Tuscon Tragedy
 

To everyone who is calling for stricter gun laws in light of the tragedy in Tucson, may I offer this little tidbit: If guns kill people, then pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk and spoons make people overeat! Remember: Hold the person accountable for their actions, not the means they chose to utilize their actions. Accountability is lost when an individual is not held responsible. Responsibility is lost when blame is misplaced. The responsibility for this terrible act must lie with Jared Loughner. This is not a political issue.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

In a nation of over 300 million there will always be shooting and murders. Whenever one makes the national headlines there inevitably some sort of gun control legislation trying to fast tracked within 24-48 hours.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

AMEN.....Bro.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

You're right. The Tucson shooter is responsible for his actions. Those who commit senseless violent actions must be held accountable. They must suffer the consequences for what they choose to do.

On the other side of the coin, however, there is another issue. The unescapbable fact is that we live in a society where violence is often applauded, encouraged, and supported. Movies, video games and even songs seem to make violence an acceptable way to vent our frustrations. Last night, for example, I watched Kathy Bates ram her car into another repeatedly because she felt she was being disrespected. I saw a Richard Harris shoot his opponent in a card game because he thought his opponent was cheating. His actions were deemed "justifiable" and he was rewarded with "a drink on the house". "Rambo" destroys a town and kills several police officers simply because he had the "right" to be there.

I know. Eyes are rolling everywhere as some say, "Oh, heres another nutjob blaming Hollywood". Well, no, I'm not blaming Hollywood or guns or anyone or anything else. I'm just saying we live in a society that fosters violent behavior. We want a violence free world, but we are fed a constant diet of violence. Its like feeding a kid a steady diet of Happy Meals and Big Macs then blaming them for their obesity.

Yes, the Tucson shooter stands accountable for his despicable actions. The blood of his victims is on his hands. But a world that casts aside morality and embraces violence as entertainment can't help but be splattered by some of that same blood.

Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, [and] all the nations that forget God.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Every generation seems to think the next is worse about violence in their media, I for one think some music has become less violent. For instance what is the equivalent today in country music of Knoxville girl?

She fell down on her bended knees
For mercy she did cry
Oh, Willie dear, don't kill me here
I'm unprepared to die
She never spoke another word
I only beat her more
Until the ground around me
Within her blood did flow.

I took her by her golden curls
And I drug her 'round and 'round
Throwing her into the river
That flows through Knoxville town
Go down, go down, you Knoxville girl
With the dark and roving eyes
Go down, go down, you Knoxville girl
You can never be my bride.

This song ( Recorded in 1924) has had various versions and titles as it has been passed down through the centuries.

The 1920's also gave us Mack the Knife.

Johnny Cash sang about "Shoot[ing] a man in Reno just to watch him die"

These are the radio playable songs, when you throw in guys like David Allen Coe, you can rival any rap lyrics out there for vulgarity.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

To everyone who is calling for stricter gun laws...

Nice recitation of the desired responses they have worked so hard to teach you. You train well.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

I, for one, am not calling for stricter gun control. What we need is more PEOPLE control. Things like self-control. temerance, responsibility.

BTW, who is this "THEY" you are talking about?

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The media, teachers, activists... there are a lot of sources for this line of thinking.

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True. But my line of thinking comes from the Bible that teaches people are held accountable for their actions. That those who live by the sword also die by the sword. And that teaches it wasn't only Pilate that sentenced Jesus to death.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Help me understand what you are stating here. I agree with what you are saying but I sense that this is supposed to apply to the Tucson Tragedy in some manner and I'd rather hear what you are saying from you than work with my own faulty assumptions of what another person is attempting to say.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Those who want guns for wrong purposes will usually be able to obtain them. It's law abiding citizens who obey gun control laws.

That said, locks only keep honest people out. It's still a good idea to lock them.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Indeed it is. But that is a decision made on a personal level. Government regulations where you get fined or put in jail for not properly locking your property isn't the way to to... neither is government gun control.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Agreed. I don't agree with enforcing regulations so strict that hunters or collectors can't buy guns. I do agree with regulations that require background checks, registration, and waiting periods on gun purchases. Also (at least in my state) I think that street purchases should be regulated. I don't think it's a good idea to be able to buy a gun at a yard sale, for instance. (and that does happen here.) However, most of the gun related crimes in this area are committed by people who passed the background check, had the safety classes, registered the weapon, and had the gun for at least a few weeks (many times for a few years). Maybe it's different in other places.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

take away guns, people will use hatchets, take away hatchets, people will use knives, take away knives, people will use clubs, take away clubs, people will use rocks, take away rocks, people will use hands.

:arphaxad

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

So the government wants only law enforcement and criminals to have guns?

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Cut off their hands. :)

No hands without a permit. :)

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

As an end I do believe that is what they would like to see.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Yep, anyone remember recent events in China?

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I don't know about recent events but the nunchaku was a wheat thrashing instrument that farmers used until the government proclaimed swords illegal. Soon after it was turned into a weapon and the rest, as they say, is history.

http://www.kickbox.com/dragon/nunchaku.jpg

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

I'm talking about the series of knife crimes.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Simple solution. Outlaw them.

Re: Tuscon Tragedy
 

Regulate everyone over the few. This is the line we are fed every time some nut case does something stupid with a gun. Unworthy to own a gun until proven worthy. Of course all of the registration process gives the government a log of all the guns you own so when it comes time to gather them all up that won't be difficult.

The only people these regulations do any good on are the law abiding citizens but the average law abiding citizen gets more and more limits and regulations put on him while the criminals keep doing what they've always done because laws like these never stop the lawless. They only affect the law abiding.

It isn't an answer. Not in the least.

But... it is the line we are fed and many are willing to tow it.

I just don't understand why the answer to everything is... I have an idea... let's limit, stifle or take away rights.

As it was once said... never waste a good tragedy. Any good tragedy is fodder to diminish our rights again.