School shooting in Parkland, FL

[dadtoagirl03]

I agree we do our children no favors at school. We let every "bad" guy/girl know that here is a facility full of children/adults with absolutely no way to protect themselves. The same with many churches or government buildings without proper security. If your a "bad" guy and want to cause as much damage as possible the first place you go it where people/children are sitting ducks.

There is on way to stop bad people from doing bad things, but we should make it as difficult as possible for them to do so especially with children involved.

 

[sam_gordon]

Its a device that is sold that is not needed for hunting, target shooting or home protection. Its what the sandy hook parents wanted controls for.

But how do you know that was used in this instance?

Wasn't a handgun used in the Kentucky shooting a couple weeks ago?

 

[Domo]

Oh God, another one That's 18 shootings this year... that's 18 too many My deepest thoughts to those afflicted and to all those involved in any way.

 

[robinb]

So sick of the immediate, mindless stomping on the idea of thoughts and prayers.

How can you hear of such tragedy and not have your thoughts and your hearts go to those directly affected? Heaven forbid we upset the great Twittersphere and commit the great offense of taking a beat to make a statement of support.

As for people of faith offering prayers, for the faithful it is quite possibly one of the most powerful actions they can personally bring to the immediate situation in which there is an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. For those who think that's nonsense, so be it. But why spit on what many see as a great source of strength and consolation, offered up with good intentions on behalf of those who are hurting?

No one is spitting on "thoughts and prayers". Of course everyone's heart goes out to the kids in the school and their families. The frustration is when "thoughts and prayers" is the conclusion of the deliberation of the issue of gun violence in schools instead of the beginning.

 

[mnrose]

So do you have a PRACTICAL solution?

Making all guns illegal isn't practical.
Better mental health treatment sounds good, but I'm willing to guess if anyone thought someone would do this, something would be done.
Do we put metal detectors at every door of every school, mall, theater, business?

I don't have a solution, but just claiming "something needs to be done" isn't helpful either.

I actually DO have a practical solution. Any gun owner, whose gun is used in the commission of this sort of tragic slaughter, should be held 100% legally and financially accountable. They should be forced to pay damages to any victims. This would very much encourage parents, for example, to keep guns safely locked where teenagers can't get at them. No excuses. No exceptions. If you choose to own such a weapon, the death and destructions wrought by the weapon is on you. Period.

Insurance companies should be allowed to inquire about gun ownership, and to charge you significantly higher premiums, should you choose to own a weapon.

These are PRACTICAL solutions that don't involve taking one gun away from anyone.

Another practical solution. Have a gun buy back program. You get a voucher good for paying for higher education or the cost of a private school education. Will we get them all? No, of course not. But, any reduction is better than none at all. And the last few of these shootings have been by legally obtained/owned weapons (not illegally obtained....those tend to be used in drug crimes, etc, not school shootings), so we've got to reduce the rate of such ownership OR make the penalty for failing to adequately secure such a weapon very high to make sure people handle their guns responsibly.

If we spent as much time and energy focusing on this problem as we do on "terrorists" (which are just not that much of a statistical threat) we'd be well on our way to solving it. But, we do NOTHING. Absolutely nothing. And, the slaughter continues.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

So sick of the immediate, mindless stomping on the idea of thoughts and prayers.

How can you hear of such tragedy and not have your thoughts and your hearts go to those directly affected? Heaven forbid we upset the great Twittersphere and commit the great offense of taking a beat to make a statement of support.

As for people of faith offering prayers, for the faithful it is quite possibly one of the most powerful actions they can personally bring to the immediate situation in which there is an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. For those who think that's nonsense, so be it. But why spit on what many see as a great source of strength and consolation, offered up with good intentions on behalf of those who are hurting?

I have no problem with thoughts and prayers, it’s just that every time this happens, the buck stops there. It’s always “too early” to discuss how to prevent this. I’m all for love, support, and kind gestures to provide healing, but thoughts and prayers aren’t going to prevent the further loss of life.

 

[mousefan73]

Correct. Frustration and the fact that mass shootings are not isolated cases. Columbine- I have those images clear after all these years as that was one of the first and there was a long pause. That was HORRIFIC back then nothing like this had ever happened. People were talking about this for years. I can no longer recall mass shootings anymore. Just too many. Remember Orlando? That was before VEGas. Before that grade schoolers and many mire in between. Part of our lives now. Wait a few months it’ll happen again.

