Are you watching the NRA press conference?

if there is no point to restricting guns because bad guys will get them anyways then there is no point in making drugs like crack or heroin illegal because people will get them anyways as well. thats the logic that baddog was using.

The premise that the time to stop a bad guy is when he's got a gun is the problem.

Don't fall for that premise and you're on the right road.

Fall for that premise and you're on the road they've set you on.

You mean that people break laws?

That must be metric system logic.

its all about attitude, Switzerland, 1 gun per citizen. Killed by guns per year around 5

This is true, but think what would happen if we focused our attentions on gun/violent crimes over drugs. Instead of handing out 5 and 10 year sentences to people caught with drugs, how about handing those same sentences out to people whom are found with a unlicensed/unregistered gun, or in the hands of someone with a past criminal record.

(assuming the US govt made all guns owners be licence & all guns be registered)

Eventually the amount of guns in the wrong hands would start to then out..

I disagree.

In this case, we should have a law about having firearms in a house with people who have a mental illness. Common sense, right? This woman had her son who has a long history of mental illness and no one ever ever said "Gee, maybe he shouldn't have access to firearms".

Maybe we should have a law that says "If your firearm is used to commit murder, you will be sentenced along with the person who pulled the trigger". Maybe that would make people think twice (or three times) about failing to secure their firearms.

Maybe we should have a law about people with anger management issues and firearms. My old neighbor was arrested twice for spousal abuse, yet there is no law preventing him from owning a firearm. It wasn't much of a problem - right up until the point he chased his wife out of the house firing shots at her.

This is just common sense here. If you get a DUI they take away your driver's license. Right? (They should take away your car too if you ask me.)

How about this for a law... In order to own a firearm, you must have a gun permit. If you convicted of assault or abuse or robbery or rape in any form, your gun permit is revoked and you must IMMEDIATELY turn in any firearms to local law enforcement. Same thing if there are any mental illness issues - No gun permit for you, and anyone you live with. Period.

I'm sorry, the NRA just told us we need to arm our teachers. Great. What about shopping malls, plazas, restaurant, government offices, businesses, colleges, churches and temples, hotels, resorts, and any tourist location.... Then keep in mind that's not going to stop a gunman from killing people, but only gives us a chance to take out the shooter after he's killed.

i get what you mean but your logic is faulty. you think restrictions on guns won't stop people from obtaining them illegally. laws on drugs don't stop people from using them. by that logic if laws against guns are useless so are laws against drugs.

Total prevention is a false goal anyway. Locks make it hard, but not impossible, to open a door.

since George Takei just posted this...

What makes a bad guy? In this case, someone with access to firearms the desire to kill dozens of people for no reason.

We can't stop him from being a bad guy or having mental health issues, but at the very least we could have prevented him from having direct access to fire arms. Maybe if we had a law about people having firearms in a house with mental health issues, the mother wouldn't have had firearms?

Maybe we don't always need to stop the bad guys from getting the guns, but instead stop the good guys from handing him the guns. If this kid did not have direct access to firearms that morning, he might not have killed anyone.

You keep saying the same thing. I will keep saying the say thing.

What about the 100's of millions of guns already out there?

I'm not sure if it is fair to compare Switzerland to the United States. That's sort of comparing New Jersey to Russia.

Then again, maybe we should be more like Switzerland - don't they have compulsory military service? We should do that here in the US - everyone who turns nineteen has six months of military training.... Just like they do in Switzerland!

Yeah, since there's already 100 million guns in circulation, it's too late to do a damn thing. Just like when we banned ozone depleting propellents from spray cans. It never happened because what about the 100's of millions of cans already in peoples homes and on store shelves? Like when there's poison found in food. There's just NOTHING that can be done about it. Nothing. So stop trying.

Very valid point.

Anyone who currently owns a firearm would have to get a gun permit. They would have to go through the standard police checks as they do now, as well as be cross referenced with local hospital / doctor records for mental illness issues.

I am disappointed this isn't in place already.

We should also be having a huge discussion about mental health issues and why they aren't being addressed also.

Ok, Mr Smart Guy..I've already said my position on guns. What's going to be your position when the next mass murder happens because the victims had no way to protect themselves?