Another shooting in America

[jofeb04]

more information here

so it is such a terrible thing to happen. My thoughts with all the family and friends of the children.

'so do you think they should arm the kids, expat? '

Where did I ever insinuate that, aviatrix, in my posts?

America is a federalist union of states.

There is local government, there is state government and there is federal government.

There are over 300m living in a very vast geographical area.

States have the ability to govern more in tune with what their inhabitants wants and needs are.

I know personally that I, a resident of the state of Colorado, would not want all the decisions governing my life made from Washington, D.C.

Well, apparently I still have domicile in CO.

Haven't lived there in 5 years, though.

Of course, if it's the BBC, they're going to find the biggest nutjob they can find to interview.

When DH and I toured the States I was amazed to discover that in many states you can legally purchase a firearm before you can legally purchase a beer! What's that all about?

Having said that, lets not make this thread, 'americans this and americans that'! The problem with your country as I see it, Expat, is that it's too big and too diverse to conform to one set of laws/rules/ideals, I know it's a federal system but still.

When it comes down to it, I feel very sad that individuals get to such a place in their lives that they'd want to go out and murder as many innocent strangers as possible.

can you just imagine a university campus where everyone is armed with a gun? I mean these gun lobby people are clearly insane.

Representative of what? The NRA?

Because a lot of people in the US think they're nutjobs.

A lot.

But I won't say most or all because I'm not one to make generalisations about 300m+ people.

I think that everyone in the UK should be allowed to carry guns, so that we could defend ourselves against other people with guns.

Oh, no, wait, that would be completely and utterly insane.

Everyone in the UK holds the same views as Prince Phillip.

No, wait, that's nonsense.

Expat, I think littlelapin is trying to say that she knows that these people are not representative of all americans. I think!

yes it would be insane actually. you obviously think that all the people carrying guns would be nice sane and rational all of the time, and there are only a minority of 'madmen' that we have to defend ourselves against. Actually, we all have tempers and passions. And some more than others. Especially teenagers. I can imagine people getting shot after dumping a lover, people getting shot over road rage, people getting shot because they thought someone was reaching for their gun, it would be absolute mayhem and breed paranoia and fear.

The second amendment says, 'A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.'

Now I'm not American, or a lawyer, but doesn't the phrasing of that seem to infer that the right to bear arms is so that there can be a 'well regulated militia'?

How many of the people who carry arms are part of any militia, well regulated or otherwise?

You take the gun out of the equation - no one gets shot.
OR
Charge $1000 each for bullets.

overheard in the bar of a family restaurant in the States: whoa, you can't bring that baby in here. (bartender speaking to a man carrying a baby under a yr old)

seen in a gunshop in the States: boys about 8/10 browsing the weapons in the display case, parents somewhere else (in the shop i assume) no one barking out instructions.

v. imho