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Post by JohnP on Dec 18, 2012 8:40:31 GMT 1
After another terrible mass shooting, America's gun law is once again under scrutiny. I cannot see any reason why the average citizen should be allowed to be in possession of an assault rifle or automatic weapon or indeed more than one firearm. That said I have to ask whether enough is being done to monitor people with serious mental issues.
Over the last 40 years throughout the western world there has been a drive to treat mental illness in the community and this is due to advances in medicines which control many symptoms. It would seem to me that cuts in social budgets everywhere are resulting in a lack of monitoring of these people to ensure they are taking their medicines and perhaps there is a trend to allow some serious cases their freedom or indeed a reluctance to hospitalise seriously disturbed individuals.
These terrible mass murders are not committed by normal sane people and while the availability of firearms is clearly an issue, what is to stop an insane person driving a vehicle into a school playground or using petrol bombs or explosives.
I think there are lessons for all countries here to scrutinise the way they deal with and monitor those people who are a real threat to society, Gun law is only one of the issues that needs addressing.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 10:03:59 GMT 1
I think you are right about the treatment of people with mental health issues,however if there hadn't been 3 guns to hand, would the young man have made a petrol bomb or attacked the children with a knife? Somehow I doubt it.The availability of guns makes these attacks too easy .
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Post by Elkay on Dec 18, 2012 10:48:16 GMT 1
I was working at the Forensic Science Laboratory at Aldermaston at the time of the Hungerford shootings. I do agree that the gun laws in the United\States need to be looked into, but if someone is mad enough and determined enough they will be able to get hold of a weapon or weapons. Let us not forget it has also happened in the United Kingdom. Lets sincerely hope that it never happens again anywhere.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 11:55:12 GMT 1
The gunman at this school shooting did try and buy a gun and was refused, which was why he used his mother's. If you can believe the papers!!
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Post by Cobra on Dec 18, 2012 12:08:51 GMT 1
I just can't believe the attitude of the americans.
I heard one report say that the pro gun lobby wanted to arm the teachers!! incredible
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Post by Cobra on Dec 18, 2012 13:58:25 GMT 1
OMG just heard that theres a serious suggestion that the 6-7 year old should have been armed!!!
"they cannot be serious" to quote another american
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Post by Cheeky Chops on Dec 18, 2012 18:14:27 GMT 1
Ban all weapons I say.
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Post by <-Rinky-Dink-> on Dec 18, 2012 19:07:35 GMT 1
I totally agree with JP, Troll and LK. Guns and indeed weapons of all descriptions should be banned from use by the public.
Having said that, more care and monitoring of the mentally ill must also be reviewed.
The problem in the United States is that there are huge numbers of people who able to fight, and win, for the right to carry arms. It is this mentality which needs to be addressed and altered.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 20:25:28 GMT 1
However much we may wish it for them, I don't think any attempt to control guns will work, it'll just push the price up, like drugs, or alcohol in the past...
The far bigger issue, for me, raised by the op, and of which gun massacres are only a symptom, is the value base which leads people to become 'unhinged'. I'm referring to the aggressive, success-centred social norm which leaves half the population in relative poverty, and social failures, under-achieving and under-valued by the other half, and not just those with diagnosed mental health issues...
For me, the American Dream has gone too far, so much so that other cultures despise it and resist its encroaching on theirs. Only Armageddon will put things right now....
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Post by <-Rinky-Dink-> on Dec 18, 2012 22:30:40 GMT 1
You're absolutely right, Annon .....bad of me not have included that in my post considering how much I bang on about it at home!
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