Another mass shooting in the US

[Kittenz 4,281]

Tasers, pepper spray, even something like a lamp. Anything heavy and or pointy. Martial arts if you feel capable. There's lots of ways you could defend yourself if the need be, it doesn't have to be a gun.

This is just my opinion, but I don't think a complete ban on guns will solve the problem. We tried that with alcohol at one point and it didn't really help at all. What I think we need is more common sense gun regulation. Extensive background checks to make sure the person buying a gun has no criminal history, a psychological evaluation to ensure they have no mental issues or appear to have a deep hatred. Another thing is to limit what kind of guns regular citizens can own. What the heck do I need a military style assault weapon that can kill dozens of people in a matter of seconds for? Nothing good probably. A standard handgun is all you need with maybe an exception to hunting rifles if you're a hunter. I also think our biggest problem is the fact that we don't value human lives. Other countries allow their citizens to have guns and they have less gun deaths than we do probably because they understand the value of a life and only use them as a defense. Sadly no matter what we do tragedies like this will continue to happen as long as there are people who have no care for human lives and as long as we keep allowing just anyone to have access to guns.

It won't solve the problem completely, I agree. But it would make it harder to pull these things off, and if it takes longer to plot, there's more chance in theory to be caught by the police. I agree about the type of guns, too, as well as how people sadly don't care enough. Edited June 12, 2016 by Yuno Gasai

[Aang 649]

No no no, guns don't kill people! People kill people, we can just pretend like nothing is wrong and go back to our normal lives. How can a gun kill a person? C'mon now guys, guns don't kill people!

 

https://www.massshootingtracker.org/data

 

*Serious voice

 

 

I honestly cannot believe people are still justifying guns. There are many things I disagree with but will accept.

 

There is no justification behind keeping guns, yes it will take a long time for all the guns to actually be collected and taken from the people, but is that such a big deal when you consider how much human life has been lost because you, the people, are so utterly blind to the facts and won't speak out against keeping guns? I'm sure the families and friends of the hundreds victims of gun violence don't agree with keeping guns either.

 

But nevermind, this has happened so much I doubt it will change anything, keep your guns and watch more blood spill. No one ever listens to reason and wants to change their beliefs for the wellbeing and safety of others. If the USA just banned guns completely and took them from the people over the span of 2-3 years this would hardly ever happen. Look at Britain. Oh and take guns off of the police too unless it's an emergency.

 

Oh and by the way, the info about the shooter being Islamic will spill out any minute now. I can't wait to see all the racist remarks and the Trump supporters go crazy over that. But if he didn't have a gun he couldn't have done anything anyway so...

With all respect my friend, if people are intent on killing someone and following through a core belief of there's, they will follow through with it. As Robby the Wise, well, wisely put it murder is banned and illegal. And if guns become the same way people intent on killing others will always find a way. The black market being one way to obtain such things. So its an ongoing issue with no main simple solution.

[Kingdomhe 1,362]

No no no, guns don't kill people! People kill people, we can just pretend like nothing is wrong and go back to our normal lives. How can a gun kill a person? C'mon now guys, guns don't kill people!

 

https://www.massshootingtracker.org/data

 

*Serious voice

 

 

I honestly cannot believe people are still justifying guns. There are many things I disagree with but will accept.

 

There is no justification behind keeping guns, yes it will take a long time for all the guns to actually be collected and taken from the people, but is that such a big deal when you consider how much human life has been lost because you, the people, are so utterly blind to the facts and won't speak out against keeping guns? I'm sure the families and friends of the hundreds victims of gun violence don't agree with keeping guns either.

 

But nevermind, this has happened so much I doubt it will change anything, keep your guns and watch more blood spill. No one ever listens to reason and wants to change their beliefs for the wellbeing and safety of others. If the USA just banned guns completely and took them from the people over the span of 2-3 years this would hardly ever happen. Look at Britain. Oh and take guns off of the police too unless it's an emergency.

 

Oh and by the way, the info about the shooter being Islamic will spill out any minute now. I can't wait to see all the racist remarks and the Trump supporters go crazy over that. But if he didn't have a gun he couldn't have done anything anyway so...

