https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 04 May 2026 15:36:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-453333 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:16:14 +0000 honeybear 453333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to clarify my remarks above a bit. There IS a policy that would clearly have an effect on the number of murders (because @rahlyrah is correct in noting that this is not the first time children have been killed): Banning guns. I think we can all agree that implementing a complete ban on civilian gun ownership in America would be ... a challenge.</p> <p>The other arguments in favor of lesser forms of "gun control" are fairly hollow, particularly if the goal is reducing the body count in mass shootings, because as I alluded to above, in those situations ANY access to a gun is the problem. As for other murders committed with guns, the proposals such as banning large magazines or assault-style weapons are obviously not narrowly tailored enough to solve that problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452908 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 05:05:15 +0000 Ra 452908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As sad as this tragedy was, unfortunately, it does need to be politicized. I understand where people are coming from when they say we should focus 100% on the victims, but I don't necessarily agree with it. What about the countless innocent children who die in our cities every year due to gun violence? You never hear any discussion about them. They are just as sad, just as innocent, and just as deserving of honor and respect. Sadly, they don't get it. It's not fair, but it takes a situation like this to bring the issue of stricter gun control regulation into the limelight. We should be mourning the loss of ALL innocent life lost due to gun violence, not just the tragedies in suburbia. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452458 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:51:13 +0000 blackbird 452458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear, well, there are still only one instance, in different countries, and only one time. Out of the last 20 some odd big gun spree killings, something like 18 of them were in the U.S. It's just far more common here....definitely a bad trend. It's just far more rare in other countries, to the point you could consider them an outlier. I couldn't think of an instance off the top of my head where I heard about it occurring in another country, but could think of 5+ instances in the US. It just seems like it's become an american thing :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452294 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:26:43 +0000 MrsSCB 452294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope it will, but I certainly have my doubts. I don't think we need to ban guns altogether, but some sensible regulations are absolutely necessary. Something like in Israel, where you can only have one gun and there is a limit on ammo. Also, banning high-capacity magazines and assault weapons. You don't need those to go hunting, which I think should be the only reason someone has a gun. Numerous studies have shown having a gun in the home is more dangerous than not. A gun in the home is seven times more likely to be used in a criminal assault or homicide than in self-defense. (<a href="http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/gunviolence/crime?s=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/gunviolence/crime?s=1</a>)</p> <p>I also don't see the second amendment as a reason to be so lax with gun control. First of all, as I said, reasonable people are not trying to take away your guns altogether. Second, the intent of the second amendment was to defend against a tyrannical government, which is certainly not the way it is applied today. Third, Thomas Jefferson himself said a constitution should be revised every 19 years. Times change, technology changes, and a country that cannot change with it will not survive.</p> <p>I've seen lots of people saying that criminals will still have access to illegal guns. That is true, but the fact is that the vast majority of mass shootings have happened with legal guns, as did this one. Imagine, if the shooter's mother had only been permitted to own one gun, a limited amount of ammo, and no high-capacity magazines. This would have turned out a lot differently. Sure, people can kill with other implements like knives, but they are not nearly as deadly. Criminals will always find ways to access guns, but let's not make it so easy.</p> <p>Finally, I do think that a massive overhaul of the way mental health is handled in this country is absolutely necessary. However, that will not solve this problem. People with severe psychiatric disorders go off their medication all the time, thinking they are "cured." Clearly, they are not, and it's only a matter of time before they suffer another psychotic episode that makes them a danger to themselves and/or others. Please do prescribe medication for all who need it, but that's not a cure all. No one can make them take medication. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452281 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:06:27 +0000 honeybear 452281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Mass shootings do not only happen in America. Anders Behring Breivik (July 2011) and Mohammed Merah (March 2012) murdered many people in Norway and France. As you and others noted, mass killings are not limited to guns. Recall the Tokyo subway attack in 1995. </p> <p>***<br /> @mediagirl: This particular shooting was not carried out with an automatic weapon. Semi-automatic weapons do not "spray" bullets if you keep the trigger depressed; you have to pull the trigger each time you want to shoot a bullet. There are semi-automatic handguns as well, in fact, the Connecticut man had one (the Glock; I'm not sure if his Sig Sauer was semi-automatic, but it could have been). </p> <p>****<br /> I do not know what effect these horrific murders will have on the regulation of gun ownership in this country, but I have not yet heard a proposal to regulate guns that would likely have spared these children or most of the others who have been killed in similar attacks. For instance, banning semi-automatic assault rifles would appear to have had little impact here--this shooter could have done exactly the same thing with the handguns he carried. Those particular handguns are fairly common choices for self-defense, so there does not seem to be an easy answer here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452229 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:29:05 +0000 mrbee 452229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caffeinated: Yah agreed on violence in video games. I actually have seen research suggesting that the opposite is true for movies: that when a violent movie comes out, violent crime actually goes down.</p> <p><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18045578" rel="nofollow">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18045578</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452211 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:23:53 +0000 Freckles 452211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey: @mrbee: DH and i were talking about that, and how violence would be at an all time high in Asian countries since kids are obsessed with violent video games (but it isn't). (Also, did we read the same NYT article where they talked about how car regulations are even more strict than gun laws?) