[The Slim Reaper]

Just to make things clear, Clinton banned assault weapons in 94, mass shootings reduced by 40%, Not perfect, but a start. That ban expired in 2004 when the republicans allowed it to because they controlled all branches of government.

Since then, mass shootings are up 245%

Laws in the US have to go through the house first, then the senate, then on to the presidents desk for signing into law. Republicans have blocked/tried to block all legislation even being voted on. Presidents don't make laws, but the one side of politics that receives the most funding from NRA (and the dems that do too), have refused to move forward on anything, despite what the American citizens want. It's actually extreme corruption, and shows the dangers of lobbying bodies, and the stupidity of supreme court for allowing unlimited money into politics.

[bots]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think all previous presidents have to share some blame for the state of it tbh (I know Obama did start trying to control it a bit, but it was not enough still IMO). Having said that, I am not to sure how much the president can do themselves? Is it all like our parliament, where people can bluster about, but ultimately have to get a majority vote from a large amount of people?

They can issue an executive order which the next president along can revoke.

American people want guns, it's part of their constitution that they have the right to carry them. This isn't the UK, so we have no concept of why they want/need them.

No president has been able to do anything about the gun problem because while people are outraged by mass killings, they still demand the right to have them. Given that, and the fact that it would probably take 5+ generations to remove guns from circulation, the obvious thing to do is act on any red flags that appear that give warning to these potential events happening. There is plenty evidence that these nutters give notice that they are going to do something, that is what needs to be acted on .... and that is what Trump is doing ... or attempting to do

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

They can issue an executive order which the next president along can revoke.

American people want guns, it's part of their constitution that they have the right to carry them. This isn't the UK, so we have no concept of why they want/need them.

No president has been able to do anything about the gun problem because while people are outraged by mass killings, they still demand the right to have them. Given that, and the fact that it would probably take 5+ generations to remove guns from circulation, the obvious thing to do is act on any red flags that appear that give warning to these potential events happening. There is plenty evidence that these nutters give notice that they are going to do something, that is what needs to be acted on .... and that is what Trump is doing ... or attempting to do

It doesn't sound too much like it, given he is revoking orders that would help somewhat in stopping these people having guns readily available?

I don't really understand American politics at all tbh, hence usually ignoring USA threads. But this gun thing baffles me..completely.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

They can issue an executive order which the next president along can revoke.

American people want guns, it's part of their constitution that they have the right to carry them. This isn't the UK, so we have no concept of why they want/need them.

No president has been able to do anything about the gun problem because while people are outraged by mass killings, they still demand the right to have them. Given that, and the fact that it would probably take 5+ generations to remove guns from circulation, the obvious thing to do is act on any red flags that appear that give warning to these potential events happening. There is plenty evidence that these nutters give notice that they are going to do something, that is what needs to be acted on .... and that is what Trump is doing ... or attempting to do

You're talking about an outright ban which, I agree, in the US is unrealistic or would take generations. However there is PLENTY of evidence, within the last few decades, to demonstrate that stricter checks and restrictions on certain types of firearm have a dramatic impact on the number of shootings. States that have stricter universal checks and a longer wait between applying and being able to walk out of a store with a brand new gun, have lower rates of death-by-firearm. The stats are available and very clear. Extending restrictions to include anyone with a history of violence also has a huge impact.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

They can issue an executive order which the next president along can revoke.

American people want guns, it's part of their constitution that they have the right to carry them. This isn't the UK, so we have no concept of why they want/need them.

No president has been able to do anything about the gun problem because while people are outraged by mass killings, they still demand the right to have them. Given that, and the fact that it would probably take 5+ generations to remove guns from circulation, the obvious thing to do is act on any red flags that appear that give warning to these potential events happening. There is plenty evidence that these nutters give notice that they are going to do something, that is what needs to be acted on .... and that is what Trump is doing ... or attempting to do

How... by doing the opposite, by allowing people with mental health issues access to guns? Do you mean by regulating the Internet. ..banning video games...what?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think all previous presidents have to share some blame for the state of it tbh (I know Obama did start trying to control it a bit, but it was not enough still IMO). Having said that, I am not to sure how much the president can do themselves? Is it all like our parliament, where people can bluster about, but ultimately have to get a majority vote from a large amount of people?

Clinton got an assault rifle ban through in 1994 which had a huge impact on the number of mass shootings... it was temporary and needed to be renewed in 2004; Bush declined and allowed it to expire. Shootings jumped right back up to where they were previously.

The presidency can actually do quite a lot to address this but let's face it, for as long as US ploitics flip-flops between Democrat and Republican (which is likely to be forever) it will never stick. Enough Republican voters won't stand for it for it to swing politics to the Democrats for a generation and they know that.

[Liam-]

Obama did try to get some form of reform to gun laws and restrictions, but he was blocked at every opportunity by the Republicans, the NRA are a massive problem in America, buying off politicians to keep guns as free as possible so they make money, people are being allowed to be slaughtered for the sake of companies making a profit.

