Comments on: Why Was The Illinois Shooter Allowed To Buy A Gun?

By: R. Planet

R. Planet — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:54:00 +0000

Don’t get upset about the media’s portrayal of white and blacks when it comes to violence. The ratings are simply better when it’s a white person. I don’t think the media is nearly as racist as average people who watch the news. That’s the problem.

And now for my say. Why can’t we have ANY gun laws? I’m not saying people can’t buy as many guns as they want. But why do we have to let dangerous retards and legitimate crazy people buy them form retailers? WTF?

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:22:00 +0000

I never understood why so many Americans would put up with so much violence in our society. There are alot of organizations trying to find ways to reduce gun violence but the NRA and gun lobbyists are strong orgs. and get alot of support.

There is much good information on a non profit organization called Violence Policy Center. They have reports on gun violence for almost every demographic. Very educational and sad stuff when you read their information. They are advocates in trying to stop gun violence.

“Each year, more than 30,000 Americans die in gun suicides, homicides, and unintentional shootings as a result of the ready availability, and accessability, of specific classes of firearms. Gun violence is more than a crime issue; it is a broad-based public health crisis of which crime is merely the most recognized aspect.”

http://www.vpc.org check them out

By: Nita

Nita — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:31:00 +0000

"I would argue it's not a cultural problem...easy access to guns is the problem. You can have all the mental health problems you want, without a gun there's no rampage. But white folks seem eager to attribute violence in urban communities to "a culture of violence," why is the same not said about a larger culture that every few months or so, produces a mass murderer out of someone who goes off their meds?"

Very well said. Thank you.

And yes, I believe that if mental health history is important enough to be on a questionaire, then it should be important enough to have that information available to gun sellers. Disclosure should not be optional, otherwise it shouldn't be asked at all -- or should have a notation that it is optional to answer this question.

And no, I don't care if it puts a burden on sellers. Good. A gun has no use except to kill. If you're making money off a product with no utility except death, then you should have no out about 'they lied on the questionnaire' while you count your stacks.

By: Torrance Stephens bka All-Mi-T

Torrance Stephens bka All-Mi-T — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:16:00 +0000

well it is america. not to mention guns dont kill people, people do

By: Ronnie B

Ronnie B — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:20:00 +0000

I’m also a neither pro nor anti gun. Most people who have one, are pretty responsible with them. That said, there needs to be a tightening of the background verification so that the unbalanced, the violent felons, and mentally ill don’t gain access.

I’m stuck, though, on how we exclude the mentally ill without having them in a federal database.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:49:00 +0000

Guns laws have to be the biggest joke “law” of all on the books, anyone can buy one, legal or illegally. I’m not a gun rights foe or pro gun, but, if you want to own one, you should have the right to a point, and, one, not 10 or 20 and certainly not some semi automatic, living in Chicago for crying out loud. But, come on, the alleged “laws” make no sense, since you can look normal and be as crazy as a loon, and, kill innocent people, just as easy as looking crazy and buying one off the street. Maybe the solution that could work is to only let the government sell them and do a real back ground check on who buys them.

My prayers and sympathy goes out to anyone who has been an innocent victim of gun crime and their families, especially in the Chi-town area were 10 lives in a couple of weeks have been lost to this gun nonsense.