This might be the one!!

[rocfish13]

As our prayers and thoughts go to the people in Newton, we as Americans, must also turn our attention to what has come about. I have noticed that the anti-gun sentiment, especially assualt rifles, has really increased.  My question is how this certified nut(was on mental medication), came about getting these weapons.  Something has to change.    Gary 

[ghost5]

Simple he stole them after being denied by the gun laws in place. But "assault rifles" aren't for sale to the general public in the local gun shop. That would be a class III weapon. AR does not stand for assault rifle but was the name of the company that came up with the design, Armalite Rifle. Just because a rifle looks like a military weapon does not turn it into one. You can take a Ruger 10/22 and in a few minutes for not much money make it look like some military weapon. Still not an assault rifle just the same gun I learned to squirrel hunt with but with different clothes.

[lonnielou688]

Gary, I was wondering the last few days which forum member would be the first to bring up this sensitive subject, and I for one are glad you had the gonads to do so. This is such a sensitive subject that I truely expected that NO-ONE would even breach the subject. After our private conversation this morning, I told you it would be something to ponder all day, and thats what I did, and when I got home, I looked up hunting regs in states like N.Carolina. ,Virginia, South Carolina. GA. West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio and Colorado and Wisconsin.  I ts easy for me to sit here in PA. and say that the hunting world has no need for firearms like that in the deer woods or pheasant fields, but I also will tell you that I'm ignorant when it comes to hunting in other states, I've only ever hunted once outside PA.'s border, and that was a turkey hunt in New York for 3 days. I was really amazed at the VERY different regs each state has concerning sporting arms, and even the definitions of such arms. Each and every state has its own rules and no two seemed to be alike. For instance in Delaware, if I read it correctly, I cant use any rifle for deer hunting, but it is legal to shoot woodchucks with one. Now, think about that, I can shoot 300-4oo , perhaps even 500 yards at a chuck, but can't shoot 35 yards at a deer directly under my tree stand. AND, I must point out that i'm not busting on Delaware, its just an oddity that I noticed. Now with all that said, I'm wondering still how the feds will enforce these "rules" when the hunting regs vary so greatly from state to state, and even in one state, from county to county and WMA TO WMA ??  You fellas that like hunting with the AR'S, that great and I wouldn't stand in your way. Thats how you learned to hunt and that also is greatAND i dont or wont change your traditions and culture, thats up to you and yours to decide that.  Also talking with a co-worker today, he kinda compared it to cars and their motors, why have a car with an engine that can go 140 MPH, And the fastest speed we can travel around here is 70 MPH ? AND , kids steal their parents cars all the time and go for joy rides, sometimes doing the full 140 MPH CAUSE THEY DONT UNDERSTAND, the full ramafications of their actions. I'm still on the fence and I'm not sure how I feel yet, but actions like this give us all a black eye in the publics view, and rest assured, the eyes of the world are on us, so we need to watch how we walk, how straight we stand, and how our words are interperated, we as responsble gun owners can't afford to mess this up . LOCK YOUR GUNS, STORE YOUR AMMO SEPERATE and instruct others in your home about responsible gun handling, your life AND MINE  depends on it, Lonnie

[GR8CALLS]

 The military has been trying for years to come up w/ a better round than the .223 (5.56) According to their findings the 223 isn't lethal beyond 300 meters. The main reason our military still uses the 223, is because of the ability of a soldier, to carry a larger amount of ammo on his person. In my state (VA) the 223 isn't legal to hunt deer w/, but in WVA any "center fire" of 22 caliber or larger is legal for deer.
 My position is simple (may be, to simple), I have never had one of my guns (of any design) run off and go on a shooting spree! The Dallas Cowboys just had one of their players killed in a drunk driving accident. He was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a team mate who was drunk!. No one has come out to cars, just the opposite, they are seeking legal action against the driver of the car! Individuals need to be held responsible for their actions.......no matter what they are!

