What will it take for gun control laws to change?
By CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The tragic shootings that killed six at a Sikh temple in Milwaukee yesterday come just over two weeks after that massacre in a Colorado movie theater.
And once again, it's sure to revive the debate over gun control.
It seems each time something like this happens, a great hue and cry for stricter gun laws goes up, and dies down just as quickly.
Coincidentally before yesterday's violence a group of mayors released an ad demanding that President Obama and Mitt Romney give us "a plan" when it comes to gun control.
The ad features three survivors from the 2011 Tucson, Arizona, shooting that killed six and wounded 13 others - including former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.
But the reality is, the issue of guns is a political hot potato that no politician, Democrat or Republican, wants to touch - especially in an election year.
There's a reason: a lot of Americans want it that way.
In the aftermath of last month's Colorado shootings, background checks for people wanting to buy guns spiked more than 40% in that state.
Meanwhile a Pew Research Poll taken about a week after the Colorado shootings found very little change in Americans' attitudes toward gun control.
Pollsters say other recent major deadly shootings - including those in Tucson last year and at Virginia Tech in 2007 - had little effect on public opinion about gun laws.
The Pew Poll also found about two-thirds of those polled say shootings like the one in Colorado are just the isolated acts of troubled individuals.
Only about a quarter say shootings like this reflect broader problems in American society.
Here’s my question to you: What will it take for gun control laws to change?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Vinny in Connecticut:
Here you go again, Jack, along with the anti-2nd amendment people. Chicago, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, is the 'murder capital of the U.S.' Gangs, madmen, and other criminals don't obey the laws and will always manage to get guns. Since the police can't be everywhere all the time, it's up to us citizens to protect ourselves from these murderers.
Linda:
Wrong question. The correct question (and maybe more achievable) is: How can we teach men, particularly white men age 20-40, to deal with failure better? One psychologist after the Colorado shooting pointed out that many mass murderers are inept at dealing with failure in their lives.
Robert in Florida:
Jack, Changing gun control laws will not change psychopathic behavior. We have speeding laws and people still speed, we have drunk driving laws and people still drink and drive. We’re always trying to find something or someone else to blame instead of the perpetrator of the crime. The gun control fanatics need to look at the facts. The cities with the toughest gun control laws have the highest violent crime rates. The old saying stands true today. “If you make guns illegal only the bad guys will have them”.
D.P.:
It starts with the NRA. Guns are big business, so that's where the money and power is coming from. The NRA won't say it publicly, but the NRA and the gun dealers have a vested interest in this escalation. They benefit not only from the sale of guns that end up in criminals’ hands, but now ordinary citizens have reason to buy more guns.
Peter:
The one thing that will change the laws is when (not if) a couple of politcians' kids or grandkids get killed. I hope it never happens but that's what it will take.
Michael:
Courage.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
A good old gun fight at an NRA co;nvention.
Com'on Jack, America is all about Freedom................right ??
The liberals insist on their rights to kill innocent unborn fetus's and the conservatives will never give up their right to bear arms..............................even weapons designed for elite military use.
This is how mankind works.
Gimmie, gimmie, gimmie.
The American people standing up against the stranglehold the NRA has on our elected representation. How do their rights trump the rights of the safety of Americans who now live in a country where military grade weaponry on our streets is even allowed. It's absurd that we've tolerated it this long.
Hand gun control came when Reagan was shot. I don't think the crazies who react the same way to Obama taking a bullet (nor to Romney either for that matter – maybe Ron Paul?). In truth, unless gang bangers started shooting random white people with legally purchased guns and ordinance, not much is going to happen.
When the people in Congress (Republican especially) go through what regular people has gone through with gun violence they will than understandd the protection that needed from gun owners that shouold not have them. Sometimes it has to hit home before they will do anything. If all of the protectors of allowing guns. NRA, Cheney, Romney, all the Republicans that has not commented against this violence had a family member or themselves in that situation, we would have some kind of legislation to stopp gun violence. It happened to Kathy Gifford and other families destroyed in that violence; but at least Gifford believes in gun control; it happened in movie theatre where our children are suppose to be safe; it happens everyday on our streets; my sister was murdered for no reason at the age of 27; with three kids; 8 and 10 year old and 20 month old; those kids will be affected the rest of their lives be cause of a jealous ex-girlfriend. No one needs a gun that fires repeated rounds like the guy had at the movie theatre are on a congressman's stump to kill several people or to cause a injury for life because of their hatred or mental capacity.
When we stop pretending we are the greatest, and most civilized country in the world. Unfortunately that won't happen for a long time Jack. Probably when New York City is under twenty feet of water from climate change.
The NRA has such a stranglehold on the Congress. Along with the lies they tell to people about their guns being taken away makes it difficult to fashion some sensible gun rules and laws. We watch as mass shootings occcur with weapons that belong in the military not on our streets. Perhaps when enough children are shot and killed people will start to wake up and demand a change.
As long as people are hell bent on killing other people there is no amount of control that will change it. If someone can not buy a gun they will make one. If that will not work because of metal detectors then they will use box cutters or some other device to acomplish the task. What would you have us ban next Jack? insanity? Good luck with that one.
I doubt it'll ever change Jack. Some might argue the killing of a big shot or politician could cause things to change but that's happened many times in the past and resulted in nothing being different. America's more liberal today than at any time in its history so just about anything goes. It's not the guns, it's the wackos who use them who are at fault and how are they going to regulate wackos
Gary in Scottsdale, Arizona
Why should they be changed? There are way too many laws and all are ineffective. The two things that no one seems to understand are that laws are only for regular people who do not need to be controlled, and the other is that laws mean nothing to outlaws. Therefore most of these laws are pointless and only serve to prevent people from defending their homes, their families and themselves against those who will always find a way to acquire guns for illicit purposes.
