In Poland, Obama says an abundance of guns helps fuel tensions in America

[jpak]

Source: Washington Post

WARSAW — After a crushing week of attacks, protests and anger, President Obama touched on the values that unite Americans before diving headlong into the debate over guns, one of the most divisive issues of his presidency.

The president, speaking on Saturday at the NATO summit here, suggested that the licensed gun in the car of Philando Castile, who was shot by police in Minnesota during a routine traffic stop, had contributed to the tragedy there. Castile died as his girlfriend live-streamed video of him bleeding to death while an armed police officer stood a few feet away.

“We don’t know what happened, but we do know that there was a gun in the car that apparently was licensed, but it caused in some fashion those tragic events,” Obama said of Castile’s shooting.

Castile’s death and the killing of Alton Sterling by police in Baton Rouge set off waves of protests across the United States last week. At one of those marches in Dallas, a gunman killed five police officers who were providing security at the march.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-poland-obama-says-an-abundance-of-guns-helps-fuel-tensions-in-america/2016/07/09/77635234-4607-11e6-8856-f26de2537a9d_story.html

[uawchild]

1. Not the gun's fault

"We don’t know what happened, but we do know that there was a gun in the car that apparently was licensed, but it caused in some fashion those tragic events,” Obama said of Castile’s shooting.

Sorry, but I have to disagree here. It wasn't the gun that caused this death -- it was the cop that caused this death.

[hawkeyeman]

5. So anyother time it is the guns..

that are causing all of the shootings not the people that are actually doing the shootings but when a cop does its the cops fault not the guns fault.

[uawchild]

7. I never said anything like that

Please don't put words in my mouth. If you want to take issue with someone that said guns are always the cause, go right ahead. But, yeah, I am blaming the cop. I am not going to diffuse his personal responsibility for killing a person. He is a trained professional, a public servant, he's been granted power and tremendous leeway by society -- so yeah I am going to hold him responsible.

And to be honest, I strongly suspect that if he were white the victim would still be alive and that gun would not have "caused" his death. That's just my personal feelings, I don't claim to be psychic, but I would bet money on it.

[treestar]

9. Having so many guns around means it is more

likely they will be used. The cops knowing anyone can have a gun contributes to their claims of fear for themselves.

[uawchild]

10. I get your point but what is more responsible

The presense of the gun or the actions of the cop for the victim's death?

That is the only point I am trying to make. I fear focusing on the absurd number of guns in circulation may detract from the cop's personal responsibility.

I hope I was clearer here. Thanks and I do appreciate the point you made also.

[malthaussen]

2. Can we say "duh?"

But his further contention that the weapon "caused" the "tragic events" is really poor thinking. Or I should say, a poor assertion: we have no idea what his thoughts are.

-- Mal

[840high]

3. No kidding. Then do

something about it.

[iandhr]

4. I know this was from I comedy routine...

... but I am starting to think Chris Rock had the right idea.

Even when faced with unspeakable horror as we have faced in the last few days, with the killings in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis and the Dallas cops it is important to find ways to laugh.

[onehandle]

6. Smart people like the President think that lots of guns are bad.

Cough.

[treestar]

8. He's right

we are awash in guns. It defies common sense.

[calimary]

12. He's right. More guns = MORE CARNAGE.

The more guns are around, the greater the probability that things won't end well. It's just the law of averages.

[awoke_in_2003]

13. President says the obvious...

gun lovers go nuts.

[riversedge]

14. k and r