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DEL.ICIO.USA day after the massacre, guns-in-parking-lots bill debate set for today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On the day after what’s being called the deadliest single murder spree in American history, the Senate has scheduled debate on a bill to permit employees to keep guns in their cars parked on corporate lots.
But in the last two hours, whether or not the chamber will push forward with a confrontation over the bill remains in flux. “It is on the calendar, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a vote today,” Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, the presiding officer, said just a few minutes ago.
The bill was weakened considerably on Monday, but the Georgia Chamber of Commerce remains opposed.
The measure, backed by the National Rifle Association and aimed at companies that have policies prohibiting the possession of firearms on their ground, has provoked a tremendous fight within Republican ranks over the right to carry versus the right to control one’s property.
We have a question on timing here, and don’t yet have a firm answer. Backers of H.B. 89 had anticipated the bill coming to the Senate floor on Thursday. It was moved up yesterday evening, just as the full brunt of the massacre at Virginia Tech was hitting TV screens.
The calendar is set by the Senate Rules Committee. For what it’s worth, we note here that Don Balfour, the Republican chairman of the committee, has been no friend of the bill — but who can say whether 24 hours after the event is any worse than 72.
The bill is No. 28 on a list of 49 pieces of legislation.
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By Mike L
April 17, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
Only police should have hand guns. Until guns are not so easy to buy, killings like VA Tech will continue. Our right to bear arms should only apply to long guns for hunting and home defence. Limit ammo sales and clips.
By Chuck
April 17, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
A legally possessed handgun carried by a legally employed professor could have legally stopped that killer after the first few shots had been fired.
By Joe
April 17, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
Clayton County was once known for the honest, knowledgable, and people of class serving in the legislature. Edgar Blalock, Bill Lee, Terrel Starr, Rudolph Johnson Alvin Foster, Frank Bailey, Mike Barnes, Ron Dotson. Now we have people who can’t find the restroom,\and have no interest in serving the people of Clayton county. All have nappy hair.
By MrLiberty
April 17, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
Mike L
Congratulations on correctly defining a POLICE STATE.
Maybe a move to a regime like N. Korea would be more to your liking. Or maybe Britain, where guns have been outlawed and violent, gun crimes are through the roof.
Right on Chuck. Now more than ever is the time to remind folks of the truth about concealed carry and the positive impact it can have in these situations.
By Chuck
April 17, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Hey Mike L….did it dawn on you that only the police DID have guns yesterday!!!! Mike, other than the killer, who else had a gun yesterday? Gun laws are a joke Mike. Guess what..we have laws against possessing illegal drugs. Man am I glad of that. So glad we dont have a drug problem. Hey Mike, we have laws against illegal immigration. Sure glad we dont have a problem with that here in America. You liberals just dont get it.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Wow Chuck. You can predict the future? You can guarantee that? Why not an illegal handgun by a professor? Do you know for a fact someone up there didn’t already have a gun? I love how you all come out and can guarantee certain things could happen without even knowing the whole story. Again, sounds like Hillary and some sob story about what could have been. Let’s make more laws since the ones out there already never stop criminals.
By Howard
April 17, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Sirs…I predict it will be before the week is out that the party that depends on lies, pandering, misery, bad times, and death to advance its agenda…namely the Democrat Party…will slide out from un der its rock and begin screaming for gun control…gun control…gun control!! Draconic bills will be offered up in the House and Senate by these people hoping to score points with the American public…still numbed over the horror that unfolded in Blacksburg. And it won’t take long for their allies in Hollywood and the drive-by media to also join in the crusade. But the Dems had better be careful how they approach this…why do you think John Kerry and especially Al Gore did not win the 2000 and 2004 elections?? They made the gun owners of this country mad…people genuinely feel sorrow for those victims of that insane gunman and their families. But they will not stand for new and restrictive gun control laws…on top of the more than 22,000 laws we now had on the books. In fact, there were probably a basketful of gun laws this cowardly creep broke when he took that gun on campus…if he even legally owned it. And what good did it do?? And oh boy, did the campus cops up there come out looking like Barney Fife with their unbelievable response to the those first shootings. Talk about giving that kook a target rich environment!! Don’t blame the guns…blame our society and the sorid depths into we have sunk as a people…blame our entertainment industry which feeds our kids violence after violence…blame the video games industry which has deadened our kids’ reaction to killing and death. Blame a society in which religion has been reduced greatly… I’m an NRA member and have been since 1993…when Bill Clinton got elected. I don’t really care for that organization and I only agree with about 50% of its positions…and I am not a hunter and have never shot anything…much less anyone with a gun. In fact, haven’t shot a gun in seven years…but I know the NRA will stand up liberals and Democrats in protecting my right…yes, it is in the Constitution…to own a gun for home defense. You always hear liberals decry the 2nd. Amendment as not saying we have a right to bear arms…funny how these people can twist the 1st Amendment into their own warped viewpoint to ban religion.