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452201 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:22:06 +0000 mrbee 452201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: I agree that things are worse in a lot of ways!</p> <p>But I haven't seen research suggesting that enhanced crimesolving is having a deterrent effect. Could be, but my experience with police is that they are still not all that great at solving crimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452166 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:07:51 +0000 jedeve 452166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Good point about collectors. I know there are a lot of people who like to shoot guns for sport, so my idea would be that certain guns you can shoot at a gun range and that's it. Like, the gun range owns it. You check it out for an hour and shoot it on-site at the target or whatever, then that's it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452158 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 17:06:13 +0000 jedeve 452158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know that some people say that guns aren't the issue, its the people behind it. I have to disagree with that though. It's an awful, awful comparison (because you would never want to chose how tragedy befalls children) - but look at the knife attacks in China. There was not the same loss of life. If some people really are hell bent on causing harm, we should make sure they don't have the most harmful methods available to them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452143 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:56:14 +0000 SugarplumsMom 452143@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope so, but I doubt it will. I've already seen more than a few pro-gun image quotes on my feed and it's only Monday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452140 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:54:04 +0000 Dapple Grey 452140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I guess I'm thinking about the more subtle changes in behavior and the overall societal fabric that perhaps aren't making the paper? I'm just not sure its the best thing for young children, regardless of whether or not statics are showing a particular trend. Just a thought...I'm certainly no expert! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change/page/2#post-452139 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:52:40 +0000 Mrsbells 452139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I think the violence now a day is more senseless than ever. People (especially young people) seem to be unaffected by it. And the same applies to how people value life in general. if anything I believe the only reason why violence is lower now in numbers is because of the improved forensics, cameras etc and people are aware that it will be harder to get away with it, I dont think the violence is lower because people are just getting better morally. I think we are much worse morally than ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-452128 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:35:02 +0000 mrbee 452128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dapple Grey: But violence in general is at an all-time low... if film and video game entertainment were causing violence, wouldn't violence be increasing a lot? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-452118 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:27:24 +0000 Dapple Grey 452118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Once the storm calms, I think we need to stop hiding in our "pro gun" or " anti-gun" corners, and work together on some basic common sense changes about how we obtain, monitor, and regulate the flow of guns in this country.</p> <p>On top of this all, I believe we have an obligation now to start discussing the state of mental health care, or the lack there of.</p> <p>I also think its worth looking into entertainment industry and the glorification of dysfunctional behavior and violence amongst our most impressionable young minds.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-452098 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:17:22 +0000 blackbird 452098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was really sad seeing all the political posts on FB that evening. It seemed so disrespectful to me. Only two of the children have been buried as of today. I wish there was a way to have it both ways--feel like the victims have been given a proper and respectful amount of mourning time and then roll up our sleeves and try to figure out a way to address the issue. </p> <p>It's so hard because you never really know what will prevent this kind of thing, and from what I can see, it only happens in America. Even in countries that do have access to guns, it only happens here! It's more than gun control; I just hope this enlightens everyone that a FEW things need to change in this country. Hopefully this was the last straw and some new policies can be implemented. But gun safety certainly needs to be addressed. It seems like people can obtain guns from others all too easily. I'd like to see people forced to take safety classes and the like. </p> <p>Unfortunately, I think some people are just highly motivated to cause pain to others. If it wasn't a gun, he might have brought a bomb to school. It makes me sad that where there's a will, there's probably a way. But that goes back to addressing the "other" issues. Going all the way back in the cause and effect chain and intervening as early as possible. And then with numerous intervention steps in process, hopefully preventing these outcomes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-452056 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:48:55 +0000 mrbee 452056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that for a day or so after a shooting, the focus should be on the families and what they have lost. Then I think it's only appropriate to talk about lessons learned and what might be changed and so on.</p> <p>I saw some proposals that guns might be regulated like cars, where you get a license, have to demonstrate competency, etc. Someone also suggested that there be gun insurance, to cover liability for all parties... similar to how car insurance is required for vehicles. That seemed pretty reasonable to me, although I'm far from an expert on gun safety as a matter of public health! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-452045 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:44:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 452045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this was a great post about the mental illness issue. </p> <p><a href="http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html" rel="nofollow">http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html</a></p> <p>I have a family member who has a mental illness and needs help but without insurance she can't get help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-452026 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:34:31 +0000 yoursilverlining 452026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope so; and I also think people who leave guns and/or ammo in areas that are accessible by others should be held legally accountable for the ramifications of those actions. You leave a gun and ammo out and available and your kid shoots and kills someone with them - you absolutely should be held partially responsible.</p> <p>I also think mental health access should be better funded and more readily available; regardless of income/insurance status. