How Do Gun Laws Influence College Shootings?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the influence of gun laws on college shootings, exploring the relationship between gun accessibility, mental health, and societal safety. Participants engage in a debate about the implications of gun ownership and the potential for violence, particularly in educational settings.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that making guns accessible increases the likelihood of violent incidents, particularly involving individuals with mental health issues.
  • Others suggest that without guns, individuals with violent tendencies would find alternative methods to commit acts of violence.
  • A viewpoint is presented that the intent of the individual, rather than the availability of guns, is the primary factor in determining safety.
  • Participants discuss the effectiveness of various means of violence, noting that determined individuals can use methods other than guns to inflict harm.
  • Some express skepticism about the feasibility of eliminating guns from society, given their prevalence and the potential for illegal acquisition.
  • There is a mention of cultural differences in gun ownership between the US and Canada, with implications for societal safety and personal rights.
  • One participant raises a hypothetical question about whether the world would be safer if most people had guns versus just a few determined individuals.
  • Several participants reference historical and contemporary examples of violence, suggesting that the presence of guns is not the sole factor in violent incidents.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the relationship between gun ownership and safety, with no consensus reached. Some agree that guns can be dangerous in the wrong hands, while others emphasize that violent intent is the core issue. The discussion remains unresolved with competing perspectives on the implications of gun laws.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexity of the issue, including the influence of mental health, societal norms, and the effectiveness of various forms of violence. There are references to cultural attitudes toward guns that may affect the discussion.

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I thought there would be tonnes of postings on this from you US and Canadian guys - particularly as it happened in an educational institution.

Something else which I thought would spark more discussion in the news - again, I haven't heard much in the world news - is that he seems to have got some inspiration for killing from video games: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5346110.stm
 
I don't think there is much else to say.

The individual (gunman) seemed to be mentally ill and alienated. Somehow he decided to start shooting people, but since he committed suicide, we are only left to speculate as to the motive.

This can happen anywhere, and does periodically occur. It has happened periodically in the US, even in the local area. Access to guns certainly increases the probability that someone with mental illness could act out in society and kill people. That seems a price that some societies are willing to accept. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
yeh but without the guns how can we defend ourselfs from people with mental illnesses, especially violent ones, with guns?

/sarcasim

:biggrin:
 
If there was no guns, we wouldn't have to worry about people with mental illnesses with guns.
 
Anttech said:
yeh but with the guns how can we defend ourselfs from people with mental illnesses, especially violent ones, without guns?

/sarcasim

:mad:

Say what?!

Just playing. :)
 
JasonRox said:
If there was no guns, we wouldn't have to worry about people with mental illnesses with guns.

I can't argue with that, but, since guns have been invented and are actually manufactured in large quantities, how do you propose we get rid of all the guns?

- Warren
 
I'm sure even without guns they would find another way to make "their point".
 
chroot said:
I can't argue with that, but, since guns have been invented and are actually manufactured in large quantities, how do you propose we get rid of all the guns?

- Warren

I never said I had a proposition.
 
  • #10
You're right, scorpa. You can kill people pretty effectively with thrown kitchen knives, chlorine gas made from bleach and vinegar, you name it.

- Warren
 
  • #11
It's not hard for someone that is determined to get a gun to get hold of one illegally. Where the banning of guns would stop most normal people from getting a gun, it more than likely wouldn't stop a "nutter" as you call them.
 
  • #12
chroot said:
You're right, scorpa. You can kill people pretty effectively with thrown kitchen knives, chlorine gas made from bleach and vinegar, you name it.

- Warren

Yes that is what I am getting at. It's not the gun that gets up by itself and decides to go on a rampage...it's the idiot using it. If guns were banned it would be just as easy for them to poison (but that's not as flashy), make a bomb, throw knives...ect. Yes guns are dangerous in the wrong hands but unfortunately so are a lot of things.
 
  • #13
Evo said:
It's not hard for someone that is determined to get a gun to get hold of one illegally. Where the banning of guns would stop most normal people from getting a gun, it more than likely wouldn't stop a "nutter" as you call them.
So would you say the world would be safer if most people had guns, or just a few dettermined nutters?
 
  • #14
Anttech said:
So would you say the world would be safer if most people had guns, or just a few dettermined nutters?
How many people own guns is not an issue, it's the intent of the individual user. I don't need to worry about the overwhelming majority of gun owners, only the "few determined nutters" and that's so rare, I'm more likely to die from slipping in my shower, but I'm not going to call for a ban on showers. I can only think of one person that I personally know that owns a gun, and it's an antique shotgun he inherited. Do you think that every American buys guns just because we can?
 
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  • #15
It was totally hypothetical question and nothing to do with America. I just wanted to know what your oppinion was. I have heard some people argue that it would be safer, I was wondering if that applied to you.

