While the political debate over guns and violence rages on, Lone Star College near Houston became the fourth school shooting in the United States in the past 12 days.
On January 10, a teen opened fire at Taft High School in California and wounded two people. On January 15, an on again/off again student shot the financial aid director at Stevens Institute of Business & Arts near St. Louis. On the same day, two people were shot and killed in the parking lot at Hazard Community and Technical College in Eastern Kentucky.
It is too soon to speculate about what happened at Lone Star College. Reports are that three people have been shot. It doesn’t matter what the shooters’ motivations were in each of these incidents. What is important is that these shootings keep happening. How many more shootings have to occur before we actually do something. It is illegal in Texas to carry a concealed weapon on a college campus, but that didn’t stop this incident from happening.
Reports are that the Texas shooting might have started after an altercation, but that doesn’t change the problem. Some people will say that banning guns is the answer. Others will suggest that better security is the solution. Both of these options address the symptom, but not the disease. There is a culture of gun violence that bubbling over, and simply removing the guns or increasing security won’t address the mindset that sees violence as an acceptable option.
President Obama’s approach of taking a look at everything surrounding gun violence in schools is the right thing to do. We’ve looked at it. Now is the time to do something. The frank national conversation about the culture of violence in this country got shoved under the rug, and completely derailed by the bitter partisan gun debate.
Until we talk about changing the mindset among some Americans that violence is an acceptable option, these shootings will continue. Enough is enough. It’s time to change our culture of violence.
PoliticusUSA
G+
Facebook
JaneMP
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 3:12 pm
I don’t agree that gun control is only a symptom of the disease. It’s a very powerful component of and contributor to a violent society. Without guns, people don’t get shot. Without guns, violence comes down to wounding, not killing, maybe even some cussing. Yes, explore everything but remember: people in other countries watch the same violent movies we do. Kids all over the world play violent video games. The difference? They don’t have access to GUNS!
loading...
RMuse
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 3:16 pm
My colleagues in Europe, S. America, and Australia are aghast at this gun violence and appalled Republicans are fighting to maintain it. They’re terrified to travel here for a conference this spring, so it’s being moved to “civilization.” Pathetic.
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 4:37 pm
I too have friends in Europe, Britain, Scandinavia and Australia that I talked to pretty much on a daily basis. We are viewed as something that sooner or later is going to have to be taken care of. This time in our history has to be the most pathetic time of all time.
loading...
Reynardine
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 3:34 pm
¿What? ¿Another damned one?
loading...
djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 3:41 pm
So, if we are to believe Texas is a “carry” state, and believe the NRA thinking, this shooter should be already dead, shot by a person passing by, who just happen to be carrying….right?
A comment from DHP website
loading...
Ragen Flac
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 4:30 pm
When are people going to wake up and realize its not the gun that kills, it’s the intention of the person pulling the trigger that kills. You take guns away from the legal law abiding people and now you’ve opened the door for more killing. The criminals who kill don’t care about gun laws, that’s why they are criminals. They will get a gun regardless of a ban. You take the guns away and now more people who can no longer defend themselves are subject to the whims of those with criminal intent. We need to focus on the criminals behind the guns and not the guns themselves. If we continue to give up our rights and the freedoms our finding fathers provided us then we no longer are a free country.
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 4:36 pm
And when are you going to wake up to find out that is not criminals who are doing most of the killing. It is your neighbor, your relatives, your friends who do over 60% of the killing. Don’t give us this crap about guns don’t kill people. You can run from it yourself but the rest of us don’t have to.
You also might want to stop and remember that were due criminals get their guns? They get them from your house.
There is no excuse for allowing weapons that can kill a large number of people in a very short period of time. They are just as much at fault as the people using them. You have to look beyond your gun and remember life.
And lastly, no one is talking about your pistols or rifles or your shotguns. All that’s being talked about his military or assault style weapons.
loading...
djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 4:38 pm
I think thats what we are saying.Focus on the reason the criminals can get the guns.HELLO NRA.Havent you been paying attention or you just gurgle up whatever you been told .
loading...
fedded-up
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 4:46 pm
You are correct – it is the attitude behind the person pulling the trigger that is the proximate cause, but to deny the obvious – that a gun makes carrying out the intent to kill easier by many, many magnitudes – doesn’t help. Yes, it the culture that is at fault, a thousand times yes, but it goes hand-in-glove with all kinds of other factors, with ease of accomplishment at the top of the list. And wanting to curb such access to weapons of war, wanting to restrict the very existence of such weapons is not a violation of the 2nd amendment. FAILURE to do so violates the very biggest duty our government has – the safety, welfare, and happiness of its people.
loading...
