Bridget, I respectfully disagree. You can most certainly have a gun without a concealed weapons permit and if you do have a permit, there's an extensive, EXTENSIVE, back ground check on you. I just don't think the permit is the issue here.
Actually, I think that the back ground check they do for concealed weapons permits is too easy. I know a handful of people right now who shouldn't be able to have one and yet they do...and guns! For example, I know someone who has had a permit for years along with the rest of the boys in his family. However, since I have known him the past 4 years, he has been on every kind of mental medication imaginable. And he takes more than the recommended dosages! He has threatened to hurt family members. And at any point, he could (legally) take his gun out into the public and shoot someone.
This country has a major problem with the laws concerning weapons. MAJOR problem. It's too easy to get them, too easy to use them.
I have to disagree, as well. While I think that stricter laws, IF enforcable, are not a bad idea, they're just not enforcable. And there is no way to EVER keep guns away from the people who will use them to do things like this. No way what so ever. It is too bad there wasn't someone WITH a concealed weapons permit, AND their gun, just walking by, because that woman (the shooter) would have been dead, and maybe this young teacher would have lived. A perfect example of why people should be allowed to have concealed weapons permits...TROLLEY SQUARE.
Okay I see your point. But what happens when another person walking by sees the individual with a concealed weapon pulling his/her gun out and pointing it at the 80 year old woman while not knowing the situation clearly, shoots the passerbyer? Then there are more innocent people dead. It's a vicious cycle and state of fear that most Americans are so used to living/believing.
I recommend watching the movie "Bowling for Columbine" whether you are a Michael Moore fan or not. It has a VERY good point in it about Americans and fear.
I have seen it. And there were some good points in it. However, Documentaries are also edited, and twisted, and not 100% truthful. They are made to get the point across that the Producer had in his head from the beginning, regardless of what he finds along the way. People with concealed weapons permits, most of them, know how to assess a situation before taking action. And it wouldn't have been so hard for someone to see a defenseless woman was being shot at by a woman with a gun. I'll be damned if someone breaks into my house, or yours, with a gun, threatening to and/or killing you or me. Maybe the only difference there would be that I have guns to defend myself from such a situation. Those who use guns in crime, are not usually those concerned with laws to begin with. So the argument of laws, and that it is too easy to get a concealed weapons permit, doesn't hold much ground. I don't often hear of murderers who went and got a concealed weapons permit, and bought a gun from a gun shop, thus having gone through a background check, before they commit their crimes.
I must disagree as well. No where in this article does it say this woman used a concealed weapon, did it? She would have tracked down a gun to commit this crime. It says it was NOT a random act. And I agree with the above poster, if there HAD been someone around with one that had the training to interject.... but I think the main point here would be that our Constitutional Rights need to remain intact.
I thought I read somewhere she did have her permit but I don' t see it here. heard it on the news. Either way, of course she could have gotten the gun easily...this is America after all!
Here's my issue with guns in America:
There needs to be stricter gun laws. The benefits of having concealed weapons/permits in no way outweigh the risks of allowing so many to carry them, own them in their home, etc. The statistics don't lie.
In 2004, when I was on a music tour with my ex-husband, we made a stop at 3 a.m. at a local Wal-Mart somewhere in CA. As I was walking towards the restrooms, I passed by the guns and ammo section at the superstore and happened to see a very questionable man purchasing a gun.
This struck me as scary, odd, and so over the top American I didn't know if I should laugh or run out of the store in fear. What in the hell is a man needing to purchase a gun at 3 am for? Why couldn't it wait until daylight hours?
Here's what I would first propose in enforcing stricter gun laws:
A database of all Americans who have a concealed weapons permit that when any of those on it are given a mind altering medical prescription and/or claimed by a medical professional to be a danger to himself/herself or others, is red flagged and has to personally give up their right to bear arms and their weapon during such time of Rx use.
There was a similar law passed, that Bill Clinton signed into law.Those who are clinically mentally ill, and who have received treatment are prohibited under the Brady Bill to purchase a gun. Then again, a lot of the guns used in felony crimes are NOT purchased legally. See this link. http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_brady_bill.html
Regardless of more laws, those committing these felonies, are NOT law abiding citizens, so more laws do absolutely NO good. Adding a law such as the one you suggested above is an infringement on our constitutional right to privacy. If one was prescribed an anti depressant for postpartum depression, they would then be banned from buying a gun. That doesn't make sense. It also doesn't make sense to prohibit someone who may have a mental or chemical condition, who has SOUGHT TREATMENT to repair said condition in the form of medication, which should remedy their condition, from buying a gun. So many people are walking around with no treatment, those are the ones I am worried about. Not the ones trying to help themselves. Because of the infringement on our constitutional right to privacy, which so many are already up in arms when it comes to the Patriot Act, I would be surprised if such a law would pass. It is funny that people who are opposed to the Patriot Act, and I don't know if you are, would suggest a database such as the one you did. Makes no sense. And would make no impact on felony crimes committed with a gun.
In reference to the above comment, "If one was prescribed an anti depressant for postpartum depression, they would then be banned from buying a gun. That doesn't make sense. It also doesn't make sense to prohibit someone who may have a mental or chemical condition, who has SOUGHT TREATMENT to repair said condition in the form of medication, which should remedy their condition, from buying a gun."...why do you think it's safe for those individuals to own or carry a gun? We SHOULD be concerned with these types of individuals.... This is the difference between your opinion and mine.
