[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by Clydefrog

You know what really sucks?

Jack Thompson jumping on the issue and immediately blaming violent video games for this, because the perpetrator MAY have played Counter-Strike at some point in his life.

I mean, the fact that he wasn't taking his medication at the time of the incident had NOTHING to do with it, right Jack?

Hey, at least they're not blaming the shit on DOOM anymore. I hate that shit. How many people who play these games do this kind of shit? Whats the percentage? It has to be less than a thousandth of a percent. People are just looking for something to blame it on aside from the obvious.

[JBroll]

Originally Posted by GH0STrider

Jeff,
NIU obviously does not allow any firearms on the campus. I can't speak for other schools, I am not framiliar with their polices. However, I would imagine they would be the same.

Hmm, if only they had implemented stronger gun control polic- oh, whoops... that's not really possible, now, is it? No biscuit for emotional arguments.

Jeff

[God Hand Apostle]

JB, you seriously represented Texas hardcore in this thread!

[JBroll]

American culture doesn't exist in the same way European cultures do. It's like a pissed-off bunch of high school cliques on a good day.

I don't do drugs either - I don't even think a lot of them should be used - but I'm pro-legalization on all counts, for what that's worth.

Jeff

[TheMissing]

Originally Posted by Clydefrog

You know what really sucks?

Jack Thompson jumping on the issue and immediately blaming violent video games for this, because the perpetrator MAY have played Counter-Strike at some point in his life.

I mean, the fact that he wasn't taking his medication at the time of the incident had NOTHING to do with it, right Jack?

Reminds me of this kid, who in a cocain and weed fueled drug induced psycosis, killed his mother. But they also found Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in his room. Which do you think the media blamed?

Originally Posted by God Hand Apostle

My deal with stricter gun control legislature is this; Law abiding citizens follow the law, not criminals. Control what? Control whom?

Making guns harder to get legally doesn't make it any harder to get them illigally.

[Hawksmoor]

Originally Posted by JBroll

American culture doesn't exist in the same way European cultures do. It's like a pissed-off bunch of high school cliques on a good day.

I don't do drugs either - I don't even think a lot of them should be used - but I'm pro-legalization on all counts, for what that's worth.

Jeff

Something we agree on

[7 Dying Trees]

jeez... anyway, i can't see the point of firearms, can't see the point of owning large weapons either...

I'll state my peace which is that, yes, I am from the UK, and yes, I really do believe that gun control works. You can have firearms over here at gun shooting clubs, however, you need to prove mental well being to be allowed to shoot.

I think the problem of guns in the US is that, well, it'd take generations for a change in attitude, and at the same time the massive availability means there's a larger black market.

However, in the case of any abiding citizen, why not have compulsory psychological testing? If you are a nut job you really shouldn't be allowed to have one. Kind of like when your driving licence gets revoked. People will still drive without a licence.

I'd think you'd want psychological profiling and licencing on a regular basis, I mean, everyone is still going to want their guns, just keep them out of the hands of people who have issues and aren't stable.

And if they buy on the black market, well, as said before, that takes way more premeditation. You can, if you want, get a gun in the UK (silly as it sounds) and they generally aren't expensive. However, they are harder to find and get and you have to know people, hence, it stops people getting one on a whim, i mjean, you really have to try hard.

Also, I see no point in even selling large automatic weapons that are useless for self defense or hunting, i mean, at least be sensible and realise some weapons should really just not be sold. You'd not sell people grenades now would you? I mean, noone can claim a mortar, RPG and a set of greneades is used for hunting.

So I see it more as make a few changes at a time, and see what happens. Make it harder for fruitcakes to get a weapon that takes little skill to kill with, get rid of the ludicrous notion that a sub machine gun should be used by a civilian for self defense. Sure, there'll be some around, but this is a long term thing, not overnight.

I mean, it seems to me like gun control is a dirty word, whereas, to be honest, if you are responsible and not mentally on a different planet, then you really should have little to fear.

Also, don't forget, you are more likely by a significant factor to get shot if you are actually brandishing a gun in the first place.

And gangs, yes, they'll still have their black market firearms, and they'll go on killing each o0ther with them. Gang violence is mostly inter gang and very very rarely targets outsiders. Mostly turf war related or whatever. And as far as I am concerned they can quite happily try to keep wiping each other out.

[JBroll]

Your assumption on 'impulse-buying' on the gun market doesn't hold in the States, sadly.

As for mental stability tests... a good idea in principle, but implementation over here would be a problem. Just look at how many people buy bullshit like creationism, homeopathy, Kevin Trudeau's 'natural cures for everything' and other such frauds... the people who can be trusted with guns, the people who aren't 'average Americans', are going to be labeled the crazy ones. Don't ever - EVER - expect an American to give a good definition of sanity.

Jeff

[MorbidTravis]

hopefully there isnt a band thats pointed out that he listened to alot, "[insert band nam ehere] influenced him to kill"

[GH0STrider]

Originally Posted by JBroll

Hmm, if only they had implemented stronger gun control polic- oh, whoops... that's not really possible, now, is it? No biscuit for emotional arguments.

Jeff

NO it's not possible to implement stronger control over guns on campus, I agree. It's something that really can't be planned to prevent. Better gun control is the best bet. Not looking for emotion or sympathy either, thanks. I just think it is easier to say what some of you are saying here when it is far away. All you have to do is change the channel. People here have to deal with what has happened and however you look at it- its very dificult. I think a world with limited access to guns would be a better and safer place. that is all I am saying. At the very minimum background checks need to be much much better. Handing firearms over to someone who was on 3 seperate medications and had spent time in a mental institution doesn't show me that background checks are being taken very seriously.