The easiest place to find liberal disgust at American gun laws in Tuesday's Washington Post was in Kevin Sullivan's roundup of international reaction from London. The headline was "Shock, Sympathy, And Denunciation Of U.S. Gun Laws: British Newspaper Asks, 'What Price the Right to Bear Arms?'"
One British expert even claimed you could easily buy automatic weapons along with your yogurt and bologna at the supermarket:
"I think the reason it happens in America is there's access to weapons -- you can go into a supermarket and get powerful automatic weapons," Keith Ashcroft, a psychologist, told the Press Association. Ashcroft said he believed such access, along with a culture that makes gun ownership seem normal, increases the likelihood of such attacks in the United States.
Guns and butter? That might be true of a big chain store like a Target or Wal-Mart that has both, but "supermarket" isn't usually the term that comes to mind then. I can't buy an automatic weapon at the local Safeway. The psychologist's comment was preceded by this sentence: "In Britain, there was shock at the scale of the killings, but many people said they were not surprised, seeing the United States as a nation obsessed with guns, where firearms are easy to obtain." The article chronicled European disgust:
Early editions of Tuesday's London papers were dominated by huge headlines and photos of police hauling the wounded out of a building at Virginia Tech. "Executed at Uni," said the Daily Mirror, using British slang for university. The Daily Mail's headline, meanwhile, asked, "What price the right to bear arms?"
Gun ownership is strictly regulated in Britain. The Home Office, which is in charge of public safety, said gun crime accounts for less than half a percent of all crime recorded by police, according to the Press Association.
In a special report on BBC 24 Monday evening, a commentator, Gavin Hewitt, said mass murder on school campuses had become "part of the American landscape." The network showed video footage of Columbine High School in Colorado and the Amish shooting in Pennsylvania, and noted that the powerful U.S. gun lobby had blocked gun restrictions that Europeans regard as simple common sense. "Even after today's horrific tragedy, laws are unlikely to change," Hewitt said.
In France, news of the shootings dominated the Web pages of every major French newspaper. Bloggers responding to the reports overwhelmingly blamed the tragedy on what they called lax American rules on gun ownership.
"In France, it is incomprehensible for us to understand what could prompt someone to own a handgun," a blogger identified as Aliosha wrote on the Web site of the daily newspaper Liberation, adding that it is "the right (almost the duty) for each American to be able to obtain a weapon without much trouble."
I wonder if The Washington Post ever looks at a European social trend and interviews Americans to denounce how backwards the English or the French are for their laws. Or does the liberal press just aim to design a one-way street of denunciation to the American cavemen who have yet to adopt European laws wholesale?
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center















Comments Policy
Hypocrisy
April 17, 2007 - 08:19 ET by c5thenThey don't mention the crime statistics in England. Not too much gun violence, but knives and swords and clubs are the weapons of "choice". The criminals will use whatever they want. The historical reason for banning the ownership of firearms in Brittain is not to protect the people, but to prevent furhter uprisings against the government.
Freedon Fighters
April 17, 2007 - 08:26 ET by sighkobablEuropean / Liberal Logic:
Americans with Guns = Ignorant Knuckle Dragging Barbarians
Suicide Bombers = Freedom Fighting Holy Men
The template is European: g
April 17, 2007 - 08:38 ET by motherbeltThe template is European: good, American: bad.
Do you think someone will complain about the easy availability of student visas?
And in Britain:
The Home Office, which is in charge of public safety, said gun crime
accounts for less than half a percent of all crime recorded by police,
according to the Press Association.
Was there any mention of how much the incidence of gun crime, including (occupied) home invasions has increased in the past couple of years, since criminals know that no one has guns? There have even been instances in which homeowners were charged and convicted for fighting back when their homes were invaded. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Of all the articles I've se
April 17, 2007 - 11:31 ET by rx4musicOf all the articles I've seen from the foreign press, I found this below to be the only realistic and honest assessment of the situation. This came from a link on Drudge with blurbs from various foreign press...
German daily Bild writes:
"Now we will probably begin discussing the overly lax gun laws in
the United States. There, buying a machine gun is often easier than
getting a driver's license. And a new ban on violent games and killer
videos will also be put back on the agenda. But in the end, nothing is
likely to happen. And the next killer already lives somewhere among us.
But we have little reason to point an accusing finger at the Americans.
