Sunday Roundup

This week, 70 people were shot -- 12 fatally -- when a gunman armed with an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun, and a Glock handgun opened fire in a crowded movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. As gun control advocates, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, called for a discussion on a national problem that is literally killing us, some claimed it's too early. Actually, it's already too late for the Colorado victims -- whose names, in what has become a too-often-repeated ritual, get second (or third... or twelfth) billing to the murderer's. But it's not too late for the thousands of people who are alive today but won't be next year because of gun violence. With America's gun murder rate 20 times higher than the next 22 richest nations combined, it's a discussion that should be front and center, including in the coming presidential debates. But it won't be... unless we demand it.

Add your voice to the conversation on Twitter: twitter.com/ariannahuff

 

 

 

Comments

[Tekar]

01:28 AM on 07/24/2012

Arianna, your media company has shamed you this day. They have completely skewed the story of ridiculous police brutality and totally failed to tell the story. They have edited media from the story to fit whatever message they were trying to protray. The final outcome was a blatant disregard for social justice.

The first link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MST4RhWdlMQ

is the original post showing egregious police behavior. The media outlet that bears your name used this video clip to explain the riot and the dangerous situation completely brought on by the actions of police earlier in the day.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/manuel-diaz-fatal-shooti_n_1696646.html

This type of behavior is absolutely intolerably shameful by the media entity carrying your name. I hope you take the time to look into it. It deserves attention from the founder who I believe stands for social justice.

I didn't know where else to post it. I would have e-mailed you personally, but couldn't find it.

[Bill shipet]

02:47 AM on 07/23/2012

The gun he used is not categorized as an Assault Rifle despite what you think you know about weapons. Assault rifles are hard to posses. You must wither have a pre-ban weapon ($10,000 +) or be a class 3 FFL dealer. (which requires a pretty stringent background check)

"An assault rifle is an automatic rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine"

Semi-Automatic is not Automatic.

[GEOHIST33]

11:37 PM on 07/22/2012

Americans, it seems, always need an extra special wake-up call; an extra special shaking, to bring them out of their stupor. I guess our proud pioneering spirit makes us say, "I'll darn well stay in my stupor, if I want to!" Yes, we are a proud people, and pride, too heavily embraced, means we'll keep doing something even if it's not good for us. The Republicans add to the problem every time they bad mouth Canada and Europe. When they do that, it just shows that they're the most stubborn among us when it comes to self-injuring pride. There's only one thing that will truly do the job - they have to be affected personally. (Just one famous example: Nancy Reagan on stem cell research for Alzheimer's). Someone close to them, or they themselves, will have to be affected before they wake up. The funny thing is, when some do wake up, it's full steam ahead in the opposite direction. Bake sales have to be organized, foundations have to be established, etc.

[montessoriteacher]

10:49 PM on 07/22/2012

I am all for not mentioning the killer's name-- especially since I know someone very well who is unfortunate enough to have the same name. It is a common name. Take the attention away from the killer since there are plenty of decent people named James Holmes out there!

[Able Witness]

10:33 PM on 07/22/2012

I think it silly banning weapons, but if they ban these "assault rifles", then we can get back to training people to aim and fire, as opposed to "spray and pray". I've had my certifications as a shooting instructor and my teaching mantra is "one shot, one kill". When killing animals there is no need in their suffering. Trained men with lever action (120 year old design) rifles can outshoot today's military rifles. Also note that hunting ammunition is FAR more lethal than military ammo.

[Edification]

10:32 PM on 07/22/2012

In 2010 there were 9,369 homicides involving firearms, most illegally obtained. There were 10,222 deaths because of drunk driving.

[LuckyGrad68]

10:05 PM on 07/22/2012

I am for the right to bear arms and if I buy an AR-15, a few Glocks, and 6,000 rounds of ammo all within a couple months..they can check me! If you run a red light when nobody is around and then can receive a ticket in the mail they could also figure out something might be going wrong with this guy but the 'making money' off the effort seems to be what's different.

[LIV TO THE MAX]

09:56 PM on 07/22/2012

WE DONT NEED GUN CONTROL - WE NEED BETTER PSYCH SCREENINGS. If a family is concerned with a members mental health they have to convince the individual to go for a screaning which is very difficult because a person with mental problems can rarely see their own extremes. The screening is done alone so the Dr asks if he feels highs and lows. "No" is answered. Dr asks if he often feels depressed or angry? "No" is answered again. Dr asks if they ever hear voices and is answered "No." If the patient shows no signs of confusion in front of the Dr the patient gets a good bill of mental health. The Drs never ask for family input and the family is left in a less likely position of ever getting help for the distressed family member. Try convincing someone to get a second medical screening after getting a good one already. Its sloppy medical practice and NO ONE addresses it!!!