By Mony
April 17, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
Tony,laws are not going to stop criminals. People have to do that.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 10:41 AM | Link to this
Wow Howard. Who were the ones who came out screaming for arming every American before these students’ bodies even were cold? While you say the Dems would be opportunists, I see you and your kind out there saying shoving guns in everyones’ hands would somehow change the situation. Nice respect you show for being an opportunist in the way of Kerry, Gore, and Clinton. Nice to see a legally purchased handgun is what caused this. but somehow a campus of untrained college kids armed to the teeth shooting at anyone with a gun they deem a threat would have changed this. Cops would love that as well. Knowing someone with a gun is shooting people I’m sure they’d feel better seeing about 30 or more kids pulling out guns thinking they’re playing Grand Theft Auto. I see the nuts are coming out of the woodwork already. Next we’ll hear that we should send every Asian immigrant packing as well. Oh the rational thinkers we have.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
How do you propose to handle that?
By Gary
April 17, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this
Mr Liberty: Do you actually read the news in the paper or are you really this much of a Moron?? A quote from you..”Or maybe Britain, where guns have been outlawed and violent, gun crimes are through the roof”
Now a direct quote from the Associated Press in todays news.
“Gun crime is rare in Britain, and handguns are completely illegal. The ban is so strictly enforced that Britain’s Olympic pistol shooting team is barred from practicing in its own country.
Britain’s 46 homicides involving firearms was the lowest total since the late 1980s. New York City, with 8 million people compared to 53 million in England and Wales, recorded at least 579 homicides last year.”
Now what was that about gun crimes being through the roof.
The right to bear Arms was created based on a single shot MUSKET being kept over the fireplace in the cabin!! Get over it already!
By Jim J
April 17, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
I’ve met a lot of Republicans in my day and I trust maybe ten percent of them to use guns responsibly in any setting, including hunting.
Here are three countries where gun ownership approaches American levels: Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia.
Thanks to the idiot Republican rednecks that run this country and this state, we’re becoming more like those countries everyday.
Heckuva job, Republicans!
By MadSmoker
April 17, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this
Tony, that gun was not legally purchased, and the shooter violated the campus gun-ban by bringing it in. The gun didn’t cause this, the insane criminal did. And the lack of defense allowed it to happen.
By darrell
April 17, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Mike L and all the media outlets. It is a magazine not a clip Im just thankful that this piece of garbage offed himself and now taxpayers dont have to provide him attorneys and evaluations.
By David
April 17, 2007 11:42 AM | Link to this
Gary, please explain how Switzerland, where every household must keep a fully automatic assault rifle, has one of the lowest crime rates in the world?
By David
April 17, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this
Nice to see a legally purchased handgun is what caused this.
The shooter was an immigrant which means he could not have legally purchased a handgun. He broke at least 4 laws to make his purchased. How would adding more laws for him to break have prevented any of this?
By michelle
April 17, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
OMG…the OBVIOUS answer here is MORE GUNS! yes….MORE GUNS and paranoid gun-toting individuals. i’m sure that no one would’ve gotten hurt with the deterrence of another individual with a gun….you f’ing rednecks.
By CBL
April 17, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this
So we should outlaw handguns, because handguns are used to kill people. Then he would have brought a shotgun with a few boxes of shells or semi-automatic rifle with a few clips and we would have another bloody sniper situation in Virginia. Better outlaw those, too. While we’re at it, let’s outlaw other dangerous devices such as knives sharper than a butterknife, slingshots, and Ju-Jutsu. Also, don’t forget people with unusually large hands. I’m pretty sure you can kill someone with all of said items.