However since you brought it up, I would say that it is a matter of how many people owe guns, the less who do the less chance that someone is going to get shot, by someone with a gun.
 
  • #16
Anttech said:
However since you brought it up, I would say that it is a matter of how many people owe guns, the less who do the less chance that someone is going to get shot, by someone with a gun.
Someone intent on commiting violence would just use another means. We're talking about someone obviously disturbed. People don't become violent just because they own a gun.
 
  • #17
Anttech said:
So would you say the world would be safer if most people had guns, or just a few dettermined nutters?

Oh, give me a break. Guns do not make the world less safe, violent people do. Is that so hard to grasp?

A gun is a tool that can be used for good, or can be used for evil.

So I guess before the advent of the gun crime was nonexistant, right?

We all own knives, do we go around slashing at people? No, because it too is a tool that can be used for good or bad.
 
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  • #18
Anttech said:
However since you brought it up, I would say that it is a matter of how many people owe guns, the less who do the less chance that someone is going to get shot, by someone with a gun.

Where I come from I don't know anyone who does not own a gun, in fact I would imagine the average number of guns in each household would be about 5...some a few less but many a lot more (and i mean a lot!) and no one has ever been shot, hurt, killed, or maimed in anyway. People are careful and bad things don't happen, it's when some psychopathic nutjob gets ahold of them that things become problematic, but like was mentioned multiple times before in this thread if they did not have guns they would find something else to get the job done. Haha got to love that old saying "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" :smile:
 
  • #19
Police just arrested some teens in Green Bay, Wisconsin for plotting to attack their high school a la Columbine. They were planning to shoot people they didn't like, but their main plan was to set off bombs near the rest rooms.

As we see from the daily news from Iraq, bombs can be more effective than guns if all you want to do is kill people.
 
  • #20
scorpa said:
Haha got to love that old saying "Guns don't kill people, people kill people" :smile:
Actually, bullets kill people.

Sorry, couldn't resist.
 
  • #21
Math Is Hard said:
Actually, bullets kill people.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Haha you got me there! :-p
 
  • #22
Guns don't make the world less safe... so um... why do we have them?

In Canada, almost no one has guns. They aren't common like they are in the US. It's not going to stay that way because of our neighbours who won't let them go. Who are you defending yourself from that require a gun? Umm... the British left a lllllooooonnnnnngggggg time ago.
 
  • #23
Yeah, but George Bush replaced the british!

We have guns because we can, and its our right to. You take away my rights, and I'll shoot you. That's why we have the right to own guns.

Why have them? Skeets, hunting, law enforcement, personal protection...to name a few. Shooting is a sport you know, ever watch the olympics?

Our choice of guns is ours, not Canadas, nor the Uk's.
 
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  • #24
In order to analyze the gun issue, just think of the boundary conditions.

If no one had a gun, would the world be a safer place? If every person had a gun, would the world be a safer place?

Perhaps I'm a left wing extremist, but I think guns should be illegal.

Maybe I'm naive, but where I live I do not know one person/family with a gun. And if I found out one of my friends or their parents kept a gun/guns, I would automatically think less of them.

It's funny, I was watching this PBS special on blogs influencing politics in the US, and the narrator said something along the lines of "the sterotypical blogger is a young, radical left winger". I burst out laughing because I'm a blogger and that stereotype IS me.
 
  • #25
cyrusabdollahi said:
Why have them? Skeets, hunting, law enforcement, personal protection...to name a few. Shooting is a sport you know, ever watch the olympics?

You missed one. Shooting people when you're mad because we can.
 
  • #26
  • #27
A little bit off the debate, but I am a student of Dawson College and I felt like sharing my experience. It was one of the scarier moments of my life to know someone was on a shooting rampage and at any moment I could have found myself face to face with a killer while running out of the school. Fortunately I made it out safely, but unfortunately the only casualty happened to be someone I know...out of 10 000 people. I mean it's equaly unfortunate to lose anyone, but it's a different experience when you knew the person.

What I know about this Kimveer Gill from numerous news-castings is that he obtained all of his guns legally. Previously Being in the military probably facilitated his obtainment of rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
 
  • #28
  • #29
What are you even talking about? Use a knife to hunt...does that even sound reasonable when you say it outloud?


However taking the long view it appears that the gun supply does not have a significant impact on total homicides or suicides. (Since 1945 the handgun per capita rate has risen by over 350% and over 260% for all firearms.)

So, what was that you were saying?...
 
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  • #30
This entire notion of taking away guns to make the world safe is lunacy.

A culture of violence, which we have in America, is to blame. We have the highest crime rate in the entire world. NOT by guns, but OVERALL. THAT is the problem. So enough of this 'take away guns, take away guns' nonsense..:rolleyes:

Most guns are used in self defense.
 

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