Letting this one pass

[danprkr]

After the CT school shooting today, I spent a few hours on Facebook arguing with gun banners. Most of which are of course reacting out of emotion and stupidity.

I think though that I have decided that I am going to sit the rest of this one out, and any in the future. Like Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid."

Instead I think it would be a better expenditure of my time and effort to A - make a donation to the NRA or other firearms rights group, and B - write letters to my elected reps, and let the hysterical just do there thing.

Am I being lazy, or just efficient?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Arguing on Facebook for hours sounds like a pure waste of time regardless of the topic.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I'm in the same boat. I spent some time today debating a number of topics, gun control among them. No, you can't fix stupid, you won't change their minds. They are blinded by emotion and their own political rhetoric, as are we. We try to combat bleeding heart emotion with cold hard facts, we might as well punch ourselves in the crotch repeatedly for all the good it would do. Pro 2A folks will be acting emotionally, too. We'll spout off facts and figures and catch phrases ('guns aren't the problem, XYZ studies prove it') and get drawn into gun control debates and be just as emotionally charged up as the antis.

People are set in their ways. Most are too rigid to ever consider that the opposition might have some merit. This close to a tragedy is not the time to get into callous debates. Sure, some cold, heartless politicians will not let this tragedy go to waste. But don't they always?

At this point, I'm not taking any action. Give it a week or two to simmer down. No laws are getting ramrodded into place. It didn't happen after the Giffords shooting, or the Aurora shooting, or the Empire State building shooting, or the Wisconsin Sikh temple shooting. It's not likely to happen after this one, either.
Once things cool down and people start looking at things a bit more logically, then I'll start to write to my government reps. Until then, I'm holding back.

 

[9mmforMe]

"You can't fix stupid"

Indeed.

 

[MedWheeler]

For some people, no explanation is necessary. For others, no explanation is possible.

I did have to remind my Soviet-raised wife (who did not attack gun ownership; just made this type of thing to be a uniquely-"American" thing) of the school shootings in Germany, France, and the youth camp massacre in Norway, and of the school attacks and killings in China that were committed with knives. She understands that this is bigger than gun ownership; it's largely possible because of the continued "de-valuation" of the lives of individual members of society; members that, in political climates such as China's, are seen more as simply parts of a bigger collective machine.

 

[d2wing]

All these shootings are fuel for the antis. Obama has indicated that steps need to be taken, there should not be much doubt about what we will see.

 

[oldbear]

danprkr

"You can't fix stupid."

Sir, most of the folks you were arguing are not stupid, they are misinformed, and right now running on emotion. Most in their misguided way really mean well and only want what they believe is best for our society.

 

[Dnaltrop]

I spent my time composing a reasoned letter to my local school district's Superintendent, asking for proper drills and instruction to the children and teachers on how to handle such a situation, the need to be able to properly secure the doorways in the classrooms, and the need for an adult sized exit from the windows, along with portable ladders to allow exit from second and third floors.

Seemed like a better use of my time, and certainly more useful than the old "Duck and Cover" drills of days gone by.

 

[smalls]

Today I actually made 3 people change their minds about guns on FB, and 2 of them took me up on offers to go shooting.

I rarely get into these debates on FB, but I felt today was worth my effort.

 

[grubbylabs]

When ever you argue with those who base their argument on emotion you loose. Most will never stop to reason.

 

[smalls]

When ever you argue with those who base their argument on emotion you loose. Most will never stop to reason.

One of the people who I got to agree with me told me that I had the best insight, and that everything I had said now made complete sense. I replied that I took emotion out of the picture when looking at this type of thing, and she admitted that she did not at first, but that it was a good idea and she would try not to in the future.

 

[bowserb]

There is nothing we can say right now to anyone that will change what is going to happen. The cold blooded murder of five and six year old children makes me so sick, I could almost sign onto a new assault weapons ban. After all, the last three active shooters had AR15 rifles.

Of course the objective side of my brain asks would I feel better if the murderer used an ax or a bomb or poison gas? Based on the recent events plus the administration's need to get people's attention off the failing economy, it is a virtual certainty that an assault weapons ban bill of some kind will be coming soon.

When it hits congress, then we need to mobilize. For now, we can feel as badly as everyone else and agree that murderers like this should be carried to space...on the outside of a rocket.

 

[gamestalker]

This is just one more reason why we all need to be prepared for such individuals. If I thought for even one second that a gun ban would solve any of this I would personally chop all of mine up, but it won't. The problem is clearly the cause of us being prevented from defending our lives and those around us. I can't help but think, as I wipe back the tears, how different this may have turned out if their had been teachers and other staff armed and capable of confronting this deadly man with the means to stop him DEAD!

He will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, as we all will on judgement day. The only real justice will be on that day. In Jesus Name, Amen!

You can't fix stupid just about says it all!

GS

 

[MachIVshooter]

I could almost sign onto a new assault weapons ban. After all, the last three active shooters had AR15 rifles.

The AR in this CT shooting was recovered in a vehicle outside. While we can reasonably deduce that it was probably the shooter's car & weapon, no such fact has been established (at least not that I've seen). Regardless, an AR was not used.

And let's not forget what was happening halfway around the world today where civilian gun ownership is absolutely prohibited:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/12/14/china-knife-attack-school.html?cmp=rss

Banning guns won't solve anything.

Increasing school security is a bandaid at best, and probably wouldn't have stopped an attacker like the CT shooter.