During the same week as the Colorado shooting there was a pickup truck full of people. The driver lost control and there ended up being 13 dead. What makes the shootings so spectacular is that there are so few. Gun control won't work because there are so many guns already in private possesion. If the gun control advocates really want to save lives get a breathalyzer in every car. There are far more alcohol related fatalities. But, of course that would make the car cost more. Gun control is fine "as long as I don't like guns". There are many more human activities that cost lives in a much, much greater amount than shootings. Making laws rarely impacts what the law is directed at. Think about it.
Houston, TX
A majority of Politicians not being afraid of the NRA for openers.
If murderous attacks on women, children, students and church members won't change gun laws, the only thing left might be if some kook goes crazy at an NRA sanctioned event, such as a gun show and starts a free-for-all-fire-fight where supporters of the "Second Amendment" "Right" to own assault weapons get a taste of the pain the innocents' victims feel.
The NRA needs to get realistic and promote reasonable controls on assault weapons......period...
As a Sikh American and also in light of the recent Sikh massacre at the temple known as a Gurdwara, I only speak for myself when I say that banning guns may not solve the problem. It must be noted that Sikh principles and ideals are very much in line with those of America. These ideals of peace also include those in the amendments of the constitution, including freedom of speech, religion, and even the right to bear arms. These arms must not come in the hands of criminals, who kill innocents but constitutional rights must also not be comprised for one's own views.
Killings,shootings, and violent crimes get more notice, and more legislation for new giun control laws if the victims are politician at city, state, or federal government levels.This of course I find deplorably unethical!
Control of hate groups would make even more sence. A person like this scum can find a gun from one of his misguided brothers. So gun control is only part of the issue. These hate groups should be considered unamerican and thus outlawed. Gun control needs to be revised and "ma and pa" gun dealers should be outlawed. Gun shops should all be under governent control including the guy that has a sign out in front of his farm house that says guns for sale.
The same things it will take to fix most of the government's ills. A better informed and educated electorate, and elected officials that aren't beholden to the powerful lobby groups on each issue.
Killings, shootings, violent crimes, get more notice and more legislation for gun control laws if the victims are politicians from city, state or federal levels. I find this deplorably unethical!
What an incredulous question. Money, money, money buys congress. I would like to ask all of them how many hunters use assault rifles with mega rounds of ammunition to shoot pheasants? Deer? Rabbits? Geese? PEOPLE? But, they don't really care....
Just like a fork & spoon does not make anyone fat, guns do not break the law. If our government was truly concerned about “laws” there would not be an immigration problem.
What will it take for gun control laws to change?
It's Man's heart that has to be changed.
He must understand that using guns unlawfully is no good to him, only lands him in a Lake of Fire (Revelation 20: 14-15), and Love carries him to a beautiful worry-free Heaven (Revelation 21).
Only doctors can assist "all that are oppressed of the devil "(Acts 10: 38) who need healing from job stress, etc.
and are controlled by wicked, higher powers
than themselves.
The government can't control their own guns (Fast & Furious). I am open to an independent panel made up of citizens from each state to avoid special interest groups. Politicians shouldn't decide the second amendment laws. We must be careful because the bad guys will always have guns.
As soon as our law-makers stand up to the NRA, and stop letting the NRA run the country.
Jack you’re an intelligent man with years of wisdom. Lets here your version of how you would change the gun control laws and at the same time actually do something worth while. It is always mush easier to ask the question but it is much more difficult to provide the answer. Each time someone does something like this you ask this same question. Could it be that even the famous Jack Cafferty does not have a clue either?
What will it take? Reasonable Republicans and a majority of Democrats in both the House and Senate. Get the money out of the process.
A lot. Personally, I could go without the right to own a combat level automatic weapon, and I do think those weapons should be banned. The bad guys don't even use them, so I don't know how it is that the most extreme nutcases, that use them for mass killings, get their hands on them. And Congress is not about to fight another unpopular cause, when they are so deeply despised by the general public. It depends what state you live in too, how strict, or lax, the gun laws are. And since you brought the subject of gun control up, some thought should be given as to why our local Police forces are being armed like Military combat forces. They don't need more than a simple handgun either. Doug, Pepperell, MA.
It isn't the gun that does the killing... or the knife that stabs.... It's the person! We need tougher laws for any kind of murder.... Are we so stupid that we think that a few years in prison, where they have been provided with a proper diet, a place to sleep, an exercise agenda, entertainment... will reform them? When the State of California ask for bids on the new prison system series of buildings... I took the plans to 3 – 3rd world countries... ask for bids from local contractors and for the staffing of a responsible prison guard unit trained by selected members of your own system. The cost... 1/3 of that budgeted in California. Was it turned down...? Of course.... the State of California Prison System lobby! The message:
If we are going to 'out source'... then out source the prison system and the prisoners!
Jack you can change all the laws you want but you will never change the fact that sometimes bad people do bad things. The only people that the changing of laws will ever effect is people that obey the law. People that kill other people do not. End of lesson.
Shutting down the NRA's influence in Congress. The NRA used to be about gun safety & product evaluation. Now it's a lobby group gone stark raving mad.
Also, it would help tremendously if we got rid of the Republicans in Congress too.
For gun laws to change it will take carnage of epic proportions inside both houses before anything changes. Either that or hell will freeze.
Jack, changing gun control laws will not change psychopathic behavior. We have speeding laws and people still speed, we have drunk driving laws and people still drink and drive. We’re always trying to find something or someone else to blame instead of the perpetrator of the crime. You can’t prevent psychopaths from harming others unless you isolate “THEM” from society not their weapons. The gun control fanatics need to look at the facts. The cities with the toughest gun control laws have the highest violent crime rates. The old saying stands true today. “If you make guns illegal only the bad guys will have them”.
Campaign finance reform, for one. No more Lobbyists at all. Electing Congressional "representatives" that aren't bought off, by the Lobbyists. Or, a Congress and president with guts to stand up to the gun lobby. And who are willing to do the right thing for the vast majority of the American people and not just pass laws for the minority who cry the most.. Also, having a supreme court that interprets the law's only, and not put their own personal take on it. The second amendment does not say what the NRA or what Clarence Thomas thinks it says. It's a huge mess, Jack.