In the CO movie shooting case the shooters mother was quoted as saying "You have the right person. I have to get to the police." She knew that her son was distressed and probably could do nothing to help the situation because of the FAULTY MEDICAL PRACTICE IN MENTAL HEALTH. A Dr should at least interview voluntary family, friends and maybe neighbors to get a better picture of whats going on when a person submits to a psych eval. Any less is malpractice in my opinion.

[oooprettywoman]

10:15 PM on 07/22/2012

No, we need better gun control AND better psych screening.

[Lou on Vancouver Island]

10:35 PM on 07/22/2012

I'm willing to bet that this guy could have passed a psycho test right up until the final moment. It's called "tell them what they want to hear," and my friend's disturbed fifteen year old knows it. This kind of screening won't work on him and many others. Get rid of these mega-round ammo clips. That's a start. Want to shoot a deer? Get a simple .22.

[mini art]

07:51 AM on 07/23/2012

In many states it is illegal to use a .22 to hunt deer for the simple reason that it is underpowered to actually do the job in a humane and quick way. A 22 is for target practice for the most part or small game like rabbits or squirrels .

As for mega round clips such as the ak 47 style military weapons , one needs special liscenses to own them legally in the majority of places, and there are many states that you cannot not own them at all in .

However the ability to purchase ammo or weapons over the internet seriously needs to be controlled in my opinion,
There are few places you cannot purchase them in person with identification and I see no reason why this should not be implemented without curtailing legal gun rights owners from doing so ,

[KS7]

09:52 PM on 07/22/2012

Here's a quote by George Washington who put his life on the line to defend our freedoms:

"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good"
-- George Washington

[Logan Tait]

10:21 PM on 07/22/2012

I could be getting my history a bit confused, but I'm pretty sure AR-15s didn't exist when George Washington was around.

[juna]

09:41 PM on 07/22/2012

Yes, I think we should all be demanding that our candidates and all the other politicians discuss the gun issue. Lately, I've just noticed the far right reiterating the "American Freedom" to purchase any amount of lethal weaponry, despite the death orgies we've witnessed. Freedom involves free choice. I don't think the many thousands of gun victims in this country chose to die. We need much stronger regulation and oversight of gun ownership, and we need to get out from under the rule of the NRA.

[Sledge Rockwell]

09:33 PM on 07/22/2012

No one is going to take away your guns. No matter what that politician who is just trying to win your vote tells you, no Federal Agent is going to show up to your door and demand you turn over your legally acquired guns if you don't vote for them. This is about any person whose life is falling apart being able to impulsively purchase 6,000 rounds, an extended mag and an assault rifle like he's picking up a gallon of milk.

Don't be That Guy. No one respects or listens to That Guy. That Guy brings nothing to the discussion and is an albatross to the greater good.

[Logan Tait]

10:22 PM on 07/22/2012

F/F champ.

[Mac Howard]

09:32 PM on 07/22/2012

The term is gun CONTROL, not gun ban. If you have a legitimate use for a gun - rural use for pest control for example - you should be allowed to use a gun. If you're member of a gun club then you should be allowed to take part in your chosen sport. However, the consequence of these lethal weapons in the hands of the wrong people is so awful that strict security on the use, possession and storage of them should be enforced.

It is not necessary to restrict the rights of individuals over legitimate gun use but all rights tend to undermine the rights of others - and the right to life, repeatedly threatened by guns, overwhelms all other rights. Effective gun control is desperately needed. That surely has to be plain to everyone.

[Walter Constantinople]

09:42 PM on 07/22/2012

Where do we apply to "be allowed" to do this? We don't have King or Queen to ask.

[Mac Howard]

09:47 PM on 07/22/2012

But you do have a president and a congress and a senate - it is up to government to legislate to remove this cancer from your society. 

[themodernleader]

09:04 PM on 07/22/2012

  Americans fail to provide the most essential rights, that is, the right to a fair chance of supporting one self and one's family. This right is denied by the unrestrained liberty of the privileged and amoral elite to pillage and plunder the nation and citizens.  As our leaders plan to pay back indebtedness with worthless currency, they ignore the plight of our hapless and penurious citizens.  The society gradually flies apart.

[Edification]

08:43 PM on 07/22/2012

The overwhelming number of homicides in the USA are committed with illegally owned guns, just say'in.

[effitol]

08:58 PM on 07/22/2012

The overwhelming number of homicides in the USA are committed with guns, just say'in.

[GDWolf]

11:32 PM on 07/25/2012

I think you are thinking of automobiles.

[Bkaas]

09:01 PM on 07/22/2012

Yup

[Grutch]

08:40 PM on 07/22/2012

Please all left wing democrats, demand that Obama come out for a reinstatement of the Assault Weapons Ban right now while he's campaigning! Please please please I beg you!

[robadeau]

09:02 PM on 07/22/2012

Why "left wing" democrats?

[juna]

09:45 PM on 07/22/2012

And anyone with a sense of decency left in this country.