[Liam-]

I mean, while people who commit mass shooting are obviously mentally ill, mental health isn’t the direct cause of people dying, every country has mental health issues, America is the only one with weekly mass shootings, why? Because of the freely accessible guns, people with mental health issues, or who have a background of violence, should never be able to gain access to guns, that’s just common sense, nobody wants all guns taken away, especially not from law abiding citizens who have no intentions of killing anyone, but there needs to be steps put into place, Moscow Mitch has been stopping a vote on background checks because it goes against what he’s paid to stand for, it’s an absolute disgrace

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Liam-

I mean, while people who commit mass shooting are obviously mentally ill, mental health isn’t the direct cause of people dying, every country has mental health issues, America is the only one with weekly mass shootings, why? Because of the freely accessible guns, people with mental health issues, or who have a background of violence, should never be able to gain access to guns, that’s just common sense, nobody wants all guns taken away, especially not from law abiding citizens who have no intentions of killing anyone, but there needs to be steps put into place, Moscow Mitch has been stopping a vote on background checks because it goes against what he’s paid to stand for, it’s an absolute disgrace

Exactly, I mean it's pretty ****ing obvious that Mental health issues + Access to guns is not going to end well

[Liam-]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Exactly, I mean it's pretty ****ing obvious that Mental health issues + Access to guns is not going to end well

I mean, we don’t give scissors to babies because we know they don’t have the cognitive function to realise they’re dangerous, but yeah, let’s give mentally ill people access to assault rifles, sounds perfectly fine

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Exactly, I mean it's pretty ****ing obvious that Mental health issues + Access to guns is not going to end well

same as that one shooter in Norway, Utoya

Anders Breivik, also had mental health issues, paranoia, thinking he was leading an army or something like that to get rid of young politicians who support foreigners in Norway

access to guns, and also some access to a police uniform


but not going further into that, as that is offtopic from this thread but still a example of a mass shooting

[Nicky91]

blaming video games, social media, internet for these shootings

hmmm i can partially agree with Trump, but i must add that i think first person shooter video games can be considered not to be played by those who are mentally unstable

and yeah access to the internet, mentally unstable ( who for example might also have paranoia problems) that they have easy access to look up guns, also where to buy them


i don't like agreeing with Trump but he has a few good points

[Twosugars]

I believe you dont have to be mentally ill to commit crimes. Some of those people know very well what they are doing and what they want to achieve

See my thread about the nail bomb trump fanatic who got sentenced recently.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

I believe you dont have to be mentally ill to commit crimes. Some of those people know very well what they are doing and what they want to achieve

See my thread about the nail bomb trump fanatic who got sentenced recently.

I agree with this. Its always put down to mental illness, but some people are just..not good people and mental illness has nowt to do with it. I guess some would argue that to kill someone you have to have mental health issues..but I don't see it like that. Mental illness is blamed way too often IMO.

[Twosugars]

The internet, social media and video games are all available globally.

How come mass shootings are not happening on the same scale globally?

It's obvious that gun availability is the issue

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

The internet, social media and video games are all available globally.

How come mass shootings are not happening on the same scale globally?

It's obvious that gun availability is the issue

Excellent point 2s!

[Liam-]

Also, Trump can do all the talking he wants about doing something about mental health issues, but his actions don’t match seeing as his administration and the republicans are planning even more cuts to mental health services, so he might say the right things occasionally, but he never does the right thing in practice, he’s a scam artist, always has been, always will be

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Also, Trump can do all the talking he wants about doing something about mental health issues, but his actions don’t match seeing as his administration and the republicans are planning even more cuts to mental health services, so he might say the right things occasionally, but he never does the right thing in practice, he’s a scam artist, always has been, always will be

He's trying to take the focus off guns as per usual. Say what you want about Obama but he atleast spoke out about gun laws and got something done

[Nicky91]

Youtube video

this has exactly been a topic too 1 year ago

[Amy Jade]

I'm sick of video games and movies being blamed.

It's lazy af to just blame entertainment.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

I'm sick of video games and movies being blamed.

It's lazy af to just blame entertainment.

that's why i say it's more partially to blame, but only dangerous for those who are unable to separate reality from fiction, caught up in paranoia due to being mentally ill

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Amy Jade

I'm sick of video games and movies being blamed.

It's lazy af to just blame entertainment.

Exactly. Its a smoke screen

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

What has he attempted to do about it?

This v

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

Trump also called for stronger mental health laws that would help “better
identify” mentally disturbed individuals capable of mass shootings.

He proposed that new laws could ensure that individuals suffering from mental
health could “not only get treatment but when necessary, involuntary
confinement.”

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

This v

Why he revoked Obama gun check for mentally I'll?

How come those shootings are not happening around the world if things he pointed out are to blame?

[bots]

Surely people can see the irony ....

the NRA say guns aren't the issue ... it's blah

those that play video games ..... games are not the issue it's blah

those that soak up horror movies ..... they are not the issue ... its blah