PMartin37

Of course it holds water, and quite will. Try your explanation on someone who has lost a loved one due to a drunk driver and see if you make them feel better. And 99.9999999% of gun owners don't do what you stated either. Your argument FAILS big time.

My argument is concerning weapons and the buying and selling process. That's the discussion at hand. You brought the drunk driving comparison into it. And there really is no comparison to be made.

My point is not to try to make drunk driving victims feel better ...I'm talking about shooting victims.

The United States CONSTITUTION the last time I checked doesn't prohibit gun ownership by your special "rules."

Maybe not the last time you checked... But that's why the founding fathers allowed changes to be made in the constitution as society changes. And things have changed a little since the late 1700s with our society. I think for the protection of innocent people (for example children and those under the age of 18) I think that the way people obtain weapons needs some serious overhaul. Unfortunately, people can't rationally discuss ANY change without people getting hauty and thinking this means a ban. There needs to be nationwide tracking in real time to keep track of what's being sold and to whom. Also, the types of weapons should be restricted. Maybe a first time gun owner can purchase handguns. Then as they prove to be responsible owners (such as not committing mass murder) then they can rank up so to speak.

The idea that a person can make their first purchase of a weapon an AK-47 and buy limitless ammunition and not get a sideways glance is unacceptable.

And by the way, any one that is a law abiding citizen cares about the welfare of others that can't defend themselves - not just their constitutional rights above all else.

Perhaps that was sarcasm??

Drunk drivers kill about the same number of people as are murdered by guns. Why not ban alcohol? And never mind alcohol, cars kill more people than guns. Ban cars too.

I don't think that argument would carry much weight with one of the victims of this shooting. Drunk drivers don't TARGET people with the sole intention of killing them. And they aren't constantly shopping with the intention of finding the most devastating vehicle to demolish people. Sorry but that argument doesn't hold water.

lol there can be never an exactly same situation...but sometimes just knowing the ppl in theater could be carrying works.

The Gun man would have given few thoughts before going forward with his plan.

Rocks - for someone like you who has never fired a weapon even in dark... the sound can be heard and muzzle flash can be seen.

It seems to me, the Gun Man thought of everything! He had head to toe bulletproof protection and used tear gas to subdue the crowd before he started his massacre. He thought it well out in advance.

I find it really humorous that these people are very coherent and meticulous in the planning/premeditating stages of their crimes but when caught they start acting noncoherent and disoriented likes Holmes is doing now. Wonder where this all headed?

I suppose it would only be newsworthy if he'd succeeded in shooting up his previous employers in their office? and maybe several innocent bystanders? What that be enough whoopdeedoo?

He even told the cops his intentions with the weapons!

Some serious changes really need to be made concerning WHO is eligible to obtain weapons. Personal protection or hunting is one thing....but obtaining these type of weapons is quite another. If they can't figure out how to curb the nutjobs obtaining mass killing machinery, they're going to have to start installing scanners at movie theaters, malls, etc., etc...

Gosh, I can't imagine there's a problem here. As long as he's a law abiding citizen, has all his permits, and is a loyal NRA card carrier..there's been no crime committed right?

I don't think there should be a gun ban per se...but we definitely need to check out who these "law abiding citizens" are a little more thoroughly. Just maybe..

Yep. He is digging that hole deeper and deeper. I imagine the prosecutor has already written the subpoena to get all the unedited raw tape.

Keep digging Georgie

What is this business about "it was all in God's plan"? And why didn't Hannity press him further to explain WTH that meant? As an interviewer, he should attempt the logical questions that viewers would glean from his responses. Oh yeah, my bad...he's not an interviewer That sounds like a whackadoodle thing to say and I wonder is he attempting to build some insanity defense.

That doesn't jive with stand your ground proponents who say brandishing your weapon is something you DON'T do against someone threatening you. The reason being is that the other person could then reasonably believe they're life is in danger and respond accordingly, which would put the whole stand your ground logic into an endless loop.

:dance: :dance:

Congrats to you!!! and good luck for your future journey!

Not against a US Military who's just been ordered under the President to occupy American cities.

You're not going to the theater this weekend are you?

Hubby is Approved! Got to sign at the end with his name change & will await a letter in the mail with a time & date for his ceremony!!!

Congrats!!! :dance:

Now you have a nice long vacay to celebrate! Woot woot!!

:dance:

Congrats!!!!

There's no way these guys walk right? I mean there has to be a trial for this.

I would think there's no way in hell these guys would walk. I sincerely hope they take the proper route and don't attempt to start sweeping this under the carpet. And if the guy was black... well, they are asking for a world of hurt.

I don't want Al Sharpton to have an excuse to show up and start fanning the flames of discontent. There's already enough. They should simply DO THE RIGHT THING and admit they screwed up- which appears to be the case.

Religious wackaloonery in Chicago

On my way to the Cubs/Diamondback baseball game yesterday (Cubs win!), I came across several loud religious groups proselytizing in Grant Park east of downtown Chicago. This collection of misfits was particularly humorous—well, not exactly “humorous” given that if they had any power, they’d begin a Taliban-esque refurbishment of morals in America. I took a 30-second video. It’s unbelievable that this mentality still exists in the U.S., but, O, foreign readers, watch and weep:

The whole sick crew:

Shouldn't those women be at home scrubbing the floor or fixing supper? lol

The fact that they're there with signs in hand kind of contradicts what's written on their signs me thinks. But on another note...thank God they adhered to the "modest dress" rule.

