We can dramatically reduce mass shootings, but how do we stop gun violence

[apples and oranges]

that isn't related to assault weapons or a deranged gunman? Would legalizing drugs cut down on gun violence? Better screening? Training? How will anything short of a complete ban of guns help?

[bongbong]

1. It's not all or nothing

And that is why the NRA and all the Delicate Flowers are scared to death of doing ANYTHING.

As soon as partial victories and lessened slaughter stats started occurring, then there would be support for even more control to get rid of the murders that were still happening.

[apples and oranges]

2. I'm all for doing everything now, rather than only addressing mass shootings

I've seen guest commentators have to force the discussion of what's happening in Chicago and other cities in the U.S. People are mainly concerned with what might happen to them or their kids. Once the mass shooting threat is all but eliminated, the thousands who die every year will be forgotten.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. Nothing can stop anything completely.

But suggestions to help mitigate the situation should be discussed and not discouraged.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. On the Daily show, Stewart showed how drunk driving laws reduce fatalities from drunk drivers by 75%

in 30 years.

No one is expected a perfect system. But sensible, realistic laws can reduce the fatalities from gun violence.

In the same way, he pointed out how twenty years ago, one idiot threw a rock off an over pass onto a highway and now almost every overpass his fenced off like a habitrail, showing that laws can work and protect people from the majority of idiots. It isn't perfect, because if you want you can still toss a rock. You have to work harder at it.

[NCTraveler]

5. How can we dramatically reduce mass shootings.

I didn't realize we figured that one out yet.

[jody]

6. 44% of murders are committed by people who know each other.

Murder Circumstances by Relationship, 2010, Total 12,996 http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr

- Of which 5,657 (43.5%) by Husband, Wife, Mother, Father, Son, Daughter, Brother, Sister, Other family, Acquaintance, Friend, Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Neighbor, Employee, Employer,

- Of which 7,339 (56.5%) by Stranger, Unknown

Seems to me the first group (43.5%) may be amenable to one type solution and the second group (56.5%) another.

[jmg257]

7. Much expanded LE and society focus on repeat offenders, and gangs and drug-related issues.

A huge percentage of gun related violence will dissappear.

[DanTex]

8. Requiring a license and registration would go a long way.

Basically, the more difficult it is for a criminal to get hold of a gun, the less gun violence there will be. There are a lot of incremental steps that can be taken short of a gun ban that would accomplish this. Requiring background checks on all gun sales would help. Imposing a tax on guns to help cover the costs of gun violence would help. Etc.

[rustydog]

9. You can't stop gun violence

Just like seat belts and air-bags haven't stopped highway traffic deaths. Registering sex offenders hasn't stopped rape.

BUT at the worst, If I go nuts because of job loss, wife leaving me, idiot cutting me off during my afternoon commute...If I do have a firearm, it should only have a 6 round capacity, not a 30 round magazine, 100-round drum....

That is what the debate has to be on...If you want the "Right" to shoot a 50 cal machine gun on your weekend to get your jollies...fine! go to the local gun range (if one isn't near you tough SHIT!) where it must be stored. check it out and shoot it AT THE RANGE.

If you MUST have an AK47, AR15, whatever, go to the very same gun range (again, if there isn't one, TOUGH SHIT.) check out your firearm, buy some ammo and SHOOT IT AT THE RANGE. Plus, you cannot take unused ammo out of the range. shoot your wad there, pal.

Home defense against the evil gubmint, black helicopters? Zombie horde? Coming Apocalypse?
12-gauge shotgun pump-action only. 6 round 38 special will kill any human being. Fuck, a .22 cal will kill a human being, but the NRA and the gun lobby has us convinced now that a semi auto 40-cal minimum is required to stop a raging drug-hopped psychotic rapist burglar....righttttt.

The time is long overdue for true gun control talk and legislation.

[Recursion]

10. Most mass shootings are with handguns. Just like most non-mass shootings.

Talking about rifles burns a lot of political capital for not much gain.

If we could find a way to reduce the actual number of handguns in private hands, that would accomplish a lot. I haven't seen any feasible plans for that yet.

[rustydog]

11. Actually, the number of weapons used in were with semi-automatic handguns

with assault weapons second, and revolvers (six-shooters) 3rd and shotguns 4th 1982-2012 Mother Jones.

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/mass-shootings-map


There is a difference in handguns, you have semi auto and you have revolvers and those semi autos with expanded clips are just as capable of mass terror and must be addressed ALONG with the assault rifles...simply because there is NO REASON for an american citizen to own assault weapons. Period.

[Recursion]

12. Why not?

Why is there no reason for an American citizen to own a semi-automatic rifle with detachable magazine and a modern, safer pistol grip, while it's legitimate for an American citizen to own a semi-automatic rifle with detachable magazine and a less safe traditional grip?