific. I'm so sad about all the gun stuff. So sad for all our children

I know right. Think back to when you were a kid, and what was your biggest fear, probably a monster under your bed or some other illegitimate fear.  These days kids have to worry about getting shot at school. 

[amynumbers]

I'm so beyond even the point of pretending to give a fuck about people's rights to guns at this point.

You don't have a right to go to the the shooting gallery or hunt or anything else.  You have to right to participate in a fucking militia you cowardly assholes.

Either get a better hobby, or start policing your fellow idiot gun owners.  Otherwise, you are part of the problem.

[nicolewi]

I'm jealous that my parents never even had the possibility of a school shooting cross their minds (or a movie theater, or church, or whatever!). I worry about shootings and my kids are the time. Awful.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Most definitely going to be unpopular but I sort of agree.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be out there picketing with the NRA. We have a mental health problem, not a gun problem in this country. Limiting access to guns does not have a stellar track record of reducing gun violence. There are major cities with strict gun laws that have lots of gun violence while AZ is like the freaking Wild West with guns yet they have a much lower rate of gun deaths. We need to work on the root cause otherwise you're just putting band aids on a bullet hole. I'm not against making it more challenging to access guns, I just think legislation focused on that isn't going to provide significant help to avoid tragedies like these. It's just more doing something to say we did something in response.

Eta: oops meant to quote mama2b

[abs]

Oct 7, 2015 10:10:59 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Most definitely going to be unpopular but I sort of agree.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be out there picketing with the NRA. We have a mental health problem, not a gun problem in this country. Limiting access to guns does not have a stellar track record of reducing gun violence. There are major cities with strict gun laws that have lots of gun violence while AZ is like the freaking Wild West with guns yet they have a much lower rate of gun deaths. We need to work on the root cause otherwise you're just putting band aids on a bullet hole. I'm not against making it more challenging to access guns, I just think legislation focused on that isn't going to provide significant help to avoid tragedies like these. It's just more doing something to say we did something in response.

Oh mental health is a giant issue. I agree. But NO ONE needs access to semi automatic weapons.

So yes there is a gun problem.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Oct 7, 2015 10:13:20 GMT -5 abs said:

Oct 7, 2015 10:10:59 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Most definitely going to be unpopular but I sort of agree.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be out there picketing with the NRA. We have a mental health problem, not a gun problem in this country. Limiting access to guns does not have a stellar track record of reducing gun violence. There are major cities with strict gun laws that have lots of gun violence while AZ is like the freaking Wild West with guns yet they have a much lower rate of gun deaths. We need to work on the root cause otherwise you're just putting band aids on a bullet hole. I'm not against making it more challenging to access guns, I just think legislation focused on that isn't going to provide significant help to avoid tragedies like these. It's just more doing something to say we did something in response.

Oh mental health is a giant issue. I agree. But NO ONE needs access to semi automatic weapons.

So yes there is a gun problem.

Wholeheartedly agree that no one needs semi automatic weapons in their house.

The services after the age of 21 for adults with autism and other developmental disorders are horrendous. We are throwing all this money at research the genes involved but we aren't throwing any towards treatment or services for adults. I think if he had access to appropriate care it wouldn't have mattered that he had access to guns. This is a failure of the system.

[amynumbers]

Oct 7, 2015 10:10:59 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Most definitely going to be unpopular but I sort of agree.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be out there picketing with the NRA. We have a mental health problem, not a gun problem in this country. Limiting access to guns does not have a stellar track record of reducing gun violence. There are major cities with strict gun laws that have lots of gun violence while AZ is like the freaking Wild West with guns yet they have a much lower rate of gun deaths. We need to work on the root cause otherwise you're just putting band aids on a bullet hole. I'm not against making it more challenging to access guns, I just think legislation focused on that isn't going to provide significant help to avoid tragedies like these. It's just more doing something to say we did something in response.

