What can be done to stop gun violence

[pnewton]

Yes. That is the word for what I did: a comparison.

 

[Cruciferi]

So you would rather see people bludgeon and stab each other? Is that somehow more honorable?

A weapon is a weapon. Killing is killing. It’s brutal, grisly and terrible stuff.

 

[vz71]

This virtue is an artificial virtue, since constitutional rights such as the right to bear arms is an arbitrary and artificial right.

The fact of the right itself being there makes this virtue quite correct and real.
Unless you are aware of some constitutional right to bear cars…

 

[vz71]

Oddly enough, the only people I have ever heard complain of a firearm as a cowardly weapon were those that would take advantage of people if it were not for the firearm.

I am sure this is not the case with you, but it may not be such an unwise idea to look around and see who else is saying the same thing.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

LeafByNiggle:

This virtue is an artificial virtue, since constitutional rights such as the right to bear arms is an arbitrary and artificial right.

The fact of the right itself being there makes this virtue quite correct and real.

The right is legally real, but it is still only made up by the founders. Other things they made up have changed already. This could too.

 

[vz71]

The right is legally real, but it is still only made up by the founders.

The right to life and liberty are not so…and I am quite certain the right to bear arms figures directly in insuring those are not easily removed.

 

[pnewton]

The right is legally real, but it is still only made up by the founders.

While I agree that the right to bear arms is particular to the Constitution, it is rooted in the right to legitimate self-defense, which is part of Catholic teaching as well. While this would not justify the right to any and all kind of guns, it might be argued that at least what is needed for the defense on oneself and one’s family is a right. My objection to those who jump on this moral teaching is how a gun, something that defends one and one’s family by taking the life of the one who threatens them, is preferred over deadbolts and an alarm system, protection that does not take life.

If we are going to speak of right to protection from a moral standpoint, it is always preferred that another life is not taken, if possible.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

LeafByNiggle:

The right is legally real, but it is still only made up by the founders.

The right to life and liberty are not so…and I am quite certain the right to bear arms figures directly in insuring those are not easily removed.

Here’s what the right to life ensures: The right to use a gun for self defense if you have one handy. It does not ensure your right to buy one.

 

[Theo520]

Here’s what the right to life ensures: The right to use a gun for self defense if you have one handy. It does not ensure your right to buy one.

If you don’t have the right to buy one, it follows you don’t have the right to use or posses one. That’s how our law works.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

LeafByNiggle:

Here’s what the right to life ensures: The right to use a gun for self defense if you have one handy. It does not ensure your right to buy one.

If you don’t have the right to buy one, it follows you don’t have the right to use or posses one. That’s how our law works.

That’s right. Their is no absolute right to possess a gun under natural law either.

 

[mythbuster1]

As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, we won’t be able to stop the violence as long as abortion is tolerated.

 

[pnewton]

Very true, though that could be said about anything, as we cannot stop violence. It is part and parcel with humanity. But she is right that a consistent life ethic is important. It also means taking gun violence seriously is a way to change the culture of death that permits abortion. It works both ways.

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

Back when the Constitution was written there were no assault type weapons. They used flint-lock musket rifles.

 

[Rozellelily]

I agree with you that all of those things should be taught but I don’t believe they will stop gun violence.

Look at for example Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky-they went around shooting people and on a suicide mission because they had some distortions in their mind.

It’s true that those things you mentioned are an issue and that some kids are not given consequences for bad behaviour but these kids are usually not the ones that shoot people (at least not random people).

 

[vz71]

Back when the Constitution was written there were no assault type weapons. They used flint-lock musket rifles.

Back when the second amendment was written, it was legal to own a cannon.
They also had the Girandoni air rifle, Puckle gun, and mortars.

 

[Rozellelily]

Making guns illegal for everyone except farmers and police would dramatically decrease gun violence.
That’s how our laws are here in Australia and we have low gun violence crimes-at least compared to the USA.
I know that Americans won’t accept that though so other suggestions imo are:

*Have an independent body,one not tied to the Government or the Health industry, do a National Inquiry into the Mental Health Industry.
Find out what is working and what isn’t.Where money is being wasted and what is being underfunded.
Parents and teenagers who have had dealings with the mental health services should be consulted on what they believe the failings are.

*Parents and doctors need to have greater understanding that playing violent video games compulsively can be connected to teens committing acts of violence.
Violent video games themselves don’t cause violence,but kids with psychiatric or cognitive issues who arnt “succeeding socially” can be more prone to play these games and in these individuals it may be an “early sign” prior to them doing violent acts.

*We need to create a more compassionate society and teach “our” kids to accept other kids that are different and not bully them or reject them from social groups etc.

*I cannot say it enough times but imo USA needs to move away from prisons being “housing centers” for people with mental illnesses because the government of the day finds it a cheaper option.

This is referring to gun violence in schools or other random shootings.

 

[Rozellelily]

Gun violence in USA poor black communities is different and how I see it (from what little I have seen on tv) is that these kids need successful black leaders to speak to them and challenge them.
Also so many of these kids seem to have absent fathers.The boys have no good male role models,they are surrounded by friends doing crime etc-the crime life comes easily for them.
Private businesses and Government needs to put more money into training these young men to be achievers and leaders,inspire others and break the “prison cycle”.

 

[LeafByNiggle]

Gun violence in USA poor black communities is different and how I see it (from what little I have seen on tv) is that these kids need successful black leaders to speak to them and challenge them.
Also so many of these kids seem to have absent fathers.The boys have no good male role models,they are surrounded by friends doing crime etc-the crime life comes easily for them.

Say, rather, that the alternatives to crime come harder for them.

Private businesses and Government needs to put more money into training these young men to be achievers and leaders,inspire others and break the “prison cycle”.

Very true. One small way to help break the “prison cycle” is to stop incarcerating people who have not yet been convicted, sometimes of minor offenses, but are unable to pay bail. A lot of useless sitting around behind bars when they could be home building up family role models.

 

[Rozellelily]

Say, rather, that the alternatives to crime come harder for them.

Yes,sorry.I wrote this quickly and didn’t give it enough thought how to word it more appropriately.
I didn’t mean anything negative towards these communities,but more that they arn’t given enough opportunities to help them with better options

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

False equivalence.
Few people back then owned a cannon.
Anyone today can purchase an assault weapon. That is the whole point.