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peacetraveler22 ([personal profile] peacetraveler22) wrote2014-05-30 11:02 am

Private Gun Ownership - Good or Bad?

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Last week, we had another mass shooting in America. A young college student deeply rooted in misogynist mentality, and frustrated by female rejection, decided to take a drive through a California college town and open fire, killing six people and wounding numerous others. As you know, guns are deeply rooted in American culture, and always have been. So why the recent proliferation of school and mass shootings over the last few years? I think in large part these tragedies are not a result of guns, but the sickness of society in general. After all, Americans have always been armed but the proliferation of mass shootings has been rather recent. Twenty years ago, or even ten, we didn't hear about such tragedies on a consistent basis.

People sometimes forget that the right to bear arms is expressly enumerated in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Private gun ownership is a principle upon which my country was founded. We are the most heavily armed civilian population in the world, with close to 300 million firearms in the hands of civilians, including my family members. I am completely pro gun, and have always been surrounded by firearms. I shoot Rifles, a 9mm glock and .357 Magnum Revolver at the range under the supervision of my father. So, where is the delicate balance between respecting the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens and preventing mass shootings?

I can't say there are any easy answers, nor do I know the best solution. For instance, in the most recent shooting, the culprit had a long history of mental illness. Police officers had even visited his house after worried calls from State mental health officials. Yet when they arrived, the shooter was completely calm and convincing. Thus, they had no legal grounds upon which to enter the home and search. If they had entered his room, they would have found his guns, his detailed plans for the massacre which he had been cooking for over a year, and other clear signs that something sinister was brewing.

People all over the globe are suffering from depression and other forms of mental illness, and they should not be under constant suspicion for seeking treatment. One simple way to mitigate widespread gun violence is to have tighter and consistent controls. Currently, gun laws drastically vary from State to State, and I don't claim to be an expert in nationwide legislation. Such knowledge is almost impossible. California is known as the strictest State, and Texas and my home State of Virginia are considered two of the most pro-gun locations in the nation. This is not surprising given that the National Rifle Association is headquartered only a 1/2 hour from my apartment. In Virginia, private citizens can openly carry firearms and I've seen it in restaurants, particularly in rural areas. Is it necessary? I don't think so. Only Washington, DC and Hawaii require all firearms to be registered.

Our founding Fathers made certain that private gun ownership will never completely become extinct in America, but this doesn't mean that laws shouldn't be changed. Some of the most strongly advocated solutions include:

(1) Background checks for all firearm owners
(2) Waiting period
(3) Registration of ALL firearms in every State
(4) For schools - allow teachers to carry firearms into the classroom and train them on use

What do you think? Do you wish Russia had more lenient laws for private gun ownership? What should America do to prevent these tragedies? I sometimes wonder if it's really possible to truly prevent a deranged person from committing these acts of violence. Even if tighter gun controls exist, they would likely still be able to obtain firearms on the black market. In the end, we cannot mandate good and evil, though an attempt should at least be made to control evil to the greatest extent possible.

[identity profile] skvorets1989.livejournal.com 2014-06-01 10:27 am (UTC)(link)
I can't say there are any easy answers, nor do I know the best solution.

There are easy answers.

1. People who do it, they do it for their 15 minutes of fame. Media should not make celebrities out of criminals. I don't think there should be special law for this. But people working in the press and TV should understand the difference between movie stars, sport champions and mass murderers. Now it seems that they don't.

2. People who do it, should not live. It would be the best if they were killed the moment they start to try to shoot innocent people. But if the tragedy could not be prevented then the criminal must face the ultimate punishment. I see it as a greatest injustice that Breivik who murdered dozens and injured hundreds is in normal health, has a bed, food, shower and public attention to whatever he calls his ideology.

3. People who organize free gun zones or in any other way obstruct someone's ability to defend herself, in case of a tragedy should be considered as companion in crime in the court.

In Israel the entire young population boys and girls have guns and they go with them everywhere. Everywhere! And no mass shootings occur. Even terrorists use hidden explosives and not firearms. There was even case when taxi driver killed a terrorist with his own pistol. Which is another good reason to love this country.


[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2014-06-01 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
1. I agree! In fact, one major news channel, CNN, no longer mentions shooters' names in most live reports. They instead focus on the victims, in an effort to draw attention away from the criminal.

2. Well, Norway is known for its luxurious prisons so even scumbags like Anders Behring Breivik really aren't suffering for their atrocious acts. Btw, do you support the death penalty? In recent cases in America, the police don't play around and there's no hesitation to put a bullet in and kill the shooter. However, these people are usually the biggest cowards, and end up shooting themselves and committing suicide before this happens.

Not sure, I didn't really notice anyone carrying guns in Israel except the young soldiers standing at every checkpoint, trying to intimidate passer-bys with their big weapons.

[identity profile] skvorets1989.livejournal.com 2014-06-02 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
Btw, do you support the death penalty?

Yes, I do. I absolutely don't buy this philosophical crap about life sentence being more severe penalty than death sentence. And all other arguments against death penalty except for possibility of mistake. If there is even slightest doubt in someone's guilt, she should not be killed.

However, these people are usually the biggest cowards, and end up shooting themselves and committing suicide before this happens.

Some of them are not afraid to die, but of them are. I don't know who is majority. But anyway even those who kill themselves after they kill others, they absolutely don't want to die before they kill somebody.

Not sure, I didn't really notice anyone carrying guns in Israel except the young soldiers standing at every checkpoint, trying to intimidate passer-bys with their big weapons.

Not except. Soldiers are big part of Israeli population and they wear their guns very casually at every place they go. Streets, beaches, shops, museums, cafes, synagogues, you name it. And civilians also can do it if they want to.

[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2014-06-03 02:09 pm (UTC)(link)
I also support the death penalty, but only in cases where there is conclusive video or forensic evidence linking the defendant to the crime. Otherwise, it's too risky because criminal juries unfortunately make mistakes sometimes and convict the innocent. And an innocent person should never die for a crime he or she didn't commit. It has happened in the past.

[identity profile] skvorets1989.livejournal.com 2014-06-03 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Finaly we can agree not only to disagree.

Talking about main topic I want to buy a gun but I don't really know what I want and what I can buy and where I can shoot it. And as they are quite expensive, I don't wan't make a mistake. And shooting ranges are also expensive. For instance here (http://www.tirspb.ru/s/24/prays-list.html) one shot from Kalashnikov costs 40 rubles. More than a dollar. And how many of them should I take to learn something? I guess many.

[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2014-06-03 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
In America, there is no cost to shoot at most ranges. You simply must buy ammunition there or targets; however, they don't closely monitor to see if you buy them there. Many people carry in their own bullets. The gun ranges always have shops where they sell new and used weapons, and this is how the businesses make money.

[identity profile] skvorets1989.livejournal.com 2014-06-03 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
You simply must buy ammunition there or targets

And if you don't have your own gun then what do you do with it?

What are the lowest and average prices for firearms and ammunition in United States?

[identity profile] peacetraveler22.livejournal.com 2014-06-03 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Some are very, very cheap. For instance, look here http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?ic=16_0&Find=Find&search_query=pistols&Find=Find&search_constraint=0. Walmart is the American version of Auchan, selling groceries and all other kinds of merchandise. I don't know that much about prices because I always shoot my dad's guns and he always brings the ammo. :)

[identity profile] skvorets1989.livejournal.com 2014-06-03 07:26 pm (UTC)(link)
It is difficult to compare because there no information about rifles and in Russia pistols are forbiden for civilians. But prices for pistols are quite impressive I have to admit.