Well, a few miles from me there was a shooting. At first they said it was a black man who shot two people and injured five. Well guess what? Now its a young white male of 19 years of age who shot 14 people, killed 9, and then shot himself. So a total of 10 dead. Strange how they seem to blame crimes on black males here first in initial news reports, and then later they say that it is a young white male - the most common spree killer and serial killer type. But hey - That's Omaha. Numbers and such are likely to change.
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/12163196.html "A witness tells us that the shooter pointed a gun over a third-floor railing in the mall and opened fire. That witness says one person was shot in the head." "Channel 6 News has confirmed that a 19-year-old Sarpy County man left a suicide note this afternoon stating, "I'm going out in style." I guess in style for him means killing a bunch of innocent Christmas shoppers. I wish he would have just killed himself first.
What a looser! I wonder what went wrong in his life to have him resort to this madness. I feel for the innocent. So sad right before the holiday season. Tragic!
If only the other people in the mall could have had personal firearms on hand - you'd think that if that was the case maybe he'd have been taken down sooner... In any case it is an unfortunate, sad event.
It's unfortunate that they didn't, but it's fortunate that they don't, if you know what I mean. I'm not against owning guns, but I am against carrying them. Just imagine how afraid people would be of one another if they knew everybody is carrying.
"I challenge you to a dual!" I think you mean. Actually it would be nothing like that at all, as dueling is something more so from movies when regarded to the old west, and pre-western expansion it was seen as a guarding one's honor and a civilized way of settling disputes of a great nature (accusations of adultery, defamation, etc) and both parties agreed to do it knowing full well the possible outcomes. I doubt people would be "afraid of everyone else". Instead everyone would know the MAD policy, mutually assured destruction. Anyways, if someone goes berzerk and is a mental case he'll get cut down rather than be able to slaughter humans like cattle going to the bolt gun.
Well...I'm not afraid to say that I would be scared to go in a mall, for example, and I would hold my hand on my gun all the time. I lived for 20 years in a country where people don't own guns. It's a pretty long way from thinking of killing somebody, like all of us sometimes do when mad, and actually doing it. By carrying a gun, a lot of people won't have time to make a decision and just act on impulse. But this has been discussed thousands of times on thousands of forums and I'm not on DP to change someone's mentality.
It's sad to hear. I use to live in Omaha about 3-4 years ago. But I was on the west edge of the city.
Unless you have lived in the United States and understand the culture, the politics, the governments intended functions, and the ability to have the freedom to defend thyself you cannot accurate gauge how we think and feel about the gun issue. It is a decisive issue that affects nearly everyone - half wanting full control and the other half wanting no control, and of course a middle ground of permits or other regulations (i.e. psychological evaluation and criminal record past evaluations before you hand out the guns). I believe that the guns issue is a country wide issue as it is addressed in the U.S. Constitution and should be as written and as I believe it to be intended - there shall be no restriction of a citizen who is obviously sane and not criminal to own a gun. Any kind of gun they so choose to pay for as well. Small handguns, shotguns, rifles, etc. Now this is not to say that being allowed to own ones means you can go off into a building with it, as a building is private property and their own regulations for that building should be paramount. If you say no guns in the mall - have a metal detector and a well trained security force to ensure it. The right to own a weapon and to bare it is a fundamental right of the American Citizen and was also intended to keep the United States safe, the citizen safe, and the overall government safe (i.e. intended to be used against a corrupt or otherwise un-American government such as if there were a coup and such). Regardless, the main thing to look at here is the killer - recently fired, a past history of police involvement, anti-depression drugs, its all a culmination into the perfect killing machine with no feeling. Anti-depressants suppress emotion, creating someone who doesn't have the feelings that you and I would have, furthermore the trigger event of being fired and also the past history with police... it was a very bad combination. Now, had there been a system that said "He's a gun owner! Flag! Flag! Revoke permission to carry firearm until further evaluation!" that just ran off a simple database and had a simple cheap pairing code that would just send a police unit to his house to talk to him and to take the gun away that would be nice. If he stole the gun, well, then it is just more reason that other legal gun owners with 'normal' personalities be allowed to carry concealed firearms whilst in possession of a permit. Disaffected psychotic youth goes mad? Grandpa Joe with his .44 fires back with his previous training from being the military, less people die - and the threat remains neutralized.
I live here. I have for the last 5 years. And I'm not the kind of immigrant that stays with his own people. You are somewhat right in what you say, in my opinion. I still have 2 issues: - why doesn't the US try to get rid of the problem by cutting its roots? No guns, only for law enforcement. But, as I said on this forum before, it's probably too late. That's why my family owns a gun, too. - "intended to be used against a corrupt or otherwise un-American government" - I've heard this before and i don't know if it's in the Constitution or a general belief, but I find it foolish. The people don't stand a chance against the government. Especially with half the country following the government blindly. I think we should stop talking about this until others join and this thread becomes just like any other thread on P&R
If they ever tried to get rid of all guns it would lead to just the government and criminals having them. Sitting ducks is not an option.