Despite strict gun legislation, we (in Germany) have experienced the
school shootings in Erfurt and Emsdetten. We have to consider the
problems in our society. And we have to take care of our fellow humans."
See Drudge for the whole article...
Friends from Australia say that crime has jumped since they banned guns over there. Most of the recent gun crimes there are committed by radical muslims from Indonesia and Southeast Asia (NOT the law abiding masses). Criminals will always find a way. Someone bent on destruction only needs to use his/her imagination. When that fails, they can go and rent a movie for some fresh ideas. Hollywood is always giving us news ideas...
Personally, my idea of gun control is being able to hit your target.
May God, or Vishnu, or Allah, or Budda, or Ganesh, or whoever you pray to bless those who survive and take those who have passed into their loving arms...
As expected, a tragedy involv
April 17, 2007 - 08:38 ET by GalvanicAs expected, a tragedy involving firearms triggers renewed calls for a ban on guns. But we've learned over the past year in the Duke lacrosse "rape" case, the perils of rushing to judgment; many MSMers were stung by inserting presumed stereotypes into a template and coming up with answers before facts were in --- albeit wrong answers.
As I write this, the public doesn't know just how this individual came into possession of the two 9mm handguns and ammo he's reported to have used.
It appears the killer was a Chinese national in the US on a student visa, enrolled at Virginia Tech, and a dormitory resident. Once they trace the weapons by serial number, we'll know more.
Until then, it might behoove the media not to rush into another bogus speculation.
the serial numbers were removed from both guns
April 17, 2007 - 09:09 ET by RJBuried deep in the story, my paper has a short, throwaway line that the serial numbers had been removed from both guns.
If true, that means the guns were almost certainly obtained illegally, and destroys all arguments of the anti "gun ownership" lobby.
you're blatantly ignoring the
April 17, 2007 - 15:33 ET byyou're blatantly ignoring the other 'throwaway line' that mentions he had a receipt.
I can't remember the last time I bought something on the black market and got a receipt.
Zo--you admit it--
April 17, 2007 - 15:36 ET by misterbillZo--you admit it-- "the last time I bought something on the black market ".
You haf been dealing in contraband. You vill be punished.
And (no unusual), the story h
April 17, 2007 - 09:58 ET by GalvanicAnd (not unusual), the story has changed again. The university officials now report that the killer was a named 23 year-old South Korean national residing in the US, enrolled at VaTech, and he appears to have had a "receipt for the gun"(s) (NFI). He apparently left a "disturbing note" in his dorm room after the first killings and before going on the rampage in Norris Hall.
Only a liberal would be stupi
April 17, 2007 - 08:42 ET by Dave ROnly a liberal would be stupid enough to propose that only government should be allowed to legally own firearms.
BTW, they still have shootings in Europe, too, but you don't here very much about them in the MSM, there or here.
Homeland Security is you, at home, with a loaded firearm.
http://www.worldnetdaily.co
April 17, 2007 - 08:48 ET by motherbeltApparently, the gun control thing is not working as well as we think, in Britain at least.
OK, how do I do that thing where you can give the link a name?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35135
motherbelt,First, copy the
April 17, 2007 - 08:55 ET by Dave Rmotherbelt,
First, copy the link to the clipboard then highlight the text you want to be linked, then select the chain that is to the left of the BOLD button, then
insert link into the window.
Homeland Security is you, at home, with a loaded firearm.
Thanks, Dave, I will try th
April 17, 2007 - 14:31 ET by motherbeltThanks, Dave, ....I did it once, then forgot how LOL
Britain and guns
Hey it works!! Thanks again!
Sadly, stereotypes about Americans still prevail worldwide
April 17, 2007 - 08:43 ET by securityAs if to say Amercans are not shocked at the scale of these killings - and to use the term - the United States as a nation obsessed - , as if 270 million diverse people are one big monolith is certainly not an intelligent analysis
Who cares what Eurabia thinks
April 17, 2007 - 08:46 ET by AlgerHissWho cares what Eurabia thinks?
Rochester, Minnesota: A Fem_Leftist City!
Britts
April 17, 2007 - 08:55 ET by cvgbuckeyeIf only the Brits would have spoken up, during the Nazi fire bombing of London, we could have saved SO MANY lives. If we only would have listened to them, we could have passed an international law, banning airplanes, and just look at the hundreds of thousands of lives we could have saved.
Come to think of it, the Twin Towers would also have been saved.
We Americans are such dumba@%es. The world would be such a better place without us.
