News Another Shooting In The Us

[Philippa]

Sure, knives don't always work in many practical scenarios, like you mentioned. On the street though, they can be pretty deadly.

People do have a chance if they are stabbed, and they also have a chance if they are shot and the gunman doesn't know the heart from the elbow. I guess it does depend on the weapon, and not knowing enough about automatic rifles and handguns, I will not dig myself a bigger grave here...but I'm having a hard time getting your argument.

Yes, knives don't always kill...and neither do guns. Gunshot victims don't always die. Many do though.

I'm not saying that anyone would ever attempt to kill that many people with a knife...that would be stupid and impossible unless they were Uma Thurman armed with a samurai sword. If you are talking purely mass shootings, then obviously a gun of some sort would be the only weapon chosen for that.

I tend to agree with you in regards to guns in the home being very unpredictable, and I'm sure there have been many sad scenarios like the one you describe. Anything can happen, and peoples nerves aren't made of steel. In the dark, in the middle of the night anything can happen.

 

[p-no]

I think this is also about the culture we're brought up in. Living in the US would scare sh*t out of me because of the gun laws. Although people in Germany can no doubt get a gun from somewhere if they really want to, most people won't have one, just because if they do it illegally, it's illegal and if they do it officially, it's work. I.e. fewer guns. I.e. less risk of them being used.

Of course it's people who use guns or choose not to. So if there are fewer guns, fewer guns can be used by people. And since people can have serious mental issues going on you may no nothing about, and if those people have easy access to guns, suffering can be caused that can maybe be prevented. I am not referring to someone who plans murder. I'm talking about those who freak out, who are not in control of their actions. If someone goes nuts having a mental fit, and has a gun lying around, well, good luck.

***TRIGGER WARNING***

I witnessed an assault with a gun at around age 5. My mother and I passed a yard with an steel "gate" you could look through (steel bars). A woman, naked, and terrified to the bone, was chased around the back yard by a man with a gun (yup, Germany). She was desperate for help, scared to death. We couldn't help her (I mean there were two adults who tried to open the "gate" before the perpetrator came around the corner after the woman). The woman reached the gate and you could see life fading from her eyes. He dragged her back (into an area of the back yard you could not look into). My mother dragged me away and when away a bit, there were two shots. I never know what happened to the woman. That day, five people could have - maybe - spared a traumatic experience if he had not had a gun.

 

[p-no]

Philippa, I grew up during and in the peace movement in Germany in the 80s. Sarcastically, my mother and abuser was part of it and demonstrated for peace etc. Anyway, there was a huge motto then, and I like it a lot because I find it says it all: "Imagine there were a war and nobody went."

 

[Philippa]

That's really scary and sad what you witnessed prime-no. That poor woman must have been so terrified.

So weird when people who are violent towards you in some way can then turn around and be part of a peace movement. I know a woman in my class at school whose parents were both hippies, and her mother was into religion stuff which was supposed to be very peace centred...and yet she used to beat the crap out of them every single day of their childhood. It amazes me what hypocrites people can be.

 

[intothelight]

Here is a news story for another shooting....

Dead Link Removed

It is too bad that someone 92 has to suffer three break-ins prior to this. Fear is the real reason that so many American's are armed.

 

[The Albatross]

Not all of us have the luxury of living in a safe community or neighborhood... me included. Good point Deb.

 

[Britt.f7]

Here's another recent shooting: http://news.yahoo.com/4-wounded-shooting-usc-campus-100510971.html


I'm not sure why people feel they have to handle a conflict with weapons. Saddens me to no end.

 

[Whitneys story]

The saddest part is "Guns don't kill~People do" I am numb to the shootings in my area. And I won't get started as it does no good!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

There are shootings every day that do not get air time on the news. Gang violence. Domestic violence. In our old neighborhood, a man killed his wife with a gun and tried and failed to make it look like a suicide. It is sickening.

 

[Britt.f7]

I've seen a lot lately where either the husband, sometimes ex, or the wife kill the kids and themselves. Those are very tragic.

I have to say, in all of my thoughts about dying, I have never thought of taking my kids with. If anything, the idea of them being taken care of by someone else and not being able to protect them has made me hang in there.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I lived for my kids too. They kept me going. I am glad I did it. My daughter is such a better mom than I was. I am so proud of her.

 

[Estacia]

I am American and I'm embarraced by the violence in this country.