Gun rights, reform groups to meet Texas governor after school shooting

[webfact]

Gun rights, reform groups to meet Texas governor after school shooting

By Jon Herskovitz

 

Members of the Houston Texans organization pay their respects at a makeshift memorial left in memory of the victims killed in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, U.S., May 23, 2018. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

 

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Two groups at opposite ends of the gun debate were set to meet Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday to look for solutions days after a shooter killed 10 people in a Houston-area high school.

 

Abbott invited representatives from the Texas State Rifle Association, which says it protects the lawful use of firearms, and Texas Gun Sense, which says it wants reforms to protect the public, to join him in state capital Austin, according to various media outlets.

 

A group of experts are also expected to take part in the discussions, which will be second of three roundtables that the governor said would focus on mental health issues and the causes of gun violence.

 

Abbott - a Republican and staunch gun rights supporter - has said that any changes to state laws would "protect Second Amendment rights" - part of the U.S. Constitution that enshrines the right to bear arms.

 

Teenager Dimitrios Pagourtzis has been accused of killing eight students and two teachers during a rampage at Santa Fe High School on Friday - the fourth-deadliest shooting at a U.S. public school in modern history.

 

At the first meeting on Tuesday, participants proposed expanding school safety training programs, bolstering threat assessment systems and expanding a pilot program designed to screen for students who might be a threat to themselves or others.

 

Abbot said he wanted those ideas enacted quickly.

 

Gun rights proponents say the Second Amendment prohibits regulations on gun ownership and that enforcement of existing laws should be sufficient to stop violent incidents like the one in Santa Fe.

 

Gun control groups point to the regular toll of shootings across the United States as evidence that more needs to be done to rein in the proliferation of weapons.

 

In contrast to Florida, where the killing of 17 teens and educators in February sparked a youth-led movement calling for new restrictions on gun ownership, the Texas tragedy saw elected officials and survivors alike voicing support for gun rights.

 

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-05-24

[Get Real]

Oh the US here and the US there. Oh, why does this happens to us? How can it be so bad? The answer is simple! The population in USA must on a percentual level be considered more cpable og evil and sick behaviour. It is also a kind of people in the world that can´t accept that it needs to reform it´s gun law. Oh, no we can not do that, because we have such a strong gun lobby???
Are we talking about people or mice? What is most worth and important. protecting and shielding human lives, or be the one that freely and stupidly just giving every person around a gun in their hand to do as they please with. The constitution and laws in this country is a joke regarding modern knowledge on critical points in society. To cenment these statements with a chemical anchor, just read the fact based information below.

 

The sad fact for the country that tries to be the world leader and big brother, is that they actually can´t deal with their own country. Read this as a bit of history, before the big sledge hammer his down on the sick and evil behaviour of a country with only about 315 million people.

One little shiny day in 1764 on the 26th of July marked the first historic school shooting that is recorded. Of course that was in the USA. Here it was the Lenape American Indians that went in to a school in Pennsylvania. They shot and scalped the headmaster and 9-10 of the children. After that it has just continued, and USA still thinks they have a face in the world. Yes, they have. A very sad face.

After that we can take a look at the modern history regarding school shootings between the years 2000-2010. Here can we stack up 36 countries with a population of totally 3,8 billion people, against USA standing alone with only about 310 million. The sad fact is that USA only lose with one school shooting against the other 36 countries combined. During the period between 2000-2010 a staggering amount of 27 school shooting were made in USA, and all the other 36 countries had a total of 28 which then is only one more.

When taking the population into fact regarding this fact based experiment, it will show a very sad picture releted to the population in USA. The fact clearly states that the population in USA is 10 times more psychotic, instable and crazy than the rest of the world.

This is the people that thinks, wants and belive that the rest of the world should lisyen to them and learn from what they know and can. They are the one that see themselfs as a big brother, that shall oversee everything that happens in the world. That when they can´t even take care of their own boiling sickness in their own country, that is according to mentioned statistics 10 times higher. That is also when combining 36 countries. If you would measur country to country, you would see an even darker story.

[DM07]

Sooooo...will they discuss doors and exits, Marilyn Manson's last album, trench- coats, GTA...or will they ACTUALLY talk about guns?

[Jonnapat]

2 hours ago, Get Real said:

Oh the US here and the US there. Oh, why does this happens to us? How can it be so bad? The answer is simple! The population in USA must on a percentual level be considered more cpable og evil and sick behaviour. It is also a kind of people in the world that can´t accept that it needs to reform it´s gun law. Oh, no we can not do that, because we have such a strong gun lobby???
Are we talking about people or mice? What is most worth and important. protecting and shielding human lives, or be the one that freely and stupidly just giving every person around a gun in their hand to do as they please with. The constitution and laws in this country is a joke regarding modern knowledge on critical points in society. To cenment these statements with a chemical anchor, just read the fact based information below.