Sung to the tune of Aerosmith "Janie's got a gun"

Granpa's got a gun

Gonna cap those losers in the buns

that's all I've got so far.

Oh wait! They found drugs in his apartment after they killed them. Well why didn't you say so in the first place? Everythings hunky dory now

This part is rich:

The murder suspect had parked his motorcycle in a parking space in a parking lot front of Scott’s apartment building and although deputies did not see him go in that particular unit, they assumed that Scott’s apartment was the suspect’s home.

So, if I go to someone's house with my gun in hand at 1:30am in the morning and break into that person's house, we have a little shootout and I kill them...it's THEIR fault- got it

Oh my god. Are you SERIOUS? I'm done even attempting to discuss anything with you.

I say you have a short memory and then you assume I'm referring to you as a Republican.

I can't keep up. Every comment I make, you reply responding to something I didn't say.

Save yourself!

Yeah and actually I think in Rome a thumbs down didn't mean the same thing it does today .

Indeed, the thumbs down did NOT mean they didn't approve of your sparring outfit.

Mmmm gladiators?

All never ending gun talk aside ....

Way to go gramps!!!

Now there's your everyday hero.

People with legal firearms snap and kill their families, coworkers, neighbors, strangers every day.

:thumbs:

While every service member's story is different, I can only share my own.

I struggled with a lot of guilt, and then an enormous sense of abandonment and even some betrayal while serving in the military.

It started back in 2000. I was serving in Korea and there was a protest at the main gate of the base I was protecting. "Americans go home. No more occupation." Etc., etc., was written on the signs of the protesters. I smiled inside because this was true freedom. These folks were having a peaceful protest and engaging their own government in petition for redress. The police weren't beating them. They didn't make them take down the signs. They didn't make them go home. They permitted them to stand in front of the American base and lift their voices.

This was liberty and I was proud to be part of the reason these folks could exercise their rights.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Less than a year earlier I'd been protecting a country ruled by a tyrannical monarch who would chop off the heads of people who spoke out against his policies. They didn't have freedom. They didn't have a voice to raise. They couldn't exercise their liberties.

I was protecting that king's authority to oppress everyone in his country.

And the worst part? My government told me it was the same thing.

Any reasonable person knows it's not the same thing. Anyone in their right mind knows what they're doing is immoral. And yet, we're told to "support our brothers in arms" and "support the mission" but at the end of the day, it's all bull$#!t. What we're doing over there to those brown people is no different than what the government is doing here to these brown people.

They package it differently and call it something else, but it's the same thing. The American Dream is a farce. It is the root of all evil in our country and we're willing to kill anyone and everyone who dares question the authenticity of it.

It's easy in the beginning. The military is trained to be part of a team to the point where it doesn't even matter what you're doing... as long as you're helping your team. Eventually though, every enlistee figures it out.

I thank God I figured it out before I was forced to take someone's life. Each day I've lived since that day has been a gift. I'm able to enjoy the little things. To focus on what makes me happy. To really interact with those around me.

But it was a struggle at first. I became detached and dejected. I felt so bad for being part of that system (I didn't kill anybody but I supported the mission that did) that I withdrew from things and got more involved in drinking and dangerous behavior. I truly didn't care what happened to me because what I'd done was so wrong. Whenever I'd engage folks in the military about it, I was ostracized for not being part of the team anymore. How dare I step out of line and not believe in the mission.

I rotated back to the Middle East a couple times. I honestly hoped I'd be able to get killed in battle. That somehow all that bull$#!t that I'd endured would end up bringing honor to my family and they'd be proud of my service instead of ashamed of it the way I was. My attitude was poor and my dress and appearance reflected it.

Then I went back to Korea.

It was there that I'd basically separated from the military already. I'd gone back to experience life again on my own terms. To enjoy freedom. To be part of something wonderful. The people. The liberty. I basically freed my mind of my military servitude and allowed myself to enjoy the little things again.

I came home a short time later. I was discharged and came back to live the American Dream. But I don't dream the same way most folks do. I dream of covering an intersection with a machine gun. Yet, those same people who I'm overwatching aren't my enemies. They're my friends. I cover them because I love them. I cover them because it's with a clear conscience that I separated from the military and my life before.

I'm free.

Many of our service members aren't so free. They're bound by servitude and the expectation that they still need to cover each other "over there." That they have a responsibility to protect each other and accomplish the mission. They're guilted into "doing their part" and can't break free of that calling even though they've come to the realization that what they're doing isn't right.

Couple that with bills to pay back home. A wife that's shacked up with another dude. A commander that wants a reenlistment.

And an America that will never understand.

Boom.

Thanks for that post. It's good that you can come out of it with the realizations that you did. I have family members that have been back numerous times and have seen their friend's refer to it as " a paid vacation". I'm relieved to hear at least one soldier that hasn't referred to it as such. I'm not sure if this was macho talk on their part or their actual feelings but I'm constantly torn between supporting our troops here and knowing deep down that there is no end to the conflict over there. I was always against the war in Iraq because I always feared what has come to pass. Like all other Americans, I would see Bush on television repeating over and over "stay the course" while all the while screaming we are so off course we'll never return!!! But to say that in public, I could be deemed "unpatriotic". My brother did some contract work over there and still thinks we "won"- whatever that means.

I'm glad you posted this.