Bridget, I respectfully disagree. You can most certainly have a gun without a concealed weapons permit and if you do have a permit, there's an extensive, EXTENSIVE, back ground check on you. I just don't think the permit is the issue here.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think that the back ground check they do for concealed weapons permits is too easy. I know a handful of people right now who shouldn't be able to have one and yet they do...and guns! For example, I know someone who has had a permit for years along with the rest of the boys in his family. However, since I have known him the past 4 years, he has been on every kind of mental medication imaginable. And he takes more than the recommended dosages! He has threatened to hurt family members. And at any point, he could (legally) take his gun out into the public and shoot someone.
ReplyDeleteThis country has a major problem with the laws concerning weapons. MAJOR problem. It's too easy to get them, too easy to use them.
I have to disagree, as well. While I think that stricter laws, IF enforcable, are not a bad idea, they're just not enforcable. And there is no way to EVER keep guns away from the people who will use them to do things like this. No way what so ever. It is too bad there wasn't someone WITH a concealed weapons permit, AND their gun, just walking by, because that woman (the shooter) would have been dead, and maybe this young teacher would have lived. A perfect example of why people should be allowed to have concealed weapons permits...TROLLEY SQUARE.
ReplyDeleteOkay I see your point. But what happens when another person walking by sees the individual with a concealed weapon pulling his/her gun out and pointing it at the 80 year old woman while not knowing the situation clearly, shoots the passerbyer? Then there are more innocent people dead. It's a vicious cycle and state of fear that most Americans are so used to living/believing.
ReplyDeleteI recommend watching the movie "Bowling for Columbine" whether you are a Michael Moore fan or not. It has a VERY good point in it about Americans and fear.
I have seen it. And there were some good points in it. However, Documentaries are also edited, and twisted, and not 100% truthful. They are made to get the point across that the Producer had in his head from the beginning, regardless of what he finds along the way. People with concealed weapons permits, most of them, know how to assess a situation before taking action. And it wouldn't have been so hard for someone to see a defenseless woman was being shot at by a woman with a gun. I'll be damned if someone breaks into my house, or yours, with a gun, threatening to and/or killing you or me. Maybe the only difference there would be that I have guns to defend myself from such a situation. Those who use guns in crime, are not usually those concerned with laws to begin with. So the argument of laws, and that it is too easy to get a concealed weapons permit, doesn't hold much ground. I don't often hear of murderers who went and got a concealed weapons permit, and bought a gun from a gun shop, thus having gone through a background check, before they commit their crimes.
ReplyDeleteI must disagree as well. No where in this article does it say this woman used a concealed weapon, did it? She would have tracked down a gun to commit this crime. It says it was NOT a random act. And I agree with the above poster, if there HAD been someone around with one that had the training to interject.... but I think the main point here would be that our Constitutional Rights need to remain intact.
ReplyDeleteI thought I read somewhere she did have her permit but I don' t see it here. heard it on the news. Either way, of course she could have gotten the gun easily...this is America after all!
ReplyDeleteHere's my issue with guns in America:
There needs to be stricter gun laws. The benefits of having concealed weapons/permits in no way outweigh the risks of allowing so many to carry them, own them in their home, etc. The statistics don't lie.
In 2004, when I was on a music tour with my ex-husband, we made a stop at 3 a.m. at a local Wal-Mart somewhere in CA. As I was walking towards the restrooms, I passed by the guns and ammo section at the superstore and happened to see a very questionable man purchasing a gun.
ReplyDeleteThis struck me as scary, odd, and so over the top American I didn't know if I should laugh or run out of the store in fear. What in the hell is a man needing to purchase a gun at 3 am for? Why couldn't it wait until daylight hours?
Here's what I would first propose in enforcing stricter gun laws:
ReplyDeleteA database of all Americans who have a concealed weapons permit that when any of those on it are given a mind altering medical prescription and/or claimed by a medical professional to be a danger to himself/herself or others, is red flagged and has to personally give up their right to bear arms and their weapon during such time of Rx use.
There was a similar law passed, that Bill Clinton signed into law.Those who are clinically mentally ill, and who have received treatment are prohibited under the Brady Bill to purchase a gun. Then again, a lot of the guns used in felony crimes are NOT purchased legally. See this link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.guncite.com/gun_control_brady_bill.html
Regardless of more laws, those committing these felonies, are NOT law abiding citizens, so more laws do absolutely NO good.
Adding a law such as the one you suggested above is an infringement on our constitutional right to privacy. If one was prescribed an anti depressant for postpartum depression, they would then be banned from buying a gun. That doesn't make sense. It also doesn't make sense to prohibit someone who may have a mental or chemical condition, who has SOUGHT TREATMENT to repair said condition in the form of medication, which should remedy their condition, from buying a gun. So many people are walking around with no treatment, those are the ones I am worried about. Not the ones trying to help themselves. Because of the infringement on our constitutional right to privacy, which so many are already up in arms when it comes to the Patriot Act, I would be surprised if such a law would pass. It is funny that people who are opposed to the Patriot Act, and I don't know if you are, would suggest a database such as the one you did. Makes no sense. And would make no impact on felony crimes committed with a gun.
In reference to the above comment, "If one was prescribed an anti depressant for postpartum depression, they would then be banned from buying a gun. That doesn't make sense. It also doesn't make sense to prohibit someone who may have a mental or chemical condition, who has SOUGHT TREATMENT to repair said condition in the form of medication, which should remedy their condition, from buying a gun."...why do you think it's safe for those individuals to own or carry a gun? We SHOULD be concerned with these types of individuals.... This is the difference between your opinion and mine.
ReplyDelete