No real words

[tesla321]

How many people have to be shot before there is gun regulation? Thankful for quick-thinking teachers, praying for all the parents and children, and for the first responders. What a horrible thing. I hope I'm never so hardened so as not to weep for the loss of life. If that is coherent.

Bless you all.

Comments

[altyronsmaker]

I haven't watched it. I can't. There have been five publicized incidents over the last two weeks of gun violence, and I can't watch anymore. I can't, for my own mental health, I won't look at this.

1. Gun regulation exists: mandatory waiting periods, ammunition bans, there's even a ban on assault weapons. But that doesn't matter. Because the people who want to get a gun or who are desperate enough to want one will find a way around all the regulation governments can think of. In Florida we have mandatory gun crime sentences (10-20-life). When that was instituted, our gun crime rate went down 33%. It's risen since then, but is nowhere NEAR what it was before the mandatory sentencing legislation.

2. If guns get banned, then only the criminals and desperates will have guns. Gangs members, drug dealers, and organized criminals have assault weapons and all kinds of illegal ammunition. Cops can't even defend themselves against them because they're not allowed to carry comparable weapons.

I don't own any guns. I'm not too sure I'd want one in my house. but I know that to the element who do the sorts of things we're witnessing over the last few weeks, no amount of law, regulation, or banning will prevent them from doing it.

[tesla321]

I gave my gun back to my brother years ago. I am knitting a comfort blankie---a yarn store is coordinating prayer shawl/comfort shawls to be sent to Newtown. It's something I can do.

[a2zmom]

Gun regulation exists BUT - there is no required background check for a private gun sale, online gun sales or gun sales at shows. Approximately 40% of the guns used in violent acts are bought through these channels. I believe that requiring every single person who who legally buys a gun to submit to a background check will help reduce gun violence.

If not now, when?

[tesla321]

So do I.