Anyone who charges the government to do anything effectively—in this case, trade your rights to personal protection for government “protection”— should consider the fine job the heavily-armed police did in protecting an allegedly gun-free college campus yesterday. If you want a gun-free society, go move to the UK.
By leslie
April 17, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
I’ll be happy to give up my gun if I can take my shampoo on an airplane!!!!
By NambyPambyLiberals
April 17, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
GUN LAWS DO NOT AFFECT CRIMINALS
It’s going to be interesting to see the liberal spin on the fact that this person clearly bought an “illegal” weapon. This is because he couldn’t buy one legally if he wasn’t a citizen.
The only people gun laws affect are law abiding citizens. A&E had a special on gun laws and interviewed prisoners in a detention facility and they stated that their greatest fear was an armed citizen. They also stated that the gun laws have no affect on them, criminals, as they get them illegally.
But let’s take the liberal stand and punish law abiding citizens with gun laws.
By Jim J
April 17, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
David:
Because the Swiss are smart. Americans are stupid. We elect people like George W. Bush.
By Jim J
April 17, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
The very fact that the idiot Republicans on this message board want to carry a gun scares the crap out of me. You guys screw up everything you touch, including shooting. Look at your god and personal savior Dick Cheney.
By michelle
April 17, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
re: david and the swiss gun laws:
because the guns and ammunition are totally regulated by the government.
but the 2nd amendment can’t work both ways for the NRA nuts, that’s why there’s no real gun control here. it’s the NRA’s fault, as evidenced by the latest bill in the GA senate this very minute.
By CBL
April 17, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
As an addendum to my previous post, I’d like to see government effectively enforce keeping guns out of our society, if such legislation were actually passed. Remember, this is the same government which has been charged with the responsibility of keeping illegal aliens out of our country, and we’ve seen how well that has worked out.
Comprende?
By calvin
April 17, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
More laws are not what is needed. Gun laws are for those who obey the law. Criminals do not obey the law nor will more gun control stop them from illegally getting guns.
By Advice
April 17, 2007 11:59 AM | Link to this
Breaking News just in! Man runs car up onto busy NY sidewalk during rush hour hurting and killing at least 100 people. World reacts with shock and condemns the US for lax automobile laws. Dem vow to pass measures to restrict car usage and an out right ban on certain automobile models!
By lucky
April 17, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
From the video of the Virgina Tech shooting and the Columbine shooting, the police never went into the building during the entire time that gunshots were heard. In fact, during Columbine, they waited so long after the suicides of the killers that people died of their injuries who might have been saved otherwise.
So, Tony, you can want to live in a world where only the police will be armed legally? And rely on criminals and crazies to follow the rules?
I plan to protect myself and will help you out of a perilous situation while we both hope that the need never occurs.
By ProudSoutherner
April 17, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
Without a crazy lunatic holding the guns involved in the killings, they could not have committed these crimes!! THIS KID KILLED THESE PEOPLE. I was telling my wife last night to watch out for the gun control cries and here they are one day later.
By Bill Clinton
April 17, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
Jim J I carry a gun and I’m not an idiot Republican. In fact I’m your former President that you voted for.
By ProudSoutherner
April 17, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this
JimJ…do you honestly believe your beloved Democrats can do any better? Sure they would ban all guns, pull out of Iraq and dismantle the military. Would this be the Utopia you crave? No, because we would be attacked by the Islamic idiots and would have no way to defend ourselves. Get a clue!
By Ted
April 17, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Hey Joe. Are an idiot, bigot, or both. What does your last line have to do with the topic.
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Gary: ALL our Constitutional rights were penned 200+ years ago. You can’t cut out some and defend others. Musket, Glock or anything else…. it is the same as the town crier of 200 years ago or the internet today. Your rights are timelessly protected.
You anti gun types need to check your hypocrisy next time you go to a movie or watch TV with weapons being used in them by your hero “anti gun” liberal actors!
By Tony
April 17, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
I love it how everyone has become a genius overnight. So many people know exactly what laws have been broken when all of the facts have not even come out.
