Guns don't kill, sick people do

Obviously this "report" is a satire.

EVERYone knows it is impossible for a gun crime to happen in Chicago - there are NO GUNS there! They banned them except for a very few deserving, repsonsible people, and law enforcement.

ERGO: there is NO gun crime in Chicago - physically impossible, since there are no guns.

ANYone saying there IS gun crime there is a lair, and a conspiracy nut and probly some bible thumper.

or .................................................................................................

Right. Guns were banned so, of course the criminals immediately stopped using them. I forgot that's how it works, Mick.

Marilyn!

I'm leaving for New York next Monday (11th). The events of the last few months have me wondering if I ought to take Hubby's kevlar vest with me.

Someone made a really interesting point on TV the other night that made this Canadian perk up and listen.

OK, I would be lying if I said Canada is totally innocent in the shooting department. You all heard about the shootings in the Toronto Eaton Centre, a place I know like the back of my hand, not long before a major massacre in the USA...was it the movie premiere in Colorado? Anyway, a woman who escaped the Canadian one was gunned down in the American one. Then there was some kind of gang related thing that happened at a BBQ event up here.

However, I will point out one difference between Canadians and Americans, and a BIG reason why I'm glad I live up here.

I feel that because of the 2nd Ammendment SOME Americans feel overly entitled to own weapons. I am NOT talking about reasonable people like you and your husband, or my own husband for that matter. I am talking about some of the EXTREME RIGHT I've heard on TV who don't seem to care whether a person's insane or not. If it's in the constitution, they ought to own a gun. Hey, I'm a woman! I have a uterus, and regular cycles. I also have reproductive rights, but that doesn't mean I should run out and get pregnant, just because I CAN! There are a lot of irresponsible folks who create children either by accident, or deliberately in unstable relationships. some who really don't know better. Just because a person is capable of doing something in the physical or legal sense, does not mean they are mentally equipped to handle the responsbility. That's how I feel about guns, child-rearing, marriage, employment, driving, and a lot of other things.

I don't have a problem with the 2nd ammendment itself. My problem lies with the sickos who feel it is their right to own a weapon, regardless of their mental state. Through the eyes of a Canadian, America has a gun culture that we find quite baffling. We have our unfair share of gun-related violence up here, and violence due to knoves, hammers, etc, however it pails in comparrison to what goes on in the USA.

I say, keep the 2nd ammendment, and INCREASE EDUCATION!!!!!!!! Is being an AMERICAN an entitlement? Is the freedom hard won by America's fine Military an ENTITLEMENT? No! Even though millions of people posess the right to be Americans, by birth, marriage, or other LEGAL means, the patriotic ones still believe it's a PRIVILEGE, and a RESPONSIBILITY!!! Not just anyone can sign up and become an American. I speak English fluently, an married to an American citizen, and, while I still have a loooooong way to go, I have a better grasp of your politics than a number of Canadians I know, not frequently in the company of other Americans. However, if I wanted to become an American, it wouldn't happen instantly. I'd have to wait my turn, and go through the red tape and other legalities, just like every other person from Mexico to Morocco, who want the right to live in the States legally.

The 2nd Ammendment, and all the RIGHTS that come with it, need to be treated with a greater amount of responsibility. I'm not 100% sure how to go about this, but as it stands now, too many sick people are able to get their hands on guns. Could it be that the general public needs to learn more RESPECT for the various ammendments?

Sometimes I hate Gather. Just when I forget to create a long comment in notepad and instead go ahead and type it in the comment box, when I hit sent, it disappears. Grrr.

Anyway....

I suppose if you've never been as free as in the US you cannot understand having rights that are mostly given by God and not man....and therefore cannot be taken away by man either.

We have to learn from history, Leah. Today we have a tyrant in the White House, someone who has no desire to uphold our laws. Every time a tyrant has taken away guns from people it has resulted in massive deaths.

It's rather ironic that this government suddenly admits that there are people coming back from war with PTSD. (And now that women will be allowed to be on the front lines, there will be more women with it as well, I'm sure.) It used to be that the government tried to pretend there was no PTSD, probably so they wouldn't have to pay for disability. Now they not only admit it exists, but they want to take away guns from those who have it.

Interesting...since the ones who would fight against this government when (not if, IMHO) it starts taking away more and more rights.....are those who boldly proclaimed that they would uphold the Constitution when they went off to serve. How convenient it is that this corrupt government now decides to admit that some vets come back a bit mentally flawed because of what they've been put through...

