“There exists in this country, sadly, a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and sows violence against its own people,” said Wayne LaPierre, executive VP of the NRA at their press conference in response to the Sandy Hook school shooting, who then failed to identify “Big Gun” and their puppet lobbyist organizations, NRA and ALEC.
He then went on to blame the Sandy Hook gun massacre on ten things, none of which were real guns. He did cite pretend guns in movies and videogames and the declaration of schools as gun-free zones as culprits, and also suggested that every school have an armed guard or cop (as if the Blackwater-ization of the school system is a good idea). Between their blaming of games and movies and their not taking any questions from the press, it seems that they’re quite fine with their oddball interpretation of the Second Amendment and ready to throw the First under the bus.
I think that it’s possible for responsible civilians to own guns in modern society — we somehow manage to do it in many industrialized nations, including here in Canada — but I think that the NRA has lost any concept of responsible gun ownership (they were a lot saner decades ago). Not with a line like “The only guy that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” anyway (which is the sort of sentiment that you’d expect from movies, and aren’t they the real problem?).
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I'm not sure anything in his remarks reflected almost getting it right...perhaps with the *possible* exception of noting "...earnest prayer for the families of Newtown, Connecticut ..." But even that sentiment rang more and more hollow as he continued. Unfortunately, his remarks were solely in an effort to protect a $12-14 billion gun industry. Yes, it is about the money, money, money ...
If a child hits another child with a rock, the solution is for every child to have a rock.
Shame on you Joey for not seeing the light.
It is clear to see that people are going to kill by what ever means possible. What is needed is more law abiding citizens carrying weapons. Hoping that they can reduce or even stop things like this.
You don't hear much about the citizen with a concealed weapon permit stopping a mad shooter. Do your research you are going to be surprised of how many times this has happened.
Remember police are more often there after the fact.
Jack Ashinhurst: The reason we "don’t hear much about the citizen with a concealed weapon permit stopping a mad shooter" is that it happens very rarely. And YOU'RE telling US to do our research?
I think it's highly doubtful, but there may be a very slim chance that strict gun control, even to the point of confiscation, could reduce such incidents. On the other hand, Paul Harvey pointed out the downside.
I'm not as up on math as I used to be, but I think 56 million is a hell of a lot more than those killed in shootings here in over 100 years even if we add in mob murders and drug related shootings.
Rick: Your argument reminds me of Archie Bunker's...
But seriously: The countries in those list are mostly not democracies and certainly don't have the same notions of "All men are created equal" that the United States does. Is America so close to tyranny that you need to be armed in order to take on your government? Would a citizen's militia be able to take on the four out of five branches of the military? (C'mon, chant with me: "Army! Navy! Air Force! Marines!". The Coast Guard will likely not be involved.)
You surprise me, Joey. I never would have expected you to stoop so low as to use something as ludicrous as an Archie Bunker farce to try to discredit facts. I have long listed All In The Family as what I call a "discreditation" show. The ongoing theme was an attack on the principles of American liberty and, as evident in this episode, trying to make legitimate conspiracy fact look absurd by linking it to Bunker. There are a number of internet sites that do the same. They couple legitimate conspiracy fact with absurdities such as Fourth Dimensional Reptilian Aliens and/or covens of witches. Fools fall for it and they then write off the legitimate along with the absurd.
As to democracy, are you an American? If you are. you don't live here do you? How long has it been? No matter, I've lived here all my life with the exception of time in the Army and later a year of travelling. I say without a hint of hesitation that I have never lived under a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. America has had a government of the bankers, by the bankers, and for the bankers.
I describe our system as a combination of democracy and leadership. Whenever the people can be persuaded to want what the money powers want, inspiring songs are sung to the glory of democracy, the people are praised for their ability to understand complex issues, and we get what the money powers want. When the people can't be so persuaded, inspiring songs are sung to the glory of leadership, politicians are praised for having the courage to make unpopular decisions, and the money powers get what they want.
BTW, the Bolshevik Revolution was financed by western money. Western money sustained it. "Liberal" Democrats were fond of pointing out that Grandpa Prescott Bush financed Hitler's Wehrmacht. The Republicans missed the boat when they failed to point out that Gramps was acting as a partner in Brown Brothers Harriman. This mega-investment banking firm was brought about by merger of Harriman and Co. with Brown Brothers. This was accomplished by four partners in each. All were Skull & Bones. While Bush was bankrolling the Wehrmacht, Harriman took another contingent from the firm and built the Soviet heavy industry. Western Capital was financing the "Commies" and the "Nazis." These are the people who run America, not the American people. You surprise me, Joey. I never would have expected you to stoop so low as to use something as ludicrous as an Archie Bunker farce to try to discredit facts. I have long listed All In The Family as what I call a "discreditation" show. The ongoing theme was an attack on the principles of American liberty and, as evident in this episode, trying to make legitimate conspiracy fact look absurd by linking it to Bunker. There are a number of internet sites that do the same. They couple legitimate conspiracy fact with absurdities such as Fourth Dimensional Reptilian Aliens and/or covens of witches. Fools fall for it and they then write off the legitimate along with the absurd.