I dont know but the police sure swear by them, guns that is. Good reliable defense from the bad guys. Especially if they break in late at night while your sleeping and don't have time to brew coffee to think of other ways to make them leave.
Likely,. a constitutional amendment, Jack. And that's not likley. Butyou had better inclde a ban on fertilizers, common accelerants, and the like. Because even if you ban all guns, including those for hunting, self-defense and sport shooting, there will always be a way for a determined psychopath to find a means to hurt people. Tightenting gun laws is like nitrous oxide for a frustrated populace - it's likely only going to make you feel better until the next whacko hits. What we need is better means of recogizing and interdicting the 1 in a million who want to do this stuff - not trying to regulate the 30 million who own guns responsibly.
People have to open their minds and understand that this is not a 2nd Amendment question. It is not that simple. It seems obvious to me that gun laws must be changed. Some people understand that, some do not. Ignorance does not help the situation. Gun laws are too politicized and way too many people have died senselessly. Congress doesn't care, they are on vacation. Wise up. No one needs semi automatic guns for any reason. Hand gun laws must be strricter. It is just too easy for fools and idiots to buy guns. If only jobs were that easy to find.
Outlaw lobbying and "gifts" of any kind to politicians, end private funding of politicians and their campaigns, completely clean house in Congress every election cycle by enacting term limits of one 6 year term for both Senators and Representatives, with 1/3rd elected every other year. Only then will politicians be forced to recognize that they are there to represent US, ALL the citizens of this country, rather than just the special interests that donate money to them.
The one thing that will change the laws is when (not if) a couple of politcians kids or grandkids get killed. I hope it never happens but thats what it will take
The bad guys that want guns will ALWAYS get them, no matter what laws are on the books
The only way Congress would wake up and do something to change the gun laws, God forbid, is if several members of the leaders family, spouse, kids or parents were killed by someone using an automatic weapon. Maybe then they'd tell the NRA to take a hike. We really don't live in the 1700's and Americans need to insist on changing the 2nd Ammendment to the Constitution!
Well Jack,once again ask congress they are the ones that let the assualt weapons ban and 100 round clip ban expire.
The problem with gun control Jack.You leave the honest folks with no defense and the gangs and bad guys to buy cases of guns overseas.However,gun control is not the answer Jack.
David
Anybody besides me see that the problem isn't so much gun control as it is people using the guns? Sure, go ahead and violate everyone's rights by seizing all the guns. But then a rash of box cutter slayings, robberies and mayhem ensues, and so then what?: you want to take away everyone's box cutters, too?
The problem isn't guns, people, it's PEOPLE, which is a far more desperate and dark problem.
It will take a shoot out where we have more "Friendly Fire" casualties than actual murders. This will undoubtedly occur as we allow more private citizens to carry firearms in public.
They won't change, with the NRA paying off all of Congress, nothing will change. Their answer to gun violence is more guns!!!
Jack,
The NRA being declared an illegal entity. But that won't happen at all. I support the 2nd amendment, but who needs an arsenal in their house. Bring back the Assaullt Rifle ban!
Jack, you can have all the theater and school mass murders you want, but until the same thing happens at an NRA convention with all their gun toting member panicking, pulling out their guns, wetting their boomers and shooting anything that moves causing massive deaths to their own membership, nothing will change. Law enforcement officers can tell you, even with their extensive ongoing training and experience with "shots fired" situations, there is still the instantaneous second of panic, even in the most seasoned officers. Have the same thing happen to a convention center full of macho, untrained and inexperienced gun toting amateurs that have never experienced it and you have a disaster of great magnitude. Until the NRA see the reality of their own moronic policies, we are stuck with their money buying our government to keep the Second Amendment as perverted as possible.
Hate to say it Jack but Waco and Columbine should have been Enough of a Wake Up Call.
Here you go again, Jack, along with the anti 2nd amendment people. Chicago, which has the strictest gun laws in the nation, is the 'murder capital of the US' ('gotta' love those 'Chicago values', Mayor Rahm!) Europe, which has had very strict gun control for yrs limiting just about everyone from having one, has been the scenes of horrific gun massacres. Remember 77 people were gunned down in Norway last yr by a crazed gunman. How about in England which has been the scene of many mass murders by guns? How about Germany, Finland, Belgium and on and on?
Gangs, madmen, other criminals don't obey the laws and will always manage to get guns and since our police can't be everywhere all the time, it's up to we the citizens to protect ourselves from these murderers.
It will take the NRA to allow Congress to have a serious discussion on what can be to stop this craziness. We will all be told that we need to find out exactly what happened and to leave the families have time to mourn the people they lost. But in reality nothing will be until the NRA allows it. We will just move on to the next massacre which seems now to be happening within a few weeks of the last one. While we're waiting someone will say guns don't kill people crazy people do. What I am tired of is crazy people getting their hands on guns to do it.
The first thing it will take is a Congress that is willing to work together to enact gun control laws. Secondly, elected officials that are in the back pocket of the NRA, need to break their ties with them, accept responsibility that they need to step up to the plate and make every effort necessary to put laws into effect that will stop those with criminal intentions from having the opportunity to obtain weapons that they will use in acts of domestic terrorism.
Casper, Wyoming
A unified Congress , working for the common good of all Americans, passing enforceable popular laws.
within the bounds of the Constitution. Wake me later, I'm enjoying this dream.
NO ONE WILL EVER DO ANYTHING ABOUT GUNS. The idea must come from the NRA and you tell me who is going to do anything.
When enough NRA members and their families start getting shot.
What will it take for gun control laws to change in this country? A miracle.
nothing needs to change really except ban assult weapons and have background checks evan at gun shows and have those that go crazy like the shootings we had in the past the big ones have them serve extreame punishment but for us that obey the gun laws nothing changes for us just them
It starts with the NRA. Guns are big business, so that's where the money and power is coming from. And understand, that terrorists, gangs, and other criminals are truly grateful about the NRA's work: it makes it so much easier for them to get guns.
