Comments on: Guns For All http://opinionado.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/guns-for-all/ Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:48:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Concerned Individual http://opinionado.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/guns-for-all/#comment-37 Concerned Individual Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:21:12 +0000 http://opinionado.wordpress.com/?p=35#comment-37 I agree that it is very troubling that people, such as Stephen, believe more guns is the answer to the problem. Imagine, god forbid, there was a student shot in a hallway at a school that permitted all students to carry guns. To me, I would be deeply nervous that a gunfight would erupt from the hysteria and chaos that would result from such an incident, and only more innocent bystanders would perish needlessly in the crossfire as a consequence. The fact that it is LEGAL to carry a concealed weapon in 11 states DOES NOT MEAN it is the RIGHT course of action to take to solve the problem. As well, there have been many studies conducted over the years that suggest carrying a gun actually INCREASES your risk and the risk of people around you of getting shot. In addition, while it may be your right to defend yourself, it is also my right to feel safe in a place of learning. Adding more guns to the problem will only breed more fear, and make people feel less safe. The schools and the state should be focusing more on trying to help identify these individuals who have issues early on, and make sure they get the necessary help they require, so that incidents like at Columbine and Virginia Tech are averted. Most of these shooters do exhibit many warning signs before the actual violent incident occurs. In addition, the fact that the shooter, in the incidents you mentioned, killed himself is NOT necessarily indicative of a psychological trend. There are also many cases where the shooter was killed by the police intervening. Lastly, I would suggest that you, Stephen, learn more about fire control and immunization before you attempt to make invalid and completely illogical comparisons between them and your proposed "solution". Sincerely, A Deeply Concerned Individual I agree that it is very troubling that people, such as Stephen, believe more guns is the answer to the problem. Imagine, god forbid, there was a student shot in a hallway at a school that permitted all students to carry guns. To me, I would be deeply nervous that a gunfight would erupt from the hysteria and chaos that would result from such an incident, and only more innocent bystanders would perish needlessly in the crossfire as a consequence.

The fact that it is LEGAL to carry a concealed weapon in 11 states DOES NOT MEAN it is the RIGHT course of action to take to solve the problem. As well, there have been many studies conducted over the years that suggest carrying a gun actually INCREASES your risk and the risk of people around you of getting shot. In addition, while it may be your right to defend yourself, it is also my right to feel safe in a place of learning. Adding more guns to the problem will only breed more fear, and make people feel less safe.

The schools and the state should be focusing more on trying to help identify these individuals who have issues early on, and make sure they get the necessary help they require, so that incidents like at Columbine and Virginia Tech are averted. Most of these shooters do exhibit many warning signs before the actual violent incident occurs.

In addition, the fact that the shooter, in the incidents you mentioned, killed himself is NOT necessarily indicative of a psychological trend. There are also many cases where the shooter was killed by the police intervening.

Lastly, I would suggest that you, Stephen, learn more about fire control and immunization before you attempt to make invalid and completely illogical comparisons between them and your proposed “solution”.

Sincerely,
A Deeply Concerned Individual

]]> By: Stephen J. Feltoon http://opinionado.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/guns-for-all/#comment-33 Stephen J. Feltoon Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:14:55 +0000 http://opinionado.wordpress.com/?p=35#comment-33 It's not about *putting* guns in the hands of ANYONE. "It boggles the mind, how people can think that putting more guns into more hands will yield safety." You could also say "it boggles the mind, how people can think that getting rid of a disease (smallpox) by putting another disease in you (cowpox) will yield better health" or "it boggles the mind, how firefighters can think that starting small fires ahead of a larger one will yield less acreage destroyed by fires in the long run". Seriously! What a ridiculous argument! No way cowpox will lead to the eventual eradication of smallpox! No way that a few small fires could deplete the fuel of a larger one! What I'm more worried about is the person going crazy who ISN'T going to drop a few hundred bucks on a good holster, instruction, and concealed handgun license, cause they can come to your campus (assuming you're a student) say "no guns allowed?!? Not today!" and continue carrying illegally in order to kill, rape, and steal. "So somebody who who has set his mind on killing people is going to rethink his plan of action because he’s afraid to get shot?" I've studied the psychology of people. I've also studied real life. Remember the guy who got shot by a civilian in that Colorado church? Well instead of trying to continue his murderous rampage HE KILLED HIMSELF. Remember that guy at Virginia Tech who wanted to kill everyone? Well instead of risk being shot by the police HE KILLED HIMSELF. Remember that guy at NIU who wanted to kill lots of people? Well instead of being shot by the police HE KILLED HIMSELF. Could it act as a deterrent? At least marginally. If you were a rapist, you'd probably choose an unarmed victim as opposed to a possibly-armed victim, but that's just my assumption. Guns are welcome on 11 campuses across the country. Additionally, it's LEGAL to CCW in more than a dozen states (including Indiana, Washington, California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Colorado, Virginia, and I believe Michigan) and have been for years. The fact that I *MAY* carry a gun is troubling? Sorry for wanting to adequately defend myself. I guess you don't wear a seatbelt or have a fire extinguisher, right? It’s not about *putting* guns in the hands of ANYONE.

“It boggles the mind, how people can think that putting more guns into more hands will yield safety.”

You could also say “it boggles the mind, how people can think that getting rid of a disease (smallpox) by putting another disease in you (cowpox) will yield better health” or “it boggles the mind, how firefighters can think that starting small fires ahead of a larger one will yield less acreage destroyed by fires in the long run”. Seriously! What a ridiculous argument! No way cowpox will lead to the eventual eradication of smallpox! No way that a few small fires could deplete the fuel of a larger one!

What I’m more worried about is the person going crazy who ISN’T going to drop a few hundred bucks on a good holster, instruction, and concealed handgun license, cause they can come to your campus (assuming you’re a student) say “no guns allowed?!? Not today!” and continue carrying illegally in order to kill, rape, and steal.

“So somebody who who has set his mind on killing people is going to rethink his plan of action because he’s afraid to get shot?”

I’ve studied the psychology of people. I’ve also studied real life. Remember the guy who got shot by a civilian in that Colorado church? Well instead of trying to continue his murderous rampage HE KILLED HIMSELF. Remember that guy at Virginia Tech who wanted to kill everyone? Well instead of risk being shot by the police HE KILLED HIMSELF. Remember that guy at NIU who wanted to kill lots of people? Well instead of being shot by the police HE KILLED HIMSELF. Could it act as a deterrent? At least marginally. If you were a rapist, you’d probably choose an unarmed victim as opposed to a possibly-armed victim, but that’s just my assumption.

Guns are welcome on 11 campuses across the country. Additionally, it’s LEGAL to CCW in more than a dozen states (including Indiana, Washington, California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Colorado, Virginia, and I believe Michigan) and have been for years.

The fact that I *MAY* carry a gun is troubling? Sorry for wanting to adequately defend myself. I guess you don’t wear a seatbelt or have a fire extinguisher, right?

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