I love how the solution is to put a gun in everyone’s hand. I love how so many assume because a law ALLOWS people to carry a gun, it would somehow have prevented this from happening. Somehow there is a sick sense of irony seeing a hung over college student stumbling to class with his loaded gun. I’m sure cops would love this as well. I know the lawyers would drool over the prospect of liability lawsuits for ‘accidental’ shootings taking place. People, get some sense. No law allowing more guns to be carried would have prevented this. It didn’t work in the Wild West and wouldn’t work in the 21st century.
By GeorgiaInCanada
April 17, 2007 12:15 PM | Link to this
I am a native Georgian currently residing in Toronto, Canada for work. It’s amazing that a city and country full of immigrants from all over the world, including Korea, Asia, and the middle east have virtually minimal crime with guns, when compared with US cities. They outlaw handguns here. Although other factors are surely in play, there IS a correlation whether people want to admit that or not. The country is smaller in population, but the percentage of crimes is still lower so that argument cannot be made. Overall, they are a less religious society than the US as well. Just looking for reasons why we in America cannot contain our anger like our Northern neighbors…thoughts?
By Bill
April 17, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Sadly, another example that the police cannot protect the public. I have not heard a single report of a single shot being fired by any uniformed officer. As a matter of fact, I did see on tv, an officer drinking coffee, proudly standing by his cruiser, fully armed, and sadly, doing nothing.
By Mark
April 17, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Gun crime is rare in Britain, and handguns are completely illegal. The ban is so strictly enforced that Britain’s Olympic pistol shooting team is barred from practicing in its own country.
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
Remember the day when firearms weren’t ‘demonized’ by the press & liberals? When The Rifleman carried his Winchester and was the good guy? When people only took off their sixguns to go th church?
Wake up America…..people want to strip the Constitution and us of our rights. Right to assemble, right to free speech, right to bear arms……..
By Fed-Up
April 17, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Why is it that everything must be politicalized in this country? Why is it that I, as a law abiding gun owner, must pay for the lack of judgment of others? Why is it that everytime we experience a tragedy in America, we loose more rights?
I am a LEGAL gun owner and teach a gun safety course for the Boy Scouts for 20 years. We are reuired to send our kids through a class before they can obtain a drivers liscence, why not demand the same before you can buy a gun? Education is the key. If you are too stupid to pass a gun safety course, then you can not buy a gun. Simple huh. But there is a catch. Criminals will still get guns illegally. I was in Britain 2 years ago. Do not believe all that you read. Gun ownership is rampant in Britain and gun runners are making a fortune. The English media has reported in the past that the figures released by the police on gun murders are not correct and are higher in rural areas than in the city. Murders total (knife and other instruments) in England rival the US per capita. This goes to show you that if you want to kill someone bad enough, the availabilty of a gun makes no difference.
By larry
April 17, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Jim J,
You’re a moron. I’m not a Republican; but, I know the police avenge crimes. They don’t prevent them.
And, Gary, the crime rate in Britain skyrocketed when the guns were taken away from the law abiding public.
A well armed society is a very polite society.
As has been stated, had just one of the students in the ovine flock been armed, we would most likely be mourning far fewer deaths.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
Lucky,
I never said that. So before you assume again, make sure what the poster actually said.
ProudSoutherner,
Perhaps you should go back and read so many posts on here and other sites. Instead of the gun control crowd making the first comments, it was the “shove guns in everyone’s hands” crowd that made stupid comments before the students’ bodies were even cold. I heard repeatedly yesterday how we need laws allowing people to carry guns to stop this sort of event. So before you go telling your wife about liberals crying, make sure you check your own sides’ comments as parents are calling to find out how their kids are.
As for “Islamic idiots” realize we are fighting an insurgency in Iraq full of everyone armed to the teeth. Instead of DISARMING the Iraqis, we allowed everyone to keep their arms and protect them in their constitution. Now our men and women in uniform are dying for the same concept you want here in the US.
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
Remember the armed citizen who followed that carjacker & kidnapper / murderer on I-75 in Acworth and shot him dead last year?
He will tell you that an armed, trained citizen is law enforcement’s best friend! The police gave him an award!
