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Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

I don't care for Gingrich's ideas. It sounds like he is setting up the wild wild west. I don't think the answer is more guns. Here is an article after the Sandy Hill shootings that explains the other point of view. https://www.usnews.com/debate-club/should-there-be-more-armed-guards-in-schools/armed-guards-in-schools-will-not-end-gun-violence   It isn't so realistic either to have all these gun carriers in every single school in the country, rather I would like to see the assault weapons banned so that there would be less chances for sick people to be able to purchase these weapons. We are such a violent society as it is. Other industrialized countries don't have armed teachers and police in schools. They just don't have easy access to the assault weapons. All the other ideas of mental health detection and vigilence are good too. Listen to the voices of the kids that went through this trauma. They want assault weapons banned. They are not asking for more guns. I know you are thinking this could help but I think its the wrong path. Love, Joanie

Nora Skinker (Morton)

I am as distraught as anyone that our society is riddled with mental illness, violence, arsenals & such. But I am also aware that we cannot change systemically overnight & I want protection for my grandchildren immediately. That is the reality. It is also hard to find other countries as applicable role-models when we tout & revere gun ownership among individual freedoms we hold dear. I have never held a gun, wanted a gun, believed in having one in my home. But, I want to see my kids & grandkids live long lives. In our culture, the way to do that is learning ways to protect oneself & one’s family. Why do people have bodyguards? Security guards? Walls around their homes? Because they know that bad things can happen to them if they don’t. To pretend otherwise is, to me, naive. Sure, take away the assault rifles, hire more FBI agents, raise the legal age, have metal detectors, more counselors, less influential pop culture violence, more law enforcement, more sanitariums but, also have schools armed with trained people who can scare away potential predators & are known to shoot if necessary. Seems to me that schools touting “gun-free” zones are nothing but targets. 

Edwin (Ned) Hege

TO: Nora Skinker

RE Post on

Jerry Morgan

I said I wouldn't but I can't stand the lunacy that is being proffered on this blog.  Mass shootings and murders are two entirely different problems.  Mass killings are associated with weapons that don't have a use in our society.  Assault weapons come in many sizes not just the AR-15.  Strictly speaking the AR-15 might not even be an assault weapon but a lookalike semi-automatic version of an assault weapon.  With add-ons and large capacity magazines you make it an assault weapon.  Mass killings require massive fire power.  Simple as that.  The right to bear arms came about when both the government and the citizenry were evenly matched, untrusting of each other and new to the concept of a United States.  Today the right to bear arms is a joke.  These people who believe they need max weapons to protect their freedoms from a government gone rogue is a poor argument for gun ownership.  One drone strike will quell any possible assault on the government.  I suppose we could all have personal nukes.

We are not going to end these tragedies but we can take steps to possibly minimize the carnage.  We need a plan to remove these weapons from our communities not just from the people who might use them for mass killings but from our society.

The plan should include at least the following:

Gun registry database.  All undocumented gun sales, transfers or the removal of serial numbers should be be a federal crime with a mandatory minimum sentence.

A minimum 30 day waiting period on permits.  No concealed carry permits except for law enforcement, certain military and on as needed on a case by case basis.  This exception should be examined and approved by federal agencies such as ATF and FBI.

Mandatory background checks to be as complete and as in depth as a Secret security clearance rising to the level of Top Secret for certain types of weaponry.

Criminal and mental health databases.  Privacy can be protected by a simple thumbs up/down on the applicant.  Heck most of this infrmation is already maintained in criminal and health records databases throughout our records systems.

Interstate sales of any weapon should be banned and if caught treated as a Federal crime.

Ban all large capacity magazines accessories and parts that modify a weapon.

Make it a crime to purchase weapons or parts of weapons from online dealers unless you are a licensed brick and mortar store and maintain records of such transactions.

Federal government should audit at least annually of any business that conducts weapons sales.  To include a review of the business sales records and a comparison between sales and background checks.

Start a continuous federal cash for guns program. 

that is my ideas off the top of my head as a minimum.  Feel free to add to the list. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Let’s do it, Jerry! And, while all of those steps are becoming implemented (albeit slower than molasses & about as dependable as most other federal agencies (i.e. the FBI)), I will cheer on those who have already taken steps to protect schools by hiring armed policemen. Such is the encouraging action taken in East Brunswick, NJ where its Board of Education enacted these measures on Friday. Why wait for the Feds (haven’t you noticed how Congress does um, NOTHING?) to do what states can do? 

