Washington State is Now Safer - Gun Control

[AngC]

If you haven't been keeping up on our neck of the woods, the voters of WA state have just made all our lives safer by passing a gun control initiative regarding background checks by about 60/40. I was part of the 40 percent voting against this initiative.

In my opinion, the vote would have been closer and possibly may have failed, except shortly before the election we had a school shooting in Marysville. Had this law been in effect when the school shooting occurred, it would not have made one whit of difference. The shooter was a minor (15 yrs old) and according to the county sheriff: "The gun used in the shooting, a .40 caliber Beretta, was legally purchased and registered to a family member."

This kid was shooting his cousins, for crying out loud, with a firearm he removed from his father's possession. I am sorry that five teens are dead, but I just think the voters are aiming their ire at the wrong people. Our new initiative is going to be about as effective as banning beer bottles to prevent drunk driving.

The only winners on this one are the firearms' dealers because they get to collect the fees for more registrations.

 

[Sonya]

Safe....just like Chicago. Some of the toughest gun laws out there and also one of the most violent cities of gun crime.

 

[Jill]

Exactly. We see the highest rate of gun violence in our cities with the strictest gun control laws.

 

[Riverrose28]

I persononally would like to see all atates implement this law. If it keeps ONE mentally ill or impulsive person from buying one gun and shooting one innocent person then it is worth that one life that can't be replaced.

 

[Jill]

I really disagree.

The fastest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Faster than you can dial 911, every time!

Tougher gun laws will be circumvented by people with bad intentions and will keep some unfortunate people from being able to protect themselves and their families.

Facts don't lie. The most violent cities in our Nation ARE the cities with the toughest gun control.

 

[Minimor]

We do have tougher gun control laws here in Canada, and overall we do not have high gun crime. Always some of course but not major.

I do not really agree with our gun control laws--probably because I am American. Living here I see a definite difference between my thinking and that of the Canadian majority.

 

[vickie gee]

So where do we go from here? Background checks on someone buying a shovel? A mentally ill or impulsive person could kill people with a shovel. What about bricks? Should there be background checks for buying them? Bricks could be the weapon of choice for a master bludgeoner. Man, I have watched so many episodes of Bones and Criminal Minds I could make an endless list of murder weapons of "the unsub." Heavens to Betsies, I hope they don't start requiring background checks for Saran Wrap! I would be in a tizzy trying to store leftovers whilst some master suffocater would no doubt still be wrapping away on victims.

 

[Minimor]

Becel bowls. They should be fairly far down the banned list...how much harm can one do with a Becel bowl???

 

[Ryan Johnson]

Do you think everyone should have the right to own a gun ?

My own personnel view - If you live on acreage , why shouldnt you have the right to own a gun? You would use it to protect your land/animals ect from intruders, wild animals ect ?

If you live in an apartment or high rise building then my views change, Not sure id understand why you would need a gun. ?

As someone that lives on the other side of the world , we only hear the bad side of gun impact there. It always seems to be about kids taking guns into schools and taking innocent lives.....

 

[horsefeather]

We live way out in the country, if we had any trouble, it would all be over by the time the sheriff got here. I do not believe in gun control. Believe me, if 'they' took all our guns away, the criminals would always either blackmarket or make their own guns. I totally agree with Jill.

Pam

 

[Jill]

The thing is, as wonderful as our Nation is, "we" who are potentally impacted by infringement of the Second Amendment, live in America, and not Storybook Land.

Guns, including handguns, are not uncommon, both legally owned and illegally owned. Violent gun crimes are not committed by people who obey laws. If guns are outlawed, who will still own guns? The punchline is "the outlaws" but the kicker is "and the Government."

Although we really get our rights from God and not Government, the right to bear arms is fundamental to keeping America and Americans free, and that is why it IS our Second Amendment.

 

[Jill]

I just read a news article that is encouraging along the lines of what was a loss to good people in WA.

Over 90% of congressional candidates who were endorsed by the NRA won their races in the 2014 midterm elections.

Additionally, with incoming Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, being a strong gun rights supporter, it's unlikely any bills that would tighten gun control will come to the floor.

 

[Riverrose28]

I so agree that the best way to stop a criminal with a gun is to have a gun. We have several, and the only way we could get the police down here to move their kesters faster was to hold an intruder and threaten to shoot him if they didn't get here faster. AS for anything becoming a weapon, yes I agree with that statement as well. I was attacked by a man who used a broken pepsi bottle as a weapon to try and get me to cooperate. I still have the scars on my hands.

I think I'm mistaking something as I understand the law pertaining to back ground checks, as I don't recall seeing it as a way to TAKE AWAY anyones guns, if you already own them, or to keep them out of the hands of law abiding citizens. The way I see this law is a background check is run on someone purchasing a new gun/rifle to see if this person has a violent criminal past/history or has been treated for mental illness, such as suicide. It is sort of like spitting on a forest fire to put it out, but it is a start and may save one precious life. Please correct me if I am reading this law wrong. I have gone through background checks before for certain jobs, I'm sure many others on here have too.

 

[Sonya]

I can't quote because I'm on my tab, but to answer Ryan's question....you basically answered it yourself. You stated you feel it's ok to have a gun if you live in a rural area to protect against intruders....shouldn't someone in the city (apartment or high rise) have the exact same right? To protect ones self from intruders?

