Jared Loughner is just "a lone nut"?

[Viperfreak2]

They said on the news last night that sales of high capacity magazines were 'brisk' because some people fear a ban may be coming...

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

We should always keep working to better the society we live in, not just say 'this is it, nothing we can do'

The point I didn't make clear enough was a school hearing about threats. Any reported threats should have been documented and the police contacted. Then, the way it should work, is that he is in a database to not legally sell him guns. He shows up at a sporting goods store to buy a gun, they look in the computer and they tell him no. Would that stop him from getting a gun? No way, but it makes it more difficult, and the choice of gun (and magazine) less. Some 'street' dealers will sell to anyone. Some would see the crazy in his eyes and consider that he might shoot them in the back after the deal.

Anyway, once the police were involved maybe there could have been more push to get him some medical help. His parents should have been first in line asking for it. Did they?

Agree! The documentation on this guy was pretty extensive. IF there was a way to involuntarily commit him then that should have happened. The idea that the school's documentation would somehow get into a federal database to prohibit him from buying a gun would be the ideal but that is where there is a disconnect. The federal check would not reveal his history if it was confined to school records.

I was a gun store last week and they told me about a guy who had a gun there in the waiting period when it came back that he was a prohibited person because he had a prior mental health detention (72 hour hold). I don't know how that got into the records or if it was a self-report on the form he had to fill out at the time of purchase. The system can work but there are times when someone's mental health history is unreported in so far as it was documented in ways or places that do not link with databases that are kept and queried when a gun is purchased.

It's easy to see the why or how this guy could do what he did when it's Monday morning quarterback time. The signs were there but what can we learn from it about the process and how people who pose a risk to themselves and others can be dealt with before something terrible happens.

[AzX5]

Originally Posted by Krimson X

Rush might want to take this Tucson area billboard down.

It is the radio station's billboard, doesn't belong to Rush. And it was taken down immediately Monday morning following the weekend massacre.

[Viperfreak2]

A VERY interesting side story:

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

[Krimson X]

Originally Posted by AzX5

It is the radio station's billboard, doesn't belong to Rush. And it was taken down immediately Monday morning following the weekend massacre.

I know, but I wouldn't want my name associated with it. Does a local radio station have the right to use a person's name and likeness without prior approval?

[AzX5]

Originally Posted by Krimson X

I know, but I wouldn't want my name associated with it. Does a local radio station have the right to use a person's name and likeness without prior approval?

I'm sure all radio stations that carry the Rush syndicated talk show must get his approval for any publicity ads, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make. The point is that what once may have been in good taste, all of a sudden no longer was in good taste and the radio station did the responsible thing and took it down IMMEDIATELY. Why must the Huffington Post and everyone else on the left continue to imply that this billboard is still up?

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by Viperfreak2

A VERY interesting side story:

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

Responsible citizen acting responsibly, the reason the second amendment works and overly strict gun laws don't help the problem at all imo. Guns should only legally be sold to sound minded responsible citizens naturally, and that is what the background checks etc are supposed to do.

As someone who has bought a gun or two second hand from the original owner I know that process is way too easy... just a quick bill of sale and done. I'd respect the decision if they made stricter laws requiring that to be done differently as there is no check and anyone can buy a used gun that way.

Any thoughts on a safer way for used gun sales by our gun aficionados on the site?

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by Weasel

Responsible citizen acting responsibly, the reason the second amendment works and overly strict gun laws don't help the problem at all imo. Guns should only legally be sold to sound minded responsible citizens naturally, and that is what the background checks etc are supposed to do.

As someone who has bought a gun or two second hand from the original owner I know that process is way too easy... just a quick bill of sale and done. I'd respect the decision if they made stricter laws requiring that to be done differently as there is no check and anyone can buy a used gun that way.

Any thoughts on a safer way for used gun sales by our gun aficionados on the site?

The laws vary state to state with some as liberal as you describe to California where second hand private party sales are supposed to be conducted by a FFL (Federal Firearms License) dealer with 10 day waiting period and background check. In California, dealers cannot even ship a gun to another dealer without a prior approval from the State Department of Justice - even if it's to a dealer next door.

The reality is that once a gun is in the hands of someone, anything can happen to it. It can get stolen or be sold to someone without any dealer involvement, background check, or waiting period. There is no way to prevent this and no amount of legislation will change that. We simply cannot regulate human behavior and cannot enact laws to make people better. No matter how many hoops people are required to go through with anything, not just firearms, people will do crazy things.

[Weasel]

I hear ya and fully agree that you can't do anything to make people do the right things. Crazy people will always be crazy, and you can't fix stupid. And no matter how wrong someone is people never really see themselves as crazy or wrong simply due to the delusion on self... they are normal/right/justified in their own head.