A reach out for discussion. I am very curious to hear what my readers think of gun control in the United States (or Canada for that matter.) I know this is a very touchy topic and again, I would like to know what all of you think. Do you feel that no civilized nation should have guns accessible to their citizens, or do you feel that gun ownership is a very important constitutional right, and to take it away is a direct assault to our constitutional rights?
Of course there is an awful lot of choices and possibilities in between these two extremes. What you do all think? PLEASE comment!!! This is an open discussion!!
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I do believe in one’s right to own a gun. But like so many, I do not believe the weapons which can kill many in a short amount of time should be sold to the general public…certainly not a teen-anger. I do see statistics from around the world and we are the only country where so many group shootings occur. Is this true?
Interesting point you make here, I did not think of. Doesn't current gun law not allow someone of this person's age to own or even use a gun? I do not know this, in fact, I don't even know how old this guy is (was). And...what make of weapon did he use? Was it a modified AR-15 so it was fully automatic? Was it a fully automatic weapon that could kill a lot quickly? Anyone know the answers to all this?
I thought it was an automatic weapon. I do not think it is as likely that he would have used a handgun which of course is slower, etc. I thought I heard he was 17, but thinking about it, I don’t that age is legal to purchase a firearm.
He was 18, the weapon he used was an AR-15, which is a semi-automatic rifle, which I believe means each round he fires he has to press the trigger, but if skilled you can press that trigger in pretty rapid succession. How many you can fire is also limited to the magazine...I read somewhere a typical magazine holds 10 rounds, somewhere else it says 30. Its fast, but not like a Uzi or an AK-47 which is fully automatic, and can spit out 600 or so bullets a minute. Please chime in gun experts, I don't know dick about guns.
Good afternoon Doctor, and thank you for your Substack.
A very complex subject. First, my opinion is mine and open to change from fact based information (not emotional opinion or virtue signaling). I’m a line PD officer of 31 years and my growing up with guns was for hunting, recreational target practice, and dad would let me near one until I completed a NRA safety course. Guns have been around for centuries in this nation, and have been a part of this Republic through the 2nd amendment created as part of a check and balance system (electoral college, 10th amendment). They have been used for crimes yes, by criminals, and used for suicide, and in the heat of emotion or drug intoxication. I have seen this. If people didn’t access guns they would use knives or something else.
So much has changed though, guns are still here but where the “mandatory” training gone? Emotions and drugs? There are so many drugs now that make the drug of alcohol look tame. Emotional issues. We (cops) use the term Social Media Sickness for the problems caused by on line encouragement or the need for attention from a group of followers. Entertainment for kids, I remember how disturbing watching kids playing Grand Theft Auto was...and how old is that game? The disturbing part was the utter absence of any kind of value, or consequences to actions. I still refer to Col. Grossman’s book “stop teaching our kids to kill”. For any parent to say “ it’s only some weed”...I can’t encourage enough reading Alex Berenson “ tell you children the truth about marijuana”. Parent don’t seem to get all weed is not created equal and psychosis is a thing...I’ve seen it.
I’m not coming up with solutions, no one person or one group can (but some will try to sell you one though due to an ulterior motive). Except this one idea , I will listen to you and pay close attention too and care about what you say (promise) even if I don’t agree with it. One rule, any criticism is supposed to be kindly instructive and not attacking destructive. I will do that because that is You talking. If you do the same then it is “we” talking, add some
More folks then it is “us” talking with the sole goal of listening and understanding. Build the foundation and make it strong, then go from there. These mass shooting are a new horrible plague and need a new from the ground up solution.
Excellent commentary EH! I just retired (forced) as a deputy sheriff of 23 years. Thank you for sharing your views and experiences, which I wholeheartedly agree with. God bless you brother!
That was such a great comment EH. This not an easy thing to sort out but it only can if all are open minded and listening and considering other points of view. Putting walls up is probably a good reason we are here now.
In my opinion, the way "civilized" society has been heading for quite a while now is driving people to a state of incredible depression and helplessness and many are giving up hope and going the suicide route but many as well are out for some sort of revenge.
There are no solutions coming from politicians - they are completely self serving and useless. There are no solutions coming from big business because they are only interested in increasing sales and limiting or removing liability.