Like I've said before, if some wants to kill people then they will do it gun or no gun. Plus, even if there was a ban on guns, the world has had them for a very long time and people will start selling them underground or in black markets. Heck, people now know how to make one out of plastic using a 3D printer and if someone evil gets one then what will a helpless civilian do? They won't have a gun and unless they are ninjas then they won't know how to deflect it with a knife or sword.

[Shimmy 458]

I hate voicing my opinions on controversial topics, but I'm still going to give my own two cents here.

 

If there's the intent to kill, people will still find a way yes, but regardless the quick access to guns makes it so easy to kill. Imagine all the crimes of passion that could have been avoided had someone in the moment not had a gun. We're never going to prevent deaths, it's about minimizing the chances of deaths. If it's harder to obtain a gun, it's harder to effectively kill someone plain and simple. 

I personally cannot fathom as to why people would not want stricter gun laws if it's for the purpose of minimizing death count. The second amendment be damned, I firmly believe that not everyone should have access to guns. Even still background checks get backlash... 

[The 13th Kenpachi 4,279]

Like I've said before, if some wants to kill people then they will do it gun or no gun. Plus, even if there was a ban on guns, the world has had them for a very long time and people will start selling them underground or in black markets. Heck, people now know how to make one out of plastic using a 3D printer and if someone evil gets one then what will a helpless civilian do? They won't have a gun and unless they are ninjas then they won't know how to deflect it with a knife or sword.

There's a ban on guns in the UK and hardly anyone does that. These justifications are getting ridiculous now. Why are people so hell bent on having guns? You've got them and people are dying. Why not just try and change things to see how they go?

[Kingdomhe 1,362]

There's a ban on guns in the UK and hardly anyone does that. These justifications are getting ridiculous now. Why are people so hell bent on having guns? You've got them and people are dying. Why not just try and change things to see how they go?

Well this is the US and thing are a lot different here. You'll never make it harder to kill, as long as you have bare fists you can do it. But like I said, they will still find a way, just because it's harder doesn't mean that they will stop, people still rob stores even though the tech we have now makes it a lot harder. Don't get me wrong, if there was solid proof that banning guns will make it almost impossible to do crime or kill people then I would be with you guys, but this stuff has been around for a long time and it's not going to go any where sadly.

[The 13th Kenpachi 4,279]

Well this is the US and thing are a lot different here. You'll never make it harder to kill, as long as you have bare fists you can do it. But like I said, they will still find a way, just because it's harder doesn't mean that they will stop, people still rob stores even though the tech we have now makes it a lot harder. Don't get me wrong, if there was solid proof that banning guns will make it almost impossible to do crime or kill people then I would be with you guys, but this stuff has been around for a long time and it's not going to go any where sadly.

You can at least try, trying is better than sitting around doin nothing. These are real people who's lives are at stake, we can't just accept it as a normal part of society.

[Robbie the Wise 5,050]

There are plenty of other ways to protect yourself besides having a gun? Oh and if no one had guns, there would be little danger to protect themselves from. I've never heard of anyone protecting themselves from these shootings. Oh and this guy didn't break the law by getting a gun. It's legal to buy a gun in Orlando right?

 

The UK isn't a dictatorship, we don't have guns either!

 

All I'm doing is putting a band aid on the problem? I'm actually trying to HELP people and enlighten them so that they don't get killed. You watch, more people and  more people will get killed in bloodbaths  as this goes on. So what? We should just sit around and twiddle our thumbs as more people die? 

 

UK-No guns, literally zero mass shootings since we banned them. Yes there is knife crime, but crime is always present in society.

USA-Guns! Hundreds of people get slaughtered, including children.

 

Your mentality is

"Nothing is wrong, we can't do anything so let's leave it."

My mentality is more

"Let's ban guns, it'll take a while and won't eliminate all problems. But at least far less people will die."

Okay sorry for the wait just had to do some research first.

