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Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 | 2 a.m.
Another view?
View more of the Las Vegas Sun's opinion section:
• Editorials - the Sun's viewpoint.
• Columnists - local and syndicated writers.
• Letters to the editor - readers' views.
Have your own opinion? Write a letter to the editor.
In response to James Witherspoon’s letter, “Go ahead, compare guns with vehicles”:
Let’s have a realistic comparison between the two. If I purchase a vehicle but never drive it on a public roadway, I am not required to register or even keep insurance on it. I must pay taxes and sign a declaration. If I use it only on private property, such as a ranch, it’s registered differently and doesn’t need insurance. Only vehicles operated on a public roadway require registration, insurance and a licensed operator.
If guns were treated the same, as long as I never carry my weapons off my property, I would be able to possess the largest guns I could legally purchase, including military weapons.
Witherspoon’s letter proved one argument of the National Rifle Association: It’s illegal to drive a vehicle on a public roadway without a license, registration or insurance, yet many do this daily. If laws won’t stop some people from breaking them regarding cars, what makes anyone think it will work for guns?
To have safer streets, we must increase punishment for criminals and take them off the street.
After the Virginia Tech shooting, we should have kept guns away from the mentally disturbed, except many blamed the tool for the crime. When a drunk driver kills four or six, will you blame Ford?
Change the laws so mental health professionals can add people to the FBI database, along with a penalty if they misuse it. Make it law that every gun be locked when not in use to help prevent theft of guns by criminals.
We shouldn’t unduly restrict constitutional rights for law-abiding citizens. I’m positive more gun laws won’t cure mental illness.
Brian says "I'm positive more gun laws won't cure mental illness."
The new Senator Diane Feinstein's bill bans the sale or transfer of over 150 hand guns, rifles, shotguns, and assault weapons. A background check will be required every time you buy a single bullet.
Feinstein FAILS TO ADDRESS MENTAL ILLNESS
We need healthcare intervention laws to force the mentally ill to receive help.
HIPAA-1996, Privacy Rules, passed under Clinton, must be modified to allow sharing appropriate information with immediate family and law enforcement.
The ACLU needs to stop fight the intervention help need for mental healthcare. Democrats and ACLU want an open national gun ownership database yet will not support sharing medical info with immediate family and law enforcement.
Wrong. A deranged killer will first stop and read the guns laws on the books before deciding to carry out his act. Deranged killers stop their emotions and review consequences before they act. They think logically like this and it's really that simple.
These gun rights "LTTE" threads are getting dumber by the day. Further, the stupidity of some of the authors is only matched by their self righteousness.
The one change the imbicilic gun owners (the idiotic ones, not the sensible gun owners) need to accept is that alongside the changes in mental heath care, violence in entertainment, and other modifications, we as a society need to walk into the next Adam Lanza's home and disarm him or her. Before, rather than after they take the cowards way out.
And you've got to endure it
Otherwise Fienstein's bill is just the beginning.
Funkensteins proposed list of 157 banned weapons;
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/guns...
Laws stink- Let the richest and most heavily armed prevail !
Wow, JeffFromVegas, way to go! Pretty much like Hitler, Stalin & Mao did it! I'm all for invading the privacy of people's homes and taking away their guns. No, wait, why stop there? There's lots of things I don't like about people, especially those on the left, so I'll just confiscate anything they own I don't agree they should have. To Hell with their "Constitutional" rights! They are doing things or saying things I don't like. Better yet, I'll open "Concentration" camps for those I determine are "criminals," starve them and put them into forced labor. Next, I'll line some of them up against a wall and execute them as a warning to the others. That's worked so well in the past, it will surely work in the 21st Century, won't it? The more I think about it, the more I like your plan, JeffFromVegas. But only if I am the boss.
hookershaky says: "Laws stink- Let the richest and most heavily armed prevail !"
Thanks for my very first morning chuckle.
Enjoyed the letter, but I don't see the comparison between vehicles and semi-automatic assault rifles. Vehicles kill, and they can kill multiple people all at the same time, but the only way they can continue killing is if someone drives back and forth, or continues to wreck into things without completely destroying the car. Assault rifles though have the ability to kill multiples times, especially with extended magazines you can use without reloading, and you don't have to go all through that smash, drive back and forth, speed up, slow down thing.
Sorry. Just don't see the comparison.
One thing I do know is that if there are no sane, rational gun safety regulations and/or laws on the books, and soon, the American people, an OVERWHELMING amount of people, will be clamoring for our Government to do something to do something, anything to stop mindless, senseless killings.