Eta: oops meant to quote mama2b

I might buy this for a hot second if gun nuts weren't the same assholes bitching about death panels and a kenyan socialist being in charge of their healthcare.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Oct 7, 2015 10:19:57 GMT -5 amynumbers said:

Oct 7, 2015 10:10:59 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Most definitely going to be unpopular but I sort of agree.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to be out there picketing with the NRA. We have a mental health problem, not a gun problem in this country. Limiting access to guns does not have a stellar track record of reducing gun violence. There are major cities with strict gun laws that have lots of gun violence while AZ is like the freaking Wild West with guns yet they have a much lower rate of gun deaths. We need to work on the root cause otherwise you're just putting band aids on a bullet hole. I'm not against making it more challenging to access guns, I just think legislation focused on that isn't going to provide significant help to avoid tragedies like these. It's just more doing something to say we did something in response.

Eta: oops meant to quote mama2b

I might buy this for a hot second if gun nuts weren't the same assholes bitching about death panels and a kenyan socialist being in charge of their healthcare.

Luckily I'm not a gun nut. my husband wants them; I won't allow them in the house even with appropriate safety measures. I hate guns. I just don't believe restricting them is going to make a substantial difference and I want legislation to be more focused at getting to the real problem we have.

[abs]

Oct 7, 2015 10:19:15 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Oct 7, 2015 10:13:20 GMT -5 abs said:

Oh mental health is a giant issue. I agree. But NO ONE needs access to semi automatic weapons.

So yes there is a gun problem.

Wholeheartedly agree that no one needs semi automatic weapons in their house.

The services after the age of 21 for adults with autism and other developmental disorders are horrendous. We are throwing all this money at research the genes involved but we aren't throwing any towards treatment or services for adults. I think if he had access to appropriate care it wouldn't have mattered that he had access to guns. This is a failure of the system.

Oh the whole system is a failure. It starts young. Even kids under 21 have a hard time receiving services. Our mental health policy is ridiculous. There definitely needs to be reform and more awareness. We are so on the same page here.

But gun reform needs to happen, too. It's way out of control.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Oct 7, 2015 10:36:06 GMT -5 abs said:

Oct 7, 2015 10:19:15 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Wholeheartedly agree that no one needs semi automatic weapons in their house.

The services after the age of 21 for adults with autism and other developmental disorders are horrendous. We are throwing all this money at research the genes involved but we aren't throwing any towards treatment or services for adults. I think if he had access to appropriate care it wouldn't have mattered that he had access to guns. This is a failure of the system.

Oh the whole system is a failure. It starts young. Even kids under 21 have a hard time receiving services. Our mental health policy is ridiculous. There definitely needs to be reform and more awareness. We are so on the same page here.

But gun reform needs to happen, too. It's way out of control.

I agree that no one needs a semi automatic weapon; they just make it easier to increase the amount of injuries and fatalities. This tragedy wasn't caused by a gun though. This was caused by mental illness. I just feel like whenever this happens there's this push to pass gun legislation and a battle between the NRA and liberals. Both sides are ignoring the elephant in the room.

[amynumbers]

Also mental illness I guess.

www.ryot.org/5-year-old-boy-shoots-2-year-old-sister-in-kentucky-with-gun-his-parents-gave-him-as-a-present/150785

There is absolutely no reason you can't attack this problem from multiple angles including making guns more difficult to obtain. Well, outside of stubborn gun clinging paranoia.

[mamaalysson]

Oct 7, 2015 11:13:50 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Oct 7, 2015 10:36:06 GMT -5 abs said:

Oh the whole system is a failure. It starts young. Even kids under 21 have a hard time receiving services. Our mental health policy is ridiculous. There definitely needs to be reform and more awareness. We are so on the same page here.

But gun reform needs to happen, too. It's way out of control.

I agree that no one needs a semi automatic weapon; they just make it easier to increase the amount of injuries and fatalities. This tragedy wasn't caused by a gun though. This was caused by mental illness. I just feel like whenever this happens there's this push to pass gun legislation and a battle between the NRA and liberals. Both sides are ignoring the elephant in the room.