And as we are learning now,
April 17, 2007 - 09:37 ET by winston smithAnd as we are learning now, maybe some serious restrictions on immigration might have prevented this horror!
I have a 20 year old daughter
April 17, 2007 - 08:52 ET by Subsailor599I have a 20 year old daughter in college, this past weekend we were on her college campus to watch her receive an achademic excellence award. It was also "parents weekend" at the college. The college has 45,000 students and 10,000 faculty and employees. This past weekend there were over 100,000 parents and family on campus. Short of turning a college campus into prison, there is no way to keep a campus totally safe from a crazed gunman. My wife and I are licensed to carry a conceal handgun, but because it is against the law to carry a concealed handgun on a campus we did not bring one with us while we visited our daughter. Fortunately, there has never been an incident on my daughter's college campus.
Even if laws were passed to allow guns on a college campus it would not stop crazed gunmen from shooting people. But it would allow a law-abiding student to pretect themselves and others. That really is the best we can hope for, too bad that libs don't see it that way. Criminals don't abid by the law (that is why they are criminals). So any laws that restrict where you can carry a gun only provides a criminal more opportunity to commit a crime.
"Liberals love America like O.J. loved Nicole."-- Ann Coulter
Carry Here, Carry there...
April 17, 2007 - 10:24 ET by MPayneIf you can carry one place, you should be able to carry anyplace, in my opinion. Until the law changes (I'm not holding my breath), I guess students can carry Tasers, or some sort of non-lethal weapon.
" Courage - a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it. " - William T. Sherman
Are they upset because of thi
April 17, 2007 - 08:53 ET by mikejAre they upset because of this too?
COLUMN: Law school, guns, and a media bias
By James Eaves-Johnson
The Daily Iowan (U. Iowa)
01/24/2002
TODAY’S HEADLINES
01/24/2002
COLUMN: Law school, guns, and a media bias
(U-WIRE) IOWA CITY, Iowa — Last week, a disgruntled student at Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Va., went on a shooting spree. Peter Odighizuwa tragically shot six people, killing Dean Anthony Sutin, Associate Professor Thomas Blackwell, and student Angela Dales.
Most news reports pointed out that the situation ended when several students "confronted," "tackled," or "intervened." However, Tracy Bridges, Ted Besen, Todd Ross, and Mikael Gross did not merely "confront" Odighizuwa. Bridges and Gross separately ran to their cars to get their handguns once the shooting began. Bridges approached Odighizuwa with Besen’s and Ross’ aid. Gross was close behind. According to Bridges, "I aimed my gun at him, and Peter tossed his gun down." Bridges, Besen, and Gross had previously received police or military training.
Unfortunately, the media did not point out that the "intervening" students were armed. A Lexis-Nexis search revealed 88 stories on the topic, of which only two mentioned that either Bridges or Gross were armed. A Westnews search exposed worse results. It revealed 112 stories, of which only two mentioned the armed students.
With media bias like this, it is no wonder that people fail to see the benefits of gun ownership. This was a very public shooting with a lot of media coverage. Even here, reporters rarely presented the positive side of firearms. Instead, they preferred to default to the politically correct story portraying guns as something only the bad guy uses.
Of course, this media bias is not unprecedented. A more thorough Lexis-Nexis search by a Yale researcher revealed 687 articles on the school shooting in Pearl, Miss. Of those, only 19 mentioned that Assistant Principal Joel Myrick retrieved a gun from his car and stopped the shooters four-and-a-half minutes before police arrived.
Few will remember that an armed guard helped many students at Columbine escape and was thwarted only when shooters began using explosives. Fewer still will remember that a restaurant owner who was hosting a school dance for students in Edinboro, Pa., stopped a student shooter 11 minutes before police could arrive.
Our myopic view of guns leads too many of us to believe that if we disarm people, we will be safer. Unfortunately, mandatory disarmament only disarms those who are interested in obeying the law. Laws against gun ownership and possession are ineffective against those who would do us harm.
No one would believe that people in Iowa City don’t smoke marijuana or that underage college students don’t find ways to procure alcohol. Why should we be any more naïve when it comes to rules against firearms?
I was unable to discover Appalachian School of Law’s weapons policy, but if it is like almost every other law school in the country, it probably prohibits students from possessing guns on campus. That is probably why Bridges and Gross did not have their guns on their persons. Imagine what these men might have prevented if they could have responded immediately, guns in hand.
