guns, knives and students...Any thoughts, comments or safety suggestions?

Specialties School

Published

I've got a LOT to say about this issue!

I never said it would end violence, I said it would cut down the number of deaths.

Here is the difference...6 dead versus 26 in a few minutes.

The USA ranks #1 in three things:

1. Gun manufacturing

2. The most lax gun laws of any industrialized nation.

3. The most gun deaths of any industrialized nation...BY HUNDREDS.

...and before you bring up the Switzerland example, like everyone does, it's important to note that the country has NO ARMED FORCES...the citizens are it and they have to take two years worth of courses before they get issued one.

I didn't know that about Switzerland. So essentially they have to defend themselves in the event of war...does that mean crime as well?

This issue has weighed heavily on me lately. I am from an area of the country where many people take great pride in gun ownership and have a whole host of associations about family and country tied up in gun ownership. To a degree, I understand their perspective... I can't help but feel, however, that we need to make some common-sense changes to gun laws. Obviously, that alone will not solve the problem of violence in this country, but it can be part of a multifaced approach that involves mental health, law enforcement, and supporting troubled families, among other things. Despite having many friends and family members who take great pride in gun ownership and scoff at *any* further restriction, I am deeply upset that the most recent legislation didn't pass. I don't understand why people are so dogmatic and cannot make even the most minor changes--ones that will impact their private gun owership in minimal ways, if at all.

I also appreciate what a previous commenter said about more "routine" handgun violence against urban youth. At my school, a child (teenager, honor roll student) was killed in street violence a couple years ago. He was the only child of a single mother--I cannot imagine her pain. This is all too common in the area where I work. These kids go unmentioned in the national media. They need a voice, too.

I didn't know that about Switzerland. So essentially they have to defend themselves in the event of war...does that mean crime as well?

In a war, yes. They are on their own. That is why they are famous for remaining "neutral", because if they get into a conflict, they essentially have limited means of defense.

I have never been there, but I do believe that they have a police force, but their crime rate is very low. It's not as extensive of a police force as we have here in the States.

A gun is issued to every citizen by the government, but an extensive training program goes with it.

Specializes in Emergency Department.

Actually, the geography of Switzerland is partly the reason for their neutrality. Quite literally, the Swiss hold the high ground. There are few good passes through the country and those make for natural funnels. That allows for interlocking fields of fire and they already know the range. They have been officially neutral for a very long time. That neutrality is very good for business... Also, since most able-bodied Swiss men have spent some time in the military, they also have an amazing capacity to mobilize an army within hours. In any event, Switzerland shows that high levels of gun possession/ownership by a populace doesn't always equal high violent crime/murder rates. The US has a violence problem, not a "gun" problem.

Also, if firearms have only a singular purpose of killing, I guess that the many hundreds (if not thousands) of competitions held around the world every year that result in basically NO deaths and very few injuries, where there are at least as many guns there as participants, must be complete failures as far as guns are concerned because nobody got killed.

Something else to remember: when you call 911 for a police response, you're calling for someone with a gun to come over and deal with your problem. Guns aren't magically less dangerous simply because they're held by a police officer. They're also more willing to point it at people and usually have fewer repercussions for doing so... as long as they stay within policy even if they inadvertently shoot the wrong person who didn't do anything wrong. He or she may even point it at you... until you're identified as the good guy. It may also take them a very long time to come to your aid. They have no duty to protect you, even if you call for help.

Actually, the geography of Switzerland is partly the reason for their neutrality. Quite literally, the Swiss hold the high ground. There are few good passes through the country and those make for natural funnels. That allows for interlocking fields of fire and they already know the range. They have been officially neutral for a very long time. That neutrality is very good for business... Also, since most able-bodied Swiss men have spent some time in the military, they also have an amazing capacity to mobilize an army within hours. In any event, Switzerland shows that high levels of gun possession/ownership by a populace doesn't always equal high violent crime/murder rates. The US has a violence problem, not a "gun" problem.

Also, if firearms have only a singular purpose of killing, I guess that the many hundreds (if not thousands) of competitions held around the world every year that result in basically NO deaths and very few injuries, where there are at least as many guns there as participants, must be complete failures as far as guns are concerned because nobody got killed.

Something else to remember: when you call 911 for a police response, you're calling for someone with a gun to come over and deal with your problem. Guns aren't magically less dangerous simply because they're held by a police officer. They're also more willing to point it at people and usually have fewer repercussions for doing so... as long as they stay within policy even if they inadvertently shoot the wrong person who didn't do anything wrong. He or she may even point it at you... until you're identified as the good guy. It may also take them a very long time to come to your aid. They have no duty to protect you, even if you call for help.

I just want to note that my objection is not firearms in general. My objection is to ANY high-capacity firearm...there is no purpose for them in our society other than with authorities. They are designed for one purpose: To kill

There are many stupid police officers...being 21, having a clean background check and a valid driver's license and a GED is pretty much the requirement, plus 6 weeks in a police academy.

