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PRO-GUN CONTROL

Should the Aurora Shooting Lead to Gun Control?

Liberal pundits say yes, but of course

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t

The AR-15, the legal gun used by James Holmes / Image: Business Insider

Friday's horrific mass shooting in Aurora, CO has sparked a renewed, largely one-sided gun control debate staged via op-eds from left-leaning writers (e.g. "Blood on the Hands of Obama, Mitt, and NRA!"). We've rounded up their main takeaways for your inspection:

1. Reinstate the assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004. Proponents say that would have made it illegal for James Holmes to buy the AR-15, pictured above, with which he likely fired most of the lethal shots. "There is no rational basis for allowing ordinary Americans to purchase assault rifles. They're not necessary for hunting, and they're not needed for self-defense," argues a Washington Post editorial.
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Do any of these gun control arguments make sense to you?

Comments (view in Forum)

  • View all 11 replies >

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  •
    Wilberhum
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    Should the Aurora Shooting Lead to Gun Control?
    If not, may be this should:
    http://www.icpgv.org/pdf/facts.pdf
    • From 1999 to 2005 guns killed 8,018 Illinois residents.1
    • In 2005, 1,019 people died from firearm-related injuries in Illinois, 569 of which
    were homicides.2, 3
    • In 2005, African Americans were victims in 42% or 429 of firearm-related deaths in
    Illinois. Of these deaths, 91% were homicides.4
    • In 2005, guns were used in 424 suicides in Illinois, a 10% increase from 2004. 81%
    of these suicides were committed by white males.5
    • In Illinois, from 1999-2005, 37 children and youth in Illinois died from unintentional
    gunshot wounds.6
    • In 2005, 130 children aged 0-19 in Illinois were killed by guns. From 1999 to 2005,
    1,169, children have been killed by guns in Illinois.7
    • The 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (grades 9-12) found that 5% of
    Chicago high school students reported having carried a gun in the last 30 days.8
    • From 2002 to 2006, 687 Chicago youth were killed by guns.9
    • In 2005, 92% of Chicago youth killed by firearms involved handguns.10
    • In 2005, firearms were the primary weapon used in violent deaths in Kane, Cook,
    and Peoria counties. Firearms account for more violent deaths than all other means
    combined.11
    • In 2005, 71%(435) of homicides and 36%(164) of suicides were committed with
    firearms in Kane, Cook, and Peoria counties.12
    • Firearms were used as a weapon in 10 out of 14 murder-suicide incidents in Kane,
    Cook, and Peoria counties in 2005, or 70% of the time. Children witnessed or were
    present at eight of the 14 murder-suicide incidents, or 57% of the time.13
    Gun Violence
    (More)
  • Wilberhum
    !
    dogsofwar, just think how many would die in auto accidents if we had no traffic laws, maybe we should conciser regulating guns like we regulate autos.
  • 2starider
    !
    You sight Illinois data to support gun control. Are you aware ILL is one of the most restrictive States in gun laws? Are you aware the average citizen cannot get a concealed carry permit in ILL? In ILL you must have a State FOIA card to purchase a weapon legally. Seems to me what you present is evidence that strict gun control does NOT work. The vast majority of the killings you sight are commited by people who do NOT follow the law in the first place. Gun resrictions like those in ILL only serve to empower the Thugladyts and provide them with a safe working environment and criminalize the lawabiding for self defence. YOU would subject the rest of the Nation to the same fate if you could. Luckily most of us are not so stupid.
  • BigPoppaPhat
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    You didn't mention you also need the FOAA card present just to buy ammo, I lived in west Chicago for a number of years, every weekend it was a war zone. I couldn't buy a gun because of gun laws, but every weekend I hear gunshots from people who weren't supposed to own one either, they could care less and if they started shooting at my house for whatever reason I'd be another statistic thats posted above .
  • Wilberhum
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    I state the facts, nothing more nothing less. Do you find some need to try to read between the lines? If so you just failed the test.