Unfortunately, at the University of Iowa, we are more defenseless. The university prohibits the possession of firearms. At our law school, as on most of the campus, people would be unable to run to their cars to fetch their guns, as the only available nearby parking is on university property.
Even worse, our Public Safety officers would be unable to protect us. Only last week did the state of Iowa Board of Regents decide to arm Public Safety officers with air Tasers. Most Tasers are ineffective at more than 21 feet, and they can be defeated with a heavy coat. The UI officers are trained to use firearms, like ordinary police officers, and they have the authority to do almost everything an Iowa City police officer does.
The university should allow responsible individuals with defensive
One more thing
April 17, 2007 - 09:17 ET by cvgbuckeyeOne more thing: I was listening to WLW in Cincinnati's morning show, this morning. The regular host is this local, liberal guy named Jim. He always has a segment from this ACCLAIMED reporter named Linda Albin, that is based in London. She is an American citizen and like most main stream media, CLAIMS to be unbiased.
Even the liberal Jim had to stand all over her to get her to shut up, this morning. She went on this giant tirade about what it was going to take to convince the NIAVE Americans that their liberal gun laws are the cause of all this. She went on to say that THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION IS A "LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT" and it is intended to be changed for things like this!!!!!!!
Now there is a great example of fair and balanced, isn't it! She's right where she ought to be; in England, with the rest of those left wing cowards in Europe that we've had to defend in the last 100 years.
Lets see now; let me get this straight:
1.Radical Islam is intent on storming our society in our cities, workplaces and homes and killing ALL of us.
2. Gangs and thugs have not only taken over our inner cities, they are now invading our suburban shopping areas and homes and are beating and killing at will.
3. The left has decided to criminalize Conservatism and Free Speech by our leadership and have us fired, disgraced and eventually jailed.
4. Our schools are being subjected to slaughter by evil forces.
5. Christianity is again being persecuted and will be criminalized directly after Conservatism.
THE SMART THING TO DO NOW: GIVE UP ALL OUR GUNS!
I wonder (and doubt...) if
April 17, 2007 - 09:25 ET by sarcasmoI wonder (and doubt...) if European media are reporting at all on VA Tech's anti-gun expulsion rule for students?
JMR
Isn't the real question, &q
April 17, 2007 - 08:58 ET by sarcasmoIsn't the real question, "what price grabbing guns away from peaceful, nonviolent people?" (Yes, lots of people need to click and spread-around that URL, today please!)
JMR
If our guns were taken, how
April 17, 2007 - 15:24 ET by JDWIf our guns were taken, how would the dems change secret service protection?
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
If you are going to whine about spelling... get a life
Gun control
April 17, 2007 - 09:16 ET by ts88Well I'm all for gun control, I use two hands. Pat
I hear ya pat, but it seems
April 17, 2007 - 09:18 ET by MightyMouthI hear ya pat, but it seems now days you need two guns!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Not a problem here, MM.Save a
April 17, 2007 - 09:59 ET by bassndudeNot a problem here, MM.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Not suprised bass, you prob
April 17, 2007 - 10:20 ET by MightyMouthNot suprised bass, you probably have extra ammo under the seat of your bass boat! :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
MM...glove compartment.:-)Sav
April 17, 2007 - 10:29 ET by bassndudeMM...glove compartment.:-)
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
I read this quote somewhere:
April 17, 2007 - 10:27 ET by MPayneI read this quote somewhere: "I'll use my pistol to fight my way to my rifle." Seems appropiate nowadays.
" Courage - a perfect sensibility of the measure of danger, and a mental willingness to endure it. " - William T. Sherman
Yes, I'd like a pound of smok
April 17, 2007 - 09:19 ET by rightsideYes, I'd like a pound of smoked ham, thinly sliced, and a H&K G36E please.
I'm wondering which supermarket (or any store for that matter) sells automatic weapons?
Typical Euroweenie.
My condolences to the victims and their families.
Another take
April 17, 2007 - 09:38 ET by Wineguy13The Euro-Weenies sadly got it wrong. MORE GUNS WOULD HAVE HELPED. The sad truth is that some of these people at VT should have been carrying firearms, concealed or not. As is so often the case, most people see this case as a case of an armed person causing havoc. Another armed person could have caused this incident to be less deadly.
