Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2007 13:21:01 GMT -5
Well, right now on the NY Daily News there's a HUGE debate going on about gun control - seems Virginians and most southern states are not in favor of it, and one posted about "New York City being the most dangerous crime-infested city in the world..."
Huge. Mistake.
Those who know me well enough, what action do you think I took?
|
|
|
|
Post by inuvik on Apr 17, 2007 13:22:51 GMT -5
Well of course you did nothing, you are not one to get involved.  [snicker] |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2007 13:26:14 GMT -5
Karma for your sarcasm - I LOVE IT! I'm so sick and tired of these people knocking New York right away - yet....."y'all" are the ones who come here for our shows, history, etc. Give me a break already - NY is not bad at all, and if you seem to think so, STAY HOME! Thank you.  |
|
|
|
Post by mlm828 on Apr 17, 2007 15:42:12 GMT -5
Guns are so pervasive in our society that, realistically, it's hard to be optimistic about ever having effective gun control in the U.S. I'm reminded of a fatal school shooting that took place in the San Diego area a few years ago. The 15-year-old shooter had no problem getting his hands on a gun. He just helped himself to one of his father's guns, which were conveniently kept in the home. But even if gun control may not be completely effective, that's not a reason not to try, in my opinion. If making it more difficult for people to get their hands on guns prevents only one of these tragedies, it's worth it.
When I wrote about coming to our senses about guns, I wasn't only referring to gun control. I was also thinking of our society's insane infatuation with guns, and a popular culture which glamorizes gun violence. And don't get me started on the politicians who have learned they can get elected by playing on people's fears.
|
|
|
|
Post by krissie on Apr 17, 2007 16:08:49 GMT -5
The first I heard of this was on this board, last night. I couldn't help but remember some university shootings in Quebec, back in 1989. I was a student in Toronto at the time, and I went to a memorial service in Convocation Hall. The service, which had representatives from various faiths, was very moving. I seem to remember that there was a white rose for each student who had been killed... and seeing the collection of roses growing was sobering beyond words.
I remember the feeling around campus of utter incomprehension that something like this could happen. It hadn't happened at our university, but the shooting affected us all, nonetheless, just as it did people in campuses across Canada.
So, my thoughts are definitely with the people at Virginia Tech.
That said... This evening, I was listening to a current affairs programme in the car as I drove home. There was an interview with a Columbine survivor. She was asked about guns, and to my surprise seemed to be anti-gun control, saying that it's not the guns that are the problem, but the people who get hold of them. Given what she must have gone through, I did find that quite a surprising attitude for her to have taken. (Then again, I find the whole idea of gun ownership really alien, so part of my surprise is no doubt a cultural thing. I can't understand why anyone would want one in the first place -- though I suppose there are gang members in some of our cities who would disagree.)
Krissie
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Apr 17, 2007 16:20:02 GMT -5
This is such a difficult issue. Getting guns off the streets is not possible, I think, but if the access to guns were more limited, maybe some of these tragedies could be prevented. Or not  In Denmark you don't have guns if you are "normal" people, except for those who shoots as a sport, hunters with a hunters license and members of the Home Guard. As for the members of the Home Guard, it is debated whether they should be allowed to keep their weapons at home or not, because we have had several cases where a member of the Guard has shot his family because of his wife wanting a divorce, very sad. So basically, if you have a gun, you are "bad" people. And yet, I learned tonight, that in 1994 we had a shooting at a university where two women were killed. Why? Because the killer, who committed suicide afterwords, wanted to be a mass murderer I still believe that the fact that guns are not easy to get here, might prevent these tragedies to happen here - I hope . I'm sure some High School-kid would want to do the same thing but the fact that a gun isn't easy obtainable might give him second thoughts, too much trouble to get a gun here... Some criminals do have guns here, and if you know where to go, you can probably buy anything you want, but so far, very few people are shot here and oftentimes shootings happens between to groups of criminals/gangs fighting. Or, like I said before, family tragedies where a father shoots his kids and sometimes the wife too, and then commits suicide. We have a larger problem with people getting stabbed. Apparently many young people carries a knife when they are partying, and if they get into a fight they will stab each other. Five, maybe ten years ago, they would get into a fight and beat each other up, but not anymore. Now they would have a knife and simply stab someone if they don't like them. - Chris |
|
|
|
Post by inuvik on Apr 17, 2007 16:20:47 GMT -5
The first I heard of this was on this board, last night. I couldn't help but remember some university shootings in Quebec, back in 1989. I was a student in Toronto at the time, and I went to a memorial service in Convocation Hall. The service, which had representatives from various faiths, was very moving. I seem to remember that there was a white rose for each student who had been killed... and seeing the collection of roses growing was sobering beyond words. I remember the feeling around campus of utter incomprehension that something like this could happen. It hadn't happened at our university, but the shooting affected us all, nonetheless, just as it did people in campuses across Canada. That was the Montreal Massacre. Here's a short description of it. For 45 minutes on Dec. 6, 1989 an enraged gunman roamed the corridors of Montreal's École Polytechnique and killed 14 women. Marc Lepine, 25, separated the men from the women and before opening fire on the classroom of female engineering students he screamed, "I hate feminists." Almost immediately, the Montreal Massacre became a galvanizing moment in which mourning turned into outrage about all violence against women.It is still commemorated every year with a short ceremony at most post-secondary institutions in Canada. Most have plaques and use 14 white roses for each of the women. I am pretty sure that it is our worst school shooting in terms of casualties. |
|
|
|
Post by anna on Apr 17, 2007 17:00:29 GMT -5
I was looking at the Brady Campaign's grades for states' gun control laws, meant to indicate the degree to which each state has laws "shielding families from gun violence." It is ironic that Virginia is one of the very few states that has a grade above D. I want to see more stringent gun laws, but - like many of you - I wonder how effective they would be.