Glen Hirose

Here's a very scary thought: What if you could make an assault weapon (Ghost Gun) in the privacy of your own home work shop?  No serial numbers, no background checks, and untraceable. Well it’s happened, and one was used in a mass shooting. The programmable copier / milling machine costs about $1,200.00 and along with a $1,200.00 3D printer you are in the gun manufacturing business...Now What?

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Even if someone can make an assault weapon, it still would cut way back on gun violence if a person cannot go in and legally buy one. There always is still a chance that something could happen but we want to lessen the chances overall and not make it so easy to purchase these killing machines. Love, Joanie  

Nora Skinker (Morton)

So Joanie, Helen & Jerry, beyond making it harder to acquire guns by ALL Americans (good & bad) & realizing that if someone wants to kill a bunch of people, he or she will find a way, am still curious as to what you would propose to do NOW to protect schools? 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Gun lesgislation is the best idea. Unfortunately even with 39 visits to the Cruz home for his dangerous comments, the police force in Broward County, could not arrest him.Nothing could be done as he denied he had any plans to do a mass killing. Putting in police in every school in the country would not do the trick. A gun man can still start quick rapid fire and if the police are lucky to engage nim, there will be crossfire and students can be killed in the crossfire. We have to get rid of these killing machines. They are not what the second amendment should be about. . These are weapons of war. Love, Joanie

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

The students of the school massacre in Florida will lead the way on this. They are Marching on March 24 to say enough is enough....they want tthese killing weapons to be banned and illegal. They want background checks, etc....They are the ones who have experience this nightmare, and lost their friends and teachers and we should listen to their voices on this. The counter argument that someone can make a weapon, or someone can get a handgun and still kill s true but everytime you make it harder for someone to do this by banning these war weapons, you are helping to prevent this. Cruz walked into a gun shop and bought this weapon legally. Love, Joanie

Nora Skinker (Morton)

So, in the meantime, you have no support for any plan to protect schools from unwanted entry in conjunction with the other proposals? Perhaps our leaders will find compromise with a blend of ideas for improvement. But am hesitant to hold my breath in this politically hateful climate. That’s a tragedy in & of itself. 

Robert Hall

Stephen Hatchett

First, Helen.  I too have been finding it just damn hard to keep any kind of positive attitude.  Although Steven Pinker is right (IMHO) about our time being better than what has gone before, that doesn’t lift my spirits either. I wake up at 3AM; can’t sleep; anxiety about the things on your list.  Try to avoid solving that problem with a shot of gin, but that does work, and has, often.  I do not for a moment think you and I are alone.  It started with the election. Trump has sucked the air out of the room.  

Joanie, and Helen.  Something that has lifted my spirits is the leadership of the students involved in the Florida school massacre.  Those young people are sending a coherent, well-expressed message.  (Thank you, teachers — heroes against the violence and quiet heroes before.)  Those students do give me a solid feeling of hope.

Jerry, I certainly agree with everything on your list.  There will be confusion (deliberately sown to muddy the water and slow things down) about what is an “assault weapon”.   An AR-15, or its ilk, is NOT a sport hunting weapon even in its legal, semi-automatic form.  Plenty of intelligent legislators, Senator Dianne Feinstein among them, know how to craft an appropriate ban.  It takes a little thought — which is why we really need our representatives to have 3 brain cells to rub together.   

Robert, glad to hear your thoughts. As you point out, Maryland has figured this “assault weapon” stuff out.  And I think you’ve got a reasonable standard for at least beginning to think about the issues — What do police officer unions think? Start with that.   The “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act” is an abomination. As is the NRA.

I'm not buying the idea that a killer bent on killing will somehow always find a way.  So just give it up;  quit without trying.  Let's not go there.  

Let's follow Steven Pinker’s ideas forward — What does anyone suppose; what would Steven Pinker suppose;  would be the appropriate next forward step for societies with respect to personal possession of military weapons? 

Nora Skinker (Morton)

A next step? To reinstate God’s values back into a despairing society made up of people like you, Stephen & Helen, who sleep fitfully at night? To teach our children the value of loving families who actually cherish & talk to one another? Teach young adults how to become nurturing parents & how to talk to their children? The Golden Rule? IOW, recapturing what our generation seems to have known better, in simpler times: that human life is precious, even at conception;  that children look to us for guidance through the examples & standards we set; recapture a healthy respect for authority; that working is honorable, humility & compassion beautiful; that money does not bring contentment; And that, above all else, we must revel in our differences & learn to love one another. 