By JJ Harper, IW
April 17, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this
**To Mike L.:
Did a “gun law” stop Cho Seung-Hui?**
By CBL
April 17, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
GeorgiaInCanada, whether you chose to live in Canada or not, your freedoms as a citizen are also much less than in your neighbor to the south. You seem to be happy with that. Hopefully your adopted country can sustain itself in the future with a rapidly aging population, low birth rates, and high immigration rates. When the going gets tougher, I guess you just will have to go after your foes with hockey sticks rather than Glocks. Good luck!
By CJ
April 17, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
The “right to bear arms” is antiquated and no relevant in today’s world. That was relevant back when you had wild coyotes, bears, and British troops on the loose in America, but now we only have thugs, hunters, and crazy people who feel that they “need” a gun. It’s time to begin the slow process of getting guns out of people’s hands and into a trash can!
By mr joe
April 17, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
Englishman living in atlanta: This determination to carry guns is so primitive. I like the comparison with those third world countries…very amusing. The general statistic is simple - more guns = more murders. 99.9% of owners never use them for self defense. Guns are fun is why they have them.
By Gary
April 17, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Again I riterate:
The amendment to the constitution was conceived under the thoughts and intentions that the “Arms” to be beared by the people was to be a single shot musket. Something to provide food for the family, and to take up in times of war (when the common man fought the wars). Now a days we have the military to do that and we no longer need to hunt to survive. Do you really expect people to believe that our forefathers sat and thought thoughts like: Oh hey one day they will have a handgun that holds 15 bullets and can take out this many people with one clip! So let’s make sure that we make a provision for that. I don’t give a rats a* what you say about a person did this and not the gun. If that person had not had easy accesss to a semi automatic weapon this would more then likely would not have occurred. You’d think with a difference of 533 gun related homicides in one US city as opposed to 46 gun related deaths in an entire country this would tell you something. I guess we are really that clue less in this country? Very sad indeed.
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
WE ARE NOT BRITISH, CANADIAN or anyone else! WE ARE AMERICANS!
If we wanted to sip tea, eat crumpets & knit petticoats, we would never have fought a Revolution.
We have AMERICAN RIGHTS bought with the blood of many over the years.
We need revisionists for the Constitution like we need revisionist for the Bible…..HANDS OFF!
By Koz
April 17, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Open your eyes Liberals
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2656875.stm
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this
Hey CJ, you ready to give up you other Rights? If not, then don’t pick which ones YOU think should go “in the trash can”.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
Larry,
Can you guarantee your claim that one armed student would have made a difference? I’m sure odds are the cops would mistake him for the gunman and shoot him or her by mistake and in the confusion even more would die. But yet YOUR claim is somehow factual. Miss Cleo was fired for making stupid claims like this logic…or lack of.
By Family Guy
April 17, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Guns don’t kill people, dangerous minorities kill people.
By irish65
April 17, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
Since I HAVE USED WEAPONS IN DEFENSE OF MY COUNTRY, I feel qualified to tell all that they have no place in a peacetime society.
By Fed Up
April 17, 2007 12:39 PM | Link to this
To Tony:
I do not understand your type??? In 2005, the US had over 63,000 deaths by motor vehicles. That is 10 times the number of deaths by guns. Should we do away with automobiles? In 2005 (according to the US crime statistics on the FBI website), an equal number or murders were committed using knives and blunt instruments compared to guns. Should we outlaw these instruments? It is convenient to pick on the law abiding gun owner, but how many crimes are committed with lawfully purchased guns? I would say very few.
There are radicals on both sides. It would be irresponsible of the NRA or any other legitimate gun support group to come out and say that all Americans should be armed. Anyone can post anything on the internet and say that they belong to a certain group. Banning guns is not the answer. Stiffer penalties for crimes and less liberal judges willing to hand out stiffer sentences are the answer along with better education on guns and the implications of their use. Like anything else, responsible use starts with the user, not the gun itself.
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Sorry Gary,the Supreme court, both liberal and conservative have held that the “Right to keep and bear arms” is NOT only for militias, but applies to citizens.
You would LIKE it to not be that way.
Again, ALL the rights were TIMELESSLY granted 200+ years ago and ALL are still for our benefit today.
Can’t pick & choose which one you don’t want. All or nothing….democracy or dictatorship!
By gman
April 17, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
You know, I hate being branded by my political party. I’m a democrat and a gun owner. I also carry my gun permit with me. My gun sits by my bed…in a locked safe. I take it out to practice at the local range. When I’m transporting it, I take the clip out and store it away from the gun.
