Ban The Sale Of Some Weapons - And Response (5)

  • Saturday, May 28, 2022

Re: Roy Exum: Guns? No, Mental Illness

Mr. Exum stated "Gun confiscation is so ridiculous it will never work and mass shootings will only escalate unless we begin to identify and rein in those who threaten our country."  It is followed by portions of a broadcast by Tucker Carlson upon which the Guns? No, Mental Illness opinion is based.

Yes, mental illness is a problem. Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Exum and many Republicans are expecting those near anyone to call out mental shortcomings. 

Republicans are wrong by advocating this single new approach and eliminating existing laws and regulations (as Texas did).

I'm not arguing that such an approach won't reduce violence. It may. But will it be 100 percent effective as the only new approach to the problem? 

Should I make a report because my relative or neighbor appears mentally inadequate?  To whom will I make a report? Do you or I have to agree to counseling, or be forced into, if I'm reported?  Who pays for the cost of counseling, the person counseled, or the person reporting?  Can I be sued because I made a report.  Will I be retaliated against by the person I reported? I can see such reporting becoming a tool of retaliation against someone you dislike. Or, maybe I just don't want to get involved, even if I love and live with the person.  

Republicans deny the problem is the availability of a weapon manufactured for firing and reloading dozens if not hundreds, or rounds in seconds or perhaps less than two minutes. 

Having asked for years why someone needs to own such a weapon, no one has offered a valid reason. Sporting? No; why do you need accurate to hit a target with such a weapon? Hunting? Sort of makes accuracy unnecessary. Protection? Can't you protect yourself with other weapons?

The immediate solution is to ban the sale of such weapons to private individuals. Period. Then, those types of weapons must be confiscated, with the owners compensated.  Identical to the concept of imminent domain.  Imminent domain is used to take property from entities for the greater good or to eliminate hazards or threats to the public.

I am not advocating a general confiscation of weapons, only weapons designed to kill a military enemy. Those weapons are manufactured "to provide for the common defense" as stated in the Preamble of the Constitution and enacted in Section 8 of Article I. They should not be sold to satisfy the wants of the few interested in ownership.

As I was told by an employee of Rep. Greene, and in the form letter sent to me which was not remotely close to answering my question, she believes (as do others) the Second Amendment is as clear, simple and understandable as it was when composed. If i have the means, I should be able to buy an atom bomb, cruise missile, Abrams tank, howitzer or machine gun. While those weapons cannot be purchased at a reasonable price, they must think the Second Amendment should be the Eleventh Commandment if the arms are guns that can be purchased at a reasonable price.

Joe Warren

* * * 

Yes, Ramos was bullied all his life for a speech impediment and, yes, his mother is an addict  with whom he had many loud, police involved, arguments. He was very likely, absolutely, suffering from mental illness brought on by cruelty and drugs and maybe DNA, I don't know. From what I've seen and heard lately, mental illness is still very much not well understood or adequately dealt with by our culture. Thousands of folks who love the mentally ill, and, obviously, the ill themselves, suffer and endure terrifying episodes every day from the quiet inside of their struggle. Within that quiet inside, they must surely howl. That is horrible and unacceptable and certainly needs to be fixed way before yesterday. How? I don't have the smallest clue but there are people who have a far higher IQ than me who can figure that out. 

On the other hand, from I forgot which online news source, comes this: "In a Wednesday news conference, state officials said Ramos purchased a semiautomatic rifle at a local gun store on May 17, bought 375 rounds of ammunition the next day, then went back to the local gun store on Friday to purchase a second semiautomatic rifle."  

As an informed, politically moderate gun lover, I find this to be over the top outrageous. However, we have to first make the bold assumption that this report is true which is very hard to do these days. 

Regardless, how would you feel when you learned how legal it was for Ramos, dressed in goth, to get ahold of two new AR's and hundreds of rounds as a brand new 18-year-old over the course of one week as they pick up the pieces of your slaughtered and gone forever daughter from her fourth grade classroom floor? Thoughts, prayers and condolences? Are you freaking serious?

Outrageous!

I'm a big fan of peacemaker Atticus Finch and his forever beautiful explanation to Scout on compromise.

Radical mouths on both sides of this (The View and the NRA) please shut up.  Deal with mental illness and restrict and possibly ban the sale of weapons designed to kill humans in combat. Including pistols. Are we gonna have to confiscate? See "Six Injured in Shootout in Chattanooga" last night. I don't know what the answer is but it's time for reasonable people to demand compromise and resolution from both directions. The tortured soul absolutely did it but so did the combat weapon he just legally bought. 

Savage Glascock, Sr.    

* * *

There's an excellent opinion piece written by David Harsanyi in the Patriot Post "The Trouble With Do-Somethingism on Guns" in response to Chris Murphy's histrionics on the Senate floor.  It's easy to find if you want to read the entire piece. I have quoted the last paragraph in response to Mr. Warren's opinion.  The bold is mine.

