Gunman Opens Fire During "The Dark Knight Rises"

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

There's no logical reason for people to be wandering around with concealed weapons. .

Yep, I totally agree. I'm not sure about gun control in other states, but here, people are allowed to have a concealed weapon. On top of that, the police force has been reduced here in some cities, as well. That just doesn't make any sense, to me.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Yep, I totally agree. I'm not sure about gun control in other states, but here, people are allowed to have a concealed weapon. On top of that, the police force has been reduced here in some cities, as well. That just doesn't make any sense, to me.

It doesn't make sense to you because you're ignorant of the statistics. Back in the 80s when states started allowing CHL's anti gun activists were chomping at the bite to show a correlation between CHL holders and increased crime rates or shootings. It never happened. In fact, studies conducted have shown that CHL holders are less likely to commit ANY crime than a non CHL holder. Don't use your fear of guns paint a law abiding citizen as a potential criminal.

[Iota Man]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I don't know what will change some of the laws in this country, but there are some that need to be changed. I honestly really don't think there is any reason for any civilian person to have an assault weapon, but that's just me. I just think that should only be for law enforcement and the military. I mean, I would think that the American public would like to be at least as safe as members of congress are when they're at their job. You can't walk into the capitol with any kind of weapons, so then why are we allowed to walk down many of the streets of America armed, especially those who shouldn't have weapons in the first place? Just my opinion on the subject. I'm just more concerned now about copy-cats. I guess this now means that we're going to have to be searched for weapons before entering the movies.

Originally Posted by sigmagirl2000

I entirely agree. The more people able to wander around with weapons (especially those with mental illness, etc. that may be undiagnosed), the greater chance that something can go wrong. There's no logical reason for people to be wandering around with concealed weapons. There's too much room for error.

I feel y'all to some degree, but I also disagree, too. If they did away with folks having concealed weapons it really wouldn't make folks any safer. I can't see how it would, because people would still find ways to get these weapons illegally and sell them, making a big profit. Basically the state or govt. wants their hand in anything that they can place a tax/make money on, and track. Not to be bringing up prostitution, but it's legal in Nevada, and all they do it tax the shit out of it. Same thing with prohibition. It would be similar if they did away with folks having weapons.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I similarily have a problem when, in the wake of a situation like this, we hear claims that if guns were "banned" incidents like this would not have happened.

I would agree that's problematic and not helpful.

I still disagree with the idea that these victims would have fared worse if someone in the crowd had a firearm him/herself. Most likely it would have been an off duty police officer or someone extremely proficient in handling of a pistol because those are the types that carry almost everywhere. The 90 year old grandmother and people less experienced with fire arms tend to leave them in the nightstand or closet.

I quarrel with this simply because I think it's based on speculation and assumptions that may be true in a given situation but likewise may not be true in a given situation. It's not that I don't think it's possible that things would have gone better if someone in the crowd had a firearm; it's just that I think it is also possible they would have gone worse. So to me it makes as little sense to simply assert that situations like this show the need for personal concealed carry as it does to simply assert that situations like this show the need to ban firearms. Both assertions are, to me, simplistic.