What we see here is the resul
April 17, 2007 - 10:06 ET by bassndudeWhat we see here is the results of a "Gun Free Zone", such as VT had. Had everyone been required to carry at least one fire arm, how many would be dead today? One or two? I can state with confidence it would not be 32 victims.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
The MSM seemingly went int
April 17, 2007 - 10:31 ET by kathleenirishThe MSM seemingly went into a black hole of silence after the Utah mall shooting incident, if I recall. Two reasons, perhaps? One, the rampage was STOPPED by an off-duty police officer who used his gun on the killer, and two, the shooter was a Bosnian Muslim. Doesn't fit their agenda/profile of lazy reporting and elitist pontificating so they quickly moved on.
I am truly sick of holier-than-thou Europeans pontificating about America. They will still be turning their condescending and hypocritical noses up at us as their heads are rolling as the Islamists complete their jihad. They don't seem to worry about what Americans think of their lack of justice for victims of violence there or their socialistic, bureaucratically bloated-heads-in-the-sand-terrorist-appeaser-wimped-out-broken-down-rotting-from-within-but-propped-up-by-government-welfare states!!! Who cares what the elites think? Only if we want to do the exact opposite of what, say, France, decides to do. God, they are rich.
The murderer was a foreign student from Korea. Any calls for examining the number of foreign student visas given out? How about the fact he was male? Shouldn't we get rid of males? Isn't that the logic the anti-gun folks are using?
How about more psychological profiles? More calling in of "suspicious behavior"? Oh, no, can't go there, although you know they want to. Can't go there because they took the side of the Flying Imams who were trying to sue the passengers who reported their behavior to the authorities. Racial profiling bigots!!! Do you want more government control and surveillance or not, MSM? only when it comes to certain people or groups, and not others, right? like the NRA, maybe?
You just knew they were going to rush, rush, rush to the anti-gun, anti-American "gun culture" by-line.
" 'Fred's Slacks' is a winner!!"
What's the story? Was he Ko
April 17, 2007 - 10:46 ET by kathleenirishWhat's the story? Was he Korean or Chinese? How could the media get it mixed-up? They are always right!!!
" 'Fred's Slacks' is a winner!!"
kathleenirish,You are exactly
April 17, 2007 - 12:15 ET by Svenkathleenirish,
You are exactly correct...I loved both of your posts!
What's the story? Was he Korean or Chinese?
Hmmm, seems the MSM think all Far Easterners look alike. But they never stereotype! Hypocrits!
Heston to blame!
April 17, 2007 - 10:11 ET by bigtimerMorning Comic Strip...
I have been laughing since I read this early with my morning coffee...what a hoot! http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,477686,00.html
May as well throw this in too for another chuckle or two....http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18133506
Thanks for the links BT.
April 17, 2007 - 10:58 ET by kathleenirishThanks for the links BT. Yeah, by changing a word or two, we can slow or stop the number of terrorist attacks, Brits' MSM? Sounds more like, you're still peeing your pants worrying about how you can better appease the terrorists. Keep trying, I'm sure it'll work eventually. You think you're that much smarter than a terrorist, wow. NOT now, NOT ever. Gobshites!!
As Margaret Thatcher said once, "They're as weak as water!"
Pretty pathetic isn't it Kath
April 17, 2007 - 11:12 ET by bigtimerPretty pathetic isn't it Kath?
I looked quite a few places this morning for a bit of news I heard about Robert Gates asking the EU to quit critizing the US all the time about this war and aiding the enemy that way by making other countries that are helping us back down.
Makes me furious.
Looks like a lot of people
April 17, 2007 - 12:08 ET by rx4musicLooks like a lot of people found that link at spiegel.de!! (I get a late start here on CA. time...) Considering the tone of the other articles, I'm suprised they added the German's view..
So you are saying that I can
April 17, 2007 - 10:35 ET by King of the BritonsSo you are saying that I can go to the grocery store and get bologna AND guns? Sweet!!!
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!´´
--Patrick Henry
Sweet is right. Wish they w
April 17, 2007 - 11:36 ET by Independence4AllSweet is right. Wish they would tell me where this place is. I'd love to get a full auto to go with with my SKS. Wonder if they offer a "buy one get one free" deal if I spend at least $20 on groceries.
Mass Murder
April 17, 2007 - 10:47 ET by allanfNote to MSM:
A gun is not a necessary tool for someone bent on mass murder.
Guns were absent is some of the largest t mass killings in the US. For example 87 people died in the Happy Land Arson in New York City caused by an angry and druken man, Julio Gonzalez. Needless to say, over three thousand died on 9/11 without a single shot being fired.