FAlabama
F+ Alaska
D Arizona
D Arkansas
A- California
D Colorado
A- Connecticut
C Delaware
B DC
F+ Florida
D Georgia
A- Hawaii
F+ Idaho
A- Illinois
D Indiana
C+ Iowa
C- Kansas
F Kentucky
F Louisiana
D- Maine
A- Maryland
A- Massachusetts
D+ Michigan
C- Minnesota
F Mississippi
D+ Missouri
F Montana
B- Nebraska
D Nevada
D- New Hampshire
A- New Jersey
F New Mexico
B+ New York
C North Carolina
D North Dakota
D- Ohio
D- Oklahoma
C- Oregon
D+ Pennsylvania
B- Rhode Island
D+ South Carolina
D South Dakota
D+ Tennessee
D- Texas
D- Utah
D- Vermont
C- Virginia
D+ Washington
D West Virginia
C+ Wisconsin
F Wyoming
|
|
|
|
Post by carl1951 on Apr 18, 2007 0:02:17 GMT -5
An armed society is a polite society.
Does anyone remember the incident in a Florida K-mart about 3 years ago. FL has a "conceal and carry" law.
A woman who has just got her weapons training and her Conceal and Carry was in the store when 2 men came in, grabbed one of the clerks while the other held a pistol on the customers. They began threatening to kill everyone in the store.
That did not happen.
The "Conceal and Carry" lady dispatched the two in quick succession.
End of robbery. Clerk and everyone alive minus 2 low-lifes.
I never hear in the news where someone "Attempts" to rob a place, or break and enter, or kidnap someone and is stopped by someone who is armed and protects his home, his family or himself. Non story.
If the gunman at VA tech was taken-out by a "conceal and carry" student the story would not have been this big.
A Marine's point of view: Bigger the weapon, the more polite the person at the receiving end.
Hoorah
Later, Carl
|
|
|
|
Post by carl1951 on Apr 18, 2007 0:06:45 GMT -5
Karma for your sarcasm - I LOVE IT! I'm so sick and tired of these people knocking New York right away - yet....."y'all" are the ones who come here for our shows, history, etc. Give me a break already - NY is not bad at all, and if you seem to think so, STAY HOME! Thank you. Barb: Want to meet me on a dark, dangerous New York corner? I'm the dangerous one; grrrr. New York is safe and fun. I like it. Lucy, as you know, loves it. Notice she wasn't run off the road in NY, but in VA. Later, Carl |
|
|
|
Post by doppelganger on Apr 18, 2007 2:35:12 GMT -5
The 26th of April will be the 5th aniversary of the shooting in a school in Erfurt/ Germany. A 19 year old had selected(!!!) 13 teachers he killed, shot two of his school mates, a police officer and killed himself afterwards.
He had a license for his guns due to shooting sports.
So NO! I don't think anybody except people with professions including carrying and using firearms should be allowed to have a gun at home or with them.
Things like that could happen anywhere. You can't read people's minds to know if their mind will snapp someday.
What happened in Virginia is so tragic. I really feel for the victims and their family and friends!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2007 11:02:28 GMT -5
Karma for your sarcasm - I LOVE IT! I'm so sick and tired of these people knocking New York right away - yet....."y'all" are the ones who come here for our shows, history, etc. Give me a break already - NY is not bad at all, and if you seem to think so, STAY HOME! Thank you. Barb: Want to meet me on a dark, dangerous New York corner? I'm the dangerous one; grrrr. New York is safe and fun. I like it. Lucy, as you know, loves it. Notice she wasn't run off the road in NY, but in VA. Later, Carl Carl? Are you a Marine? SEMPER FI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You BET I'd meet you on a dark and dangerous NY corner! |
|
|
|
Post by shmeep on Apr 19, 2007 11:48:39 GMT -5
I was creeped out by the video footage the gunman sent to NBC of himself--and not just because of all the obvious reasons for finding such a person horrible to watch. The gunman looks strikingly similar to a student I used to interpret for--in looks and mannerisms. This kid was seriously disturbed, wouldn't look you in the eye (but had no trouble staring at my chest as I interpreted--they had to talk to him about that  ), he stalked cheerleaders, he wrote and drew disturbing things of a sexual nature for class projects, and I just got a seriously "off" vibe from him in general. One time I was talking to the woman who came and did some counseling for the Deaf students and I expressed my concern about this kid. I said I got the impression he was going to do something really bad one day and that I wouldn't be at all surprised when it happened. She couldn't give me any specifics about him, but she did say, "Everything you're saying about him...you're not wrong." Chilling. Now I have to wonder what ever became of that kid. I could easily imagine him in this position. I have mixed feelings about all that footage being shown so incessantly on the news yesterday. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2007 13:17:56 GMT -5
I really am not comfortable with NBC airing it. I just .... I don't know, I don't have the right words to express how I feel, but NBC should have really thought about it before airing it.
|
|
|
|
Post by inuvik on Apr 19, 2007 14:05:04 GMT -5
I have mixed feelings about all that footage being shown so incessantly on the news yesterday. I did see several of the VT students on the news saying that they felt it was too soon. They are too raw and it is very traumatic for them. |
|
), he stalked cheerleaders, he wrote and drew disturbing things of a sexual nature for class projects, and I just got a seriously "off" vibe from him in general. One time I was talking to the woman who came and did some counseling for the Deaf students and I expressed my concern about this kid. I said I got the impression he was going to do something really bad one day and that I wouldn't be at all surprised when it happened. She couldn't give me any specifics about him, but she did say, "Everything you're saying about him...you're not wrong." Chilling. Now I have to wonder what ever became of that kid. I could easily imagine him in this position.