Tragedy in Aurora Again Raises Questions of Gun Control
Do you believe stricter gun control regulations could have prevented the tragic shooting at the screening of 'The Dark Knight Rises' in Aurora, Colo. on Thursday.
With the nation still stunned over the tragic shooting of a reported 71 people, resulting in 12 deaths, at a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises," gun control again features prominently in the debate.
According to a story in The New York Times, the alleged shooter, James Holmes, 24, was able to order almost 6,000 rounds of ammunition over the Internet, which it claims has a virtual gap in oversight. He also reportedly had amassed an arsenal of weapons. There are those who believe stronger gun control regulations could have prevented him getting his hands on these weapons. The Wall Street Journal reported that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg immediately called for tighter gun control regulations.
Conversely, there is the argument from supporters of the 2nd Amendment that it was laws against guns in the theater that gave him free reign to shoot without fear of counter attack. This was featured on the Sunday talk shows on FoxNews as many struggled to deal with the tragedy.
But is the bigger debate what needs to be done about mental health issues and what can be done about identifying mental health problems before it's too late?
What do you believe is the primary debate that should be prompted by the Aurora shooting - gun control and the 2nd Amendment or mental health issues facing many in the country?
Ron
3:20 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I am a law enforcement professional over 38 years in south Florida. If you take away an honest citizens rights to own firearms then only the criminals would have guns. This debate has gone on for all my years in law enforcement. Mental health issues are not addressed, gang violence is an epidemic and the courts have failed the citizens. We have way too many non enforceable laws on the books now. Deal with the issue and not the honest hard working citizen who has the right and should bear arms. The police cannot protect everyone 24/7 and in most cases come after the fact
Papabear
8:28 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Unfortunately, ALL the victems in Col. were law abiding, God, Allah, Krishna, Budda, etal believers. They didn't bring arms into the theater. Only ONE, person broke the law and started killing innocence. IF some of the people had been perhaps the death toll would have been worse, BUT, just MAYBE, therre would have only two killed. The first victem then the shooter. Now we have to watch as the ambulance chasers protect his rights, WE have to provide security, shelter, medical attentioin, three squares/day until this annomaly dies, either in a nice hospital or a prison. I believe in background checks, but I don't want our gov't intruding into our lives any more than they already are. BTW, a background check wouldn't have alerted anyone to this guy. Fortunately, we live in a country that cannot arrest or detain you on what you might do, at least not yet.
Ralph Stepp
11:54 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
In all of the history of the world there has never been a gun that killed anyone or ammo acquired that killed someone without a person acting with it. You have had laws since the beginning of time and of course Moses brought down the tablets containing the 10 Commandments with God's laws, transverse through time with the governments enacting laws against taking lives being illegal and immoral. We have written controls on guns and there is no evidence that it prevents man from killing man with or without guns. We wring our hands and offer condolences to the families and loved ones as we should support them. There were less than 100 victims and something around a 1000 people directly affected with this monster and his actions.
Ralph Stepp
11:56 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Today and every day in the United States there are some 3,700 unborn human lives and souls taken by choice. This fact and the resulting impact on American Culture as measured by Morality Degradation reported in Statistical Abstract of he US since 1962 Birth Rates for Unwed Girls 15-18 has increased by 300%, Violent Behavior as measure of violent crime offenses has increased from 200 thousand to 2 million per year, STD occurrence rate per 100 thousand pop 14 in 1962 to numbers around 100 in the latest measured time-frame, SAT scored decreased from 970 in 1962 to 900 in the most recent time-frame, and let's not forget the loss of Family Stability by measuring the number of households with a single female parent and no spouse present 4 million in 1962 and 15 million from the latest time-frame. Take God and Religion out of the schools and Government and we change the direction of morality of the US. Think about it. We have allowed life to be degraded and now some want to blame Guns.
Ralph Stepp
11:56 am on Thursday, July 26, 2012
Anyone who would shift the blame to the inanimate makes the mistake warned by "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity.”
~Sigmund Freud and "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
~Benjamin Franklin and ”A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.”
~George Washington