In China, where guns are hard to come a man killed eight people with an axe..
a million and a half people,
April 17, 2007 - 10:53 ET by kathleenirisha million and a half people, at least, were exterminated in Rwanda in 1994 primarily by machete.
" 'Fred's Slacks' is a winner!!"
One guy even figured out ho
April 17, 2007 - 12:41 ET by rx4musicOne guy even figured out how to use fertilizer to his benefit...
"I used to be disgusted, but now, I try to be amused..."- E. Costello
The headline was "Shock,
April 17, 2007 - 11:24 ET by MidAmericaThe headline was "Shock, Sympathy, And Denunciation Of U.S. Gun Laws: British Newspaper Asks, 'What Price the Right to Bear Arms?'"
Yes we have gun violence.
But in Europe the prefered method of attack is by bombs. Bombs have gone off over much of Europe for decades. The 2005 London transit bombings killed 37 and injured 700.
So are bombs legal in Europe? Because if they are illegal I don't know why anyone would use them. It would be against the law.
I've owned firearms for over
April 17, 2007 - 11:48 ET by ahusserI've owned firearms for over 30 years. I have never got up in the morning and looked the weapon and said let's go and see how many innocent people we can kill no matter how bad I felt. The argument will again focus on the "Gun" rather than the peculiar American way of dealing with life's little disappointments by the mass slaughter of innocent people and the worm-brained individuals that are responsible. The gun is an efficient tool to do the job these wack jobs want to do. But I chalk up the real reason behind these continuing episodes of mass slaughter as an extremely permissive society condoning almost any type of behavior, extreme self-absorption, extreme narcissism breeding a malignant form of selfishness. Add victimology brought to a high art, where others are always responsible for one's shortcomings and disappointments and any other adverse event's in one's life. The result is a warped sense of revenge and hatred culminating in extreme violence.
Well said.
April 17, 2007 - 12:09 ET by Independence4AllWell said.
...yes, I believe this is Bil
April 17, 2007 - 12:49 ET by TruthMonger...yes, I believe this is Bill Maher's religion that you speak of...
Well, one thing for sure now.
April 17, 2007 - 12:50 ET by bassndudeWell, one thing for sure now. He will not go to prision, serve 2 or 3 life terms, concurrently and be out in 15 years. That is what the result would have been had he been caught. And the Va tax payers would have been stuck with the psych bill.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
The title of the counter to t
April 17, 2007 - 13:25 ET by King of the BritonsThe title of the counter to this tripe from over there should be "Safety - At What Cost?" That there is a certain risk of being free and allowing others to be free cannot be denied. However, the cost of a perceived safety is too steep for those who love liberty. I believe Pat H. said it as eloquently and powerfully as it can be said, below.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!´´
--Patrick Henry
European Press Are Idiots
April 17, 2007 - 14:46 ET by emjem24My heart goes out to the victims and their families of this terrible tragedy. I couldn't help but cry at the loss of life of those just beginning theirs. What makes me even more heartsick are the inevitable calls of blame, more gun control laws, and second-guessing. We all need to stand down while the police and the FBI finish their investigation. I find it just as amazing that there are European and American press and politicians as well as the Columbine parents who will use the VT massacre as a call for more gun control. What I have to tell these people is this: more gun control will not solve future incidents like this. Learning how to profile and identify those who may be psychologically troubled and looking to end their pain through murder and suicide is. As a gun owner myself, people who pull the trigger are the problem not the gun. Most gun owners are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who would never hurt anybody except in self-defense if they felt their lives were in danger. What galls me the most is that many who don't support the second amendment in the first place or have a political/cultural agenda will try to deny that right to their fellow citizens. Instead of knee-jerk reactions, let's remember those who died and get at what caused the massacre in the first place. Europe has its own problems to solve so they need to sort out their own houses before judging a country they've never supported and take for granted when they do.
The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer. Air Force Motto
emjem says: When your brain's stuck on liberalism it self-destructs.
simple retort: you can't sh
April 17, 2007 - 14:49 ET bysimple retort: you can't shoot a gun if you don't have one...
This guy was able to buy his guns legally. Without legal options, chances are he would have never obtained a gun and would have never had the opportunity to kill 32 innocent people.
It's so cut and dry it's almost ridiculous.
You realize you just made t
April 17, 2007 - 14:54 ET by MightyMouthYou realize you just made the best point possible for legal gun ownership. Without legal options, only criminals will have guns.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
NRA Kool Aid.I'm yet to see a
April 17, 2007 - 14:57 ET byNRA Kool Aid.
