Did we learn nothing from Newtown?

[ellisonz]

By Richard J. Davis, Special to CNN
updated 10:40 AM EDT, Wed March 27, 2013

Editor's note: Richard Davis served as the assistant Treasury secretary for enforcement and operations during the Carter administration. He currently practices law in New York.

(CNN) -- Many people thought that the massacre of 20 young school children and six educators by a gunman wielding an assault weapon would change the terms of the debate over firearms regulation.

It appears that they were wrong.

Not only does it now seem that Congress will not reinstate the assault weapons ban, but it also appears unlikely to place restrictions on the size of magazines so as to reduce the number of bullets that can be fired before reloading is required.

For opponents of these measures, such a result would be vindication of what they argue is the absolute right to bear arms set forth in the Second Amendment.

More: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/27/opinion/davis-gun-control-newtown/index.html

We did learn a little, but it also appears we forgot that already: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/27/politics/gun-control-polls/index.html

Which leads me to post this again:



Here's to hope for those Delicate Flowers

[nonoyes]

1. I often wonder why the offended ones are...

always the people with the guns. And they get offended by words, not by innocent lives senselessly slaughtered.

[unblock]

2. we learned we need "lockdown drills" to scare the pants off kids, just like duck-and-cover once did.

[freshwest]

3. The multiple fears that gun owners have are the reason. They need to be addressed precisely.

Honesty is not found in debates online because many do not respect the fears that others have. Those afraid know this and hide behind words.

This is an emotionally driven subject, but the intense feelings of those appalled by the Newtown massacre have not sufficed to overcome the darker, less societally accepted fears that cause gun owners to bristle at all attempts to regulate.

Regulation through lawmaking will require a much longer term approach than a few stories. I wonder if focusing on the industry and not the individuals who are afraid to say what they are really most frightened by, is the best answer.

[ellisonz]

4. The gun industry understands one thing, money.

And Bush gave them civil immunity so it's not like they can be targeted like Big Tobacco. They make too much money peddling death to give a damn.

At least Colorado has finally made some progress on their gun laws after they shrugged off Columbine for over a decade and were close to doing the same with Aurora.

I think the key is that we need to be pushing gun control at *all* levels of government.

[Hoops59]

5. ellisonz

I repeat, The NRA does not see school shootings, mass shootings, as a tragedy, they see it as a "opportunity" I quote the outgoing board member. "School shootings are not a tragedy, it is an opportunity to sell more guns". The NRA is a lobby group for gun industry. It took Adam Lanza five min to shoot 20 kids in the face, no reload his gun. The NRA wants to make sure the next monster will be able to shoot 30 kids in the face, in three min, no reload. How many USA folks have been shot dead since Newtown? Y'all ?

[koiwoman53]

6. An answer to the question..

Did we learn anything? We learned the NRA is a legion of paranoid bastards who value money over lives. And they will never change anything no matter how many innocents die. Any fucker who thought the parents of the slain children were actors is a danger to society. I have learned the depth of their depravity.

[lastlib]

7. K & R!

[markeybrown]

8. we learned that

all the "laws" in the world cant stop someone who is hell bent on breaking them.

[Kingofalldems]

9. Oh, not this again.

Familiar tune.