The only sure thing we know is that the NRA and other pro-gun manufacturer lobbies WILL NOT and CANNOT be allowed to have a say in this matter. They are to be rejected. Any and all of their advice. Because they are talking on the level they want to sell guns. They don't care about any of this. Just sell, sell, sell. They act like they care, but they really don't care if everyone blows each other away. Period.
So, I'm glad to see that people who are trying to enact legislation are ignoring those Ted Nugent pry the weapon from my cold, gnarled up, rigid, rigor mortised fingers types. Because they are not helping. Just spouting nonsense.
Everything I see is the American people want something done. On ALL sides of the political aisles. Every single poll I have seen shows a majority across the board. Background checks, ban on assault weapons, change the Second Amendment, mental health issues changes, WHATEVER.
The American people simply do not like to wake up to drink coffee and eat cornflakes by watching startling news that twenty, COUNT THEM, twenty children, along with six elementary school adults, got blasted to smithereens. To further add to this horrifying picture, it has been reported that each child received anywhere from three to eleven bullets entering their bodies apiece.
This cannot happen anymore. Fix it. Stop the bickering. Sit down at a table and fix it.
Is Mr. Emil really saying that background checks on all gun sales won't prevent some sales of guns to criminals? Do you leave your keys in your unlocked car in your driveway or at the mall? No, because it forces the criminal to take extra steps.
There are several gun buyers who buy hundreds of guns a month and then sell the guns to criminals. Because the original buyer is 'clean' he'll always pass the background check. Because Republicans in Congress neutered the ATF by preventing the ATF from collecting data on gun sales, the ATF can't find out who these clean buyers are and stop them. We do want to stop these sales to criminals, don't we? We agree that criminals shouldn't have guns, right? We agree that law-abiding citizens should be able to buy and own guns, right?
When I was young and bought alcohol, the clerk checked my ID. Why is it such a problem to have an instant background check when you buy a gun? If you're not in a criminal database, you get the gun.
How can you argue that no ID is needed to buy a gun but ID is needed to vote? When misused, which has a more devastating impact, one gun or one vote?
We need all parents, relatives, neighbors, teachers, employers and co-workers to report the deranged. Then institute them in a California mental facility for mental rehab until they pass all mental fitness exams. What happens if you yourself are reported? Tough. Paybacks by those you've had differences with in the past is part of life. Tagging someone as deranged will be a great method to payback your enemies.
What is it about the gun rights people with the constant comparison of cars and guns? If these idiotic individuals want a fair comparison, how about comparing an assault rifle with a hundred round clip to a suicide bombers vest? Both were made to kill a large number of people and commit suicide. I own a car to go from place to place without killing anything except an occasional bug that rams my windshield. Gun rights people now think it logical to compare gun rights to subway trains every time someone is pushed onto the tracks when a train is approaching. These are the very people who should not be allowed to own a gun of any kind and the letter writer is one of them.
A large number killed? How about 55 million since 1973 due to the liberal policy of abortion. Babies who never get a parent's love, hugs or kisses.
Comment removed by moderator. Personal Attack
Way to stay on topic there, Jeff Garner.
As you like to believe that zygotes and fetuses should have the right to choose to be born, those of us who have been born would like to have the right to not be shot. My gun doesn't give me that choice if someone who shouldn't have a gun shoots me in a theater, school, NASCAR race, or casino where I can't see them first (and take cover).
Why a conservative like Jeff Garner would want 55 million more liberal "takers" is beyond me. The right believes that only (99.44%) liberals have abortions and only liberals are takers. Of course, if there were 55 million more Americans, where would they all work? Oh, right, flipping burgers for the makers since they didn't work hard in school because they were too busy smoking dope and having unprotected sex.
U. R. Knutts
Gun nuts are twisting themselves into pretzels to justify the arming of mass gun murderers. Fact is, sensible restrictions that protect the rights of responsible gun owners while making our cities safer are coming to a local or state government near you.
Gun laws will be changed at the local level by mayors and governors and there's nothing the NRA and gunmakers can do about it. There will be too many new laws to litigate each and every one, even for the lawsuit-happy NRA.
There's an irresistible force for change after 20 innocent children were slaughtered in cold blood in their classroom. People are mad as hell are they're not going to take it anymore, no matter how much hot air a deranged Wayne LaPierre or Ted Nugent blow.
The letter writer wants more people imprisoned. We currently have the world's largest prison population at a cost of roughly $47 thousand dollars a year per inmate.
I would love to see the look on people's faces when federal state and local governments try to pass dramatic tax increases to build more prisons and incarcerate many more people.
They want more people in prison but don't raise those darn taxes. In California they are contemplating releasing thousands of prisoners due to overcrowding and lack of funding.
