Quote Originally Posted by John View Post
I'll say it again then. A good start would be to make full background checks mandatory for all guns and in all states, so a mentally ill headbanger can't just pick up a rifle from his local shop on ten minutes notice. You'd probably cut out a few deaths just through letting people cool down for the fortnight waiting period too.

That people will always find a way to hurt eachother isn't a reason not to at least try to take away one of the most simple and effective ways of doing so, particularly since it's something with no use other than to hurt people. We'll not be so silly as to pretend Tyler is hunting elk with his handgun, so spare me that kernel of bullshit at least.



Just to pop back to this for a second. The official definition of a 'mass shooting' is four or more people shot in a single incident. Not killed, just shot. So there is no argument over that point, and six people is 'mass'. If you define it otherwise, you're wrong.
I initially responded before you added the last part, I did go back and respond to it though.

I appreciate you having a real discussion, though. I agree with your point, though. There should be something done to eliminate one of the easiest ways people hurt each other.

I just don't see how it could be done. Like I've said several times, there's not just the law-abiding citizens who we have to worry about.

I realize you guys went through this same shit in 1996 or whenever it was when that loony shot up that school. You enacted a gun ban and it has worked very well in the sense that gun violence is probably irrelevant.

At the same time, "violent crime" has also apparently spiked. Now, I'm not saying it's better to be shot than stabbed or vice versa, but there's always unintended consequences that come from these types of things.

Would I like to live in a world where gun violence doesn't exist? Of course! Hell, the grocery store right by my house had a shooting inside of it a few months back. It was gang related bullshit, but stray bullets have killed tons of people too!

It's all fucked up and I don't know how we truly fix it.

There's just so many guns. If even 80% of the population said "fine, here are my weapons Mr. Government. Thank you!" that still leaves millions of guns on the streets.

I'm not saying what you're suggesting isn't a bad practice, in theory it would be great, I just don't think it's practical to expect the cooperation necessary to make something like that work.

Though again, the background checks business, hey man, I have no problem with that whatsoever. I certainly agree it shouldn't be so easy to just walk in, grab a gun, and walk out. Now, like I mentioned previous, there are many cases where you buy a gun, have to wait a period of time, and then get it, but it's hardly nationwide and/or for every gun.