Bill

[turkey stew]

The military has been trying for years to come up w/ a better round than the .223 (5.56) According to their findings the 223 isn't lethal beyond 300 meters. The main reason our military still uses the 223, is because of the ability of a soldier, to carry a larger amount of ammo on his person. In my state (VA) the 223 isn't legal to hunt deer w/, but in WVA any "center fire" of 22 caliber or larger is legal for deer.
 My position is simple (may be, to simple), I have never had one of my guns (of any design) run off and go on a shooting spree! The Dallas Cowboys just had one of their players killed in a drunk driving accident. He was a passenger in a vehicle driven by a team mate who was drunk!. No one has come out to cars, just the opposite, they are seeking legal action against the driver of the car! Individuals need to be held responsible for their actions.......no matter what they are!

Bill

Great point Bill. Our democratic society has allowed children to have the same rights as adults with out any upbringing! There is getting to be less discipline by parents and other authority figures because it is deemed child abuse by our government! We need to teach morals to our society!  Phil

[trb136]

This year will mark my 17th Year as a Gamewarden here in NC, and in those 17 years i have never, ever checked a hunter using an AR-15, Thats not to say it doesnt happen but I have never seen it, with that said this government needs to deal with the real issues such as RESPONSIBILITY...the mental health issue and care for people that need it, We all know what the problem is and its not Guns, If anyone believes for a second that someone that has bad intentions will not carry out those intentions jus bc of stricter gun laws is living in a fantasy land, I have encounted dozens of convicted felons that were in possession of a firearm, They cannot possess one at all but that sure didnt stop them..I am not sure what the solution to this issue will be , but I dont think someone with bad intentions will not carry them out bc we put in place stricter gun laws...

[mikey715]

You hit it !!!  The Mental Health Issue.........That is the problem,most people's insurance doesnt even paid for it!! Something needs to be done about the care for these people! They are sick and dont know what they are doing or what they have done! The article below is my neighbor across the street,good kid,something just snapped........Its a shame...

http://www.tulsaworld.com/specialprojects/news/crimewatch/article.aspx?subjectid=450&articleid=20121006_450_0_ATulsa322403

[rocfish13]

I think what most people want is to assualt rifles. I have never had much experience with assualt rifles, only shot one my buddy had. It definitely was a gun you could put out alot of lead in a blick of the eye. I really don't think it was what I would use for hunting. To me it was a gun made to kill people.  One of main things people are upset about, also, is the ease that someone can get a gun, in alot of states. No back ground check at all. Just fill out a form, and it's yours. You can lie all you want on the form. Also, I know people are in control of the guns and it's a direct reflection on todays society in America about what is going on. Too much senseless violence everywhere you look. TV, music, and video games. And as for mental health care, this kid was getting mental health care, and was living a pampered life. Did you see the house he lived in? His mother was the one responsible for getting the guns for him. She should have realized that her son was not responsible enough to have these weapons, especially unsupervised. Isn't it ironic that the guns she got for her son, probably to keep his spoiled butt happy, ended up being the guns that took her life. I just pray that we all can come up with something that wiil save lives and let us keep our heritage.   Gary     

[savduck]

I think it's more than a mental health issue, but you are right its a People issue. Everyone over the age of 18 that can pass a back ground check can buy a gun. That's all it takes.

We have to have a year of training and pass a test to get a drivers license. To hunt, many states require hunter safety training and apprenticing before we can buy a license. A doctor has to have many years of school training and so many hours of lab time under the eye of a senior doctor before they are certified. Why can't we require more to get a weapon. Guns are'nt an issue with guys like us, guns are the issue when idiots get hold of them......just like every other object..cars, scissors, baseball bats, etc. Heck, there are some prisoners that have killed each other with a shank made up of rolled up toilet paper. Just because you have the right to own a firearm doesn't mean your competent enough to own one.

