News Another Shooting In The Us

[Deleted member 12723]

The NRA is talking about arming people in the schools. I am afraid this time it is worst than the wild west. But they did a poll and over half Americans want stricter gun control laws. We do not need assaut rifles. Not even for hunters. I think it is ridiculous. We need to do something. It is only going to get worse.

I heard the parents of the kids shot are banding together to go to Washington to put forward their case. I hope it does some good.

 

[Shellbell]

Shellbell, in the UK? I am surprised. Sorry to hear that. I somehow assumed it was the states.

Yes it was in the UK. I found out by it being in an online local newspaper, where it even stated his criminal convictions for kidnapping and serious assult and an 'accident' causing the death of a former girlfriend. Fortunately, I had already left having had threats to me and my son.

 

[Abstract]

Grief. It is a sick world. I am glad you are away. The other problem we have here is that things are ridiculously PC about people defending themselves. Why can't people be civilised or at least why can't other people be responsible and protect others when they should. To do something when it is needed. :(

I am a tad shaken today as on my way home I heard a noise to the side of me and saw a guy cornering and threatening his wife/girlfriend severely. She was terrified and cowering and it seemed to have been going on for a while as there were a mass of people staring and doing nothing. I was about an arms length away and looked at him and asked him if I should call the police. He looked as if he was going to attack me then backed down but still muttering and her still pleading. Then I got a security guard there and left.

Why do people just stand and do nothing. It sickens me. I was fine but an hour or two later have that internal shuddering that happens.

Sorry as that is off topic and small scale but really I wonder how many things could be stopped if people did what they should do. Especially those in authority. It's depressing to say the least.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Good for you Abstract on speaking up and getting help for the girl. I am proud of you. You did not stand by and do nothing. You are a person of character and integrity. You actually did something. I think it is wonderful when one person is being bullied and somebody comes along and takes a stand for an innocent person. I think you made a profound difference. You led by example. Kudos to you.

 

[Queen Boudica]

I did that once, stood up for a girl who was serving me when a guy who she had just served came back and started swearing at her and belittling her because she had made a mistake with the apples and charged him for the wrong type. I told him to just leave her alone, she was only a young girl, but then he turned on me and was really nasty and getting in my face and everyone was watching including all the shop staff and the manager at the time and they did nothing. I was trying to pay for my goods and get out of there but I was shaking and nervous and forgot to take my card and he started belittling me and then I shouted at him to get out of my face and he just got worse. I was really scared but I was standing up for myself and told him he was completely mental. I ended up shouting at him that he was a disgusting rude pig. Completely the wrong thing to do, he was obviously a complete lunatic.

I came out of there in tears. Everyone just watched and did nothing. I was afraid to go into the shop for a while on my own. Then the manager came and apologised and gave me some flowers and a gift voucher.

 

[Abstract]

Thanks Gizmo. Sadly though I wonder how much good it really does as if this is how he behaves in a busy public place who knows what happens in private. And she was obviously totally terrified. I have been trying not to think of the rest and to accept that I can't do anything about it. Its all just horrible isn't it. Treatment and help and intervention should be much more available.

 

[Abstract]

he was obviously a complete lunatic.

I came out of there in tears. Everyone just watched and did nothing. I was afraid to go into the shop for a while on my own. Then the manager came and apologised and gave me some flowers and a gift voucher.

Lizio,
I am sorry. Well done for you for doing something. That's the problem really. You never know how violent these psychos are going to be. I guess I realised it too but didn't feel I had a choice whereas if everyone was more involved then one person wouldn't be at risk like that.

There are people who there is no point in confronting or reasoning with. My father was like that. I think keeping an even tone voice and sounding calm is a good bet but hard to do.

I am glad you were safe and that the shopkeeper did this and sorry that you had to experience something like that.

There must have been about twenty people standing watching today and doing nothing. If they just said "stop" loudly it may just make a difference. Hugs.

 

[Shellbell]

It's amazing how many people just stand by and do nothing.

Good on you Abstract and Lizio for helping and not walking away. If only there were more people in the world willing to help other people and not just themselves.

 

[Queen Boudica]

Yes, but it has me wondering. I was brave enough to stand up for that girl but what if Australia were like the States and he could have been carrying a gun? What could have happened then? Would I have been brave enough to stand up to him then?

I did not have to worry as Australia is not a gun culture. All I got was a load of abuse and I was shaking and too scared to go into that shop for a few days and afraid I might bump into him and he would attack me. But what if this were a gun culture country and that guy was carrying a gun? If I stood up to him, was there a possibility he would have shot me?

Or what if I felt so threatened by this guy (and I was absolutely petrified at the time) that I, in my PTSD state then took out my gun and shot him? Or, even worse, I shot him and missed and hit a child instead. I am glad I did not even have that option.

 

[Abstract]

Lizio, your points are entirely valid. And it crossed my mind too. That is the problem in a nutshell. Guns should not be so widely available that they are on hand when people have a meltdown of some sort. Or anywhere near anyone unstable in any way. The damage one can do just escalates enormously when guns are involved. And on a side note I actually think in certain circumstances directly approaching someone can be unnecessarily dangerous and then we need to rather call the police or think of other alternatives.

I was concerned about a knife today but thought it less likely as it was a domestic situation. Knives are bad enough but guns are just plain asking for trouble.

 

[ms spock]

If someone wants to go on a rampage and has made up their mind to kill innocent people. Do you really think that making any certain type of gun illegal will stop them from purchasing their guns illegally? :(

It does the types of school shootings that occur in America habitually. We just don't get that type of shootings in Australia.

 

[Queen Boudica]

It seems to me that the freedom to carry a gun actually reduces your freedom to stand up to someone being abusive without the risk of death, so it actually makes a lot of people more fearful and it reduces your freedom to live in a house without imprisoning barackading yourself inside it and your freedom to have a peaceful sleep (more fear) and it reduces your children's right to attend school without the risk of being killed or feeling like they are attending a prison and the ingrained fear it must build up inside them and the subsequent psychological problems and it reduces your freedom to walk down the street without being accidentally shot. The list goes on. I just don't get it.