The NRA won't say it publicly, but the NRA and the gun dealers have a vested interest in this escalation. they benefit not only from the sale of guns that end up in criminal's hands, but now ordinary citizens have reason to buy more guns, which in turn causes the criminals to up the ante which then ...
See where I'm going?
God only knows and he aint saying. Perhaps he's too busy at the "Golden Gates" checking in results of the carnage that guns cause.
Maybe if someone in the political arena gets shot then someone will pay some attention!!! It isn't the guns that are the problem its the idiots that use them for their own stupid reasons and then go to court and plead not guilty because of insanity BS they had enough sense to plan to buy a gun and kill innocent people then they should have to face the same thing and lets shoot them and say we are crazy. By the way I am from a small town called Pikeville Ky and if someone even tries to hurt one of my family members or break into my house you can be assured they will be shot but not killed......where it will hurt them the most.......
! don't think ANYTHING could change the gun laws.because the NRA's leadership has American gun owners completely "bamboozled" into thinking ANY restrictions on assault weapons, oversized pistol and rifle magazines or large purchases of ammunition is an assault on the 2nd Amendment AND any politician that even THINKS about proposing ANY gun restrictions will get flooded with negative NRA ads.
even the HINT that a politician wants to restrict ANY gun ownership can get someone defeated in an election. just look at the results of the Scott Walker recall in Wisconsin where the NRA ran anti Tom Barrett commercials. wasn't even CLOSE.
Hopefully not another shooting
The same thing that it takes to pass any law or elect any Congressman or president. Special interest money...and plenty of it.
Thom Richer
Negaunee, MI
Several U S Presidents have been the victims of gun violence as have numerous innocent American citizens. We have even had very young children and pregnant women as victims of gun violence. There have been repeated mass shootings and murders in this country yet the NRA stays the course to arm as many people as possible. Perhaps if the NRA leadership were directly affected by a senseless mass shooting by a mad gunman using an assault weapon, maybe then they will partner with the cowards in Congress to enact some sensible legislation to limit , if not restrict, the sale and ownership of assault weapons that were clearly designed and developed for military and law enforcement applications/uses.
Jack: Congress will have to stop fearing NRA, and change the law. Fat chance!! NRA and Grover Norquist own both parties in Congress is some way or fashion. I do not want the 2nd Amendment done away with, but a closer screening of people buying hand guns is needed before the sale is final. I also believe assault rifles should be outlawed from being sold in the United States. Semi-automatic rifles can kill enough deer or bear hunters want .
An armed revolution.
One thing would be to take all assault weaponry off the shelves and out of the hands of these crazies. There is absolutely no reason for the public to be allowed to purchase anything other than a small hand gun for personal protection, or a long gun for hunting .... that's hunting animals ... not humans. What will it take to change this law? A miracle!
On question after question, polls show the American people feel one way and the corporate prostitutes in Congress refuse to listen. I'm convinced the GOP doesn't want to solve ANY problems because the special interests who OWN that party make too much money off of the status quo. Gun control is a perfect example of that. Look what happened when Obama and the Democrats want to solve the banking crisis, Wall Street now gives to Romney by a 7 to 1 margin over the incumbent president. Inside the Beltway, money trumps votes. cy from arlington, va
A terrorist attack that kills most of the leadership of the NRA. No organization in this country has fought harder for the right of 1) Americans to sell guns to drug lords, 2) terrorists to purchase assault rifles, 3) mentally ill to purchase assault rifles, 4) any person with a gun to kill an unarmed person and claim self defense, 5) ....
Maybe if NRA members have their relatives shot up while they are in a movie theater, church or McDonald's? NAW, it still won't help.
The second amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. However, a "musket by the fireside" is much different than a military assault weapon on the street. The best group to suggest how to best control dangerous weapons would be the NRA. After all, they know a lot about them. However, their stance has continued to be more weapons and more dangerous weapons for more people. They have such influence that nothing will be done no matter how many innocent people are murdered. NRA members – are you listening?
I dont think that that gun control will help this lunacy......freedom of speech Jack, people can say whatever they like, but until they do something, law enforcement is helpless......no telling how many loose cannons are wandering around out there....
It's hard as hell to get help for mental problems because of our health care system. It's really easy to buy unlimited amounts of ammo on line or assault rifles. It is corporate America, not individuals, who establish these insance priorities. The right wing screams about the tyranny of the government; but, the fact is that a power vacuum has been created and corporate policy has expanded to fill that vacuum. Sales count more than blood. Our laws don't reflect the values of individuals. They are just corporate policy. Sorry Sikhs, moviegoers, Cong. Giffords, VT students: it's not personal, it's business. cy from arlington, va
Just about every day you hear about suicide bombers with vests and cars loaded with explosives, they kill hundreds of people, never have any protesting about that, I just don't get it.
How did the NRA get so powerful? Remember Charlton Heston holding up his rifle and saying they would have to "pry it from my cold, dead hand." I believe Mr. Heston was a very big player in the Republican party. Every single Republican I have heard on television defends very strongly the right to bear arms. Then, when they are asked about a ban on assult rifles, they avoid the question and say something to the effect if the NRA allows a ban on assult rifles the next thing will happen is an ban on some other type of weapon. And then, of course, the Republican "speak" during the 2008 presidential election that President Obama wants to come to your house and take away your guns or, without your weapons, when the US government comes "after you" you will have no way to defend yoursleves! This is the line of those who think every American should be allowed to be armed-to-the-teeth. Money from the NRA speaks loud and clear to members of the Republican party. Democrats, knowing they will be targeted by vast amounts of monies provided by the NRA, remain silent. The NRA is only part of the problem.
There is no incentive for the average American citizen to want gun laws changed. The government has trillions of dollars to give away to banksters, big business, billionaires, and one way "allies" while the people paying the bills slip further into poverty. Sooner or later the people are going to say enough is enough and the power brokers will try and squash any objection to their thievery including military force.