I remember reading something about how when people moved to cities, they lost that community that would all help to raise a child properly. So the onus fell on parents to fulfill every role that a community would perform. And then parents were overwhelmed with working and stress and even that has started to crumble. Now it is every man, woman and child for themselves. It is not heading to a very good place and there are no solutions on the horizon.
And having guns readily available certainly doesn't help.
Interesting points being raised here… EH cites the proud history of guns in America, but the view from other countries, without the resonance you feel on the inside, is one of a historical and continuing culture of violence. We just witness and try to make some sense of your endless wars on everything….
Watching things crash together and blow up is what Americans do to relax. Netflix movies start with someone being shot, stabbed, or just attacked in the first five minutes, when it gets REALLY messy.… Then there’s reality TV where winning at all cost is the only real rule. Your media fails to convey those deeper values, which is tragic.
It’s not just the guns, though. It’s never just one thing….
I have read elsewhere that many, if not most of the killers are on SSRI antidepressant drugs, which affect attachment to others.
I resoundingly agree that the problem lies in the culture, the culture of violence, moral disintegration, drugs, on and on. I think it really has nothing to do with guns other than them being the tool to manifest violence. Yes, logically if you remove access to the tool of violence, you remove the manifestation of violence, until that tool is replaced by something else, maybe something less efficient, or maybe not (the government building in Oklahoma a few years back was blown up with fertilizer.) So there IS logic in removing, restricting, controlling guns. But it does not remove the true cause, mental illness, psychotropic drugs, a culture of violence (Hollywood, yes, but Hollywood makes money, which is the only incentive, if people wanted unicorns and rainbows, Hollywood would only make movies about unicorns and rainbows.)
I also think there is a possibility of false flags, skewed reports, intentional set ups, corrupt government intervention, and, as we all know, “The Great Reset” etc. to bring about the “reason” to remove yet another constitutional right. Of course if THAT is true, the problem is even more removed from what people would find plausible. And we are faced with the same impossibility of finding an acceptable solution.
I do wonder if tighter gun control, considering all the above, would offer any sort of viable solution. Seems like it would, at least it is a more direct intervention, where solving the culture’s deeper issues will take decades.
And out on a further limb, I can’t help but believe this recent violence, and the general rise of violence in the world today, is a direct result of the Covid insanity with lockdowns, social restrictions, etc. We know mental illness is skyrocketing. I willl be writing an article titled “If You Squeeze a Weasel, it Will Bite You” that addresses all this in detail…stay tuned.
Is there anyone out there that is a hard core liberal that could chime in?
Like Tiny Shrew above, I think guns are permissible for those who need them.
Farmers protect livestock from predators with hand guns and rifles. People enjoy shooting at targets. And although pacifists have trouble imagining such interests, collectors must collect, whether we get the fetish or not. No problem with any of that here. All those things are just what they are, but the specialty weaponry available and the number of people arming up isn’t easy to think about in a positive way. There's no excuse for even wanting to own an assault rifle IMHO, let alone going out of your way to invest in something designed to kill, BUT, if it isn't too "liberal" to suggest, a very serious process could be installed to assess the capability and responsibility of the applicant. (I said "must" first and changed it to "could". Being liberal-- or is that right wing now?) Some community process could be devised. And that's among the clubs or whatever sets of people are interested in weird gun stuff to set community standards. Some expressed code of ethics-- is that too ridiculous to imagine? Where values are strong there's no need for overly authoritarian measures, also IMHO, and these shooters seem disconnected from any form of connection, or reason for being.. Lost souls, spraying bullets to make an impression because nothing makes sense.
Didn’t gun sales double in the US during Trump’s time? Women were talking about having their little purse guns handy, and preppers were talking about protection from law enforcement if it all went sideways, which has been a topic since police forces became loaded with military surplus years ago. Interested in the thoughts of the officers here on that-- does kevlar full-body armour make you feel less vulnerable, really?
Very good Shelagh. I still go to the base problem. If we lived in a more sane, more conscious, more enlightened culture, no one, or very few, would have a fascination for automatic killing machines. If men, in general, were allowed the integration of the warrior archetype, we would not have this sublimated need to express violence...blah blah blah...
Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think any of the heinous school shootings were executed by these militant men with shaved heads and bodies covered in skull tattoos who, for pleasure, collect sophisticated killing machines that could mow down thousands—in their fantasies...am I right? They have all been, for the most part, little skinny, parentally abandoned, milquetoast nerd boys. Don't mean to profile here—again, I am speaking of the middle of the bell curve. The problem here is not the Rambo wannabes...but it is the Rambo wannabes the liberals and the press want to punish. Do any of these child murderers collect guns for fun? Or go target shooting with their para-military buddies? Am I wrong here? Honestly I am not that well informed.
Rather than attacking the NRA, why aren't we trying to figure out why our culture continually spits out this flavour of mental illness? Oh gee...it certainly couldn't possibly be the first person shooter video games, or the incessant spewing out of violent movies, the loss of family values, and yes, the loss of faith and belief in something bigger than ourselves in the universe....or even the lack of attention in family and other social settings these boys receive in their day to day lives? Oh no, it is because of Trump, or because the good ol' hillbilly boys insist on having their ballistic boy-toys, or a practically defunct lobbying entity like the NRA...give me a break.
So well put EH. It is very odd to me that not everyone shares your feelings here! It is common sense to me (we both will probably get blasted...maybe not. This substack appeals to "shrews"...and we all share a lot of common denominators.)
When I was a hard core liberal (before 9-11) I still agreed with the basis for all this, as you explain here, causal elements being dissolution of family values, character building, drugs, video games, etc. I still thought that removing certain guns, or developing more stringent restrictions was the way to go. I still think there should be a serious registration process (well, actually I am not so sure of that either now--certainly proper training). But now I have a lot of apprehension regarding anything the government wants to impose...particularly any weakening of people's rights. There is a "hidden" agenda there that needs to be factored in...but of course I hear people screaming "it's Trump's fault" with regard to the shootings this week, and I do a face slap because I feel they are missing the point so seriously. Even if people think Trump is a total ass clown, he is NOT the reason those kids died.
I DO wonder though if giving up guns, or putting on more restrictions, would make these incidents less likely, but I also seriously question the veracity of that.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful, and informed, comment.
I do believe in one’s right to own a gun. But like so many, I do not believe the weapons which can kill many in a short amount of time should be sold to the general public…certainly not a teen-anger. I do see statistics from around the world and we are the only country where so many group shootings occur. Is this true?
Interesting point you make here, I did not think of. Doesn't current gun law not allow someone of this person's age to own or even use a gun? I do not know this, in fact, I don't even know how old this guy is (was). And...what make of weapon did he use? Was it a modified AR-15 so it was fully automatic? Was it a fully automatic weapon that could kill a lot quickly? Anyone know the answers to all this?
I thought it was an automatic weapon. I do not think it is as likely that he would have used a handgun which of course is slower, etc. I thought I heard he was 17, but thinking about it, I don’t that age is legal to purchase a firearm.
He was 18, the weapon he used was an AR-15, which is a semi-automatic rifle, which I believe means each round he fires he has to press the trigger, but if skilled you can press that trigger in pretty rapid succession. How many you can fire is also limited to the magazine...I read somewhere a typical magazine holds 10 rounds, somewhere else it says 30. Its fast, but not like a Uzi or an AK-47 which is fully automatic, and can spit out 600 or so bullets a minute. Please chime in gun experts, I don't know dick about guns.
Good afternoon Doctor, and thank you for your Substack.
A very complex subject. First, my opinion is mine and open to change from fact based information (not emotional opinion or virtue signaling). I’m a line PD officer of 31 years and my growing up with guns was for hunting, recreational target practice, and dad would let me near one until I completed a NRA safety course. Guns have been around for centuries in this nation, and have been a part of this Republic through the 2nd amendment created as part of a check and balance system (electoral college, 10th amendment). They have been used for crimes yes, by criminals, and used for suicide, and in the heat of emotion or drug intoxication. I have seen this. If people didn’t access guns they would use knives or something else.