This is the bullshit argument that gets made every single time there is a mass shooting like this (and side note, how fucking sick is it that we can put the words "every single time" in front of mass shooting?). And, yes, no doubt that someone who makes a choice like that is mentally ill and not receiving the help they need. That is a huge problem that needs to be solved. Agreed.

But mass shootings are not the only guy tragedy and they are not even the most prevalent. On the day of the Roseburg shooting, our local coverage was interrupted with breaking news of a shooting at an apartment complex in the suburbs. And that night, our house was filled with sirens as the police rushed to a fatal shooting at a nearby bar. At the same time, there was a separate fatal shooting at a bar across town. That's a problem of people being fueled by anger, booze, whatever having access to a gun. The kid that shot his little neighbor with a rifle? Gun issue. The tragic stories of kids finding an unlocked gun and shooting themselves on accident? Gun. So, yes, let's attack our issues with identifying and caring for the mentally ill, but let's not kid ourselves that that is the only issue. Get rid of the fucking guns.

[L From The D]

One crazy person put explosives in his shoes at the airport and now everyone has to take their shoes off at the airport...but crazy people people shoot up schools and we can't do anything about it because the second amendment/Congress is afraid of the NRA. F that!

[NandaB]

Oct 7, 2015 9:11:25 GMT -5 @mama2b said:

A family friend's son (teenager at the time) a few years ago had been hunting over the weekend and forgot his gun was still in his car. I am not a gun owner, so it's hard to imagine forgetting, but that is beyond the point. It just happened to be a random drug search day and the dogs smelled it and his car was searched and he was suspended a long time. Expulsion was discussed, I think ultimately they didn't since it was end of year and he was going to college. He graduated, but I don't think he was allowed to attend graduation services. I felt bad for his situation and his parents (their only child) and that he is a really good person, but that is all part of responsible gun ownership and handling. I did think actions had to be taken, because it just doesn't matter if you are a good person or not, the potential for disaster was there.

Yea, I don't feel bad for him. Sucks to make a bad decision. He's lucky no one stole it and killed someone.

[NandaB]

Oct 7, 2015 13:30:37 GMT -5 L From The D said:

One crazy person put explosives in his shoes at the airport and now everyone has to take their shoes off at the airport...but crazy people people shoot up schools and we can't do anything about it because the second amendment/Congress is afraid of the NRA. F that!

QFmutherfuckingT

[NandaB]

I'm too dumb to trim the quote tree, but mamaalysson said it best:

"The tragic stories of kids finding an unlocked gun and shooting themselves on accident? Gun. So, yes, let's attack our issues with identifying and caring for the mentally ill, but let's not kid ourselves that that is the only issue. Get rid of the fucking guns."

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Oct 7, 2015 11:27:00 GMT -5 mamaalysson said:

Oct 7, 2015 11:13:50 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

I agree that no one needs a semi automatic weapon; they just make it easier to increase the amount of injuries and fatalities. This tragedy wasn't caused by a gun though. This was caused by mental illness. I just feel like whenever this happens there's this push to pass gun legislation and a battle between the NRA and liberals. Both sides are ignoring the elephant in the room.

This is the bullshit argument that gets made every single time there is a mass shooting like this (and side note, how fucking sick is it that we can put the words "every single time" in front of mass shooting?). And, yes, no doubt that someone who makes a choice like that is mentally ill and not receiving the help they need. That is a huge problem that needs to be solved. Agreed.

But mass shootings are not the only guy tragedy and they are not even the most prevalent. On the day of the Roseburg shooting, our local coverage was interrupted with breaking news of a shooting at an apartment complex in the suburbs. And that night, our house was filled with sirens as the police rushed to a fatal shooting at a nearby bar. At the same time, there was a separate fatal shooting at a bar across town. That's a problem of people being fueled by anger, booze, whatever having access to a gun. The kid that shot his little neighbor with a rifle? Gun issue. The tragic stories of kids finding an unlocked gun and shooting themselves on accident? Gun. So, yes, let's attack our issues with identifying and caring for the mentally ill, but let's not kid ourselves that that is the only issue. Get rid of the fucking guns.