Yes, police officers do have a duty to protect citizens...millions of dollars in lawsuits have been won by families when officers either did not act or ignored a call and someone died. If there was no duty to protect, no money would have been won.

This is a $2.3 million dollar example, of when police fail to act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cry_for_Help:_The_Tracey_Thurman_Story

Do you know what semi-automatic even means?

Please research the number of gun deaths in Japan...I'll save you the trouble, less than 10 a year.

We have over 500 accidental shooting deaths per year from children alone.

Now, go ahead and tell me how guns are not the problem.

I never said ban them all, just the ones that can take out, oh, let's say 26 defenseless children in a few minutes without reloading.

Someone would have to have a very, very warped mind to justify how semi-automatic weapons are needed for private ownership.

Taking out 26 kids without a reload is already illegal. There are already bans on magazine size. Now please tell me how that law worked out? That's right! Criminals don't obey laws.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

I just want to note that my objection is not firearms in general. My objection is to ANY high-capacity firearm...there is no purpose for them in our society other than with authorities. They are designed for one purpose: To kill

There are many stupid police officers...being 21, having a clean background check and a valid driver's license and a GED is pretty much the requirement, plus 6 weeks in a police academy.

Yes, police officers do have a duty to protect citizens...millions of dollars in lawsuits have been won by families when officers either did not act or ignored a call and someone died. If there was no duty to protect, no money would have been won.

This is a $2.3 million dollar example, of when police fail to act.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Cry_for_Help:_The_Tracey_Thurman_Story

6weeks? So glad I'm not in your city/state. Here we have 8months, plus a 1 year probation with a training officer.

Posting from my phone, ease forgive my fat thumbs! :)

I bet if you saw my semi-automatic gun, or my husbands semi-automatic gun on a table with 10 other guns, you would never pick them out. Mine is smaller than my hand, and his is just a smaller than average hand gun. The media has been very successful in scaring people and using the words "semi-automatic". I think what you are talking about is fully automatic weapons. Even revolvers that can only hold a few rounds at a time are semi-automatic. Semi-automatic only means you dont have to re-load after each shot.

Nothing short of locking up all the mentally ill would have prevented what happened in CT.

I think we need armed guards in schools. And I think all staff who want to, and who can qualify, should be allowed to carry concealed. I am a concealed-carry permit holder in the state of TN. So is DH. He and I carry 24/7 to protect ourselves and our family. The only place I don't carry into is schools and government buildings, because I don't need the felony charge. But if you see me out anywhere else, I'm armed with a Glock 23 and an extra clip. I carry into places like movie theaters and stores that are posted "No Guns". All they can do if they see me is tell me to leave, and I will....and never do business with them again. As long as it's properly concealed, there is no way for them to know if I'm carrying. And if something happens and I need to draw, well then I'll be alive for them to throw me out afterwards, so I don't care. I have been a school nurse since January of this year, and will be finishing the school year and not returning. (I've found a better, higher paying job.) It really offends me that I can't carry here, and have no means of protecting myself, and am left to be a sitting duck, with nothing to do but lock my clinic door and hide while I pray some lunatic doesn't come and put a bullet in my head.

Homicides in China: 1.2 per 100,000 people. I did look it up, and I hate people who pull numbers out of their butt and think they are so profound no one will bother to verify facts. Also the FBI, CDC has information that will really disappoint you, like 9 out 10 teen suicides are done by hanging, applying your logic we will now have to ban rope. And do look it up and educate yourself on facts and figures before spouting off. Although suicides by prescribed medicine far exceeds the number of suicides by firearms, do we ban medications or the physicians who prescribe them? Ignorance concerning the facts and ignoring the cause and blaming inanimate objects for those deaths is the easy way out. As a society we don't want to help those who look or act differently or who are having difficulty functioning. We shun, we laugh, and we bully others. As mother's we buy guns and train a mentally ill functioning child how to use it, why, why, why would she do that, because she couldn't face that fact that her son had a problem. That he was different, that he didn't fit it. That mother was as guilty as her son for those deaths. We have a saying in the group we shoot with, if you shoot yourself, its your fault, if you shoot someone else, it's your fault. The blame game is over and we have to start taking and making others accountable for their actions.

Privately Owned Firearms

The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in China is 40,000,0001

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population[/h]The rate of private gun ownership in China is 4.91 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking[/h]In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, China ranked at No. 32

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking[/h]In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, China ranked at No. 1021

Our county schools have opened offices in all the rural schools for Deputy Sheriffs to use during school hours. They have no set school time daily to be there. The students love having them there, parents and children feel safer.

The schools provide a telephone, fax, and internet access. The deputies can log reports from the offices. There is a wait time for immediate response of about 2-4 hrs, in this county, you cant wait it out when I problem arises, when the wolf makes it to the door, you have to deal with it.

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