And then, lo and behold, while this very discussion is starting to take place about taking away guns from such veterans, doesn't one show up at a shooting range last night and kill people.

There are no coincidences.

That's why our 2nd amendment rights must not be taken from us.

There are many from countries whose rights have been reduced and reduced that look at the US as the last bastion of freedom, Leah. When our freedoms are eliminated, it won't be good for anyone throughout the globe.

Oh, and who got killed? The absolute best marksman we had in the US. Wow. Again, I don't believe in coincidences.

Are you saying that as a CANADIAN I know less about freedom, or have less freedom than an AMERICAN?

As for God's laws, an entire branch of my family is Old Order Mennonite. Horse-and-buddy-driving, war-resisting, and while I don't agree with this last statment non-voting Mennonites! This is my step-family. My mother married one of their sons, and he joined the Presbyterians. My point is that every religious group puts a different spin on what's God's law, and what's a man-made one. Mennonites would argue that humans create guns, so to take away one's right to posess one is not tampering with God's law. Remember, they don't drive cars, or own TV's/radios either. We're talking about the strict old-order, here.

I think that taking guns away from VETERANS is crazy!!! As my former Navy SEAL husband says "they just want to do that because they worry that a bunch of folks trained to use them correctly are liable to defend themselves when all Hell breaks loose!" He's got a point, and a damn good one! HOWEVER, there are a small handful of veterans who have been psychologically broken beyond belief, possibly be PTSD. Look at that dude in Alabama who is holding that poor little boy with Aspergers hostage? Would I trust that tiny group with guns? HELL NO!!! Of course PTSD isn't just limited to veterans, and not everyone with PTSD is going to do something stupid. Walker has PTSD, and has it under control. Another dear friend of ours in FL, has PTSD, is a certified councillor (you may know to whom I refer, but prefering not to gossip I'm not dropping any names), and it'll be a cold day in Hell when the government will be allowed to pry his weapons from his posession. Now, this particular man has his baggage "neatly packed away" to use his own words, and has his situation so well under control that I'd hire him as my personal bodyguard, if the situation ever arose. I've asked him many times what the best way is to ensure that tragedies stop happening, or atleast happen less, since the world is not a perfect one. His response? TRAINING, TRAINING, TRAINING!!!!!!!! If guns are a part of adult life, and a right guaranteed in the constitution, why isn't proper gun ownership taught in schools? I just mentioned this idea to Walker, and asked his opinion. He said "5th grade for teaching, 7th grade for using." In 7th grade, get a license to take the kids to a shooting range, permission from the parents, and under proper supervision, with rented weapons, teach them target practice, or something!! OK, the Canadian in me would have never said that 10 years ago, but now it makes sense.

As for the tragedies happening while "this very discussions takes place" if not this one, it would have been another discussion, because I'm sure not a minute goes by where an American isn't talking to SOMEONE about their opinions on guns. Discussions about gun responsibility are not rare in a country that has the right to own them, right in the constitituion.

The US was designed to be the most free nation in the world. That's slipping away and has been for decades.

But what about my original question? America may have been designed that way, but is that saying that a Canadian knows less about freedom?

Walker and i were just saying that there'd be nothing controvercial about the second ammendment if there weren't so many nutcases out there with weapons. How do we cut the nuts off before they impliment their plans? Again, I'm not saying down with the second ammendment. Sadly these nuts feel just as covered by this part of the constitution as everyone else. By "nuts" I'm referring to the Sandy Hook shooter, the guy who shot the SEAL at the shooting range... those people. Not those who's politics differ from mine, but who would not use a gun irresponsibly.

Leah, this has been a "worry" since the beginning of our country. As long as everyone is armed, no one has to worry. It's when only the government, criminals and crazies have guns that we're in trouble. Just look at NYC and Chicago.

Maybe it's time to figure out why there are so many crazies. One recent study showed that kids who get exercise in the morning don't have as many problems with ADHD. Well, duh. That's why we had so much time on the playground when I was a kid.

We know that fluoride lowers IQ, yet the US insists on keeping it in our water. We're learning all the time how additives and preservatives have ruined our health.

People laughed at folks who said their kids got autism from vaccines....but the drug makers are paying out millions to parents whose kids ended up with autism.

A recent study also showed that we have more Alzheimer's patients since senior citizens have been encouraged (and in nursing homes forced) to take vaccines.

So how difficult is it to imagine that much of the mental illness in the US is manmade because of drugs and because of the way public indoctrination stations have taken control of our kids?