  • View all 21 replies >

  • AlexanderKM
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    I agree with Wolf.
    I disagree with statement 1 of the article. Not necessary for defense? Inaccurate. One day Americans will need ARs for their defense. Whether from a foreign or domestic gov't I wait patiently to see.
  • Truthinesss
    !
    Exactly. This is what I don't understand. If our government starts becoming a tyranny, how are we to fight back when they are the only ones with weapons? Most liberals don't take time to think about things like this I suppose.
    And if you don't think it's happening, look around.
  • AlexanderKM
    !
    Exactly. Tyranny strikes when we are least prepared - thus it is imperative that we remain ever vigilant of our freedoms, the Second Amendment especially.
  • AlexanderKM
    !
    Exactly why we should oppose them at every turn on this issue. We should never depend so much on another entity - whether that be a person, or an organization - that we can not depend on ourselves. Theoretically if a threat to the citizenship were to occur I'd feel much safer with a carbine and a sub-machine gun then if a whole division were based a few miles away. At least then I have the ability to protect my family.
  • o
    srennelkztirF
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    It's like Mitt Romney's tax returns all over again. I think that the final tally on that one was six; seven if you count the Ann Romney "You People" thread.
  • u
    proudvet
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    As many as it takes for them to get the answer that they are wanting, even if it means that they have to twist the facts to get it.
  • o
    Cold-Warrior
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    Leon Harrison
    West Carrollton, Ohio
    Sunday, July 22, 2012

    To: The Editor

    Subject: Makeshift Memorial Shriners in Aurora, Colorado

    "Before you go there to show how much you care…”

    I am sincerely sorry about the recent murders of twelve, and the wounding of 58, innocent victims at that midnight “Batman” movie inside that cinema in Aurora, Colorado, that were committed by that single deranged strange gunman; but I shall not join the outsider makeshift-memorial shriners and whiners, whom I detest for competing in this latest compassion contest. I refuse to boohoo or otherwise try to prove that I am more caring, sensitive and compassionate than you, or have a need to participate, pose, perform and believably grieve and compete in public performance art. I have never flown away from home, or traveled near or far in a bus or a car, to take advantage of such or similar bad sad tragic accidents, events or incidents; unlike the gun-grabbing nagging-nanny members of The Brady Bunch and The Bloomturd Herd. They and their other professional angry, empathetic sympathetic sisters and brothers never let a good sensational sad scary (but statistically-insignificant) incident/story go to waste.
    With obvious and hidden personal and political agendas, these political-PAC-rat activists, demonstrators, marchers and whining “shriners” swarm and show up to participate, perform, pose and promote themselves with free publicity. During the past thirty-plus years [between the birth of cable TV and the deaths of Princess Diana, some students at Columbine High and the University of Virginia, and Trayvon Martin], I have seen a predictable repetitive pattern of public performance art, people competing in compassion and patriotism contests for attention and publicity, enabled and encouraged by competitive media people who need them and seek them.
    I am sure that, during the aftermath of such and similar bad sad tragic events, many if not most of the local folks have thought, asked or said, "Who are these people and what are they doing here?" Many of them no doubt hope and pray that such and similar strangers go and stay away; especially the people who have to clean up the messes after outsiders and strangers quit grieving and start leaving.
    If you really need to, have to, or want to go to Aurora, Colorado, to show those grieving family members and friends (and media people) that you really care: You ought to show up and handle a candle with a teddy bear, and let a balloon loose into the air. Well, Leon Harrison’s "GENUINE $19.99 MAKESHIFT SHRINE" includes everything that you need to believably grieve! Now, you too can show up with your "GENUINE $19.99 MAKESHIFT SHRINE" time after time! Then, you too can compete with the best, during this and any future compassion contests! I guarantee that you will be seen on the front page and the TV screen!

    Leon Harrison
    West Carrollton, Ohio
  • Thunderchicken
    !
    Two points. First: You don't own guns do you? If you did, you'd know that a couple of thousand rounds of ammo is a weekend supply for some.

    Second: Who are you to decide what anyone needs or should have?
  • u
    AJR
    !
    I'd have you the same question...who are you to tell anyone what to do?
    Answering your first statement: Most of my family use guns for hunting, they don't use as much ammunation to hunt . If you get your kicks out of shooting targets or people,....join the Military & save some of the young ones from having to go, see what's it's like.
  • Real4WheelDrv
    !
    The fallacy in your reply is that the young people don't HAVE to go. Seeing as how there is no draft right now, they joined WILLINGLY, and that gave our government consent to turn them into nothing more than pegs on a map. If you join for the college benefits etc, you take the risk that decisions by the country's leaders will put you in harm's way.
  • Thunderchicken
    !
    Did you read my post? Or even yours for that matter. I don't want to tell anyone what to do except mind their own business. If I want to target practice with a full auto Thompson. And a do it in a safe and legal manner, ain't nobody's business but my own.