I'm yet to see any cold hard stats on this blog concerning the gun-related crime rates in countries with strict gun control.
When you can show me that increased gun control leads to more gun-related crime than I might listen to your argument.
Tantalus --- rubbing eyes,
April 17, 2007 - 15:05 ET by RDWTantalus --- rubbing eyes, “Crap the medicine is starting to ware off, “SHUT UP 7MS!"
7MS--- “Shut up Tantalus--- Shut up Tantalus--- This is Syg stupid get it straight crap brain”
Tantalus --- (What did you call me?)
Syg/7MS ---(What did you call me?)
"I'm yet to see any co
April 17, 2007 - 15:06 ET by MightyMouth"I'm yet to see any cold hard stats on this blog concerning the gun-related crime rates in countries with strict gun control."
Those countries don't have a second amendment to their constitutions. So there, whiney pants.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Ah yes an outdated amendment
April 17, 2007 - 15:10 ET byAh yes an outdated amendment that was extremely important 200 years ago when we needed militias and lived off hunting for our food.
Please address my point. Show me stats that indicate a rise in gun-related violence when guns are banned or limited. This is the crux of your 'criminals will be the only ones with guns then' argument.
Back it up.
No, big mouth, YOU back it up.
April 17, 2007 - 15:15 ET by RJNo, hotshot, YOU back it up. The stats have been presented on this blog many times in the past. If you need them, check the archives. If you want to make an argument, present your own facts.
RJ..It will not matter how ma
April 17, 2007 - 15:20 ET by bigtimerRJ..
It will not matter how many links anyone sends this troll, he will just eat them.
Check out Englands crime stat
April 17, 2007 - 15:19 ET by bassndudeCheck out Englands crime stats sence they outlawed guns. Seems now that guns are outlawed it is easier than ever to own an Uzi in London.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Ok I've seen this tired line
April 17, 2007 - 15:27 ET byOk I've seen this tired line before, I'm simply saying it would be nice if somebody actually had some stats to back it up.
To this point, there have been none. I've searched the archive and I see nothing.
Please show me some sort of empirical data that demonstrates since strict gun control it's easier to get guns in london.
Anything will do, I'll even accept a tabloid magazine, just something to show that there is actually a source for this unfounded nonsense.
Hater, we know from experience that all you do is talk
April 17, 2007 - 15:57 ET by RJHater, we know from experience that all you do is talk and make accusations. You don't provide backup, but you demand it of others and ignore it when it's provided.
Of course you're lying when you say you've searched thearchives, because that's not something you do. Frankly, whether or not you accept that strict gun control has negative effects is of no concern to me.....any more than would a Howler Monkey throwing things from his tree......
RJ, I don't think syg is ha
April 17, 2007 - 16:03 ET by MightyMouthRJ, I don't think syg is hater. It's wose then that, he's a Kanadian! Do you realize how many illegal guns there are in Kanada?
And he will say "that's because they come across from the US"!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
MM,Oh no, not another border
April 17, 2007 - 16:06 ET by bigtimerMM,
Oh no, not another border issue!
You could be right, could be I Am Candida, haven't seen him for awhile, same difference anyway, once a troll always a troll...lol!
A Canadian?Man, who let him
April 17, 2007 - 16:11 ET by Dave RA Canadian?
Man, who let him in here?
Hey, ahh, Syggie, if your real name is not Geddy, Alex or Neil, then go away, as those three guys are the only three people to have ever come out of that painfully boring country who have ever amounted to anything.
And Neil is now living in LA.
So there.
Homeland Security is you, at home, with a loaded firearm.
Jack Bauer is Canadian
April 17, 2007 - 22:32 ET by shawn228The hero of many conservatives is Canadian "Jack Bauer" or at least the person that plays him is Canadian.
Conservatives know the difference
April 17, 2007 - 23:28 ET by RJThat's a liberal comment. It's a TV show not reality. Conservatives know the difference. ;^>
My money's on hater
April 17, 2007 - 16:13 ET by RJI see that Syg is a buddie of I Am Canadian, but my money's on hater. Too many similarities in writing, syntax, posting style, attitude, etc.
Thats why I posted as such fi
April 17, 2007 - 16:18 ET by bigtimerThats why I posted as such first, the only other one that really comes close for me is little jimmy as I called him...better known as St. James or some such BS...lol!
Both here at the same time and just as bad as the other...both on SFN.
