Douglas High School Shooting

[chancellor]

except the NIH projects have no funding and are dormant - http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/...search-program

Then your protest should be with how the NIH is funded. It's exactly the kind of scope creep the CDC should avoid, and stay focused on the target of contagious disease control.

[Mithrandir]

So what do you tell folks who insist that this is first and foremost a mental health problem? That the issue isnt with the guns? I know plenty of people, many of whom are police, that feel this way.

[B-Fly]

So what do you tell folks who insist that this is first and foremost a mental health problem? That the issue isnt with the guns? I know plenty of people, many of whom are police, that feel this way.

I say that our society should invest in and support mental health care and programs and should enact stricter gun control. The issues are hardly mutually exclusive.

[B-Fly]

I live in Boca Raton, wife is a teacher. We are a town over from Parkland. Sickening, frightening, too close to home. But we are so inured to such madness, we plod on with our political leaders, deep in pocket of NRA, repeating mantra "our thoughts and prayers go out to victims and families", like cows chewing cud, mindlessly moving mouth like latin repeated at a service that no one thinks about. If Sandy Hook couldnt break through the cloud then what in the world could?

Yes, terrible. I just learned this morning that my cousin's niece, Meadow Pollack, was one of the children slaughtered at Douglas High School.

[TranaGreg]

Yes, terrible. I just learned this morning that my cousin's niece, Meadow Pollack, was one of the children slaughtered at Douglas High School.

whoa ... so sorry to hear that

[TranaGreg]

I say that our society should invest in and support mental health care and programs and should enact stricter gun control. The issues are hardly mutually exclusive.

Exactly. Anyone trying to position this as something that can be addressed by one thing is probably trying to position the issue in a certain light ; all options should be on the table.

[TranaGreg]

Why mention this? I think even if we got to that point, system still wouldnt be broken enough to have open talk leading to sensible gun laws. Why in the world is it a good idea that this 19 year old with troubled past, with ties to white supremacy group and facebook postings of him posing with his guns and stating he aspires to be a school shooter, have access to a military style long gun?

isn't the standard answer that this is price to be paid for keeping a well armed populace ready to overthrow a corrupt or fascist leader should one ever occupy the white house?

[Mithrandir]

I say that our society should invest in and support mental health care and programs and should enact stricter gun control. The issues are hardly mutually exclusive.

Agreed. But to many people, they are.

We should always keep trying to work towards the goals that you mentioned.

I hate to admit it, but the proverbial cat is not only out of the bag, as far as mass shootings go, that cat has left the fucking house never to come back. Mass shooting will be the norm. They aint going away because the reasons they happen are too complex to fix.

[The Feral Slasher]

Agreed. But to many people, they are.

We should always keep trying to work towards the goals that you mentioned.

I hate to admit it, but the proverbial cat is not only out of the bag, as far as mass shootings go, that cat has left the fucking house never to come back. Mass shooting will be the norm. They aint going away because the reasons they happen are too complex to fix.

It can't be that complex since many other countries don't seem to have the problem that the us does. I don't think the issue is complexity

[B-Fly]

It can't be that complex since many other countries don't seem to have the problem that the us does. I don't think the issue is complexity

Agreed. While we certainly can't expect to end all mass shootings full stop, I think we could very easily reduce the incidence and the magnitude of such events with a handful of pretty simple measures.

[Mithrandir]

Agreed. While we certainly can't expect to end all mass shootings full stop, I think we could very easily reduce the incidence and the magnitude of such events with a handful of pretty simple measures.

So why aren't those simple measures getting done? That is part of the complexity.

[Mithrandir]

It can't be that complex since many other countries don't seem to have the problem that the us does. I don't think the issue is complexity

So why don't those countries have the problem? Maybe because they aren't as inherently complex as the US?

[B-Fly]

So why aren't those simple measures getting done? That is part of the complexity.

Fair comment. It's a mix of things, including the single-issue passion on the pro-gun side, bolstered by the organization and access of the NRA, thusfar outweighing the majority who would support, say, a ban of AR-15's or similar semi-automatic assault rifles, but who are not as single-issue focused and well-organized. We also have the 2nd Amendment and the risk that even where the legislature can agree on a measure there's a risk of it being challenged and struck down. It also seems that the nature of suburbia, with our cars and schools surrounded by parking lots and fields rather than other buildings and heavy pedestrian traffic, our office parks and malls, etc, makes it easier for someone to plan and execute a surprise assault without being detected until the bullets start flying. All of those factors contribute to me saying that we can't expect to end all mass shootings full stop. But I think limiting civilian semi-automatic assault rifle ownership/use to licensed gun ranges where the guns must be left under lock and key except when being used at the facility, should be achievable with the right movement support.

[Mithrandir]

Fair comment. It's a mix of things, including the single-issue passion on the pro-gun side, bolstered by the organization and access of the NRA, thusfar outweighing the majority who would support, say, a ban of AR-15's or similar semi-automatic assault rifles, but who are not as single-issue focused and well-organized. We also have the 2nd Amendment and the risk that even where the legislature can agree on a measure there's a risk of it being challenged and struck down. It also seems that the nature of suburbia, with our cars and schools surrounded by parking lots and fields rather than other buildings and heavy pedestrian traffic, our office parks and malls, etc, makes it easier for someone to plan and execute a surprise assault without being detected until the bullets start flying. All of those factors contribute to me saying that we can't expect to end all mass shootings full stop. But I think limiting civilian semi-automatic assault rifle ownership/use to licensed gun ranges where the guns must be left under lock and key except when being used at the facility, should be achievable with the right movement support.

Again, i agree with all of that. I'm just not as optimistic as you when it comes to getting things accomplished that will lessen the chances of mass shootings.

[B-Fly]

Again, i agree with all of that. I'm just not as optimistic as you when it comes to getting things accomplished that will lessen the chances of mass shootings.

Today's editorial in the Murdoch-owned, Trump-supporting NY Post gives me hope that it's possible, for the reasons described here:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...b00bc49f428404