 

[Magpie]

Let me ask this then... do you believe you have a realistic, practical solution?

If you'd like, PM me what you think. I'd like to hear a solution that would actually work.

Realistic and practical...?

I think the only "solution" would be a fundamental shift in culture. And that would require everyone to get on board and work together, in partnership, to improve the quality of everyone's lives. Not just the people who deserve better lives. Not just the people who are most like you. Everyone.

The countries with the lowest rates of homicide do not necessarily have lower gun ownership rates, but they DO have very high standards of living. And they tend to be more cohesive.

So, from cradle to grave... work toward lower infant mortality. Better maternal outcomes. Support for new parents. Better schools. A higher standard of living for your poorest citizens. Health care and mental health care that is easily accessible to all. Quality housing. Neighbourhood improvement projects and partnerships with law enforcement. Community gardens, better access to high quality, affordable, fresh food. No more "food deserts". Limits on the exploitation of consumers (ie, for-profit colleges, usurious loans, money-lending schemes, etc). Focus on not exploiting your workers, from waitresses to unpaid interns, and including in areas like college sports. Fair wages, that people can live on. Community care for the elderly. Palliative care.

No, this wouldn't necessarily have stopped THIS tragedy, but it would make these tragedies a lot less common.

I am saddened beyond my ability to express by this latest shooting. Those poor children! It's hard to keep optimism alive in the face of something like this. I still think it's worth the fight, though!

 

[mousefan73]

What boggles me about guns is that you dont even have to know how to use one to own one. A car you need a license. Heck even to cut hair! Guns, nope any idiot can own one.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Its a device that is sold that is not needed for hunting, target shooting or home protection. Its what the sandy hook parents wanted controls for.

But, the very people who proposed changes after Sandy Hook ALL confessed that any such change would have had zero impact on Sandy Hook had the proposals been in place.

Let’s face it, unless we devise a way to keep these nutters out of the schools or conceive of a way to fight back once they’re in, a 10-round magazine will be every bit as deadly as a 30-round magazine, and a handgun as deadly as a rifle.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

So sick of the immediate, mindless stomping on the idea of thoughts and prayers.

How can you hear of such tragedy and not have your thoughts and your hearts go to those directly affected? Heaven forbid we upset the great Twittersphere and commit the great offense of taking a beat to make a statement of support.

As for people of faith offering prayers, for the faithful it is quite possibly one of the most powerful actions they can personally bring to the immediate situation in which there is an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. For those who think that's nonsense, so be it. But why spit on what many see as a great source of strength and consolation, offered up with good intentions on behalf of those who are hurting?

No one is “spitting on” offering condolences. It’s the idea that seems to be prevalent that THAT is all we should be doing at a time like this, and that during this time of mourning one more school or mass shooting we should not be even be discussing certain solutions, because THAT would somehow be political, and how dare anyone turn this into politics at a time when we should be offering thoughts and prayers. And then we wait...and not very long...for the next shooting, so that we can offer more thoughts and prayers and not discuss solutions, because what the victims need are thoughts and prayers, not politics...

And around and around we go.

 

[mousefan73]

My office is around the corner from this school. We are stuck here due to the roads all being shut down.

Stay safe.

 

[Domo]

What boggles me about guns is that you dont even have to know how to use one to own one. A car you need a license. Heck even to cut hair! Guns, nope any idiot can own one.

I'm an idiot but I can't buy one... not unless I get a licence and apply to police safeguards.

BUT, what works for some...

 

[mousefan73]

I'm an idiot but I can't buy one... not unless I get a licence and apply to police safeguards.

BUT, what works for some...

Most places a “license “ means showing ID and maybe a background check. Just another word for taxes. Like a fishing license. Nothing to prove one knows gun safety or actually how to shoot. Some states have this but I believe most dont. Correct me if wrong.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

What boggles me about guns is that you dont even have to know how to use one to own one. A car you need a license. Heck even to cut hair! Guns, nope any idiot can own one.

There is no law that says you must know how to use a car to own one. You don’t need a license. You can be a convicted felon. You can have a history of DUI’s. You aren’t required to have insurance. None of these are required in order to legally own a car.

 

[sam_gordon]

I actually DO have a practical solution. Any gun owner, whose gun is used in the commission of this sort of tragic slaughter, should be held 100% legally and financially accountable. They should be forced to pay damages to any victims. This would very much encourage parents, for example, to keep guns safely locked where teenagers can't get at them. No excuses. No exceptions. If you choose to own such a weapon, the death and destructions wrought by the weapon is on you. Period.