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-452023 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:33:54 +0000 Rock n Roll 452023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this will (and should) bring about change. But I think the biggest reason that change doesn't happen with guns is that people aren't very specific. Roundly stating we need control is too vague. (I mean, we already have gun control.) People need to propose actual ideas for others to get behind.</p> <p>I do think there is a respectful time to wait and talk politics, though. I think now is fine. I was pretty disgusted to see people already starting in on it when the bodies hadn't even been identified yet. It really made me see the downside to social media. I expect to see the traditional media fighting each other to get the scoop and generally be kind of despicable in reporting things, but when that comes from your friends, it's kind of disheartening. I just kept imagining parents desperately wondering whether their child is dead or alive, waiting for answers, while people were already using the kids as some sort of nameless proof of their opinion. It just made me sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451980 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:14:22 +0000 Andrea 451980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope so, but as @mediagirl first said, that wasn't the problem in this latest incident so there are other factors that need reform at the same in this country to prevent these types of events. So sad.</p> <p>I also don't understand why the average Joe needs to own assault rifles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451970 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:09:11 +0000 ladyfingers 451970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope so. It disheartens me to hear people say that this isn't a discussion we should be having, or that it is somehow disrespectful to discuss ways to prevent things like this from happening again in the future.</p> <p>I believe that, for the most part, there are adequate control laws for purchasing guns -- most states (if not all?) require background checks already, and in a case like this, it didn't matter, because they were not his guns. But I in no way believe that assault weapons should be available to the public. And I don't think that making them unavailable is an infringement of rights. If there is an intruder in your home, if you want to hunt, if you like shooting cans or targets, if you need to defend yourself -- there is no need for a weapon that automatically reloads and allows you to shoot hundreds of rounds at the touch of a trigger. What the availability of those weapons does make possible is the taking of dozens of human lives in a mere minute. It doesn't even make any sense to me how you can purchase those types of weapons. It doesn't even make sense to me how you can argue that taking them away infringes upon your right to bear arms. It just doesn't make sense.</p> <p>As for whether I think CT will act as a catalyst -- I hope so, and I believe that's what Obama intends, but I don't think it will happen. There is too much opposition and too much partisanship. I'm afraid that sweeping and effective legislation is a thing of our past. I hope I'm wrong, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451775 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:39:52 +0000 Modern Daisy 451775@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm personally just hoping that Obama at least tries to ban assault rifles! I'm all for people having 2nd amendment rights, but I think the TYPE of gun you are allowed to buy should be restricted. </p> <p>And from my perspective, I would never ever ever ever buy a gun for any use because 1) I don't hunt and 2) I scare easily, so I would almost certainly end up shooting DH or another friend or family member thinking they were an intruder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451760 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:30:04 +0000 JamieLee 451760@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can I just say how much I love this community? It amazes me that even with something as polarizing and political as gun control, people are polite and present well formed opinions, rather than attacking another user personally. So hard to find these days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451655 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:32:32 +0000 Boogs 451655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think guns alone aren't the problem. We need some serious mental illness policy reform and I'm afraid that unless we start there, the other changes we make won't make much of a difference. I thought this was a great read about the need for a serious nationwide discussion about mental health: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/chrrzeg" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/chrrzeg</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451633 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:25:34 +0000 mediagirl 451633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: @JamieLee: @jedeve: @caffeinated: So many things to say. Sigh. This is such a tough topic.</p> <p>Personally, I am a supporter of the NRA but I do not believe we need to have access to automatic assault weapons and their ammunition. The military? Yes. the general public? There is no need. </p> <p>Okay, I understand there are collectors out there who like collecting weapons but why do they need the ammo to go with them? </p> <p>While I don't believe it would ever happen, I would like to see better control over certain types of ammunition. Yes, criminals could still get that ammunition (you can't stop the black market) but it would be much harder if it wasn't just legal to go to the store and order it after passing a background check and waiting period. j</p> <p>How many of these tragedies occurred with automatic weapons and not just handguns? </p> <p>It's so hard to digest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451620 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:19:52 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 451620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Changing gun policy doesn't have to mean outlawing guns. There can be some sensible changes such as putting restrictions on assault rifles, banning large magazine clips (which would go far to restrict carnage in these situations if someone had to stop to reload or fumble for another gun).</p> <p>I do think this situation moved the needle and I hope we have a thoughtful, sensible, realistic dialog about how to move forward... Addressing mental health, gun laws and the media. Any one in isolation won't really get to the heart of the problem. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451611 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:16:40 +0000 JamieLee 451611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caffeinated: I just read that about Canada and the two people to vouch for you. I like that policy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451590 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:02:50 +0000 Freckles 451590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: That's awful...you must be so frustrated! :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-this-will-lean-to-gun-policy-change#post-451584 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:01:44 +0000 lemondrop 451584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope so, but it would be a very long fight. I do not understand why people feel the need to own automatic assault rifles. </p>