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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAmerican Epidemic – 3 School Shootings in One Week
These tragedies are impossible to make sense of in this modern and relatively prosperous age. At the same time that exponential technological growth has increased the life expectancy of Americans to an unprecedented number, such advances are threatened to be offset by the increasing frequency of shooting massacres. The most devastating military technology ever invented has now been used time and time again in this country (and others such as Norway) to slaughter groups of unsuspecting innocents. Ever since the unspeakable horror that occurred at an elementary school in Newtown, CT, the debate over gun control laws has become a paramount political topic.
Those who support keeping gun laws the way they are say that only good guys with guns stop the bad guys with guns. Those who support strengthening gun control laws say that this idea has not worked in any of these incidents. And while both sides have a point, the influx in public shootings in the past decade has made the latter camp’s point of view one that must be considered more closely. In light of the facts, the old system has not been working, and change is needed to curb the likelihood that such tragedies will keep occurring.
First, the facts must be considered. Has there been an increase in these types of shootings in the past decade? Yes. Since the Columbine school shooting in 1999, there have been more mass shootings not related to gang violence in the U.S. than in the entire last century (this statistic applies to gang shootings as well, but that is for another discussion). While the root of all these incidents may lie in mental health, it is clear that modern gun technology is making it much easier to commit violence on such a scale.
http://guardianlv.com/2014/01/american-epidemic-3-school-shootings-in-one-week/
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shenmue
(38,506 posts)
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)
groundloop
(11,519 posts)It's damned sad when something this horrible happens and we just shrug our shoulders and think "oh, another one".
When the hell is this pathetic country going to wake up?
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)When the hell is this pathetic country going to wake up?
I don't know how much more we can do. Universities and public high and grade schools are "ZERO GUN ZONES" that means that it is illegal to bring a gun to school. Nobody can have a gun at all at the university and public schools. The only option could be 100 percent body check (every crevice) to ensure guns do not come through the gate or doors of the schools.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)
mikeysnot
(4,757 posts)Not!
spartan61
(2,091 posts)making mandatory jail time for the parents of the students who bring guns to school? Obviously either they are not locking up their guns or letting their children know how to unlock the guns. These shootings are becoming more and more frequent and it is actually becoming commonplace. I am so sick of the NRA and their hold on this country and I'm so sick of those who keep yelling about their "rights." Lets put some teeth into the gun control laws and start enforcing them. Also, when will it be time for background checks, gun shows with no regulations, etc.? No one is taking away your right to own a firearm. We are just asking for regulations and our rights to go to school, mall shopping, watching movies at a theater. When is enough ever going to be enough?
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)are about the same as being killed by lightning or dying of the bite of a tsetse fly while riding a unicycle or some weird shit like that. They try and trivialize people's fears of school shootings by telling us that we're hyping them. It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't hold so much political power. It's unreal that almost 90% of the US population was in favor of stricter background checks and those NRA douchenozzles and their lackeys in Congress voted it down.
oneshooter
(8,614 posts)After all they failed to teach their children.
Thespian2
(2,741 posts)is the most dangerous country in the world...because gun-lovers shoot people. I live in a country where I do not worry about getting shot to death in a mall, grocery store, movie theatre, my car...etc. While visiting America, I exercise extreme caution, my only defense. Quite obviously, low-information people cannot understand your constitution's second amendment, so they allow the NRA to interpret it for them. Don't expect any sanity on gun control in the future.
classof56
(5,376 posts)You are right, I fear, in your assessment about sanity on gun control anytime soon in our country. Very sad for all Americans!
Welcome to DU.
freebrew
(1,917 posts)why is this happening, now?
There have been guns in this country since its inception.
But this is terrorism in our schools. I really think bullying is the start of it.
Unequal treatment of the poor kids, letting the rich and/or connected kids walk on violations and
from just some of the news, these violations are fairly extreme: rape, stalking, harassment, etc.
The police would rather bust a pot smoker, or shoot someone's dog than help these kids, same with the school admin. It isn't difficult to figure out that something is seriously wrong.
I don't disagree that we need some sort of control over 'guns'. But that isn't going to help these kids.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)rdharma
(6,057 posts)....... they all involved a gun!
