None of the mass shooters were black, and most (maybe all) had no real criminal histories. The worst ones were done with legally purchased guns. So I don't see what your point is.
And here we have a massive jump from requiring background checks, to taking everyone's guns. That's the end of any reasonable debate. Godwin's law has been proven, and there's no point in continuing. But I'll do it anyway....
I agree. So we're back to properly vetting people before we let them buy them. But you're against that too, so what is YOUR idea to reduce mass shootings?
We hear about them all the time. But that's a separate problem than mass shootings.
Look, I grew up with guns. I love them. I have a bunch of them that would be considered weapons of war by most reasonable people, and I don't care.
But there is a reality that is setting in on the country that we have a LOT of crazy people out there that shouldn't have these weapons. We also have a lot of people buying guns right now that never had any interest in them whatsoever just because they're afraid they're going to be banned. The problem is most of them have no real training or experience, and they're not being responsible with them.
And then there's also this "instant badass" syndrome that certain people get when they've got a gun in their pocket, and the hardcore "prepers" who are just dying for things to go to shit so their craziness is vindicated.
What other rights are you okay with having citizens to be "properly vetted" in order to "be permitted" to have?
Is it just me- that doesn't meet the definition of a "right", at all.
Rights are rights- watering them down into permissions is bullshit. And that won't change anything except hurt those who ALREADY FOLLOW THE LAWS.
Would you be okay with IQ tests and ID's/background checks in order to vote?
How about in order to be free of unlawful searches or seizures? Background check first, and if you don't pass- then screw it, no due process either?
How about voicing ones opinions? Background checks, showing ID?
How about any and all of the BOR? Are you okay with turning them into permissions granted or denied by the state?
I am NOT!
By the way, you won't stop mass killings with gun control. It's been tried in other countries (Say- FRANCE! Where they had one of the worst mass shootings on record this year!) and it doesn't keep guns out of the hands of loons who want to kill people.
Say you were able to keep guns out of the hands of evil people (Impossible by the way). How about gasoline and glass bottles- background checks for those too?
How about Acetone and Hydrogen peroxide- background checks for those too?
How about pressure cookers, and fertilizer, and, etc, etc, etc... background checks for those too?
How about anyone with a machine shop, or machining tools; easy to make guns with those tools. Do you ban those as well? Background checkss for anyone wanting machining tools?
The simple fact is there are evil people in this world and there are mentally unstable people in this world and we won't know about them until they "pop" off and do harm to others. There is no such thing as safety. It doesn't exist.
Freedom isn't safe, it is beautiful, but not safe.
As for your comment about background checkss and a huge leap to confiscation...
Requiring background checks create a form 4473. The BATFE is required BY LAW to get rid of them after a certain period of time, but oh boy guess what! THEY DON'T!!!!
That's defacto registration right there. Oh but guess what, it is illegal for the BATFE to keep them, and they have been found to be keeping them- but no repercussions- gee wally that's swell.
Historically- gun registration does lead to confiscation. And bad things always happen thereafter.
No need for Godwin, disarming the masses (Be it swords, long bows or guns) anytime throughout history has/is always followed by genocide; history just keeps circling and circling round.
I am not in favor of any gun control. It is people control plain and simple.
You wanna stop mass shootings, be there with a gun when they start and you have a CHANCE. That's about it.
I'd love to believe we could magically stop evil/bad people from doing bad things, but it isn't ever going to happen.
Like I said, take away the gun, they will go molotov on your ass or use another tool for destruction.
People who are going to kill are going to kill. That's why it is important to NOT put roadblocks on good people to get guns so they have the ability to defend themselves.
As far as requiring training or what not to exercise a right- heck no, that's a defacto poll tax. And it definitely limits the ability of lower income folks (Who usually live in the most violent neighborhoods in the first place!) from defending themselves.
We need to spend money and allocate assets to taking on the mental health issues we have in this country. That's where we need to start taking this issue on.
Not by pissing on everyone's rights because of a few evil folks who do evil things.
The ATF already fails to prosecute folks who try to buy guns when they are ineligible.
I forget the exact %, but it is something like 15% of people who try to buy guns who get denied are actually investigated and/or charged- after all it's a crime to try to buy a gun if you are ineligible.
They cannot/will not/aren't even enforcing the laws WE ALREADY HAVE, yet we need more of them and magic will happen, poof: evil people will stop being evil...right!
The world is a crazy place, it is not safe, nor has it ever been nor will it ever be.
