School Shootings

WineRN · Nov 15, 2017

Some say "Now is not the time to talk about politics" when it comes to shootings and gun control. But if we wait, then there is never a "right" time. NO ONE needs the kinds of weapons that many perpetrators of mass shootings have. The Vegas shooter had 23 guns and copious amounts of ammunition. Why should someone be able to attain those items without triggering any red flags?
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I completely agree with you Kidz

I moved from a state with pretty strong gun laws to a state that is VERY pro gun and it was a culture shock. My close friend down here just bought a gun "for protection" and to be 100% honest, she has no business owning a gun. She never even held one before that day and is still unsure on how to load and use it. She just got one because she is scared about what she is seeing on the news and how people here respond is by "getting protection".

We don't require background checks, we allow both closed and open carry and we don't require registration of weapons.

This ALL scares me. And I have close friends who are Libertarian, who have heatedly debated me about federal regulations and how the "bad guys don't follow the laws anyway". But something needs to change.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Nov 15, 2017

This ALL scares me. And I have close friends who are Libertarian, who have heatedly debated me about federal regulations and how the "bad guys don't follow the laws anyway". But something needs to change.

There was a day when gun safety was taught in the public school. Classmates had guns in their trucks on racks at the window, in the school parking lot! Guns were more visible when I grew up, yet mass shootings were unheard of. I feel that those who want guns restricted are those who have given up on changing the culture's heart. They feel it is a lost cause, just tooo hard. I have a limited sphere of influence, but I will use that sphere to make a difference in the greater sphere.

kidzcare · Nov 15, 2017

We don't require background checks, we allow both closed and open carry and we don't require registration of weapons.
This ALL scares me. And I have close friends who are Libertarian, who have heatedly debated me about federal regulations and how the "bad guys don't follow the laws anyway". But something needs to change.

I live outside of Chicago which is notorious for gun violence while having very strict gun laws. Would be pundits like to cite Chicago as an example that gun laws do nothing. A moment or two of google research completely debunks that claim. Many places have stricter laws than Chicago and it's conveniently not mentioned that Indiana and their more lax gun laws are a 30 minute drive away.

The United States is the only place where these kinds of shootings happen with regularity. So regular, in fact, that our Leader in Chief can simply scroll down his tweets to copy/paste his condolences from one mass shooting to another (he simply needs better proof reading skills). We need to follow the example of the rest of the developed world.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Nov 15, 2017

The Church shooting affected me. I haven't been to Church since because of the crippling anxiety it gives me. I should not let someone else have control over my life like that but I do. It took everything in me to go to a lighting ceremony in our town this past weekend. And I was a nervous wreck THE. WHOLE. TIME. At one point I told my mother which child she was in charge of, which child my husband was in charge of, and what child I was in charge of for when someone started shooting. (I already have a call in to my doctor to change my anxiety medication)

Then this morning my husband told me of this shooting that could have been so much worse had it not been for the amazing workers of that school. It has been all I can think about today. Honestly, in years past it was something I though about, but it never consumed me until now. Now my babies are in this school with me. Two of my precious, precious babies are here. And today all I have been doing is seeing someone come through those doors and me trying like hell to get to my kids. I hate my mind for this. In our school we have a "doorbell" with a camera, but that's all. All you need to do is ring it and we let you in. You don't have to verify that you even have a kid in this school. I want so bad to suggest to admin that we at least ask for a child's name before letting anyone in, but I know she would knock that down.

Anywho friends, I pray for your safety. I pray for the families of those affected by these senseless acts. This world is becoming more and more frightening everyday. And pray for me. I don't want my children growing up afraid to live. It's just so scary.

kidzcare · Nov 15, 2017

The Church shooting affected me. I haven't been to Church since because of the crippling anxiety it gives me. I should not let someone else have control over my life like that but I do. It took everything in me to go to a lighting ceremony in our town this past weekend. And I was a nervous wreck THE. WHOLE. TIME. At one point I told my mother which child she was in charge of, which child my husband was in charge of, and what child I was in charge of for when someone started shooting. (I already have a call in to my doctor to change my anxiety medication)

I also thought about it while I was at a concert a week and a half ago. We were in the rafters and I looked out at the catwalk and thought "What would we do if someone opened fire from right there?" Nothing. There is nothing we could do but try to duck and cover.

Luckily it did not consume my thoughts the entire concert but I easily thought about it 10 times in the 3 hours we were there.

OldDude · Nov 15, 2017

I've heard the phrase "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun" but that argument holds no weight. None of my research has shown a worthwhile percentage of "good gun owners" stopping "bad guys" in fact, armed civilians who have intervened are more often injured in their attempts. I'd wager that most armed citizens would not intervene even if they were present at a crime. We like to imagine how we'd react in emergency situations, but the truth is, in our imagination we are always more badass and witty than we end up being in real life.

I have no idea how some psycho gets enough weapons to outfit a small army so, on the political side, that's one thing that could occur; complete revamp, nationally and internationally, of the background checks associated with gun purchases. I know criminals will still obtain guns but at least don't give them the opportunity to simply waltz in and pick up the newest, biggest, baddest weapons off the shelf. That stuff should be reserved for law enforcement.