Syggie
April 17, 2007 - 16:01 ET by bigtimerTruth Monger just put a whole list out there for you to see on his post Syggie...
Try reading them...wikipedia no less...lol!
Syggie,If you want to live
April 17, 2007 - 15:41 ET by Dave RSyggie,
If you want to live in a country in which the only people that are allowed to have guns is the government, then I suggest you consider Cuba, China, North Korea or some other suitable location.
As for militias, at the time the Constitution was written, militias were not under government control. They were under civilian control. That is a very important fact many people overlook.
Stop coming in here and telling us the tired old liberal lie that you guys are concerned about innocent life. BULLSHIT! Any political philsophy that allows for the outright murder of unborn children does not give a rat's ass about innocent people.
The real reason you of the leftward pursuasion support gun control is to get guns out of the hands of those of us who will resist your your ilk's headlong rush into a Marxist/Leninist socialist government.
Ever notice how the people who support gun control are the very same people that support socialism?
We certainly have.
Finally, exactly which part of The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed do you freedom-hating liberals not understand? Notice carefully the word militia is not to be found anywhere in that statement.
As for your idols over in Eurabia, I'm guessing, as the Islamic takeover of that continent edges ever closer to reality, many of the more freedom-minded people there are going to begin re-thinking their gun laws, particularly if they do not wish to be forced to pray toward Mecca five times a day.
Homeland Security is you, at home, with a loaded firearm.
So, according to your logic,
April 17, 2007 - 22:26 ET by UnsaneSo, according to your logic, Switzerland (where gun ownership is REQUIRED of all able-bodied males) should be in total anarchy, yet crime there is virtually unknown. Nor is street crime common in Israel. Contrast that to Washington, DC, or New York. Why is that?
And why is it you Leftists, with your extreme concern for civil liberties, do everything in your power to ignore the 2nd Amendment?
"HAV3 TH3 BRIDG3S OF INSANITY B33N CROSS3D AND FOR3V3R R3TRACT3D???." - Meshuggah, "3ntrapm3nt", from Catch Thirty Thr33 (2005)
Thanks once again MM...(sigh.
April 17, 2007 - 14:58 ET by bigtimerThanks once again MM...
(sigh...not another one)
I just didn't feel like replying, knew someone else would.
bigtimer, have you enjoyed yo
April 17, 2007 - 15:00 ET bybigtimer, have you enjoyed your time spent exploiting this tragedy to push your armed populace argument?
I hope so. Might as well profit personally off of the death of others right?
Hi hater.
April 17, 2007 - 15:03 ET by bigtimerHi hater.
bigtimers not going to prof
April 17, 2007 - 15:04 ET by MightyMouthbigtimers not going to profit nearly as much as the trial lawers and MSM after this mess is all said and done!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Hater, it's YOU who are attempting to exploit
April 17, 2007 - 15:10 ET by RJHater, you're pushing a false argument...but that's not surprising.
I've seen no "exploiting" and very little "pushing" for an "armed populace." The vast majority of the posts today have been directed at preventing leftists like you taking advantage of this tragedy and pushing a lessening of our gun rights.
It's clearly YOU who are attempting to exploit. That you do it under a made up argument tells much about you.
I simply responded to a post.
April 17, 2007 - 15:20 ET byI simply responded to a post. I haven't exploited anything.
Vast majority of the posts have been directed at preventing leftists from taking advantage?
I guess you missed the entire thread (over 100 posts) where people said this wouldn't have happened had the students been allowed to be armed.
Isn't that the same as saying this couldnt' have happened if we had stricter gun control.
Classic Newsbusters tactic...accuse the other side of a behavior while engaging in said behavior.
PS i have searched the archives and I'm yet to find one link to any stats. If you know where they are I'd appreciate your help in finding them
Of course you are, hater. Y
April 17, 2007 - 15:31 ET by RJOf course you are, hater. You're attempting to exploit because you've set up a false (lying) premise. Defenders of gun rights describe what a better circumstance would be, not demand that VA loosen it's gun laws.
Funny, hater, that you jump in here, accusing others of what you are doing, and then when challenged you simply throw the same challenge back.
As for the archives, you're on your own. I'm not your researcher.
That's fine. There are no s
April 17, 2007 - 15:36 ET byThat's fine. There are no stats posted on this site as I suspected.
Probably because there are NO stats in existence that show a rise in gun-related crime in response to tighter gun control measures.
Syg, you not looking, are you