With all the psychopaths we have in this state I would love to know what we spend on the prison system.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal...
People also constantly talk about increased enforcement and taking guns away from the mentally ill. With what? Federal employment is roughly the same as it was when Harry Truman was in office and the population has doubled.
We don't have people to properly monitor Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, securities fraud or anything else. There is vast amounts of corruption in our society and we can't properly monitor that. Who the hell is going a monitor the mentally ill which number in the tens of millions.
There are currently 30 million Americans that take hundreds of millions of psychotropic medications a year. Who do federal state and local governments have to monitor all of this? Basically no one!
"Laws stink- Let the richest and most heavily armed prevail!" Right on, Hookershaky (Michael Kelly)!
The NRA is absolutely correct in saying that an armed society is a polite society.
BUT. . . It's the person with the touchiest hair-trigger on his temper and on his heaviest firearm who gets to define just what is "polite."
The comparison of firearms to cars is, at best, spurious and may actually be venal or worse.
Cars were originally invented to move people and things from one place to another. Their current design still reflects that purpose. Firearms were originally invented to kill people and break things. Their current design still reflects THAT purpose.
True, some people kill other people with cars. Doing so is antithetical to the car's original, and still current, design purpose. Using a firearm to kill people, however, is completely consistent with its original, and still current, design purpose. It is impossible to compare willful misuse of one object with the good and proper use of another object.
The only gun that needs to be banned or regulated is the P9 bushmaster with million round scrotum clip that consistently brings unwanted children into poverty stricken neighborhoods!
Can anyone direct me to evidence which clearly indicates (i.e. proves) those possessing degrees, to which there is a wide variance, of mental illness are more lethal i.e. possess a greater criminal (firearm) threat to society than anyone else?
Can anyone direct me to evidence which clearly indicates (i.e. proves) those deemed responsible in the possession of firearms are incapable of becoming murderous criminals?
We can't predict who our enemies may be or the fire-power they may possess -- we can only prepare ourselves to defend against such potential violent threats by possessing the tools of a modern military soldier while becoming proficient in their tactical applications.
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"We can't predict who our enemies may be or the fire-power they may possess -- we can only prepare ourselves to defend against such potential violent threats by possessing the tools of a modern military soldier while becoming proficient in their tactical applications" from Harley
Agreed. But liberals are putting the guilt trip on those who choose to protect themselves and their family with a gun. Where is the logic in that?
Laws on its own don't prevent anything. It requires a man to behave, to obey, to act peacefully, to respect other citizens; life.
Words you use to describe a bad citizen, a brutal citizen, a violent citizen are told after accidents occur badly. An adversely behaving human being is of reasons when you ask why. Why he became so brutal ? Why hate and anger against human beings violently ? Was there any accidents before he became mentally ill ? A brain damage ?
So much can be done to prevent accident or intentionally made damages. We as human beings have to take care other citizens not forcing them under any brutal intention.
I head a pundit explaining that ONE gun law would be most effective: Federal crime to transport a gun across state lines--mandatory 10 years in a federal facility. This would leave individual rights secure. This would not further intrude on States' rights. And this would not dump all the costs onto local government. And here's the nicest thing, for me: If a Perp gets off on a technicality for whatever crimes he was arrested for, the feds will still LOCK THEM UP FOR 10 YEARS.
Man meets Flo or needs too?
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section...
No men anymore unless your in the Military!
So currently there are an estimated 300 million cars in the United States.(2010) 5.4 million crashes; 2.2 million injured; nearly 33,000 killed.
There are currently believed to be 270-300 million firearms in the United States.
According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, between 2006 and 2010 47,856 people were murdered in the U.S. by firearms. 47,856 divided by 4, carry the one and we have 11,964 murders per year.
And yet get this- According to a 2000 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, approximately 225,000 people PER YEAR were killed due to inadequacies in the US medical system (doctors, medicine, unnecessary surgery, errors made during patient care in hospitals).
But you guys are right. Take those guns because it FEELS so good.
RowdyYates at 7:45 p.m. compared ALL car accidents to murders.
Apples and oranges, Rowdy. All deaths by guns is about 32,000 per year, equivalent to the number of car accident deaths per year.
How many people were killed in car accidents caused by another car? That would be a more accurate number to compare to the number of murders you cite. That number will tell you how many INNOCENT people were killed by someone else while driving.
The bottom line is this...
We can't ban crazy people but we CAN BAN assault
rifles.
And we will.
republicans need to get used to that fact.
The majority of Americans want a new assault
rifle ban.
You republicans are out voted on the gun issue.
And most other issues too.