Now most would say, “Gman, what’s the point of owning a gun then?” Simple, I have a right to protect my family and my home. I’m not a republican and I’m sure as heck not a redneck. My advice is for people who think all gunowners are as such is to think again.
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
Right on Koz!!!!!!!!!
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
irish65, Many of us have used firearms in defense of our country (my dad WW2 & Korea, me Vietnam) and we fought to defend our rights.
You have the right to freely express your opinion, but the Supreme court has ALWAYS sided against the “milita only” argument.
By irish65
April 17, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
Fed up: Automobiles kill people by accident and have as their main purpose transportation. Guns are menat to kill by intent (although there are 2 children killed each day by accident), and have as their main purpose killing.
If you can’t understand that, please turn in your gun. Knives and blunt instruments don’t kill from afar, thus enabling those who can’t use them. Also, if a knife carrying student went into a classroom of people, how many do you think he could kill? Not 30!!!
By irish65
April 17, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Jeff:
THE SUPREME COURT HAS NEVER RULED ON THE RIGHT TO CARRY GUNS OR OUTLAW THEM.
KEEP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID, THOUGH.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
Fed Up,
I never said ban all guns or restrict more. So make sure you read what I said and respond only to that. It makes for better debate to get your facts straight.
Jeff, Nice of you to bring up one example of a civilian shooting a perp and police liking it. How many shootings occur? How many other examples can you come up with?
By E T F
April 17, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Irish65 - You may need to use smaller words with conservatives. I think you may be confusing them.
By E T F
April 17, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
Irish65 - You may want to use smaller words when communicating - ummm talking — to conservatives. You’re confusing them.
By CobbCoian
April 17, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe how many people actually think that if the students had been armed this could have been prevented. Come on! They were in class, why should anyone need a weapon in the class room. They aren’t allowed in high schools either! Pshyco people will always find a way to carry on with their plans - having the entire student body carrying around their own concealed weapons is not the answer. I for one would have been petrified to attend classes if I thought my fellow students all had a glock in their belts.
By Gary
April 17, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
Jeff….as usual like every other guncrazed individual (and a few politicians) you’re completely ignoring what I actually stated. I never said that we didn’t have a right to bear arms. I stated that the amendment was not created with weapons of mass murder in mind. That’s a common sense fact and there’s no logical point you can use to successfully debate that.
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
“Jeff, Nice of you to bring up one example of a civilian shooting a perp and police liking it. How many shootings occur? How many other examples can you come up with?”
Plenty from many newspapers, all compiled. http://www.claytoncramer.com/gundefenseblog/labels/carjacking.html
By irish65
April 17, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
One of the students DID HAVE A GUN.
Logic would ask us to think of what it would mean if all 26,000 had guns.
It would likely mean that instead of fistfights and other abuse, we would have a plethora of fatal gunshots.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
Again, Jeff, how many compared to overall shootings? And quite a few of these look like legal means. I believe the debate went with if laws allowed students to carry guns. A response to the actual debate?
By Fed Up
April 17, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
To Irish 65:
What planet do you live on. The automobile is used every day as a weapon. Just read the headlines in any given newspaper about vehicular homicide rates or the rate of road rage incidents reported in major cities. You mean to tell me that the car is ALWAYS used for transportation and NEVER for the use of injuring another??? I use my guns for sport shooting. YOUR interpretation of a gun’s intention is to kill. I use mine for sport shooting mainly, so the only thing I kill is a clay pigeon. There is more than one use for everything. But if you are threatening my family, I will kill you with my car, my hands, my gun, or a spoon if I can, whichever I can get to first. Does that mean that all of these are threats and should be banned?
And by the way: The US Supreme Court has ruled on the behalf of keeping and bearing arms by private citizens (not militia) in 1973 (Cranic vs Michigan, 1986 (Thomason vs. California) and in 1997 (Georgia vs. Wolfe) just to name a few court cases as well as the Senate and House in 1978 in HB 965 stating that the Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms by private citizens to protect themselves against personal harm.
