What is wrong with people?

[RAFlorida]

Right now there's a shooting in Orlando occurring and at least 8 shot and two of those DOA. Guns again naturally. Yesterday Fort Hood, today Orlando.

[Uncle Cracker]

I was in town on business, 2 blocks from this location, until a half hour before it went down. Murder is nearly a daily occurrence in Orlando these days... Usually robbery or drug-related.

[RAFlorida]

You're right about the

drug and or robbery. Last update is now at least 8 shot.
All these shottings is going to impact those legal gun owners sooner or later. But most important is the lives lost lately and their families and those wounded.

[Uncle Cracker]

I'm a legal gun owner, and I expect that I'll be able to stay that way. Disarming legal owners will not disarm criminals, and lawmakers know that. There will still remain too many illegal ways to get a gun, not the least of which is already having one. Imagine the feeling of entitlement the crooks would get once they started thinking they're the only ones armed...

[sweensdv]

When we start ending the lives of those people who use guns in the commission of crimes is when you will start seeing a reduction in gun related crime. Use a gun when you commit a crime and you die.......simple as that. Until that happens, and it's unlikely that it will ever happen, these kinds of incidents will unfortunately keep occurring. Gun control is not the answer, people control is.

[RAFlorida]

Update. The shooter is in custody.

Still conflict in how many victims. Was 1 doa and six injured.
UC and Dave you both are correct. I too am a legal gun owner and don't want my rights taken away in regards to these items. The people committing these crimes should pay the ultimate price. But some day, the laws will change because so many think that taking away the firearms will make a safer society. But when the criminals have guns and you do not, then it sets the stage for a criminally run society. So as not to be too polictical or religious, my thoughts go out to those victims in Ft. Hood and in Orlando.

[dbhost]

If it weren't for the guns, they would wait until they could get the car aimed at them. Or build a home made bomb, or use a knife, or a bat, or 2x4's or whatever...

It's not the tool that is the problem. It's the intent, and misuse of that tool...

With my own recent experiences with my friend's dad, the tool of choice was a ball peen hammer. The victim is still just as dead.

[Uncle Cracker]

Ironically, although it's a Castle Doctrine state, Florida has for years had some very tough gun laws. There is zero tolerance/zero parole. You possess a gun in the commission of a crime, 5 years minimum... you fire the gun, 10 years... you shoot somebody, 20 years... no ifs, ands or buts. The problem as I see it is that there is such an influx here from outside the US, from places where there is no respect for the law, lives or liberties of others, just as a societal norm, that this place has become just like the places these people have come from. Sad... and sometimes scary.

[RAFlorida]

Dave, you are so right.

It's the intent and it don't matter what the object is; as your experience with your friend's dad. And as Uncle Cracker post's, "...from places where there is no respect for the law, lives or liberties of others," Florida (as well as Texas, Calif.) has become havens for these scum bags that care not for life. Here in central Florida we use to leave our windows up, the door open, and enjoy the weather at night. Now we, out of fear, lock our doors and windows, arm the alarm system and make sure our defense weapons are in place. But now, and it started a few years back, you can not even go to town or work without fear of being mugged, robbed or killed. Even though Florida has one of the toughest gun laws/prison sentence on the books, it still is a deadly place to be some times. But most of the criminals are not from this state. As U.C stated, "...places these people have come from." My neighbor, a retired Asst. Chief of Police, stated a couple of years back that most people in jail come from other countries, with a few from other states.
Is it the upbringing by the parents? I don't think so. But I still ask the question, What's wrong with people?
I'm sorry to ramble on about such a tragic situation, but I'm at a loss...

[dbhost]

To say the least, the foundation of our nation is shifting. Anyone that has a house built on a slab on expansive clay can tell you, shifting foundations are NOT good...

I wonder how many are going to misunderstand what I mean there?

It seems that things that at one time not all that long ago would have been downright scandalous, are now simply given a nod and a wink...

I don't see the problem as being one referring to one group of people or another, but rather the problem is with some people's world view. That it is okay, and up to an individual whether or not to take someone's life.

Mind you, justifiable, and okay are two completely different things. If somebody broke into my home and threatened my family, I would be JUSTIFIED in injuring, or even killing them. But is it okay? Not in all senses of the word. I am sure those that are forced into defending themselves using lethal force can chime in on this, but I suspect they are scarred for the rest of their lives as well...

[herb fellows]

If it weren't for the guns, they would wait until they could get the car aimed at them. Or build a home made bomb, or use a knife, or a bat, or 2x4's or whatever...

It's not the tool that is the problem. It's the intent, and misuse of that tool...

With my own recent experiences with my friend's dad, the tool of choice was a ball peen hammer. The victim is still just as dead.

While that is true, a gun is certainly the easiest way to dispatch someone you don't like.
Maybe Chris rock has the right idea: Give guns away, but make the bullets $5,000 each.

[sparkeyjames]

Right now there's a shooting in Orlando occurring and at least 8 shot and two of those DOA. Guns again naturally. Yesterday Fort Hood, today Orlando.

Don't blame the guns they don't fire themselves. If there were no guns it would be just like other places who have banned them, lots of stabbings and killings with the ol' sharp knife. Make everyone own a gun and get training in it's use, once everyone is armed the crazies will know they will get dropped immediately and be less likely to do this type of thing. Agree though that crazy people and criminals should not be in possession of guns. It's a very hard thing to determine who is going to snap under pressure and who will deal with it and get through it and who is just down right nuts but covers it well.

[cgallery]

While that is true, a gun is certainly the easiest way to dispatch someone you don't like.

So guns are to knives as jointers are to hand planes.

Before guns they had the same arguments about crossbows.

[Pappy]

Mind you, justifiable, and okay are two completely different things. If somebody broke into my home and threatened my family, I would be JUSTIFIED in injuring, or even killing them. But is it okay? Not in all senses of the word. I am sure those that are forced into defending themselves using lethal force can chime in on this, but I suspect they are scarred for the rest of their lives as well...

There are 3 guns in my house at the moment. An old Stevens .22 I bought because it is the same as the rifle I learned to shoot with, a Marlin 30-30 the my wife bought me a few years back, and my mother's Remington 1100 20 ga. All are loaded and neither I nor my wife have any qualms about using them for our protection. At least for me I don't think there would be any emotional scarring from defending myself.

This week end I am picking up my step father's 38 revolver. As soon as I can have it checked for safety, it too will be loaded.