Mark H. Zellers
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 4:45 pm
As much as I agree that we need stronger gun control in this country, I’m not sure I buy the argument about the “culture of violence”. Except insofar as that culture results in there being a large number of weapons in circulation.
The fact is that we have a toxic confluence of readily available lethal weapons and mentally unstable people who have no inhibitions about using them. I don’t think you have clearly shown that any of the shooters involved in these recent incidents were brought up to think that violence is an option.
The number of murder/suicide and “suicide-by-cop” instances among these incidents makes me question whether the shooters can be held legally or morally accountable.
loading...
AnOfficer
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 4:55 pm
I’m all for taking firearms out of the hands of criminals, unstable people, etc. But I’ve yet to see a proposal that will do that. Law abiding citizens aren’t the problem here, because they obey the thousands of laws that we already have on the books.
But what do I know anyway? I’m just a dumb cop.
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 5:43 pm
I bet both of the guys in the altercation today were law-abiding citizens.
Right? You know they were
loading...
AnOfficer
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Absolutely not. Several laws were broken, starting with even having the firearm on campus.
loading...
djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 8:07 pm
It seem it was about some dispute that escalated
loading...
1voice1vote
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 5:58 pm
16-1-2013: “In response to release of the Obama Administration’s gun violence reduction proposals, the International Association of Chiefs of Police released the following statement.
“The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) commends President Obama and Vice President Biden for the comprehensive package of proposals they announced to combat gun violence. The IACP believes that the proposals and actions reflect an effective, balanced approach to addressing the plague of gun violence in our communities and nation. As this process moves forward, the IACP will continue to work with the Administration, members of Congress, and public safety leaders across the country to enact these much needed reforms.”
“For many years, the IACP has been a leading voice in efforts to reduce gun violence. Our membership was, and remains, a leading proponent of universal background checks for gun purchases, the ban on military style assault weapons, high capacity magazines, and ensuring that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has both a permanent director and sufficient resources to enforce our nation’s gun laws. The adoption of these, and other reasonable measures, will certainly assist in reducing the level of gun violence in our Nation.
“The IACP is the world’s largest association of law enforcement executives. Founded in 1893, the IACP has over 21,000 members in 100 countries around the world. For more information on the IACP’s positions and work on gun violence issues: http://www.theiacp.org/firearms
loading...
UncaJoe
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:04 pm
But what do they know? They’re just another cog in the Gubment machine dead set on takin’ guns away from law abidin’ citizens, Dem two guys in Houston today, were both carrying guns in a gun-free zone just in case they ran into a law breaker who needed shootin’.
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:06 pm
As much as I welcome this, I cant help but think how nice more gun cotnrol will be for them when they do the Banks bidding again.
loading...
ChRxis
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 5:22 pm
Actually…a passer-by that held a CHL couldn’t have shot and stopped the suspect…because a CHL holder isn’t allowed to carry on any campus. You know though…the suspect didn’t care about that law. I am no longer a teacher at a community college, but I guarantee you had I, or any CHL holder been allowed to carry on campus…it might have been stopped earlier. Allow faculty to carry (if they so choose) if they have their CHL license.
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 5:45 pm
I don’t have any problem with even more people being killed if you don’t. Let’s face it this is an altercation between two people. Someone carrying a gun would not have stopped it because it probably happened almost instantaneously. The bull crap about others carrying guns stopping things is a long shot at best
loading...
KatzKids
Jan. 23rd, 2013 at 12:01 am
Contrary to believing this was a gun free zone, the College had much earlier issued a statement to its students that if someone was found to be “carrying” this wouldn’t necessarily result in any punishment, thereby “blessing” guns on campus.
loading...
just my opinion
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 5:32 pm
Access to guns isn’t the problem! Take away the guns and people will stab each other, take away knives and people will, people will beat each other with sticks, the problem is, nobody cares about anyone but themselves and what they want, people are so selfish and hateful now days. But I do think schools should be harder for just anyone to walk in to!
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 5:46 pm
I’m going to bet that you have no idea how silly what you just said sounds. Access to guns isn’t the problem? It most certainly is part of the problem. And it’s a part of the problem that can be regulated.
loading...
Reynardine
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 9:02 pm
Yeah, and fast-food joints are probably mowing down millions with cheeseburgers, but it takes a lot longer to do it, and you have a choice about if, when, and how many you put into your body. Teflon bullets from a rapid-fire, extended-fire weapon…not so much.
loading...
mjh
Jan. 23rd, 2013 at 1:25 pm
But I do think schools should be harder for just anyone to walk in to!