It certainly isn't going to happen by putting a large number of Conservatives in Congress and a man in the Oval Office who caters to them.
It would probably take a national vote for that to happen and even then no one is ever going to remove the 2nd Ammendment from the Constitution without there going to be some backlash from the American people!
So Jack, what's the over/under for another mass-shooting before the election? Sadly I say at least one more, and still nothing, NOTHING will change. God bless the NRA and their complete lack of any kind of compassion or leadership on the issue.
It will take the gun nut lobby growing up and realizing this sin't some kind of game. Soon we'll be hearing all the platitudes; he could have used a rock; we'd all be safer if everyone carried; our gun laws are already too tough; etc., etc., etc. Why can't these worshippers of the 2nd amendment get it though their heads that the framers of the Constitution were talking about an "organized militia" armed with muskets. Had they ever imagined today's weapons you can be assured those very wise gentlemen would have crafted a very different law. Have said all that, do I think anything is going to change? Not a chance.
And it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or
religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant
sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations
Romney: Obama mandated contraception so he might take your guns too
Romney says Obama will erode the rights of gun owners in speech to NRA
We need a president who will enforce current laws, not create new ones that only serve to burden lawful gun owners," Romney told thousands of NRA members in St. Louis for their annual convention. "President Obama has not. I will."
Running for the Senate in 1994, Romney said: "I don't line up with the NRA." A decade later he became a lifetime NRA member
This is as much about the GOP's message as it is about guns.... I hope you guys at CNN start asking the right questions. Their constant shout of hate the President... the country is being destroyed... we are being infiltrated being pumped out by Michelle Bachman, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilley (Although he has toned it down some) resulted in Wisconsin. These seething angry white men who have nothing to fear from diversity are taking the message literally. The GOP message trying to get whites to "Take back America" and hate Obama is causing xenophobia. Yes, that guy was probably crazy but that constant drumming of an ethnic president destroying the country and Michelle Bachman targeting an ethnic State Department employee only feeds the problem. On a national level and in the wrong ears people get killed. Sikhs are a peaceful people and did not deserve this. Hope Michelle Bachman is happy
Jack: You 're talking to the dead. The US is obsessed with guns They love them! Nothing will change. And so this is a dead issue. If anyone can look at Gabby Giffords or Jim Brady and says that gun control is not needed, well it is they who are crazy!
You expect me to give you and the country an idea on how to change the gun laws? That might give the gun control people ideas.
Courage.
The Villages, Fl.....Jack,, it will take the reincarnation of the Founding Fathers and them telling us "We said A WELL REGULATED MILITIA was part of the responsibility of owning weapons"!
All it will take is for people to wake up to the fact that the NRA are a bigger threat to life and limb than any other terrorists.
Wrong question. The politicians are too polarized and will never compromise. I live in Arizona and and know the gun loonies will never let you pry any imagined right out of their looneytune hands. The correct question and maybe more achievable is – how can we teach men, particularly white men age 20-40, to deal with failure better? One psychologist after the Colorado shooting pointed out that many mass murderers are inept at dealing with failure in their lives.
The first thing we should do is realize all the press coverage, especially cable news, just feeds copycat murders. The second is follow-up on what the Catholic Supreme Court Justice said about hand-held rocket launchers and the like. Also, Cerberus Capital Management (owned Chrysler) owns many of the arms manufacturers (Remington, etc.) and Walmart is the #1 gun seller. Lots of politics here.
What civilized society debates the use of automatic guns by civilians? It is bad enough that soldiers use them.
What is it going to take to enact gun control? How about we have the ATF buy a bunch of guns, give them to Mexican cartel members, lose track of them, and watch the violence explode on the border. Then we can blame the American gun industry and our inadequate gun control laws. Sounds like a plan!
jack, what will it take for gun control? Answer: Follow the money. Unfortunately it leads to Governors, Senators, and all other levels of politicans.
The realization that we are a society that worships violence. People want their guns and they don't want to pay higher taxes for better mental health screenings., Innocents will continue to die in movie theaters, college campuses, churches, temples.....parks, public schools......The right to bear arms is more important than the desire to protect the innocent. What does that say about us?
A Massacre on the scale of what happened last year, in Norway, might motivate some people to change gun laws. But, emphasis on the word "MIGHT"
The only thing it will take is more votes than the NRA can buy. And how does that happen? The same way so many other problems can be solved in our country...educate the masses. The problem then becomes that American Education isn't what our foam finger waving, USA USA chanting NRA members tell you it is.
I read with interest the comments of the pro-gun and NRA zealots and I have a few things I'd like them to consider..
The second amendment was written over 200 years ago by slave owners before a civil war eliminated this abomination. They were talking about muskets which took about 15 mins to load and fired one round. It is time to eliminate this stupid and immoral amendment to more accurately reflect the 21st century and the sophisticated killing machines that are produced today. There are over 300 million guns in the hands of our population with the predictable murder rate of over 30 per day. You can double that for suicide.
The Japanese constitution regarding absolutely no guns or knifes allowed was written in 1958 – Americans wrote it by the way- and last year their murder by guns was almost zero. The same can be said of England where after the second World War, people were asked to turn in their weapons and they did by the hundreds voluntarily. Murders last year were 58. The next thing they complain about is their hunting privileges – It's called sport to shoot defenseless animals- but I thought sport was when both sides knew the rules.
Lastly, it was mentioned that the NRA was a non-profit. The president of this organization takes home 1 million dollars per year from the suckers who pay their dues. In summary, since the 2nd World War ended in 1945, we have murdered close to 1 million souls on our streets with guns. We should be ashamed of ourselves...
When someone you love is killed in a shooting....
Insurrection.
I think no politician touches this subject because they know changing the laws would make no sense, The incidents that have happened the past few weeks and years are just psychos who if they couldn't get the weapon legally would have probably still obtained the weapon another way so there is no point in changing the laws and hurting those who buy weapons for safety and not to go on rampage .