 

[vickie gee]

It really bothers me when I see how effective brainwashing is. The most successful lines include typical phrases like "for the children" and "if it saves one child's life." I love children, BUT the reality of it is that those ads created to pull at your heartstrings come from people that don't mind killing babies in the womb and even after birth, sterilizing girls secretly, knowingly allowing diseases to enter the country, poisoning the children with gmo food and vaccines, devising schemes for downsizing through eugenics what they consider "useless eaters", meddling in the affairs of countries just to create conflict and take over while just chalking up death of innocent children as "collateral damage", and other atrocities that would be incomprehensible to most.

I must admit that "doing it for the kids" is more successful than "if you like your guns, you can keep your guns, "turn in your guns Mr. and Mrs. America", or "just get a double barrel shotgun and fire off a couple of shots in the air" as far as brainwashing and tricking the people. Successful brainwashing people to give up their 2nd Amendment is all part of the end game. Not allowing people to know they are part of the end game or know the rules seems to be a very important part of the end game for those that created it and will stop at nothing to be the winner. The more sheeple they collect, the better their odds are at winning.

 

[Ryan Johnson]

Your right Sonya , they should. Unfortunately they are banned unless you live in rural or country areas here . We still have shootings though . Same as you all would if they tried to ban them there . Is it a bigger majority that are pushing for this ? Or the same group that continuously keeps trying ?

Completely off subject but we recently had the melb cup here where two horses tragically passed . It has led to protestors now wanting to ban equestrian and racing all together . My point is the ones pushing for this have probably never even patted a horse .

Is it the same in relation to those trying to have your gun rights away ? Knowledge less figures with no idea ?

You all have every right to protect yourself

 

[AngC]

I persononally would like to see all atates implement this law. If it keeps ONE mentally ill or impulsive person from buying one gun and shooting one innocent person then it is worth that one life that can't be replaced.

Sorry, but I don't think it works that way. The nut jobs don't adhere to the law. People who don't take responsibility for their actions don't operate that way. For example, there was something on the news here about (in school) a child stabbing another child with a pencil, somewhere down south, Tacoma, maybe? Should we be banning pencils?

In this particular case (the Marysville shooting; which I think swayed the election) the teen-ager got the gun from his father. All the current laws and the new law would not have prevented this.

 

[AngC]

I think the whole "gun thing" is somewhat an 'urban' vice 'rural' issue. It's a difference of opinion of how to take care of yourself. For example, the last two big hurricanes (Katrina, Sandy) the city folks wanted somebody to come take care of them and bitched to no end when the response wasn't quick enough. I'm not adverse to using emergency services, but where we live, it can take a good half hour for emergency services to arrive; not that police/fire are "bad" but they're a ways away and they don't have that many units. I don't expect to be "taken care" of.

The WA initiative passed with lotsa' support from King County (Seattle area.) I'm starting to hate those people down there. Last Aug, "they" (National Park Service, I think, propelled by urbanites) decided to begin a 3 year study to decide whether to reintroduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades. I'm not too keen on government studies that span 3 years because right now the government can't pay their bills anyway. But if Seattle wanted a study to waste money on, perhaps they could spend a few years studying that pesky tunnel problem.

Anyway, I live in the North Cascades. What are the odds those people are going to introduce the grizzlies up there at Mount Baker ski area? Pretty much zero. If they set the grizzlies loose in downtown Seattle, I wouldn't have a problem. But more than likely they would end up in my area. Coco's a pretty feisty little goober, but 'bear plus Coco' equals massacre.

The message I'm getting from the urbanites is that I have horns on my head because I own a few firearms; their next message is: "oh, here have a few grizzlies: they saw a picture of one once on a dog food bag (like the Blue Wolf brand) and they're so cute and furry."

I don't trot out all the "typical" NRA type arguments, like the one about the only way to stop a criminal is with a gun. I could give a rat's butt if anyone else adheres to their non-gun-owning principles and gets their dumb-butt creamed. ...not my problem. I do object to any further registration of any sort, because (last I checked) 3 states have already used prior gun registration databases to further restrict ownership.

 

[Riverrose28]

Actually the Nut Jobs must adhere to the law when purchasing a gun in a state that requires background checks. The only way around it for them is to purchase off the street, which I'm sure they will or try to.

As to the word Sheeple, it not only applies to those that follow a leader in their thoughts and actions it also applies to those that follow in using someones words because they think it sounds cool to repeat it, such as the word Sheeple. Brainwashing bothers most of us.

 

[AngC]

Actually the Nut Jobs must adhere to the law when purchasing a gun in a state that requires background checks. The only way around it for them is to purchase off the street, which I'm sure they will or try to.

As to the word Sheeple, it not only applies to those that follow a leader in their thoughts and actions it also applies to those that follow in using someones words because they think it sounds cool to repeat it, such as the word Sheeple. Brainwashing bothers most of us.

What? I don't know about "sheeples"?? Last place we bought a gun was at Cabelas; we had to wait awhile for it to be approved. I suspect that criminals would not wait as long for approval. ...just speculating. Not too sure about sheeples.