And for you, I think it was . . .
.
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:23 pm
Four-year-old girl dies after being shot in the head by another child
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/22/four-year-old-girl-dies-after-being-shot-in-the-head-by-another-child/
loading...
tom jerry
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:23 pm
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Is that something you have been told about Australia? Did you ever look it up for yourself?
http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/australia
If you are allowed, look at the gun injury and death tab. You will find out someone has made a huge fool of you
Besides the fool you are making of yourself
loading...
djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:32 pm
First turn off rush and faux.A mind is a terrible thing to waste.Second when you make assertions sane people backs it up.Third you are full of doo-doo.Google is your friend
Q: Did gun control in Australia lead to more murders there last year?
A: This ‘Gun History Lesson’ is recycled bunk from a decade ago. Murders in Australia actually are down to record lows.
http://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/gun-control-in-australia/
See how easy it is.It took me all of what 3 seconds
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:54 pm
Well Tom Jerry? Did you rub back to breitbart or a Palin site to cuddle up to your supplier of false info?
loading...
Nancy
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:44 pm
Since Saturday: 1) some nut who was not fit to stand trial for KILLING his mother when he was 14 yrs old, now 34 & out of the mental institution was found with mass amounts of assault weapons & ammo that he LEGALLY PURCHASED in his crazy state. Thankfully the local police found out & not only arrested him, but found some nutty letter saying he wanted to kill again including children. 2) A convicted murderer, out on parole, was also found with mass amounts of weapons & 10,000 rounds of ammo. He was found to have ties to neo-nazi groups with plans to go out hunting Jews in 1 of 3 major cities. 3) A 14- yr-old kid showing a friend his mother’s unlocked gun, & by accident shoots & kills his 17-yr-old brother. 4) The loon in NM who killed his parents & three young siblings with his parents’ weapons. 5) The father who gunned down his wife at his daughter’s Sweet 16. 6-8) The 5 people shot at 3 gun shows. 9) The 4, maybe more, still breaking, gunned down TODAY at a TX college. The 9 sickening events don’t take into consideration the statistical other 133 gun murders that happened since SATURDAY. For the love of sanity, what is wrong with people. ENOUGH!!! (This is only what has passed by my FB page)
We’re 2nd to Yemen in gun deaths. YEMEN! Since the creation of MADD, while car accidents are still the leading cause of death, drunk driving has been diminished by 2/3′s. We, all sane people, need to SHOUT louder & longer & do whatever it takes to rid our society of these senseless acts of crazy!
loading...
Shiva(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:53 pm
Homeschooled teen who killed family with AR-15 plotted Walmart mass shooting
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/22/homeschooled-teen-who-killed-family-with-ar-15-plotted-walmart-mass-shooting/
loading...
Reynardine
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:55 pm
I repeat: every gun acquired illegally came from someone who obtained it legally.
loading...
djchefron(Moderator)
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 6:58 pm
Not part of the story but it is part of the discussion on guns
OUCH!!!!
Guns don’t kill penises, people kill penises:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/22/trinidad-and-tobago-security-guard-accidentally-shoots-off-his-penis/
loading...
Reynardine
Jan. 22nd, 2013 at 9:04 pm
‘Scuse, I just choked on my hot lemonade!
loading...
Ben Dover
Jan. 23rd, 2013 at 3:05 am
I live about 15 mins from this Campus and know several students there, one of which is familiar with what caused this altercation. It was gang related and drug related. Marijuana to be specific, so why not legalize that instead of taking our guns away?
If it were legal, then this NEVER would have happened- PLAIN and SIMPLE. Go ahead and give me some snide witty remark or some biased figure if you want to but that is my opinion.
Btw, this campus is located in an area known to be pretty bad anyway…About 1-2 miles from TONS of section 8 housing.
loading...
UncaJoe
Jan. 23rd, 2013 at 4:04 am
Absolutely no bias in your opinion I see.
loading...
mjh
Jan. 23rd, 2013 at 2:05 pm
It was gang related and drug related. Marijuana to be specific, so why not legalize that instead of taking our guns away?
If it were legal, then this NEVER would have happened- PLAIN and SIMPLE.
That’s right.
Just as if alcohol were legal, there would never be any gun altercations over that, either . . . oh wait . .
Go ahead and give me some snide witty remark or some biased figure if you want to but that is my opinion.
And you know what they say about opinions . . .
.
loading...