Thoughts and Prayers

Proud Texan here, and no fucking civilian should have ever been able to purchase an assault rifle.  I have no problem with standard hunting rifles, shotguns or handguns, but an AR would never be used for hunting.  The only thing they are good for is killing people.  Another issue is the high capacity magazines.  The shooter in Dayton, Ohio had a modified drum magazine that apparently held 100 rounds of ammo.  Luckily the cops killed him within 30 seconds, or that would have been so much worse (I think he still managed to shoot 40 rounds in those 30 seconds).  Somehow the NRA (National Rifle Association) has become so powerful and have so many politicians under their thumb, that nothing will ever change.  As with every mass shooting, there will be a few weeks of outrage, only to die down yet again.  It also doesn't help that our stupid fucking orange president is stoking the hate in his nutjob followers.  People are so freaked out now that when a motorcycle backfired in Times Square a few days ago, everyone ran for cover thinking it was gun shots.  Schools also go through drills to prepare for mass shooters.  We've had more mass shootings this year than we've had days.  Just fucking insane that we live like this.

Its terribly sad on every level.

Thanks Pick for the honesty. Given the number of 'accidental' toddler deaths, might you be prepared to review your handgun stance? I'm also not convinced that civvies need sniper rifles either.

That Ohio incident was 'lucky' that plod were so close. Another 10 seconds could have added plenty to the list.

First gun problem is not enough checks and balances. Too many mentally ill people able to get hold of them.

As incredibly unfortunate as those accidental toddler/kid deaths with handguns are, the blame has to be on the parents/adults for not securing those guns properly.

As for background checks on gun sales here, unless someone has had previous trouble with the law, or documented mental health treatment, there would be no red flags to prohibit the sale.  If what I've heard about these last two shooters is correct, additional background checks wouldn't have stopped either of them from purchasing their assault rifles.

I hadn't realized this until these last shootings, but apparently there was a ban on assault rifle sales from 1994 to 2004, but our bright congress decided to let that ban lapse (I would assume with pressure from the NRA).  Now look where we are now.

Rag on trump all you want but no Democrat in power has done fuck all about it either.

Yep, you're right.  I think the last time Democrats controlled the Presidency, House and Senate was the first few years of Obama's first term.  Of course, back then, we weren't having hundreds of mass shootings every year, so the gun issue wasn't as critical as it is now.  When we have split majority parties, nothing gets done.  A democratic held House won't pass anything the Republican Senate passes, and vice versa.