Las Vegas/Now mass murder in Texas

[liggy]

Dear me norm buzzards ,vultures, rattlesnakes ,black bears,
I'd be s**t scared to leave the house,
I did stumble upon a hedgehog once in plessy woods When I went blackberry picking tho

[1964white]

I've given up trying to understand it.
It seems so obvious to you and me but for a large number of Americans it is a 'right' so ingrained in their psyche that reason and logic don't seem to count.
Around half of the US population voted in the presidential election. About half of the half voted for Trump. From the articles I have read, most of them still approve of Trump and would vote for him again. They probably also own guns.

It is a very strange way of thinking & mentality Bob.

I couldn't live in certain British cities because of the safety aspect. If i was living in America I'd be taking the first flight out of there !

[Ronan]

Oh, I think I get it. You think that I think Obama is a communist. Yes?
I DO NOT.
I am trying to convey to you what a lot of the Trump supporting, pro-gun people are thinking and saying.
They don't want the government imposing programs on them, even something beneficial like universal healthcare, because it is a "socialist" program.

That was the purpose of "I know...........but I don't make this stuff up, I'm just reporting".

No offence Bob....the way you post sometimes comes across as you supporting gun laws...sorry.

I just find it all very sad and quite alarming that so many Americans feel the need to have guns....it's now probably too late but a more stringent vetting procedure for ownership would help.

America has reaped what it has sown unfortunately.

[BobHirst]

No offence Bob....the way you post sometimes comes across as you supporting gun laws...sorry.

I just find it all very sad and quite alarming that so many Americans feel the need to have guns....it's now probably too late but a more stringent vetting procedure for ownership would help.

America has reaped what it has sown unfortunately.

Apology accepted Ronan. I am definitely not a gun supporter. I was just trying to convey to you what I think the gun supporters points of view are.
One of the political ploys used frequently by the Republicans is to label the Democrats policies as socialist or communist. Those two words are very powerful over here and often succeed in uniting the voters against those policies.
Overall I like living here and I find the American people are really good people. I do however share your dismay regarding the gun culture.

[Ronan]

Apology accepted Ronan. I am definitely not a gun supporter. I was just trying to convey to you what I think the gun supporters points of view are.
One of the political ploys used frequently by the Republicans is to label the Democrats policies as socialist or communist. Those two words are very powerful over here and often succeed in uniting the voters against those policies.
Overall I like living here and I find the American people are really good people. I do however share your dismay regarding the gun culture.

Bob....I worked in New Jersey when I was a teenager many many moons ago....I arrived over with a large group of fellow Irish....I loved every minute of it and the locals were very kind and friendly to me....I shed a tear when I was returning home.
I am sure you love your country as much as I love mine.
We all just hope that these mindless atrocities come to an end one way or other.

[liggy]

I often shed a tear when I got to return home as well ronan
Even tho the clubs only 200 yards from the house

[Ronan]

I often shed a tear when I got to return home as well ronan
Even tho the clubs only 200 yards from the house

[John in Louisiana]

I'm just sick to death of the gun culture in my country. Seriously.

The second amendment to the constitution says, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The gun nuts in this country love to point out the second clause in that sentence, but fail to consider the first. Sadly, they've managed to convince the majority of the population here (and five members of the Supreme Court) of a couple of things that are just out and out lies. First is the notion that the second amendment recognizes an absolute individual right to own guns. Second is the notion that the right to keep and bear arms was for the purpose of ensuring the people could retain the power to overthrow their own government.

To address the first point: The second amendment recognizes the right to keep and bear arms within the context of a well-regulated militia. This was put into the constitution because the United States had no standing army in 1789, nor did the government own any stockpiles of weapons. People had the right to keep and bear arms in the event the government had to call out the militia to defend the country. As we now have the most powerful standing army in the world, I'd have to say the second amendment is an anachronism and should be repealed, but there's absolutely zero chance of that happening.

Second, the constitution codified a way for the people to overthrow a tyrannical government: the separation of powers, a military under civilian authority, and periodic free and fair elections. People had the right to keep and bear arms to uphold, not overthrow, that government. Believing otherwise is what led to the Civil War.

I honestly don't know that we'll ever be able to do anything about this insanity, though. If the slaughter of school children at Sandy Hook wasn't enough to overcome the gun lobby, I don't know that anything ever will be. Absolutely nothing is going to come out of this latest atrocity except for the thoughts and prayers sent out to the victims by people who would have us believe that the occasional (read:almost daily) mass shooting is simply the price we have to pay for freedom. It's enough to cause me to despair.

[Ronan]

^^
Well put John

[BobHirst]

100% spot on John.

There are a lot of people in the USA who agree with you, but we don't have the organization and money to go against the NRA and the gun industry. Lets also not forget the cowardly, money taking politicians, who clearly don't give a fcuk about the people.

[gessa]

Now another in Florida
At least 2 dead, early reports 30-50 people shot, not clear how many have died.

[gessa]

Today is 30th day students have been back since the Christmas break and this one is the 19th shooting in or around a school in those 30 days. Unbelievable.

[Cjay]

Today is 30th day students have been back since the Christmas break and this one is the 19th shooting in or around a school in those 30 days. Unbelievable.

Very sad state of affairs.

How all these kids over the years can lose there lives and yet nothing changes baffles me.

[1964white]

Now another in Florida
At least 2 dead, early reports 30-50 people shot, not clear how many have died.

Apparently a deranged armed 19yo student on yet another murderous rampage

Gun laws the fact of the matter is they don't have any laws.....the acceptable face of the USA

[BobHirst]

The "usual" response is already occurring. Marco Rubio, one of the senators for Florida, has come out offering prayers and condolences for the victims. Meanwhile he apparently has accepted donations of 3 million dollars from the NRA, the powerful pro-gun lobby.
Makes me want to puke.

[HarryofOz]

The "usual" response is already occurring. Marco Rubio, one of the senators for Florida, has come out offering prayers and condolences for the victims. Meanwhile he apparently has accepted donations of 3 million dollars from the NRA, the powerful pro-gun lobby.
Makes me want to puke.

So typical, they might as well record that statement on tape and have a flunky play it a press conference.

But not to worry our Don is on to it, he has sent a tweet saying such things shouldn't happen. That'll stop them.

[BobHirst]

Interesting comment today by former REPUBLICAN congressman David Jolly. He said that American voters must flip the House of Representatives to a Democratic majority if they want Congress to address gun control.

The former Florida congressman said "Republicans will never do anything on gun control,"
"The idea of gun policy in the Republican Party is to try to get a speaking slot at the NRA and prove to that constituency that you're further right than past generations of Republicans have been on guns," he said.

We can only hope that the actions of the 'Orange Otan' will drive enough people towards the democrats and that something positive happens to start to stop the lunacy.

[Ronan]

Watched Channel 4 news last night with my son Jack.....we had some Florida representative on saying that the reason 17 people died in the school was that it was a "gun free zone" !!!!!!!
Sweet Jesus....he went on to say that everyone in the US should be armed.

My son looked at me in disbelief...and I don't agree with Jack often...and he said...."Did he really say that ? Are the Americans all mad ?"

I know that the Americans aren't all mad....but when are they gonna realise that going down the road to buy a soda and a rifle isn't normal ?

Tougher gun controls ffs !!!!!