Well, that might not be in keeping with the determination of military weaponry but it sure would be a good start towards rendering them domestically moot. 

Nora Skinker (Morton)

If you’re like me, you probably like to read & understand both sides of a debate & for people who care to learn some actual stats about how California’s assault weapons ban hurt or helped and learn about other pertinent gun facts, read NRA-ILA (Institute for Legislation Action)’s “10 Reasons Why States Should Reject “Assault Weapons” & “Large” Magazine Bans.” Also, I would hope those who can, would tune in to C-Span next week to absorb hearings scheduled regarding gun control. Nothing like getting first hand information. Let’s compare notes after! 

Robert, it would help to know the specific reasons given by so many officers as to why they so often reject stances taken by the NRA. Also, with crime-riddled Baltimore looming as a glaring disaster in Maryland, why do you suppose that is? And, Joanie, to dispel the use of gun power against gun power, because of innocent cross-fire deaths would seem to suggest that even cops should not carry. Do you care to comment? 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

I didn't read those articles but I can't think of any article that would convince me that assault weapons, weapons of war, should be allowed to be purchased. Less killing machines available are better then the status quo. As for crossfire, even though that can happen in public spaces, my feeling is that more guns are not the answer in schools...a teacher with a concealed weapon can have an altercation with a student and a tragedy can occur. With guns in every school bad things can happen. We don't want to become like an armed State  Accidents happen. Listen to the solemn voices of the students from the Florida school who lost their friends and teachers.  Listen to their ideas.  They are the ones who were traumaticized. You talk about teaching love. What about making schools a place of learning and ideas and nonviolence, by cutting down on guns that can mow down children in a few seconds. Love, Joanie

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Joanie, how unfortunate that you have chosen not to read other opinions & viewpoints. I hope that when legislators sit down to make changes, hash out positions & eventually pass bills, ALL aspects, statistics & proposals surrounding this very important issue are taken into consideration. Very articulate & bright young people who have recently lost dear friends are very relevant voices & should definitely be heard but then it would not be in keeping with our democratic process to deny those with different beliefs a voice, as well. 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Hi Nori,

I did check out the article afterall and saw that it was written by one of the gun lobbys, ammo something...forgot the name. I feel that even if it turns out as the article suggests that having assault weapons doesn't increase the amount of yearly deaths,  they still should be banned because, they are often the weapon of choice in mass shootings in schools and churches, etc., and they cause massive loss of life. Love, Joanie 

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Glad you read it, Joanie. Ignorant as I am about guns - their various powers, their uses, their history - I learned a lot from that article. Today our president said that work had begun in reassessing our Federal gun laws. He had already said that tightening background checks needed to be explored. But he also said that it was important that changes in gun laws not be made in order for us to feel better about this tragedy but should be made ‘because they work.’ I hope that message is taken seriously. Emotional issues, because they are emotional, are often not dealt with intelligently. They are often politically motivated to quell public outcry. History cites many. In this case, keep in mind, too, that it was the FBI & local law enforcement in Parkland Florida that allowed this killer to somehow fall through the cracks. It will be important to root out specific accountability in making sure this doesn’t happen again, as well. Point being, that arguments for & against the banning of various weapons is only one part of this multi-faceted issue. States oversee schools, not the Fed. And, because gun laws vary from state to state, the case can be made that it is up to the states to protect their schools. What are your thoughts about that? 

Robert Hall

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Robert, clarify please: So, in Baltimore, 60% of the 343 homicides in 2017 were committed by people with in-state weapons which did not include AR-15’s? Were they all knives & handguns? And what percent of the 40% out-of-state weapons were AR-15’s? 

Robert Hall

Nora Skinker (Morton)

No prob. No argument. I was curious about the breakdowns & found several sites with similar wording but wasn’t sure to which site you were referring. I did find some rather generic charts but nothing which pinpointed my concerns. No biggie! 

Suffice it to say we will (& should be) inundated with charts about everything that shoots, stabs & explodes soon enough. 

Good news: bye bye bump stocks! 👊

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Remembering the great Billy Graham & his everlasting message of love today, as we bid him farewell. Can’t imagine the number of lives he changed in his full & productive life. Bring on the tributes! Bishop Sheen, Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr.. Talk about sermons! Ya done good, guys. 👍