    If Holmes had driven a monster truck through the wall of the theater, would you want to ban that type of truck because pickups are all anyone needs?
  • u
    AJR
    !
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Amendment...

    I have no problem with anyone carrying a" musket and certain amount of powder" .to defend themselves.


    On May 8, 1792, Congress passed "[a]n act more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States" requiring:
    Each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia...[and] every citizen so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball: or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch and powder-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder; and shall appear, so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise, or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack.[91]

    I do have a problem with specifying "white male " .and "age" Times change......hopefully for the better, but not always.
    IMO, it's time for the US to grow up & recognize the NRA controls the politics when it comes to this. They'd lose money
    if the laws were changed and that's why they stress the 2nd amendment so much & try to keep people scared that their "rights" would be taken away.......We need stricter laws to control the sale of guns, the kind of firearms anyone can buy ,the amount of
    ammunition ,etc. etc. Other countries with some thought for it's people instead of just "making money" doesn't have the
    same amount of killings & deaths. Most of the peope in Congress would be too old to be "making laws" if we use the 2nd
    amendment as well.
    Some of my own family disagree with me & love their guns.... I tell them my opinions too.
    My only question to them is; Are you still going to use the NRA slogan?? "guns don't kell people, people kill people".....
    when it's your son, daughter or family that's murdered?

  • View all 8 replies >

  • CardShark
    !
    When someone buys the amount of Ammo this man bought and no red flags were raised,makes me think hell its about money.But as for as Gun Control they are very aware that is does not work,the stats tells them its a failed situation when trying to pass gun laws,that have no barren on all Americans not just the ones who act foolish
  • Thunderchicken
    !
    Are you assuming that he bought all 6000 rounds at once?(I searched and cannot find how, when or where the purchase (s) occurred.) I consider myself a casual shooter and I'd bet that I have about 6000 rounds of just one caliber and type stockpiled. Not that I intend to keep a large stock but more that I'll purchase whenever I find a good deal. Since the ammo shortage of 2009, I keep an eye out more than before.
  • u
    Isaac-Asimov
    !
    Technically speaking, and going by the definition of weapons, the guy didn't even use an assault rifle. AR stands for Armalite, the company name that builds these guys, not Assault Rifle. An Assault Rifle is defined as a weapon with a selector switch allowing it to go from single-shot to three-round burst, to full automatic. His gun was the AR-15, a semi-automatic gun. Do you know what a fully automatic AR-15 is called? M-16.

    Gun control laws being more strict, or even reinstating the ban that was in place against assault rifles in 2004 would have done nothing to prevent this from happening. It's moronic to think it would have.
  • o
    Stratton
    !
    So if Holmes hadn't had the AR-15 and had fired the shots from his other two guns, that would have made the WashPost happy? What idiocy.

    Maybe we should have mental illness background checks for journlaists.
  • jmann88
    !
    I don't believe in harsher gun controls. I don't think we need anymore gun laws.. what we need is for our government to step up its counter terroist opps in america and quit trying to play world police. This was planed massacare. I think you should be required to carry in the US. We are required to have insurance why not guns? Lower crime rates.