So much has changed though, guns are still here but where the “mandatory” training gone? Emotions and drugs? There are so many drugs now that make the drug of alcohol look tame. Emotional issues. We (cops) use the term Social Media Sickness for the problems caused by on line encouragement or the need for attention from a group of followers. Entertainment for kids, I remember how disturbing watching kids playing Grand Theft Auto was...and how old is that game? The disturbing part was the utter absence of any kind of value, or consequences to actions. I still refer to Col. Grossman’s book “stop teaching our kids to kill”. For any parent to say “ it’s only some weed”...I can’t encourage enough reading Alex Berenson “ tell you children the truth about marijuana”. Parent don’t seem to get all weed is not created equal and psychosis is a thing...I’ve seen it.
I’m not coming up with solutions, no one person or one group can (but some will try to sell you one though due to an ulterior motive). Except this one idea , I will listen to you and pay close attention too and care about what you say (promise) even if I don’t agree with it. One rule, any criticism is supposed to be kindly instructive and not attacking destructive. I will do that because that is You talking. If you do the same then it is “we” talking, add some
More folks then it is “us” talking with the sole goal of listening and understanding. Build the foundation and make it strong, then go from there. These mass shooting are a new horrible plague and need a new from the ground up solution.
Excellent commentary EH! I just retired (forced) as a deputy sheriff of 23 years. Thank you for sharing your views and experiences, which I wholeheartedly agree with. God bless you brother!
That was such a great comment EH. This not an easy thing to sort out but it only can if all are open minded and listening and considering other points of view. Putting walls up is probably a good reason we are here now.
In my opinion, the way "civilized" society has been heading for quite a while now is driving people to a state of incredible depression and helplessness and many are giving up hope and going the suicide route but many as well are out for some sort of revenge.
There are no solutions coming from politicians - they are completely self serving and useless. There are no solutions coming from big business because they are only interested in increasing sales and limiting or removing liability.
I remember reading something about how when people moved to cities, they lost that community that would all help to raise a child properly. So the onus fell on parents to fulfill every role that a community would perform. And then parents were overwhelmed with working and stress and even that has started to crumble. Now it is every man, woman and child for themselves. It is not heading to a very good place and there are no solutions on the horizon.
And having guns readily available certainly doesn't help.
Interesting points being raised here… EH cites the proud history of guns in America, but the view from other countries, without the resonance you feel on the inside, is one of a historical and continuing culture of violence. We just witness and try to make some sense of your endless wars on everything….
Watching things crash together and blow up is what Americans do to relax. Netflix movies start with someone being shot, stabbed, or just attacked in the first five minutes, when it gets REALLY messy.… Then there’s reality TV where winning at all cost is the only real rule. Your media fails to convey those deeper values, which is tragic.
It’s not just the guns, though. It’s never just one thing….
I have read elsewhere that many, if not most of the killers are on SSRI antidepressant drugs, which affect attachment to others.
https://www.psychreg.org/antidepressants-ssri-mass-shootings/
just showed up in such a search, but might not be a good source…. Curious about others’ thoughts on that as yet another contributing factor.
I resoundingly agree that the problem lies in the culture, the culture of violence, moral disintegration, drugs, on and on. I think it really has nothing to do with guns other than them being the tool to manifest violence. Yes, logically if you remove access to the tool of violence, you remove the manifestation of violence, until that tool is replaced by something else, maybe something less efficient, or maybe not (the government building in Oklahoma a few years back was blown up with fertilizer.) So there IS logic in removing, restricting, controlling guns. But it does not remove the true cause, mental illness, psychotropic drugs, a culture of violence (Hollywood, yes, but Hollywood makes money, which is the only incentive, if people wanted unicorns and rainbows, Hollywood would only make movies about unicorns and rainbows.)
I also think there is a possibility of false flags, skewed reports, intentional set ups, corrupt government intervention, and, as we all know, “The Great Reset” etc. to bring about the “reason” to remove yet another constitutional right. Of course if THAT is true, the problem is even more removed from what people would find plausible. And we are faced with the same impossibility of finding an acceptable solution.
I do wonder if tighter gun control, considering all the above, would offer any sort of viable solution. Seems like it would, at least it is a more direct intervention, where solving the culture’s deeper issues will take decades.