Jack:
Time and again it happened shootings is a way of life in the US. It's the constitution STUPID
Just let them lick their wounds and go home. Nothing is going to change in the US.
Derf Canada
Jack, it will require a significant change in the hearts and minds of most Americans, which is the most difficult kind of change to make.
It will require either triple digit death tolls or a shootout in an elementary school, like the 1996 shooting in Dunblane elementary school in Scotland, to change our laws.
Jack gun control laws won;t change for a long time. Plain and simple, Americans love their second amendment rights and would not be happy to see it tightened anymore than it is right now.
Let's pose this question to the gun carrying citizens who, at the scenes of other less frequently reported crimes, used their gun to stop the criminal act in process. This is not a "gun control" issue, its a criminal issue – anyone prepared to kill a bunch of people obviously doesn't care about whether their gun is obtained illegally.
Wait until some high profile senator or congressman the President of the NRA or his family get killed and then things will change, our founding fathers didn't think about some nut bag with a gun that could hold 90 rounds or a pistol with 15 to 20 rounds they were thinking about the musket,I doubt very seriously if they would have put that in the constitutuin if they had know we have a bunch of nut bags in congress and shooters also.
The Rapture
I wouldn't want anyone hurt or killed but the only way that get better gun control if a major Republican
was shot. Terrible thing to happen but probably on then would the Republicans would do any improvements
in gun control laws.
Michele Bachmann will have to personally shoot Nikki Haley(R) because she mistook her for a Muslim instead of Michele just inciting teabilly violence against the Sikhs with her anti-muslim fear mongering. Michele has blood on her hands.. She didn't shoot those people, but she asked for it to be done.
It's simply too late for extensive controls. The time for that was 200 years ago. Now we need to get real about on-site protection such as metal detectors and some regulations that set off bells and whistles when someone purchases an arsenal over a short period, as was the case in Colorado. Less hatred, less anger, easier access to mental health care and medications will reduce these massacres more than gun control ever will.
Gun CONTROL laws don't need to change. Taking guns away won't keep people wanting to do harm from getting guns. Gun free zones don't stop someone already breaking the law from committing acts of violence. What needs to change is trying to keep high risk people, ie. criminals, people with psychological problems, etc. from getting guns. Guns don't need to be controlled. Guns aren't the problem. Remember, it's the human, not the object causing the harm.
Sadly when congress nearly lost one of their own, it didn't make a difference. Perhaps if it hits even closer to home, unfortunately a family member, they will decide to legislate gun control.
A child can pull a trigger and kill a human being. Far too many gun owners seem to own them because of inadequacy issues. A courageous person does not need to own or use a gun – ever. It takes far more courage to be peaceful than it does to be violent. This country has been overrun by right-wing ignorant, vicious hypocrites who use guns as a means to try to project a form of power. They constantly say 'Second Amendment' but most of the same people have no concern for the well-being of this country or its inhabitants – if they did, they would agree to sensible controls on gun purchases and ownership. Every victim of violence in this country and their loved ones can place the blame where it should be – on Republicans/Tea Partiers whose rhetoric and actions continue to promote violence and hatred and allow that to escalate into murders of and by American citizens.
unfortunately, it would take a violent act which is closer to home... for example, someone slipping in and massacring a lot of members of Congress, or someone who opens fire at a gun show and kills a lot of gun lovers, or someone massacring a lot of the crowd at a political event, such as a campaign stop for Romney... if it doesn't hit home, it only makes these idiot gun lovers more defensive about their addiction... which apparently killing school kids and church goers are just collateral damage to those who are addicted to owning and firing guns...
It has been proven that areas with stricter gun control laws actually INCREASE violence. Criminals will always have a way to get a hold of guns. Also, don't you think that if someone had a gun in the crowd at the Batman showing that less lives would have been taken? At the temple shooting, if someone had a gun to defend themselves and others, don't you think less people would have died? The 2nd Amendment will never die, Jack.
Consider how many pro and college football staduims there and the tens of thousands of staduim workers who have access to sneak in an arsenal. .
We are on the glide path to 6 guys in full body armor w/ 5 dozen 100 rond cliips ea. firing into the stands. Someday that will happen We could ban those clips if the Dems controled the house and senate and WH. The GOP/NRA would rather wait and chance it. and when it does happen they will say "this is no time to consider gun control"
Jim
Santa Barbara
Gun control will never happen in this country as long as we can pretend that people can protect themselves from armed people if we can pack a gun ourselves because i dont know about you but i want carry one to church. What a joke.
I don't see how gun lcontrol laws can change since in the Constituion we have the right to bear arms. However we also have religious freedom guarenteed by the 1st Ammendment but we Catholics are being forced to buy contraceptives and pay for abortions-against our religion and society's well being. Abortion gives people the idea that they own human beings and have the right to kill them if they want. Sound familiar?
It will take the cessation of gun worship in the United States. The UN wanted to pass a bill to stem the illicit international arms trade a few weeks ago. The reaction from a lot of people? Obama's going to use this to repeal the 2nd Amendment! We live in a corrupt, confusing time – a lot of people find that their only way of feeling empowered is to grab a gun and think that they are the last bastion against a socialist conspiracy to take their freedoms away.
As someone who will probably never own a gun, I don't think gun control is the answer. Prohibition has only ever served to create black markets, which themselves pose a real threat to public safety. The only thing that can possibly save this country from destroying itself through gun violence is a paradigm shift for our culture, which all but condones such violence. As for how to bring about that, your guess is as good as mine.
Jack,
Gun laws are not going to change, particularly not while the NRA has such a stranglehold on our politics, and not while so much of this country has such a love affair with one particular interpretation of the Second Amendment.
I'm not a fan of guns myself, and believe that it is a travesty that the Assault Weapons Ban was allowed to expire, but I would like to see more attention paid to the plight of the mentally ill than is paid to the never-ending, unmoving - and ultimately futile - discussion over gun laws.
Leah
Denver, Colorado
Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Same old story. Criminals do not obey the law. Stronger laws will not work just takes more protection from good honest people who want and need to protect themselves. As good as our police forces are, they can't do it all and be everywhere they need to be at all times.