 

 

This is a chart that depicts firearm homicide rates in England and Whales during a period spanning from 1990-2009. In 1997, the UK implemented it's firearm ban. There is small dive in firearm homicide (between 1997-1999) presumably because they were in the process of removing the guns. Then from 1999-2002 there is a massive spike in firearm homicide. The only way they were able to reduce the problem was by increasing the police force by very large increments. In 2009 when the rates are at their lowest, we see almost double the police force then before the ban. 

 

 

 

Even now when UK firearm homicide is down, violent crime is currently still on an upward trend. As you've already pointed the current trend is knives instead of guns.Compared to 2014, 2015 showed violent crimes are on a 25% increase.

 

 

Criminals will find ways to hurt people, they find other ways besides guns. Like bombs, food poisoning, water contamination; if someone is intent to kill, they're going to kill.

 

So for argument's sake let's say we ban guns, and increase the size of the police force to enforce it. What do we do about the rapidly increasing trend of police violence in America, especially when in all likelihood they will be the ones with all the weapons. Our government is not concerned with our safety. They have over the past eight years slowly stripped us of our rights. I don't think it's coincidence that there has been an increase in firearm homicide just when our government starts pushing more of their influence down our throats, culminating in the pushing of gun control. Less guns, more police control, more government enforcement seems like the perfect solution to our problem.

Edited June 12, 2016 by Robbie the Wise

[Kello 310]

The most heartbreaking thing about this is the fact that it was "another one".

 

Shootings are not the exceptions anymore. They are becoming the rule.

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

There comes a time when it'll have to happen. It's selfish to allow people to bear arms at the expense of other people's safety. @KH3, that is weak evidence, the  Constitution and Bill of Rights was written so long ago, the context is completely outdated and cannot apply to todays society. People are going to have to give up their rights at some point. Besides, it's not such a big deal if you don't have a gun is it? I'm sure you people can survive without them. If your rights are interfering with the safety of others, then I believe that that it is selfish. Oh and @Robert, they are 2 separate places with different rules and laws. You can't compare them. America has a gun problem, admit it. If you guys are still so persistent on keeping your guns, it's selfish. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true.

So we should be like the rest of the world? I am sorry, but as a proud American, I don't want to be like the rest of the world. Our Constitution was structured to last a long time and people are not going to give up their rights. Do you think people will all of a sudden will give up their rights? If you think so, then you will be waiting a very long time for that to happen. This is our culture: to protect the rights of individuals from overbearing government. That's our system and it does apply to today as it has for over 200 years. We will not become like the world that is secular and does not protect rights from overbearing government. It isn't a big deal to own a gun, but that doesn't mean take away the right. By the way, not everyone uses a gun for evil purposes. We were a nation that was under tyranny once and rebelled against it. Before the U.S was a nation, we were not allowed to bear arms, practice freedom of expression, or any of the freedoms in the Bill of Rights. We rebelled to change that and we are a nation based off of ideas. Now, that includes freedom of expression, right to bear arms, and so on. You have a different perspective on this, which is fine. I am saying to you this: Americans will not give up their rights. We won't give in to fear and terror every time we have atrocities like this and start taking away rights from law abiding citizens all because of a few thugs and criminals. We aren't selfish, it's what we believe. It's our perspective on this.

[Kittenz 4,281]

Like I've said before, if some wants to kill people then they will do it gun or no gun. Plus, even if there was a ban on guns, the world has had them for a very long time and people will start selling them underground or in black markets. Heck, people now know how to make one out of plastic using a 3D printer and if someone evil gets one then what will a helpless civilian do? They won't have a gun and unless they are ninjas then they won't know how to deflect it with a knife or sword.

Actually those 3D printed thingys were more of a scare, the plastic used in 3D printing is too weak for them to work properly most of the time and even if they do it's a one use thing because they tend to break. If it gets better then yes that is valid worry but right now it's not.

[FlipMode 141]

Since this conversation comes up ever time something like this happens (which is fine as long as you're not using the number of dead innocent people to actively push your agenda) but nothing is ever actually done about it, I'll just say this:

I live in the UK, we have some of the strictest gun and knife laws in the World but yet even we have ways of legally obtaining them. So I mean it's not exactly like guns suddenly don't exist here, we just have laws in place to keep them out of the hands of idiots who have no business keeping them in the first place.