Nine killed at church shooting in SC.

[Hijiri Byakuren]

I think it is downright thoughtful that Roof's daddy gave him a .45 pistol for his birthday.  Guns don't kill people, people do.

Reminded me of this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsN0FCXw914

[Mike Cl]

Don't be silly, this is god speaking for letting deh gays get married and all.

It is interesting how God did protect his children.  I'm sure most of those who were in that church and were spared injury are thanking God about it.  It's funny how God protects some of his children and not others.  My Gawd is an Awesome Gawd!!

[Atheon]

This is why right-wingerism is bad. It twists people's minds.

[Solitary]

I'm glad this really upsets me a lot, because it makes me feel human. 

[Unbeliever]

Of course, he was the proverbial "lone gunman" with help from no one. I wonder if the cops saying that is a tactic to instill false confidence in anyone else who may've been involved?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Lindsey Graham downplays race after black church shooting: People 'looking for Christians to kill them'

Pro-gun pastor tells Fox: ‘Hate crime’ means shooter is prejudiced against ‘biblical views’ â€" not race

[Atheon]

NOW can we ban guns?

[Mike Cl]

NOW can we ban guns?

Not a chance.  I predict that not one law will change in regards to gun ownership or regulation.  The corporate hold is a strangle hold.

[Johan]

NOW can we ban guns?

Nope. But even if we did, I doubt it would do what you think it would.

[Hijiri Byakuren]

Nope. But even if we did, I doubt it would do what you think it would.

Personal opinion aside, American hysteria with gun ownership would probably ensure that any attempt to ban or heavily restrict guns would result in enough bloodshed to make these shootings look like a Sunday picnic. The issue is never going to be solved one way or another until the population at large becomes better educated about the responsibilities and consequences of gun ownership.

[Atheon]

In that case, the murders will continue. How sad that America is no longer the most advanced country in the world. We are weighed down by stupid conservative fuckheads.

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

[Johan]

Personal opinion aside, American hysteria with gun ownership would probably ensure that any attempt to ban or heavily restrict guns would result in enough bloodshed to make these shootings look like a Sunday picnic.

I don't believe that. Most people are fundamentally good. And despite what they may say or the act they may put on, most people are fundamentally cowards.

If we did manage to pass some sort of ban/buyback deal, you would hear a metric shit ton of 'from my cold dead hands' talk. But in the end there would be relatively little bloodshed over it. People like to talk a good game, but very few would actually let themselves be killed or sent to prison over it. What would probably  happen is that lots of otherwise law abiding gun owners would hide their guns instead of turning them in and would thereby become criminals by default. IIRC this happened in Australia when they imposed their ban.

And then you'd see a ton of people getting much more politically active than we've ever known. And lots of current politicians would be voted out of office which on the surface sounds like a really desirable side effect until you realize that it would allow almost any whacko to get voted in regardless of qualifications or agenda so long as they vowed to work hard to repeal the gun ban. So careful what you wish for there.   

But as I said in the post above, if you look at the hard stats for Australia, you will see that a gun ban is unlikely to achieve the effect you believe it will. You will often hear the anti-gun crowd mention that gun related homicide dropped significantly in Australia after their gun ban which makes it sound like a win. Woo hoo. But they're always careful to phrase it as 'gun-related' homicide. Because the reality is the actual homicide numbers went up after the ban. Gun-related homicides dropped, but total homicide climbed initially, then dropped back down to more or less pre ban levels where they remained until Australia beefed up police budgets significantly some years later. Its sad to say, but the Australia numbers really do seem to prove out the tired old pro-gun adage, people really do kill people. Getting rid of the guns didn't stop them from killing each other in about the same numbers as before.

[GSOgymrat]

But they're always careful to phrase it as 'gun-related' homicide. Because the reality is the actual homicide numbers went up after the ban. Gun-related homicides dropped, but total homicide climbed initially, then dropped back down to more or less pre ban levels where they remained until Australia beefed up police budgets significantly some years later. Its sad to say, but the Australia numbers really do seem to prove out the tired old pro-gun adage, people really do kill people. Getting rid of the guns didn't stop them from killing each other in about the same numbers as before.

What about accidental gun deaths and injuries?

The issue is never going to be solved one way or another until the population at large becomes better educated about the responsibilities and consequences of gun ownership.

That and Americans stop being so afraid. Americans typically say they own guns to protect themselves from their fellow citizens.

[Shiranu]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/18/jon-stewart-charleston-no-jokes_n_7618110.html

[The Skeletal Atheist]

Lindsey Graham downplays race after black church shooting: People 'looking for Christians to kill them'

Pro-gun pastor tells Fox: ‘Hate crime’ means shooter is prejudiced against ‘biblical views’ â€" not race

Even vultures have the courtesy to wait until the bodies are rotting before doing their dirty work.