Jack it would take an assault rifle toting Wayne LaPierre blowing away Jesus Christ, Santa Claus and Elvis on live TV to bring about any kind of tougher gun laws. And I'm doubtful that even that could bring about change. Truly sad.
It will take the soccer moms to be afraid for their kids. They will avoid crowds, the mall of America, the Vikings Game, anywhere there are crowds will be avoided. When this happens, the soccer moms, businesses and the politicians will all get busy doing something about the guns and not one day before the fear gets to the moms.
Criminals taking control. Then the citizens will be totally defenseless.
Gun laws will be changed when you can find a strong correlation between owning a gun and killing people...there has been a handful of shootings recently, the largest being the Colorado shooting of 12 people. However, those mass murders could have been done with bombs, knives, anything but guns. Guns are not the problem, and illegal guns were not even used in those events so I'm sick of hearing that too. There are a few psycho people out there who can't control themselves. Let's ask ourselves this question, did we outlaw planes after 9/11? Why not, they killed thousands not just 12 people......
In order for the lawmakes to take this gun control seriously, some one will have to go on the floor of the House and the Senate with an assult weapon like a AK-47 or a M16 and begin to shoot people, It is so sad to have to think like this,
but no one in congress has lost a love one due to Gun Violence.
Let 'em have their guns...just ban manufacturing ammunition...or better yet, raise the prices of ammo
ski high, just like cigarettes. Mayors can then ban ammo from their states.
woodbridge va- Jack the price for a free society is not cheap. The first thing every muderous despot in modern history has done is to disarm the population. That is a inconvient fact. There is never going to be a way to keep guns out of the hands of the crazies unless we ban them outright. Even then, we still would have over 300 million firearms in circulation. If we can convince the general population to take advantage of concealed handgun permitting, that would take a bite out of crime.
More gun control laws will not stop these tragic events. How hard is that to understand? It is already ilegal to commit murder. More control control laws or whatever else someone can come up with only impacts law abiding citizens. Law abiding citizens do not commit random acts of violence, I know, it sucks, but that is just the way it is. Would folks feel better if these tragedies had been committed with bombs made from household chemicals? Maybe diesel fuel and fertilizer? Maybe an automobile that plowed into a crowd? We just can not stop someone bent of such a destructive path. But, if we are allowed to arm ourselves, maybe we can fight back.
This shooting has nothing to do with gun control and every thing to do with hate speech fund raising efforts by people like mrs. Bachman. It is sad that our leaders are creating this kind of hate among people.
I am sure that 90% of your viewer's will answer "Nothing" unless one of the shooting victims happens to be an NRA member then I am sure they will "permit" this discussion to take place. The next time we have the discussion will be after another major shooting incident and then we will ask the same question "is the time is right for gun control" – nothing will happen and so we go round and round
What will it take for politicians to change gun control laws? That's easy Jack! An armed uprising against them. Once they feel threatened, they will take away our right to rise against them.
I can bear a Bazooka and I like shooting it in the desert. Don't even dare mess with my Second Amendment right!
I am all for gun ownership as long as you are found responsible enough to have one, and maybe our gun laws do need be a bit stricter-HOWEVER, that is not the sole issue to these massacres, murders or even accidents. Truth of the matter is guns are stolen from law abiding citizens and identities are stolen for people to purchase guns. So the question should be where do you start, not just changing the law. I think we have a bigger picture to address than just changing gun laws. Where are the stories like the elderly lady who thankfully had a gun behind the counter of her store when 5 guys tried to rob her at gun point? Its all a catch 22 and a double edge sword. Where some are competent others are not.
Can't take guns away from the people. That would cause a revolution. Make weapons training mandatory at age 18. Ban semii-automatic weapons (auto's are already banned) Make it easier for citizens to go armed.
If gun control laws have not been changed after the assassination of President Kennedy, not sure if any other tragic events would. If a US President, or the President's very close relative is assassinated, then perhaps something could change. I really don't know what else could impact the necessary changes. Do you have any idea?
With few exceptions, these mass shootings have been carried out by white males. If people of color start massacring innocents (and in particular, white innocents) with legally purchased weapons, the course of debate will change. Until then, look for most Americans to enjoy the status quo.
Crosby, MN
The problem isn't guns, it's the people who use them for evil. Gun control hasn't stopped shooting violence in Norway, France, or Spain. Why should it change anything here?
When the President gives up American hegemony, his own personal security (ie. Secret Service), puts away the drones, stops spying on us (Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, etc.) then we can talk about, until then I value my life too much not to have the best tools available to protect my life and the lives of the people I love against our own government and assorted psychos and villains.
It would help if President Obama were re-elected since he wouldn't have to worry about getting re-elected again and could push for gun reform.. It's going to take a concerted effort to educate the public and to reassure law-abiding gun owners that no one is going to take their guns away. The problem of gun violence goes beyond gun ownership. There are deeper sociological problems that need to be addressed or guns will just be replaced by other weapons, such as suicide bombs, or biological weapons. But gun law reforms would certainly make it more difficult for a zealot to achieve his objectives.
The issue isn't gun control. We have a mental health issue that nobody wants to do anything about. Let's control the nut jobs before we start taking away my rights to own a gun.
Rather than focus on the objects, why don't we focus on the individuals? Yes, one can use a gun to kill someone, but one could also use a steak knife....so do we outlaw steak knives and everyone eats soup? A car accident could kill someone.....do we put the auto industry out of business and everyone rides a bicycle? If a person is intent on killing/doing harm, they will find a way to do it.....whatever item they choose to use.....we can't take away everything.....put the focus on the people, not the items.
It will take a change to the Constitution. If there is to be a limit on the type of weapons a person can own and how much ammo they can carry, it needs to be a uniform regulation stemming directly from language in the Constitution. When that is done it should be illegal for any State to change those restrictions in any way.
