Seriously Rip Van Clueless? You’re really going to take it there? Cause here’s the thing… The eighties want their slogan back. The rock you crawled out from under wants you back. And the rest of us just want to point out that guns may not kill people, but a lot fewer of them will be killed without the guns.
My thoughts, prayers, and tears for the victims of the massacre at Umpqua College, for their families, and friends. We are all poorer for their loss.
My challenge to my country after 45 shootings at American schools this year alone:
WHAT
WILL
IT
TAKE?
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I could not believe that Barb – 45 shootings this year!! Totally shocking – I completely agree with you on this – What will it take??
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It will take Americans pulling up their big girl panties, standing up the the NRA, and joining the rest of the grownups.
Not looking too good for that one…
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People with guns kill people. It’s outrageous – and I don’t know what it will take.
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It’s an election year. And how many presidential candidates are campaigning on this issue? Oh, right: that would be zero. Former Texas governor and 2016 presidential candidate Rick Perry said after the shooting in the Lafayette LA movie theater that the solution should be to allow armed citizens to carry their guns everywhere.
And the reason is simple. Americans like their guns. In a 2014 Pew Research poll, 57% of Americans surveyed thought gun ownership deters crime.
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Yikes. I really don’t know what to say to that so I’ll join David in sending love and sympathy to those hurting.
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I’m avoiding tweets about this today. I find it so frustrating – I just want to scream at these people. Couldn’t agree with you more Barb. 45 already this year? Unbelievable.
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I know and I was really not going to go there…just went to twitter for latest info and saw this jaw-dropping tweet. And I know that he’s not alone. Hell, latest polls say he’s in the majority.
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I’m so sorry. It’s difficult to express an opinion on this without sounding like a condescending foreigner, so all I can do is send my love and sympathy to all my American friends who are hurting. I wish you weren’t. x
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Thanks, David. Sometimes I think that it’s a complicated problem, and then I see something like this…
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Reblogged this on Alison Williams Writing and commented:
No need to add anything to this.
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I’m so happy you’ve addressed this … Thanks!
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Reblogged this on Bastet and Sekhmet's Library and commented:
I’m ever so happy when someone raises their voice against the free circulation of arms … Bravo Barb!
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As a family still reeling from the insanity of a society which allows an alcoholic with depression issues to own a gun and then reacting with surprise and pathetic religious platitudes when he used the thing, I have given up on any hope that America will ever learn. A year on and the grief is still raw, I pity those poor families but they shouldn’t expect their country to listen to them cry.
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Americans really, REALLY like their guns. Even after tiny children are slaughtered, even when parent after parent sends their child off to school only to have them gunned down… even then Americans are all just “Well, we should have tighter controls on gun ownership. But I need my GodBlessAmerican-given-2nd-Amendment-guaranteed gun. For protection. And cause, you know, I just like it.”
It’s a mystery to me. My condolences to your family and all those who have suffered from gun violence.
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Really, I think it is all a mis-understanding. When they wrote the constitution it was a hot day and they all had to roll up their sleeves. They wrote this in as “The right to bare arms” and it was a simple misspelling.
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Ah. I just knew there had to be a reasonable explanation somewhere…
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He doesn’t speak for me. I thought for sure something would have been done after Columbine, or the Aurora theater shooting, and especially after New Town with all those dead precious children. It is beyond me why we can’t talk sensibly about it. There is slow progress being made in some states thanks to Gabby Gifford who was also a victim of gun violence. Very frustrating and very sad.
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I’m not sure who they are, but apparently polls show that the majority of Americans—certainly at least 50%—are not in favor of ANY form of increased gun control. You show them the stats (like the graphic from Vox on number of homicides in US vs other countries), and you get the knee-jerk “pry my cold dead fingers off my gun” response.
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Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs: and commented:
Can’t add to this post it stands for all that anyone can say
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Thanks so much, for the comment and the reblog both.
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Reblogged this on BetweenTheLines and commented:
America – it can’t go on.
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And yet, on it goes.
Thanks so much for the comment and for the reblog.
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It goes on…and like you say, what will it take. How many more massacres before someone does something.
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Yes, I agree, Barb, something must be done. Many years ago in New Hampshire I was in my backyard with my kids and dog and cat one day when I heard a gunshot. I rushed the kids and animals into the house. New Hampshire is the Live Free or Die state where guns are everywhere. I don’t like guns nor do we have one in our house but I have never felt unsafe in my community.
I think guns should not be easy to get especially the machine guns. Guns in the wrong hands can be deadly. In our area people have guns to go hunting for deer, turkeys, etc. If guns were outlawed then there would be an underground swell of illegal guns for sale. Disturbed people will find a way to get them just like drugs. There has to be a way to do something to protect everyone. Better screening has to be implemented before someone can buy a gun. The best way would be to lock guns up for good from everyone but I don’t see that happening.
My heart goes out to all those lives taken and prayers to the families who have suffered tremendous and crushing losses. I wish there was an easy way to solve this but those in Washington have to take a stand. Make America safe again! May God bless America!
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Unfortunately the only people in Washington are the ones we sent there. As long as the Americans who oppose more stringent gun control are in the majority, I don’t see how things can change.
I’m sure that your neighbors who hunt, like the vast majority of gun owners, are responsible. But the figures regarding gun homicides (and especially suicides) are undeniable. The argument that those who want to kill others or themselves will find a way to do so is just not the case. Where gun access to guns is highly restricted, overall suicide and homicide rates are dramatically lower. [http://www.vox.com/2015/8/27/9212725/australia-buyback].
Thanks so much for your comments!
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Well said, Barb. I was just reading in my local paper of a man who was prosecuted for owning fireworks! Imagine whatvwoyld happen to him if he was found in possession of an actual weapon, like a GUN! One extreme to the other. There are weirdos and wicked people everywhere in the world, but some countries favour these people’s freedom over their childrens safety, how can that be right?
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You are so right!
Mary Ann Franks, a Family Law professor at Miami Law School, tweeted,
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