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Originally Posted by August
Well first of all it's the Bill of "Rights", not the Bill of "Needs" so what one person thinks we need is immaterial but the 2nd Amendment does mention "well regulated" which in 18th century parlance meant "proficient".
So let me ask you can you think of a better militia weapon than an AR-15? Is there another weapon that shares the same ammo, aiming system, cleaning kits, spare parts and accessories? Is there another weapon that would be better for familiarizing civilians with our countries basic battle rifle short of actually issuing them a real one like the Swiss?
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Lots of great posts and analysis. I completely agree with you August on the right to bear arms / weapons and the reasons why. Armistead had mentioned full gun racks in the trucks of students and I remember the identical situation at at my somewhat rural High School as well. I further remember a few High School teachers and one time the principal outside in the parking lot discussing rifles, calibers and grain weight of the bullets in bringing down game. Not that it matters but we were High School football players and students, some of whom hunted and not connected with any sort of militia. There was never an incident then with weapons of any kind as there was a high degree of trust and respect between us students and the teachers and administration of the school. Our parents in those times taught us respect for people and life and insisted we act in accordance with those tenets. That's as it should be. You couldn't bring hunting weapons to school today as the times are way different.
Shootings such as been seen recently would have been completely unthinkable then.
Platapus also hit the nail on the head with his analysis. Platapus had stated the mind set of those who want to kill and not necessarily surviving the encounter. It's really not possible to be 100 % safe all the time. It would seem to make sense that an armed person and citizen makes a poor target. Most law enforcement and prosecutors point to illegal recreational drugs as fueling the increase in crime. People steal and rob to get money to buy drugs. This doesn't seem to be the case in this instance. This sick individual just wanted to kill people and boasted to that effect in social media.
As a number of forum members have already said, the answers in the coming weeks and months won't come easy. However, one possible solution is relatively easy to implement and that is a multiple layered security approach at the schools. Security checkpoints, metal detectors and staff trained to use them. Bullet proof glass in a receiving atrium for all visitors as well. Any visitors would have to be cleared in advance of the visiting day and go through the same screening process as the students in addition to submitting a reason for the visit and be approved and escorted. If a visitor / intruder poses a threat, then that threat could be isolated by means of remote locking doors, contained and if necessary, neutralized within the bulletproof atrium.
None of these provisions will keep the average person on the street safe and aren't meant to but would go a long way toward keeping our children in school safe from armed threats. These may well seem like extreme measures and I certainly would have thought so in High School when I attended. Then again, I never would have thought the carnage we have seen lately would have been possible either.
We owe our kids and their parents this much that they should be able to be safe while learning and protect the lives of their kids. It's clear that actions need to be taken in light of the times to insure our kids safety. While we may differ on what changes need to be implemented I think we can all agree increased security at our schools is a good idea. These changes may be cumbersome at first to enact but I think in the end, well worth it.
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Originally Posted by Skybird
I think it is also a cultural and mentality thing, a different attitude towards violence and a certain fetishism for firearms in general. Especially Germans and Americans are probably the two most extreme poles on this. The truth I think must be found somewhere between the two.
And no, I do not think I represent the German mainstream attitude towards fiorearms, for German standards my stand on firearms and their private possession already counts far too lenient. For American standards I probably already count as a dictator in the eyes of the NRA at least.  |
You may well be right Sky however German history and that of the creation of the U.S differ. Our fore fathers wanted it's future citizens to be able to protect themselves from tyranny which some governments like to engage in. It's also true that outside casual observers from Germany, England or wherever may be able to see the trees through the forest so to speak and make useful suggestions as it never hurts to listen.