Not that any of this will change crime in any manner. But it will save a lot of pontificating on the part of local, state, and federal politicians on gun control.
Jack, as long as a majority of Americans think they can go squirrel hunting in heaven it will never change!
Gary
Centerville, Iowa
Jack, this country is at war, with itself. Every day people kill with guns. F
or example, there's been people killed in Sanford Florida since martin thing, but you don't see any hype on that.
It will get worse, as combat in streets gets worse, and there's nothing Congress will do about it because they are so scared of NRA and tax hikes. Nothing else matters
bobl ocala
It is a national disgrace that this question even needs to be asked. It is a national disgrace that the NRA and the gun lobby has every politician in the country either in their back pocket or cowering in their offices afraid to say anything about controlling the ungodly number of guns in the hands of nut cases. It is a national disgrace that people do not feel safe in their own homes, neighborhoods., schools, churches, shopping malls, theatres, playgrounds, etc. while the gun crowd keeps bleating mindlessly on about their "gun rights" and bullying society into passing the most ridiculous "castle laws" and carry laws in history. When will it end? This country will be paying in more and more innocent blood before anyone has the guts to step up and do something about it....the biggest national disgrace.
Hey JACK How come people like you are quick to take guns from law abiding citizens but speak absolutely nothing about a Death penalty for these animals ??? A "mandatory Death Penalty"
The only gun laws that need to be changed is to make it easier for law abiding citizens to protect themselves. Concealed license reciprocity among States would help. Wisconsin just passed a CCW law last year and in most chu hes you can't carry due to signs banning it in the building. Next time this happens I would hope there would be would be people shooting back and end these situations before so many people are hurt or killed. That is the only way to stop horrible events like this. What needs to change is to stop calling for more gun control after events like this because a reasonable person knows that it will do nothing to prevent horrible acts like this and will only prevent good people from defending themselves.
Can't be done Jack....Democrats are scared to death of the NRA and Republicans ask "how high?" when the NRA says "jump". In addition you would have to lobotomize most of Texas. .
I am an FFL in IN. Our customers must fill out a form 4473 and then we do a NICS background check. Granted, that will never assure someone going off the deep end but it does stop sells to fellons. My opposition of the law concerns gun shows and auctions. Anyone can buy a weapon from an individual with no questions or background checks. The crooks will always be able to obtain weapons no matter what the laws. Let's start with auctions and gun shows and make all sells go through an FFL.
There are more than enough gun control laws on the books already. The problem is not more laws or controls, but the enforcement of existing laws. The proponents of disarming Americans have failed to see the results of other countries that disarmed their citizens, like Australia for example. In each case of national disarmament, crime rates, including crimes involving firearms, skyrocketed. Law abiding citizens turned in their firearms, criminals did not. Even right here in California, when then-mayor Diane Feinstein disarmed San Franciscans, the results were disastrous. By the way, Diane Feinstein is a concealed carry permit holder.
The bottom line is, Americans own guns, both for sporting purposes and for protection of their families and themselves. You want better gun control? Use both hands.
The question shouldn't be what will it take to change the laws, it should be what should be done to solve the problem. Would you stop allowing people to drive Hondas because a bunch of people got run over by a guy in a honda?
The issue is less the tool, and more the person. Guns are unable to do anything by themselves, and there are millions of responsible gun owners in this country, who get tagged as "Gun Nuts" becuase they own a firearm.
Don't blame the many, for the sins of the few. If you outlaw guns, only the outlaws wiill have them, and no one will be able to defend themselves against criminals.
Gun control is not part of the agenda for either Presidential candidate or our vacationing Congress. Our 2nd amendment is the sacred cow that no one dares to touch. It would probably take a mass murder that equals the number of victims on 911 for someone to say enough is enough. None of us want to see that number slain in one day ever again. It shook us to our core.
Fox is now the voice of the NRA. the NRA can produce facts that rhe guns are innocent victims when people
are killed and misguided humans are responsible for the results of their confrontations with guns.
Also, people kill because they are mentally deranged or cannot handle or deal with the differences of the human race. Therefore, guns should not be allowed to be in the hands of just anyone. I believe that every individual should highly be screened (I know they could fake their behavior because that is how sick people are today) prior to being allowed to purchase or own guns. Fear is driving the world and fear is going to destroy the world. "FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real" by CWG. Can you embrace LOVE and let go of FEAR?
Jack, I'm not sure that increased gun control is the answer. I think we would be more successful in strengthening hate control laws. The division in America seems to be at a deadly level. In our political arena, we have this underlying hatred. For the sake of political gain we have persuasion campaigns that focus on distorting facts at an unprecedented degree. We have the conservative right calling our President Anti-Christian, Muslim, not having the proper birth records, or a socialist that has no regard for the constitution or the people. We have a liberal agenda that portrays all people of wealth to be evil. With the economic struggles of many we have a public that has become increasingly susceptible to this misinformation. It has created a domino effect, growing into this passionate hatred against people of different religious beliefs or political ideology throughout mainstream America, that is built on nothing more than false claims and misinformation. This can be seen in the Arizona and Wisconsin shootings. What would help us most is to look in the mirror and give ourselves a reality check. I know that my beliefs are left of center, but I do truly think that we need to get back to being a compassionate people.
Hello Jack, My name is Dave Gordon from Las Vegas, NV. To answer your question on " What will it take for gun control laws to change?". Personally, I think all guns should be abolished, which probably won't happen. But something more sencible would be to place the questions on the ballot in November and let the people decide to: 1 abolish semi-matic rifles, 2. abolish semi – automatic hand guns, 3. abolish bullet clips holding more than 6 or 7 bullets. 4. abolish large sums of bullets and amunition that can be purchased on the internet. 5. abolish ALL OF THE ABOVE. I think that will prompt congress to act. Thank you, Dave
I fully support and endorse the right of every American to bear arms and defend themselves. If good citizens had the right to have arms at the theater in Colorado then this tragedy could have been avoided! God bless America!
Bottom line: Countries with the fewest guns also have the fewest gun deaths.