"Indeed, law-abiding Americans have no obligation to take ownership of a madman’s actions. Nor is there any reason for them to surrender their right to self-defense so that Chris Murphy, who, evidenced in many of his comments, is only interested in incrementally limiting gun ownership. That’s his right, of course. He should try to repeal the Second Amendment. Until then, however, Democrats interested in genuine compromise may want to offer realistic, productive and germane ideas, rather than using another horrific tragedy to dunk on their political opponents."

And I find it disingenuous that Mr. Warren also makes the ridiculous liberal argument about atomic bombs and tanks.  Do you want to address the issue or not?

Dennis Wooden

* * * 

I have two questions that I've asked a number of friends who are hunters and/or enthusiastic gun owners.  The only consistent response I get is to be accused of being a liberal trying to ban guns.  I am not trying to or suggesting a ban on anything.  I'm trying to understand the problem with waiting?  

According to a friend who lives in North Georgia - Marjorie Taylor Greene would be offended by these two questions and would accuse me of being an unreasonable left-wing lunatic and a Communist just for asking them.  In all honesty - coming from Marjorie Taylor Greene - I would proudly consider her label a badge of honor.  

1.  What is wrong with raising the age to purchase any type of firearm from 18 to 21?   

2.  What is wrong with an extended waiting period for anyone purchasing assault type weapons?   

George Parker

* * *

The Lord declared judgment on the city because of Nineveh’s wickedness: “Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims!” (Nahum 3:1).

God’s judgment on Nineveh and the nation of Assyria as a whole was holy and just, given their cruelty, bloodshed, and idolatry (Nahum 1:2–3). The Ninevites during Jonah’s time, who believed God’s message and repented, will forever be remembered as a people who turned their hearts toward the Lord and believed despite their overall lack of knowledge about Him (Jonah 4:10–11). The Ninevites who were spared judgment should be a motivation for all people to seek God’s mercy and choose the path of humility and repentance.

In contrast, Sodom and Gomorrah was burned to ashes. 

Allow satanic clubs in our schools. 
Remove Bible classes and place pornographic books in their place. 
Fire and sue coaches and teachers who pray with their students. 
Teach children that boys can be girls and girls can be boys.
Share bathrooms
Sexual depravity has been the end for any civilization.

The Bible is the greatest history book ever written. The Bible is very clear on Gods response to man when he turns from his creator. 

We turn from God and suffer.

We repent and GOD restores, generation to generation to this very day. 

Yes! Let’s keep practicing our godlessness. How’s that working out for us?

 You might as well talk about the ridding the horrors of the seven years of tribulation

Out of the heart these evil days come, not a gun. 

Why do we expect one to honor a person's life when we are slaughtering hundreds of millions of lives in the womb of their mothers?

As Jonah/God said, Repent and turn to God and obey Him. 

Like the songwriter said, “What can wash away my sin and make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus."

Michael Burns

* * *

Mr. Exum stated "Gun confiscation is so ridiculous it will never work" and he is correct.  Why is he correct? 

1. There are literally 10's of millions of these AR15 types of firearms in circulation.
2. They are the most desired and fun to shoot at gun ranges and sports shooting.
3. They are relatively inexpensive and have all types of accessories to personalize to the owner's tastes..

Now, getting to the mass shooting that happened in Texas. I grieve for the families of the children and teachers that were slaughtered.

The odds were against the children and the teachers at the beginning, the main reason being the teacher who propped the back door open and didn't bother to close and lock it when she returned.. it all went downhill from there. The killer had free rein to go in and do his dastardly deed. 

We must be realistic, in our country, firearms are here to stay whether we like it or not. They can be used for good or bad. Background checks on all firearms sold are good, but, it didn't stop the killer as he had no previous record and was able to pass the background check to purchase these firearms.

The best solution to stop school mass shootings IMHO is: 

 1. Have a secured entrance to the school at all times and updated electronic surveillance..

2. Have armed security personnel on campus during the entire school day, every day at all schools. 

Granted, this is going to cost lots of money, but it must be done if we want to stop the school mass shootings.

Jim Rosenbloom
Opinion
We Owe Rhonda Thurman So Much
  • 3/28/2024

Thank you, Rhonda Thurman, for your excellent representation and service. You have totally fulfilled your commitment to be the voice of your constituents. Balance is always the objective in making ... more

Democratic View On Top State Senate Issues - March 28, 2024
  • 3/28/2024

Constitutional amendment would ban state taxes on property. Who would benefit? 8:30 a.m. Senate Regular Calendar — HJR 0081 would amend the Tennessee Constitution to prohibit the legislature ... more

Democratic View On Top State Senate Issues - March 27, 2024
  • 3/27/2024

Gov. Lee reveals $797M of new spending, but withholds funding for legislature’s voucher proposals View the Lee Administration’s Budget Amendment — The Lee Administration made its last revisions ... more