You are taking one incident involving a gun and blowing it out of proportion. The shooter at Va Tech was a spineless loser. I am saddened by the loss of life and the tragedy that awaits those that survived. But I agin say, what does this have to do with a legal gun owner? If he did purchase this gun from a legal gunsmith, the seller should be charged with murder. He as a nonresident alien should not have been able to purchase a gun or ammunition. Why is my ability to legally own a registered gun being jeapordised by the actions of this loser?
By GeorgiaInCanada
April 17, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Hi CBL, perhaps you need to stop making assumptions. I’m here working for a US company for career growth. I prefer living in the US. Like or not, we are a slave to capatalism and I’ve become accustomed to that. How about offering a solution instead. Maybe lack of communication is a big contributor to our anger, you think?!
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this
Tony, I wasn’t adressing students carrying weapons in school. I don’t think I would like that. Young people tend to be irresponsible.The shooter had an illegal weapon and carried it on school grounds illegally.
I am addressing those who would deny my constitutional right to own and carry a legal firearm with a Georgia issued permit. You asked for proof armed civilians deter crime and I provided it.
By Jim J
April 17, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this
“A well armed society is a very polite society.”
This is clearly false. No one, especially a conservative like yourself, would label the U.S. a “polite country.” But we are indeed very well armed.
It’s the gun nuts that are the first to start crying and hiding when there’s trouble. I’ve met my share of you bubbas and you’re all talk no action.
By Bruce Wilcox
April 17, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
“The automobile is used every day as a weapon.” how do you carry upstairs into a classroom?
By Tony
April 17, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Jeff,
Have you proof he had an illegal weapon? News released that I have seen indicate otherwise. I’d hate to see more people not knowing the full story making such baseless claims.
By Jim J
April 17, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
To you conservamorons who keep bringing up cars and traffic accidents (what a morbid, bloodthirsty bunch you all are):
CARS WEREN’T DESIGNED TO SPECIFICALLY KILL PEOPLE. GUNS ARE. TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ARE JUST THAT: ‘ACCIDENTS.’
Good Lord but Republicans are the stupidest creatures on God’s green earth.
So how’s y’all’s buddy Bush doin’? Heckuva job or what, people?
By JEFF
April 17, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
“Have you proof he had an illegal weapon? News released that I have seen indicate otherwise. I’d hate to see more people not knowing the full story making such baseless claims.’
Tony, from CNN.com “A source familiar with the investigation said the weapons found at Norris were a Walther .22-caliber semi-automatic and a 9 mm Glock — both with the serial numbers filed off.”
It is illegal to alter or remove the S/N from a firearm. It thus becomes an illegal weapon.
When you have an argument, come back….
By Pakkin Black Man
April 17, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
Can’t wait for my CW license to show up in the mail. I’m taking no chances with this crazy world or the fools in it. I am definitely no Conservative but believe wholeheartedly in my right to bear arms, and I am doing it.
Yep, one must be rational and cool headed with these things. I’m all for law abiding citizens to pack. I will be.
By lucky
April 17, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
There is plenty of evidence released so far that indicates this young man was deeply troubled. Ditto for the Columbine killers.
The blame game should start with their parents who ignored the elephant in the room, and also the professors and counselors, while knowing of his instablity, did not take proactive approach to protect the students entrusted to their care.
Add to the blame list those who feel that the mentally ill should be mainstreamed rather than hospitalized, without regard to whether they dangerous. Do you remember the poor soul who walked into an elementary school with a hatchet and sliced into some little girl’s head?
There is a long list of crimes without rhyme or reason committed by criminally insane individuals allowed to walk among us by politically correct fools who believe they have the right. These people cannot even fend for themselves, cannot or will not take their medications and usually wind up suffering more than their victims. The decisions to allow them to roam free are made by liberals who truly believe that their right to commit mayhem is more important than my right to ensure my safety.
Oh, and for all those so inclined, the same analogy can be applied to the illegal criminals - society pays the price for decisions made by irresponsible and clueless elitists who inflict consequences on the general public for their foolish beliefs.
By Tony
April 17, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
When this is official I will believe it Jeff. Shocking you are on here quoting CNN. And doing an illegal action to something doesn’t make that item illegal.
By EW
April 17, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this
If Va Tech had REAL cops with REAL guns perhaps only one, maybe two families would be grieving, not this many. One shot in the head in self defense would have stopped all this.