I know a lot of "good ole boys" that have a cache of weapons ready for "when they come;" whatever or whoever that means...I saw Red Dawn and know how it ended, "nuff said." I have a rifle that I use to kill deer with, a shotgun that I use to kill dove with and a handgun I use for personal and family defense and I pray to God the only thing I will ever kill with the handgun is money to buy target practice ammo. It would have to be a very special circumstance for me to intervene in a crime not directly threatening me or my family. And you're right, tough talk is cheap. Smoking cigarettes and a 45 caliber handgun will both kill you. But you don't appreciate the finality of cigarettes like you do if you're staring into the barrel of a gun. One thing for sure, if nothing changes, we can't expect the future to be better.

I think everyone has the right to protect themselves and their family.

OldDude · Nov 15, 2017

I completely agree with you Kidz
I moved from a state with pretty strong gun laws to a state that is VERY pro gun and it was a culture shock. My close friend down here just bought a gun "for protection" and to be 100% honest, she has no business owning a gun. She never even held one before that day and is still unsure on how to load and use it. She just got one because she is scared about what she is seeing on the news and how people here respond is by "getting protection".
We don't require background checks, we allow both closed and open carry and we don't require registration of weapons.
This ALL scares me. And I have close friends who are Libertarian, who have heatedly debated me about federal regulations and how the "bad guys don't follow the laws anyway". But something needs to change.

I've seen little pink purse sized revolvers sold to "the ladies" for personal defense. :woot: It's most likely the gun would end up being a gift taken by the attacker. HELL, trained police officers still miss their target from 6 feet away in the heat of a gun fight; adrenaline can be good or bad for you!

OldDude · Nov 15, 2017

There was a day when gun safety was taught in the public school. Classmates had guns in their trucks on racks at the window, in the school parking lot! Guns were more visible when I grew up, yet mass shootings were unheard of. I feel that those who want guns restricted are those who have given up on changing the culture's heart. They feel it is a lost cause, just tooo hard. I have a limited sphere of influence, but I will use that sphere to make a difference in the greater sphere.

I didn't have a truck when I was in High School but during dove season, I'd keep my shotgun and ammo on the back seat so it would be handy when we'd go hunting after school.

Farawyn · Nov 15, 2017

I also thought about it while I was at a concert a week and a half ago. We were in the rafters and I looked out at the catwalk and thought "What would we do if someone opened fire from right there?" Nothing. There is nothing we could do but try to duck and cover.
Luckily it did not consume my thoughts the entire concert but I easily thought about it 10 times in the 3 hours we were there.

I do this on trains.

Colin Ferguson | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

My Dad was on that train. In that car. He got off the stop before Ferguson started shooting.

wannabeny · Nov 15, 2017

I'm not ashamed to say I don't pay attention to it anymore. It has become so frequent. So many factors to blame for it. I don't believe law abiding citizens should be penalized for others actions & should be able to defend themselves with a personal gun & gun education/training. I also believe in my heart that 9 out of 10 people who own guns and tout how guns can stop a bad guy, have never been in a situation where they've had to use that gun. I believe most people would be dead or injured from the shooter, or if they even had a chance to use their gun, could make a bad situation even worse.

Mental Health is still put on the back burner, which is such a bad thing. I had an uncle who was schizophrenic; he stabbed himself in the chest at 24 years old when we were all asleep in the house, and then realizing what he had done, drove himself to the hospital. No guns involved, yet he could have killed all of us due to his disease.

Failure of parents to bring up decent children. If I had been disrespectful towards another person in public, rest assured my Portuguese father would've flat out knocked my head off my shoulders and ranted about my actions and consequences for a month while I was grounded. I don't believe in violence, but I DO believe that I ended up a better human being with more respect thanks to my father's ability to gauge whether I just needed to be talked to or get a good smack upside the head.

we have a legal system which is a flat out joke. My best friend, who was physically and emotionally abused by her boyfriend for over a year, then got pregnant and was choked at 34 weeks until she blacked out (woke up and drove herself to the hospital), was recently given a slap in the face. The judge told her that despite documented evidence of his abuse and continuous violation of probation, AND his past criminal history dating back 10 years, that "her bruises weren't severe enough to warrant protection for her child and he deserved to be apart of her life". SHE dropped the protection order, and gave that man 50/50 custody.

Our society is celebrating criminal behavior, throwing preventative measures aside, and as a result we have almost weekly terrorist acts. Simple. I have zero faith in our government. Hence the reason I celebrate the football players who kneel during the national anthem. I too have nothing to celebrate in how this country is turning out either.

allnurses Guide · Nov 16, 2017

We just dealt with an active shooter threat at my son's high school. The weekend before Halloween There was a series of snap chats which my son received from a young man who threatened to bring a gun to campus and open fire on the football team. He brought this to my attention,school administration police were notified the young man was identified and the treat neutralized. A second threat which was actually deemed credible and 2nd student was arrested. The school was locked down and all students kept home for two days. We are extremely fortunate that our boys took these threats seriously and reported them. Still it's scary. I have the man cub in an all boys college prep high school and he is on the football team. So glad it turned out the way it did.

Hppy

wannabeny · Nov 16, 2017

There was a series of snap chats which my son received from a young man who threatened to bring a gun to campus and open fire on the football team. He brought this to my attention

thank the stars he spoke up about it. Smart cookie you have raised.