There is no simple solution, but I will confidently state that averting these tragedies begins with each and every one of us. If you know someone who is withdrawn, depressed, unstable, don't pull away from them, and don't expect the "experts" to fix them. Be a friend, be a listener, offer them hope. There are some true sociopaths who can't be fixed, but a lot of these violent actors weren't predisposed to it; They worked up to it, and no one paid enough attention to them to see it coming.

There is almost always a reason people do these things. It may not be a rational one, but it's there. It's our duty as compatriots to pay a little more attention and be a little more helpful. If you see someone crying on the street corner or park bench, don't just walk on by; Stop and ask if you can help.

 

[Tom488]

The cold blooded murder of five and six year old children makes me so sick, I could almost sign onto a new assault weapons ban. After all, the last three active shooters had AR15 rifles.

The CT shooter did indeed have an AR-15.... left in the vehicle. All his mayhem was wrought with two 9mm handguns - something that will be conspicuously ignored by any anti-gunner screaming for another ban on "assault weapons".

 

[bowserb]

This is just one more reason why we all need to be prepared for such individuals. If I thought for even one second that a gun ban would solve any of this I would personally chop all of mine up, but it won't. The problem is clearly the cause of us being prevented from defending our lives and those around us. I can't help but think, as I wipe back the tears, how different this may have turned out if their had been teachers and other staff armed and capable of confronting this deadly man with the means to stop him DEAD!
GS

I cannot help but think of Virginia Tech where a professor--a Holocaust survivor died at the hands of an armed coward...because state law decreed that he not be allowed to arm and protect himself on the school campus!

It is a shame that the example set by a small Texas school district did not get more attention. The school district allowed teachers with a CHL to carry at school. If I am not mistaken, the district even offered to pay for CHL training for any teacher who wanted it.

 

[Grassman]

It's the worst thing you could do right now is argue the gun topic, let cooler heads prevail and let the argument evolve naturally. Both sides are very riled up now.

 

[WALKERs210]

I have never attempted to convince anyone to change their views on any subject and especially when it comes to firearms of any type. My first wife and I were married for 30 yrs before she past away. The woman I am married to now also lost her husband of 31 yr, and because she was born in Texas and spent the majority of her life in upstate NY, I teased her as being a Texas Yankee. She and her late husband never had any guns of any type in their home even though his father was an avid hunter and had served in the 3rd army in a little Belgium town in Dec 1944 (any guesses). After we married I never made any attempts to sway her into my camp on guns. However now after 15 yrs she did make her first handgun purchase last year, when I have had to spend time in the hospital she has a sweet little Mossberg 20ga pump that stands next to the bed. She opened her eyes all by herself to see that if you need to call 911 for police you still have to wait for unknown time before they even if ever respond and in one case actually watch the patrol car drive right past our home with me on phone with their dispatcher. Sometimes it take something to shake a person to the soul to make them change their views. Right now with all the emotions running in high gear you could not convice anyone that your right to keep and bear arms could save your or loved ones life.

 

[bowserb]

The CT shooter did indeed have an AR-15.... left in the vehicle. All his mayhem was wrought with two 9mm handguns - something that will be conspicuously ignored by any anti-gunner screaming for another ban on "assault weapons".

I'm glad to hear that, although it's small comfort to 40 parents tonight. I didn't mean that I literally would support an assault weapons ban. I just meant this is such a horrific crime that many people's emotions, including elected representatives, may drive them to something that really is not logical.

I don't own a 9mm, although I do have two .45's and an AR15.

 

[Lex Luthier]

I deactivated my FB account the day after Obama got elected. Too much opportunity for frustration from my Left Coast friends.

 

[rozziboy18]

there are no anti gunners on my facebook . i done converted em all with love, kindness, and threatening emails! j/k on that last part.......or am i.

 

[OARNGESI]

Arguing with anyone on facebook is a waste of time

 

[docsleepy]

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people"

When we stop glorifying nasty living, sin, and the killing of innocent unborn to solve people's problems brought on often by sin, then maybe we will see better times. Our nation is just determined to go their own way as hard as they possibly can, and now they are beginning to reap the whirlwind. Sad.

What made me start to carry, was the realization that I was cowardly hoping someone ELSE would be there in the critical moment to do the right thing. I finally made a choice to be a bit less selfish, and take on that responsibility for myself and my family. I was in my 50s and had cooled down considerably and felt that I needed to take more responsibility for those around me. I have a relative who thinks we are all just filled with bloodlust. He doesn't yet get it, but then he also doesn't recognize the decline of our culture and where it is taking us.

 

[moewadle]

Arguing

with anyone on THR is a waste of time. (To paraphrase a previous post.)

 

[gunnutery]

I avoided FB like the plague today. I only get on about every 2 or 3 days anyway, but I didn't want to see any anti 2A rants or emotionalism. I also avoided checking for any "facts" pertaining to the case at hand. A better, less sensationalist, calmer media will report a more accurate timeline and facts later after all the fear and sound bites have disapated.

When Columbine happened, I, like many Americans was glued to the TV for most of my day. By the end of it, I felt I had wasted my whole day and learned little about what actually happened. From that day on I decided not to get caught up in the media coverage during and immediately following a big tragedy.

Most of my FB postings are political and gun related, of late I've received NO comments or likes. People are either ignoring me or blocking me. In my defense I think most of my FB friends are on board with 2A anyway, but my political postings are probably my undoing. All that said, I think I will also sit this one out unless a non-emotional debate arises and I have something constructive to add. Until then, I will be praying for the families that suffered this tragic loss.