And out on a further limb, I can’t help but believe this recent violence, and the general rise of violence in the world today, is a direct result of the Covid insanity with lockdowns, social restrictions, etc. We know mental illness is skyrocketing. I willl be writing an article titled “If You Squeeze a Weasel, it Will Bite You” that addresses all this in detail…stay tuned.
Is there anyone out there that is a hard core liberal that could chime in?
Thank you so much Shelagh!
Like Tiny Shrew above, I think guns are permissible for those who need them.
Farmers protect livestock from predators with hand guns and rifles. People enjoy shooting at targets. And although pacifists have trouble imagining such interests, collectors must collect, whether we get the fetish or not. No problem with any of that here. All those things are just what they are, but the specialty weaponry available and the number of people arming up isn’t easy to think about in a positive way. There's no excuse for even wanting to own an assault rifle IMHO, let alone going out of your way to invest in something designed to kill, BUT, if it isn't too "liberal" to suggest, a very serious process could be installed to assess the capability and responsibility of the applicant. (I said "must" first and changed it to "could". Being liberal-- or is that right wing now?) Some community process could be devised. And that's among the clubs or whatever sets of people are interested in weird gun stuff to set community standards. Some expressed code of ethics-- is that too ridiculous to imagine? Where values are strong there's no need for overly authoritarian measures, also IMHO, and these shooters seem disconnected from any form of connection, or reason for being.. Lost souls, spraying bullets to make an impression because nothing makes sense.
Didn’t gun sales double in the US during Trump’s time? Women were talking about having their little purse guns handy, and preppers were talking about protection from law enforcement if it all went sideways, which has been a topic since police forces became loaded with military surplus years ago. Interested in the thoughts of the officers here on that-- does kevlar full-body armour make you feel less vulnerable, really?
Very good Shelagh. I still go to the base problem. If we lived in a more sane, more conscious, more enlightened culture, no one, or very few, would have a fascination for automatic killing machines. If men, in general, were allowed the integration of the warrior archetype, we would not have this sublimated need to express violence...blah blah blah...
Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think any of the heinous school shootings were executed by these militant men with shaved heads and bodies covered in skull tattoos who, for pleasure, collect sophisticated killing machines that could mow down thousands—in their fantasies...am I right? They have all been, for the most part, little skinny, parentally abandoned, milquetoast nerd boys. Don't mean to profile here—again, I am speaking of the middle of the bell curve. The problem here is not the Rambo wannabes...but it is the Rambo wannabes the liberals and the press want to punish. Do any of these child murderers collect guns for fun? Or go target shooting with their para-military buddies? Am I wrong here? Honestly I am not that well informed.
Rather than attacking the NRA, why aren't we trying to figure out why our culture continually spits out this flavour of mental illness? Oh gee...it certainly couldn't possibly be the first person shooter video games, or the incessant spewing out of violent movies, the loss of family values, and yes, the loss of faith and belief in something bigger than ourselves in the universe....or even the lack of attention in family and other social settings these boys receive in their day to day lives? Oh no, it is because of Trump, or because the good ol' hillbilly boys insist on having their ballistic boy-toys, or a practically defunct lobbying entity like the NRA...give me a break.
So well put EH. It is very odd to me that not everyone shares your feelings here! It is common sense to me (we both will probably get blasted...maybe not. This substack appeals to "shrews"...and we all share a lot of common denominators.)
When I was a hard core liberal (before 9-11) I still agreed with the basis for all this, as you explain here, causal elements being dissolution of family values, character building, drugs, video games, etc. I still thought that removing certain guns, or developing more stringent restrictions was the way to go. I still think there should be a serious registration process (well, actually I am not so sure of that either now--certainly proper training). But now I have a lot of apprehension regarding anything the government wants to impose...particularly any weakening of people's rights. There is a "hidden" agenda there that needs to be factored in...but of course I hear people screaming "it's Trump's fault" with regard to the shootings this week, and I do a face slap because I feel they are missing the point so seriously. Even if people think Trump is a total ass clown, he is NOT the reason those kids died.
I DO wonder though if giving up guns, or putting on more restrictions, would make these incidents less likely, but I also seriously question the veracity of that.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful, and informed, comment.