 

The sad fact for the country that tries to be the world leader and big brother, is that they actually can´t deal with their own country. Read this as a bit of history, before the big sledge hammer his down on the sick and evil behaviour of a country with only about 315 million people.

One little shiny day in 1764 on the 26th of July marked the first historic school shooting that is recorded. Of course that was in the USA. Here it was the Lenape American Indians that went in to a school in Pennsylvania. They shot and scalped the headmaster and 9-10 of the children. After that it has just continued, and USA still thinks they have a face in the world. Yes, they have. A very sad face.

After that we can take a look at the modern history regarding school shootings between the years 2000-2010. Here can we stack up 36 countries with a population of totally 3,8 billion people, against USA standing alone with only about 310 million. The sad fact is that USA only lose with one school shooting against the other 36 countries combined. During the period between 2000-2010 a staggering amount of 27 school shooting were made in USA, and all the other 36 countries had a total of 28 which then is only one more.

When taking the population into fact regarding this fact based experiment, it will show a very sad picture releted to the population in USA. The fact clearly states that the population in USA is 10 times more psychotic, instable and crazy than the rest of the world.

This is the people that thinks, wants and belive that the rest of the world should lisyen to them and learn from what they know and can. They are the one that see themselfs as a big brother, that shall oversee everything that happens in the world. That when they can´t even take care of their own boiling sickness in their own country, that is according to mentioned statistics 10 times higher. That is also when combining 36 countries. If you would measur country to country, you would see an even darker story.

38,000 killed by firearms in the USA last year, enough said.

Except that guns are like toys to many. 

[riclag]

Talk about how to secure the facility ! How to make a soft target , "impenetrable".

[attrayant]

11 minutes ago, riclag said:

Talk about how to secure the facility ! How to make a soft target , "impenetrable".

 

Including hospitals, cafeterias, shopping malls, day care centers, concerts, night clubs, amusement parks, playgrounds retirement homes, wedding ceremonies and hundreds more.  Is that what you're suggesting?  Building bullet-proof walls topped with razor wire around every place that could conceivably become a target of domestic gun terrorism?

[riclag]

16 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

Including hospitals, cafeterias, shopping malls, day care centers, concerts, night clubs, amusement parks, playgrounds retirement homes, wedding ceremonies and hundreds more.  Is that what you're suggesting?  Building bullet-proof walls topped with razor wire around every place that could conceivably become a target of domestic gun terrorism?

  Facilities such as Hospitals ,Shopping malls,concerts,night clubs,amusement parks all have security, guarded and  perimeter deterrents . I'm more concerned about protecting schools.  Nobody talks about security for the facility

[Credo]

I am all for sensible legislation on gun control, but with schools we have to be aware that it is one part of the problem, a big part, but still only one part.   School shootings have become a teen right-of-passage type of phenomenon.   

 

Years ago, pretty much anyone could walk into a school, go get their child and take them home.   Not any more.   You have to authorized, ID checked etc..   That was in response to a rise in divorce and an unauthorized parent kidnapping their children.   It also was in response to pedophiles and sexual abusers.

 

Today, we have the problem of school shootings and weapons, so security at the schools is a paramount concern.   Regardless of gun legislation, the massive number of guns out there will be a problem for a long time.   

 

In all honesty, the only thing that I can see that will work is metal detectors and guards.   Even then, it might not work well.   There are too many other ways to get a weapon into the school.    Also, the people doing the shooting are intimately aware of the school, the schedules and the personnel.    It's a little like a bank robber robbing his own bank.   

 

So, yes, let's consider gun regulation on a broader scale, but we still have an immediate problem to tackle.   

[attrayant]

9 hours ago, Credo said:

In all honesty, the only thing that I can see that will work is metal detectors and guards.

 

That creates a long line of kids waiting to be scanned (think of airport security).  That would be a nice, soft target.

[Chomper Higgot]

23 hours ago, riclag said:

  Facilities such as Hospitals ,Shopping malls,concerts,night clubs,amusement parks all have security, guarded and  perimeter deterrents . I'm more concerned about protecting schools.  Nobody talks about security for the facility

Next time you’re in the US take some time to look at the security guards wallowing around were ever it is they are tasked with protecting.

 

You might believe they are keeping you safe but you’d be blind to reality if you did.