    If its money the GOV wants then require us to carry. We pop a cap in someones ass then they go to the hospital and use the insurance that u provided and pay the premium. Bam low crimes and more money to the health department.
  • u
    proudvet
    !
    Our purpose of our 2nd Amendment is not about hunting or enjoying a day out on the range. It is about the security of ourselves, our family and our Nation.
    "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed".
    In short, if the people practiced their Constitutional Right and duty, there would had been much less in casualties.
  • u
    FKAReader
    !
    Yes--although I don't see the likelihood of that happening. The NRA is the nation's largest lobby and they have staked out an extremist set of positions with regard to open sales, lack of registration and unlimited weaponry for everyone.
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    Scotty
    !
    This is just what the socialust democrats hoped for.now they are going to politicallize the death of these poor people to further their socialist agender.they had one person saying obama wasnt a socialist or communist.he said that obama dont like them.well if his president obama didnt like communism then why did he appointed 3 different people to whitehouse jobs that belonged to a communist party and said they were proud of it.the fact is obama is just as bad as hitler when it comes to his policies.a lot of young people dont know but hitler was a socialust just like obama.hell a democratic senator and obama said mao was a great leader.the fact is mao killed millions of his own people because they disagreed ith him.obama and a lot of democratic senators said that castonis one of the greatest leaders ever.even our vice president said china and a lot of other countries are better then the united states.i say f@@ k all them bas@ ards.my gradfather faught ginst socialust in ww2 and real americans will keep fighting them before they take away our rights
  • Fishbone345
    !
    That you insinuate that Americans would wish death and misery of this magnitude on other Americans sickens me. IF anyone exists like that, I lump them in the same boat as you and hope beyond hope that Karma smacks you all in the face for your evil thoughts.
    Hitler was a Fascist. Go read a book for crying out loud and you might pick up on his hatred for certain things. Oh I don't know, things like Marxism or Egalitarianism.
    In Nazi Germany, WHO controlled the mean of production? Private Capitalists or Workers/Unions?
    Do me a favor and do some research outside Faux News before you start insinuating such ludicrous thoughts as fact.
    Here, I'll do something you most certainly DID NOT. Provide some factual discussion on the matter.
    http://www.open.salon.com/blog/rw005g/2010/09...
    http://atheism.about.com/b/2005/10/31/hitler-...
    The people of Aurora need support and compassion, so they can begin the healing process. Not some horrible thoughts on how their fellow Americans wished this on their families.
    You should be ashamed of yourself.
  • Bobolinsky
    !
    Nazi is short for National Socialism as opposed to Marxism which was International Socialism.

    Hitler wasn't opposed to socialism. He was opposed to Slavs. The "International Socialists" were led by Slavs.

    Make no mistake though Fishbone... Hitler was a Big Government guy.
  • Fishbone345
    !
    Bobo, Hitler and the Nazi party were Socialist in name, yes. This was done to appeal to the lower classes at a time when they were in dire straits and were sympathetic to radical and socialist ideas. You might even say he socialist leanings, but keep in mind they only applied to the true "Aryans". The name of the party was rhetorically declared to gain that critical support.
    I'll go with Big Government, but tht by n
  • Fishbone345
    !
    Dammit. I hate when I hit enter like that.
    Bobo, I'd go as far to say on name only. Hitler and the members of the Nazi party even said they had named it such rhetorically so as to appeal to the lower class, who because of the dire straits the country was in were sympathetic to radicals and socialist ideas. Even the applications of such really only applied to true "Aryans" and that's not true Socialism. When confronted about it years into his regime it was a true source of embarrassment. 
    I'd more go with your statement of "Big Government" Because essentially it could refer to a lot of things. Dictatorships and Marshall Law are technically Big Government. Hell, like you said in another area the Bush's are into that and I wouldn't really call them Socialists. 
    I like talking with you Bobo. We disagree at times, but you don't make it personal. 
  • Bobolinsky
    !
    This is why Nazism is so difficult to discuss... and compare to current events.
    ======
    " You might even say he socialist leanings, but keep in mind they only applied to the true "Aryans"."
    ======
    You're not going to get an argument from me about the "in-name only" claim about "socialism" in Nazism, if you'll concede that the Nazis were perfectly fine with the power that "socialism" got them. The idea in the heads of the people of a "collective". Hitler termed that "collective" as the Aryan Race. It was a vehicle to totalitarianism.

    Hitler was utilitarian about everything in his pursuit of his own personal goals.

    I don't know how many times I've told made that same distinction about The Soviets and Nazis and "socialism". at least a few times on this site and I have no idea how many other times. I even have it as my profile bio. You're the first person that ever engaged in a conversation with me about it . That's why I like talking to you.:)
  • Keyjo
    !
    We have speed limits on the highways and yet people (including myself) break them constantly. You can't stop everyone!
    Many states have increased fines and penalties on DUI's and yet drunks still drive. You can't stop everyone!
    There are 314 million people in the United States, authorities can't keep an eye on all of them all of the time.
    The Colorado shooter had NO prior arrests or convictions.
    Unfortunately tragedies happen from time to time and there is nothing anyone can do to stop each one of them.
    If Holms had thrown a molotov cocktail into the crowd, would more controls at gas pumps be our next answer!?
    I used to have a dog who chased cars. A car hit him and he changed his tactics to chasing trucks, until a truck hit him! Then he went back to chasing cars.
    Bad people will do bad things. If at first they don't succeed, they'll switch tactics.
    I don't believe that it should be legal to sell fully automatic weapons in the United States, and I don't think it is. But an AR-15 assault rifle is just a rifle: it shoots one bullet at a time just like many larger caliber semi's used for deer hunting.
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