I myself, even though I trust my children around my guns, because I expose, teach, and hold them accountable around my weapons, will be getting a safe instead of the glass gun cabinet I own now. I feel that is my duty as a responsible gun owner. I'll be the only one with the combo. It will keep anyone out of the that doesnt belong.

We don't need to guns, we need to control idiots.

[B-Ready]

Sorry you can't crazy! The second Amendment is not important until it is taken away. Unfortunately theses mentally Ill people must first commit a heinous crime before they can get the help they need. At that point it's to late. I'm with Bill... My guns have never gone off on there own and done anything wrong. These  horrific events like Sandy Hook, the Anti's use this opportunity to go after guns instead of dealing with real issues that cause people to do theses unthinkable acts of crime.

[strutnrut]

http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/mass-shootings-rise-us/story?id=17978004
This is a good read but you sure don't see this in the HeadLines
"In 49 of the 61 cases the gunmen obtained the weapons legally, and the majority of those weapons used were semi-automatic. Forty three of the 61 killers were white males, and one was a female, according to the list. The murders happened in 30 states around the country, and just under half of them were school or workplace shootings,"

During this 30 year period we have seen a decline in families, morals, discipline in school, lack of proper punishment in the court system and turning away from God in our Government. The current fools we have in charge jumped straight to the BAND GUNS bandwagon(1994-2004). Well it didn't work out nor stop the Columbine High shooting (1999) or the DC Sniper shootings(2002).
This is the bottom line is: Another gun band like the one we had in the past is like pissing on a forrest fire. As long as we have trees they will be fires.  Banding so called Assualt Rifles WILL NOT remove all of the AK's , AR's nor any of the 100 other military type weapons or the magazine that hold 10 plus rounds from current inventory. All it will do is make them more expensive. Does this mean we shouldn't do something.  NO,  but you have to understand the problem to fix the problem and I don't think that OUR Government can see past their back pockets. The NRA will spend Millions for those votes. Ammo Companies are turning up the conveyors and the Gun Companies are working overtime.  You wait and see.

Ask your self this: WHY is the Colorado Movie Shooter STILL BREATHING
I spent 30 years in or working for the military to ensure you have that Right. I don't see the need (military style wpns)but I do see the RIGHTS TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS

[savduck]

Sorry you can't crazy! The second Amendment is not important until it is taken away. Unfortunately theses mentally Ill people must first commit a heinous crime before they can get the help they need. At that point it's to late. I'm with Bill... My guns have never gone off on there own and done anything wrong. These  horrific events like Sandy Hook, the Anti's use this opportunity to go after guns instead of dealing with real issues that cause people to do theses unthinkable acts of crime.

I stand with you guys against not banning any guns. I guess my main point was not all shooters have mental handicaps. They are as sane as you and I. They however have a lack of moral judgement or care for the fella man. There are measures we can take to limit people that aren't responsible enough to have them.

[merocustomcalls]

I think this case is more of an example of responsible gun ownership than anything else.  This young man did try to purchase a gun and was denied during the background check process, the system worked.  Each new day brings more news stories of how mentally unstable this guy really was.  His mother did the right thing by only letting him shoot with her supervision but she obviously did not store the guns properly and he shot her while she slept.  Could a gun safe have prevented this tragedy?  Quite possible. 

I think the anti-gun people out there are focused on the vehicle itself.....the gun.  Could this attack have been as severe if the young man used a knife or bow and arrow instead of an AR-15?  Probably not.  The gun made it much easier to carry out this attack.  The anti-gun people feel the solution is to get rid of guns entirely instead of seeking measures to keep them out of irresponsible hands. 

[West Augusta]

A similar school attack happened with a knife a few years ago in China. Ban knives next?

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2010/05/china_under_pressure.html

[savduck]

An even more tragic event happened on 9/11/01 using box cutters and airplanes. 2753 Americans lost their lives. Neither of those assault weapons have been banned.