Meanwhile, I'd feel much safer if everyone was allowed to carry guns everywhere, if there were NO gun free zones, than having the corrupt government take guns away from people who are law-abiding citizens.

Our founders told us in their own arguments about guns way back when this amendment was being argued, that it wasn't all about hunting, but about keeping tyranny at bay.

I am much less afraid of crazies out in the real world than I am of the crazies in government.

And, yes, Canadians have had less freedoms than Americans. The countries were designed differently. Most Americans have never researched Canadian history. I have.

Today, not many countries have freedom any more. It's all a charade.

OK. What do you think of background checks, assuming it would be legal that every responsible person, owned a gun? What if Adam Lanza, or what's-his-name at the movie theater in CO walked into a police station for a background check, and some pretty big red flags were discovered? Would those two still be entitled to own a gun?

Mind you, if there are going to be background checks, there should be a standard in conducting them. Suspicions of power hungry people taking advantage of them could be challenged. God knows, even murders on death row who are proven guilty, get appeals!!

As for challenges (I'm legally blind for example) maybe there should be ways that folks like me can be taught to fire a gun using our ears to detect a target, instead of our eyes. Walker has told me several times that I'd probably make a pretty good shot, because if someone's tying to get me to do something, you bet he's going to be talking. Based on where that voice is coming from, I can not only tel how tall the person is, but how far away they are. So there. Special training!

Do a backgorund check on me, and I'm cleaner than the Pope!

And if everybody has a gun (and what you say does make sense) what happens if a "war" breaks out? This could be anything from a duel in the street, to a gang war, to Viet Nam, where everyone in the trenches was armed, and sadly, that's what they were there for!!! Some woman shoots some guy in the street because of self defense, either proven, or otherwise. The family of the guy decides to go after the family of the woman who shot their son/brother/father Then a shot from the other family... and so it goes back and forth for hundreds of years. I know this sounds exagerated, but wars have been started over such things, be they between countries, or just warring tribes.

As for what I said earlier about guns as a part of the culture, Canada would argue otherwise about freedom. Guns are not an important part of our culture, so we don't miss the inability to carry them, if that's what one wants to call it. Besides that one thing, where does doesn't Canada have freedom that America does? Personally after spending some time in the States, during an election campaign (07-08) when I got back to Canada, I found the religious climate a lot better for me. For one thing, the religion of our politicians does not matter, because the country is not governed based on religion, and no one is fighting for that. If a Muslim got in, she'd have to govern by the same saws as a Presbyterian, Jew, Hindu, Baptist, whatever. I imagine the American constitution guarantees the same thing, but it scared the crap out of me, the way Huckabee and Romney went on about religion, and the way people judged both of them based on their religions. Up here it woudln't matter if a Mormon was Prime Minister. The church has NO SAY in our government, and it never will!!!

On one of my posts recently, I included a link to something from the Glenn Beck show where they were arguing whether or not Stevie Wonder should be legally allowed to buy a gun. Of course he should be. And he should be legally allowed to learn how to shoot it too. And if someone comes into his house uninvited at 3 am, he should be able to yell out, "I'm armed and I'm going to shoot" and if it happens to be someone he knows, they had better announce themselves and duck.

I could not live in a country where faith in God is not a number one priority, or where the government was not designed around God's rules and rights given to us by God, not man. It's getting here where people are forgetting the country and the government our forefathers bequeated to us. I hope that we can stop the erosion soon, otherwise we'll be just like every other heathen country in the world. No thanks.

I completely agree with that!!!!! Blind, deaf, paralyzed, whatever. As long as someone is in their right MIND, I see no problem with them owning a gun.

Everyone up hee has the FREEDOM TO practice their own religion, and have God in or out of their lives. This is why the religion of the government does not matter. Didn't God state that it is up to the individual, whether or not to accept Him, as opposed to a greater human authority? Maybe they don't pray aloud in public schools here, but not a morning went by, when I didn't say a prayer after O Canada. When The Star Spangled Banner played at the superbowl tonight, Walker and I both stood up! As long as I've got God and Jesus INSIDE ME, government religion doesn't matter one iota.

And if you have God inside you, then you should be able to act like it, should be able to quote Scripture if you so choose, have a Bible in your government office on the shelf, even talk about God if you so desire, at least here in the land of opportunity and freedom of religion. Sadly, people with no faith now think they make all the rules here.