Insurance companies should be allowed to inquire about gun ownership, and to charge you significantly higher premiums, should you choose to own a weapon.

These are PRACTICAL solutions that don't involve taking one gun away from anyone.

Another practical solution. Have a gun buy back program. You get a voucher good for paying for higher education or the cost of a private school education. Will we get them all? No, of course not. But, any reduction is better than none at all. And the last few of these shootings have been by legally obtained/owned weapons (not illegally obtained....those tend to be used in drug crimes, etc, not school shootings), so we've got to reduce the rate of such ownership OR make the penalty for failing to adequately secure such a weapon very high to make sure people handle their guns responsibly.

If we spent as much time and energy focusing on this problem as we do on "terrorists" (which are just not that much of a statistical threat) we'd be well on our way to solving it. But, we do NOTHING. Absolutely nothing. And, the slaughter continues.

I actually like those ideas. My only suggestion would be if the gun owner took reasonable (that would need to be decided) steps to protect their weapon, I don't think they should be held liable.

I'm not crazy about the added insurance premiums because we inherited some of my FiL's rifles when he passed away. We have no ammunition in the home, but we still own the guns.

 

[longboard55]

A bump stock ban would be a good example of something that could have been done and hasn't been done. The idea nothing could be done is false

But, the very people who proposed changes after Sandy Hook ALL confessed that any such change would have had zero impact on Sandy Hook had the proposals been in place.

Let’s face it, unless we devise a way to keep these nutters out of the schools or conceive of a way to fight back once they’re in, a 10-round magazine will be every bit as deadly as a 30-round magazine, and a handgun as deadly as a rifle.

Sure guy, that's why the went to congress and begged. Totally heartless

 

[Domo]

Most places a “license “ means showing ID and maybe a background check. Just another word for taxes. Like a fishing license. Nothing to prove one knows gun safety or actually how to shoot. Some states have this but I believe most dont. Correct me if wrong.

IIRC, I need to pass a course to own any firearm .22 or grander. You can own an air rifle sans licence. Some kind of cursory licence for shotguns. Pistols other than air pistols are illegal, lock stock.

 

[DisneyOma]

Are you serious? I don't even know how to respond to what you said
So I will just say prayers for all involved, and I hope that they caught/catch the shooter.

Something HAS to be done to stop all of this, but what it is, I for one do not know!

Glad you figured it out later on in the thread. The PP was listing ineffectual things people do after a horrific situation.

I had/have no clue if you were serious or not. That's why I was at a loss for words to say. I took your post the way I read it, sorry if you were just being 'sarcastic', for lack of a better word right now, that didn't come across to me in your post!

I saw no sarcasm, just a reflection on the infertility of many responses.

Well thoughts and prayers are all we can offer here.
I realize the sarcasm is just a way to get a political dig in without "breaking the rules" but why bother.
You clearly don't want to discuss, you just want to take digs.

We can offer solutions, we can organize and put a stop to a lot of the violence. It's the thought that all we can do is offer thoughts and prayers that doesn't do anything useful, IMO.

So sick of the immediate, mindless stomping on the idea of thoughts and prayers.

How can you hear of such tragedy and not have your thoughts and your hearts go to those directly affected? Heaven forbid we upset the great Twittersphere and commit the great offense of taking a beat to make a statement of support.

As for people of faith offering prayers, for the faithful it is quite possibly one of the most powerful actions they can personally bring to the immediate situation in which there is an overwhelming sense of powerlessness. For those who think that's nonsense, so be it. But why spit on what many see as a great source of strength and consolation, offered up with good intentions on behalf of those who are hurting?

One of my favorite quotes is from a song written by Jewel, from the song "Life Uncommon"

There are plenty of people
Who pray for peace
But if praying were enough
It would've come to be

There is absolutely NEVER anything wrong with sending thoughts and prayers to the people who need them most. I'm not even religious and I believe that. Putting positive energy into the universe might not change any legislation or the outcomes of these things, but who knows... Maybe it's just the thing that gets one of these victims though the day. I don't mean to seem all hippy dippy, but there is no need to be nasty to people sending positivity out there.

See above.

 

[robinb]

I just heard an audio of the shooting. Absolutely terrifying.