[Rigby40]

How about we start talking about the root of the issue? Weak fathers or lack of father in the household.

[attrayant]

2 hours ago, Rigby40 said:

How about we start talking about the root of the issue? Weak fathers or lack of father in the household.

 

Supposing, just for the sake of argument, that this is the root of the issue.  What do you suggest we do about it?  Is there a legislative solution to the problem of having a "weak father"?

[Rigby40]

Just now, attrayant said:

 

Supposing, just for the sake of argument, that this is the root of the issue.  What do you suggest we do about it?  Is there a legislative solution to the problem of having a "weak father"?

No amount of legislation can cure the problem of weak men.

The problem is dealt with in the home first and foremost. And there is plenty we can do to fix the problem!

[fakename]

Yes, block all the exits, then someone will burn the school down. Why does anyone think schools have many exits, fire safety, earth quake safety. Block the exits, and it would be a perfect target for a shooter. 

How bout lets study mental health, how about some long studies, that will take forever, BUT dont take the guns away! 

Now the countrys number one nut, is trying to fight wars with every country in the world, a perfect example of American mentality! 

 

Our thoughts and prayers BS, are not going to help anything! 

[riclag]

37 minutes ago, fakename said:

Yes, block all the exits, then someone will burn the school down. Why does anyone think schools have many exits, fire safety, earth quake safety. Block the exits, and it would be a perfect target for a shooter. 

How bout lets study mental health, how about some long studies, that will take forever, BUT dont take the guns away! 

Now the countrys number one nut, is trying to fight wars with every country in the world, a perfect example of American mentality! 

 

Our thoughts and prayers BS, are not going to help anything! 

Have you heard of blocking entrance doors,while these same doors can be accessed to exit.In the mean time nothing is being done to protect the schools. No administration has addressed the issue. Maybe we should put bank branches or sub police stations in the schools. We protect the money and the police are already setup

[attrayant]

2 hours ago, Rigby40 said:

And there is plenty we can do to fix the problem!

 

Do I need to subscribe to your newsletter to find out what they are?  Why not list a few here?

[attrayant]

1 hour ago, riclag said:

Have you heard of blocking entrance doors, while these same doors can be accessed to exit.

 

Sure I remember that.  Just like movie theaters did when I was a teenager.  One of us bought a ticket, got into the theater and then opened the exit door for the rest of us to sneak in for free.  I'm hoping the statute of limitations has expired by now.

 

1 hour ago, riclag said:

In the mean time nothing is being done to protect the schools. No administration has addressed the issue. Maybe we should put bank branches or sub police stations in the schools. We protect the money and the police are already setup

 

The administration? Schooling is a state-level matter, unless you think domestic terrorists might start crossing state lines to shoot up schools.  Either of two things needs to happen:

 

1. If the constitution is to be amended, then congress should act.  The current congress isn't going to do anything, since they're loath to even allow the problem to be studied with federal dollars.

 

2. Anything else such as your, uh, interesting ideas about banks and police substations, happens at the state level.  That will be mostly ineffective, as we have seen states can't do much but implement toothless "gun-free zones".  If they try to do anything more than that, the NRA takes them to court for violating American's second amendment rights to shoot up schools.

 

The administration could be more outspoken, such as when Trump said he likes the idea of taking guns away without due process.  The ATF has a bump stock ban in the pipeline, which is currently open for public comment.  So far, more than 99% of the comments are against the ban (in favor of keeping bump stock legal).

 

The only positive thing I see happening is young people becoming more and more motivated and hopefully voting out the fossils in congress.

[Lacessit]

To the rest of the civilized world, America's gun laws ( or lack of them ) are egregiously absurd and a glaring blind spot in the national psyche. What other nation would permit the slaughter of their schoolchildren to protect an outmoded article of their constitution?

[Rigby40]

21 hours ago, attrayant said:

 

Do I need to subscribe to your newsletter to find out what they are?  Why not list a few here?

It was my bedtime.

 

For starters women can stop choosing weak men to reproduce with.

Secondly, we can stop feminizing(weakening) men as that only results in anger and resentment and a weakening of the family from the top down. The vast majority of these shooters either don't have a father or their father is weak, so these kids become emotional due to primarily being raised by the mother, identifying with her instead of the father.

 

It's a terrible cycle that we keep repeating. Women with bad fathers and unresolved daddy issues seek weak men, they have kids and the cycle continues.

We see it everywhere, but very few people seem to really care. Amazin'!

Edited May 26, 2018 by Rigby40

[fakename]

Attrayant, we must have went to the same theater, We all did the same thing, and got in free! I was going to comment on that, but you beat me to it!