More people are killed a year from drunk drivers than guns. On that logic shouldn't we be lobbying to get rid of alcohol?

[mamaalysson]

Oct 7, 2015 14:08:53 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Oct 7, 2015 11:27:00 GMT -5 mamaalysson said:

This is the bullshit argument that gets made every single time there is a mass shooting like this (and side note, how fucking sick is it that we can put the words "every single time" in front of mass shooting?). And, yes, no doubt that someone who makes a choice like that is mentally ill and not receiving the help they need. That is a huge problem that needs to be solved. Agreed.

But mass shootings are not the only guy tragedy and they are not even the most prevalent. On the day of the Roseburg shooting, our local coverage was interrupted with breaking news of a shooting at an apartment complex in the suburbs. And that night, our house was filled with sirens as the police rushed to a fatal shooting at a nearby bar. At the same time, there was a separate fatal shooting at a bar across town. That's a problem of people being fueled by anger, booze, whatever having access to a gun. The kid that shot his little neighbor with a rifle? Gun issue. The tragic stories of kids finding an unlocked gun and shooting themselves on accident? Gun. So, yes, let's attack our issues with identifying and caring for the mentally ill, but let's not kid ourselves that that is the only issue. Get rid of the fucking guns.

More people are killed a year from drunk drivers than guns. On that logic shouldn't we be lobbying to get rid of alcohol?

Bullshit argument number #2.  No.  How many times does someone picking up a drink with the intention of drinking it end with someone dead?  How many times does someone picking up a gun with the intention of shooting it does someone end up dead?  Look, any time someone is killed it's tragic.  Losing someone to a drunk driver is no less heartbreaking and soul shattering than losing someone to an act of gun violence.  But come on.  Apples and oranges.  Gun violence is an undeniable problem in our country, and it needs to be addressed.  It needs to end.  That drunk driving is an additional problem does nothing to negate the need for stricter gun controls.  

We've hit the "But mental illness!" argument and the "But booze!" argument.  What's next on the "Mass shootings give me the sads, but MY GUN!!" list?

[amynumbers]

Last time I checked, there are a fucking shitton of laws regarding the purchase, owning and consumption of alcohol.

Like, you know, you can't give it to an eight year old like you can a gun.

But again, that is where I am with this -- people arguing it's not guns? It's a character issue at that point. I'm 100% comfortable in my ivory tower looking down and judging.

[andrewsgal]

Oct 7, 2015 11:13:50 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Oct 7, 2015 10:36:06 GMT -5 abs said:

Oh the whole system is a failure. It starts young. Even kids under 21 have a hard time receiving services. Our mental health policy is ridiculous. There definitely needs to be reform and more awareness. We are so on the same page here.

But gun reform needs to happen, too. It's way out of control.

I agree that no one needs a semi automatic weapon; they just make it easier to increase the amount of injuries and fatalities. This tragedy wasn't caused by a gun though. This was caused by mental illness. I just feel like whenever this happens there's this push to pass gun legislation and a battle between the NRA and liberals. Both sides are ignoring the elephant in the room.

Grrrrrr misinformation and being ignorant on topics like this while understandable drive me fucking batty. Pay attention ALMOST EVERY GUN IS A SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPON!

The vast majority of modern guns sold and collected in the US are semi-automatic, which means they fire a single shot with every pull of the trigger, but automatically reload between shots. That's in contrast to full-automatic weapons, as well as single-shot guns that require the operator to "cock" the gun or hand-feed ammunition between shots. (There are a variety of sporting weapons that are single shot, such as lever-action, bolt-action, and breech-loading rifles, pump-action shotguns, and many revolvers.)


That being said I do think we need stricter gun control. We also need to fix our mental health system.