My faith is like my blood. I don't need to bleed all over the place, for the world to know I have it inside me. It's what keeps me going, and what keeps me alive. If you quoted scripture to me, that's one thing. You're a friend, and we are always discussing something, with religion and politics playing into it. If someone had a Bible on the shelf in their office, I would not object to that either. My optometrist has mini New Testiments sitting on the reception desk. Take them, or leave them...literally!

Not everybody is comfortable talking about religion. I would understand someone getting uncomfortable if someone else started talking to them about religion, and they were not interested. However, put a Bible on your shelf, and it's not interfering with anyone.

But why is one person's discomfort more important than who I am? In the US we're supposed to have freedom OF religion. We're supposed to be able to be Christians whether we're at work or at school or at play without having the government decide we can't say the name of Jesus because it might offend someone.

Every single person's faith or lack of faith goes with them every single minute of every single day, whether they admit to that or not. If they're atheists, it affects every decision they make in business, in government, just like being a Christian affects every decision as well. It's time that people understand that. And it's time in the US that they stop trying to make having no faith the official faith of the government. That's exactly opposite what our founders intended.

I think that not being able to have a Bible in YOUR OWN OFFICE is a problem indeed. That's your office! It's not like you'll be taking it off the shelf, and reading it to every person who comes in....right?

I am a Christian, but I don't feel like inflicting my religion on those who did not ask me to do so. YES I deliberately used the word "inflict" for a reason. I don't agree with prayers in which everyone must participate. That is to say, if there is a moment of silent medication after the national anthem, or the Pledge, that's great. You say your prayer, and I'll say mine. The problem I have with religion is when members of one faith (I am not trying to single anyone out here!) want to cover others with the "blanket" that is their own religion. I am a very PRIVATE Christian, I am not this way becuse I'm afraid to be open about it. When was the last time you've known me to be afraid to say something? I am private because I don't feel it's up to me to guide someone else's spiritual path. I did not choose to become a preacher. I am going to live, and let live. In this discussion we are voicing opinions, but when all is said and done, I am going to continue living my life the way I want, and hopefully others will do the same.

By "freedom FROM religion" I don't mean you not being able to have a bible in your office. Freedom FROM religion means that a person doesn't get bombarded by a religion that might not be of their choosing, at every corner.

The idea of an "official faith of the government" scares the crap out of me! Theocracies have governments with official faiths.

Right, Leah. And I don't want to be bombarded by the religion of having no religion, of the religion of atheists and "secular humanists" which is what happens in the US to everyone now.

Are we going to win one extreme attitude (no religion at all) wih another (religion everywhere?) Where is the balance? Everytime I stay in a hotel, the first thing I look for is the BIBLE in the drawer. I don't do this because I'm particular religious, and if there was no Bible, I could look up any Biblcal reference I want on my iPhone, and even download a Bible App!!! No Bible in a room, would not mean no religion for me. HOWEVER, I've not yet been in a hotel room where I didn't find a BIBLE, and that makes me very happy. It's no so prominant as to make people think it's being pushed on them, but it's not so out of the way that people don' know it's there. Open the drawer of the nightstand, and it's there. For me the drawer represents choice. We know where to find it, and many people open that Bible Drawer for many different reasons. If I found a Koran, a Book of Mormon, and any other number of religious books in there INCLUDING the Bible, that would also make me happy, becauseof the level of consideration it would take to think of all that. I don't see the drawer as tucking it away, keepint it out of site. I see the drawer as an invitation. Freedom Of Religion. Your freedom to, his/her freedom from, but the Bible's still there. I'm going to NYC next eek, and the first thing I'm going to do is look for the Bible in the drawer. I will let you know if Ifind it, and what version I find.

This particular comment has inspired me to post an article about the Bible in the hotel room. Please stay tuned.

And here there are plenty of hotel rooms you can go into now that won't have a Bible in the drawer....because atheists don't like having a Bible in the drawer of a hotel room where they MIGHT stay.

"Every single person's faith or lack of faith goes with them every single minute of every single day, whether they admit to that or not. If they're atheists, it affects every decision they make in business, in government, just like being a Christian affects every decision as well. It's time that people understand that. And it's time in the US that they stop trying to make having no faith the official faith of the government. That's exactly opposite what our founders intended."

That was worth posting at least one more time, if not several more times. And this part needs repeating in the same comment in bold.

"And it's time in the US that they stop trying to make having no faith the official faith of the government. That's exactly opposite what our founders intended."


The only thing I could possibly think of changing is that it's beyond past time.

Thanks, Sue. You're right. It is beyond past time.

You are right.

Thanks, William.