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Frustrated Obama challenges voters to support changes in gun laws

Friday, October 2nd 2015 - 06:34 UTC
Full article 53 comments

A visibly frustrated President Barack Obama said on Thursday that thoughts and prayers are no longer enough as Americans respond to another deadly school shooting, and he challenged voters wanting to deal with the problem to vote for elected officials who will do something. Read full article

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  • Clyde15

    I really cannot understand the American obsession with guns and their“right” to carry them.
    This right to bear arms was written into the Constitution at the time when there was no standing army and the fledgeling USA was pushing it's frontiers west -to the detriment of the indigenous populations. Defence was in the hands of local militias -“minute men”.
    Those days are long gone and it is time they “grew up”

    Surely with a standing army, national guard and armed police, this should be enough to ensure the safety of the citizens.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 09:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @1 Sadly it will not change as the gun lobby is too powerful in the U.S. However, if they were to put a low limit on campaign funding the gun lobby could lose that power and more sensible gun laws would be possible.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 09:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    #1.......I understand that you cannot understand, it's something breed into us, just as it is bred into bred into you that you can never be head of state.....or special, royal. 320 million Americans, how many brits are on on the island? Do you honestly believe that every American possesses a gun? I spent my life with guns and now I want nothing to do with them, as does most Americans. However I disagree with Elaine because I believe that we are reaching a tipping point.

    Personally Elaine I prefer to see publicly financed elections, but SCOTUS screwed the pooch and allowed endless contributions.

    Yeah Clyde, don't think every American runs around with guns, cowboy hats and boots......nor wants no gun control.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @4 I agree that the majority of Americans would like to see greater gun controls. The problem is the minority are represented by the gun lobby that have disproportionate power. Nay, huge power in D.C.

    You know I spend a lot of time in the U.S. - I will be flying there this weekend for the rest of the month - and I agree they are not all running around with guns. Of course, you hit the nail on the head when you say the right is inculcated from birth but still the majority would like to see much greater control over that right.

    Incidentally, pretty much anyone can marry in to the Royal family now, even Catholics and divorcees though personally I think they would be mad to want to do so. The real power is with Parliament and anyone can strive to be Prime Minister. My point is that to compare the President to The Queen is not really valid.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 11:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    I was merely stating that as a point of what one society is accustomed to from birth. Of course, I do not care for the casual attitude of guns in my society. There are just so many factors that go into it. What always amazed me is that the majority of gun toters are from non major urban areas and far from well off. These are the ones whom drink the GOP's cool aid. They do so by creating the unfounded fear that Uncle Sam is coming for your guns. Heaven forbid if we try to determine if Joe Blow who wants a Uzi has a psychiatric background before we hand him a military weapon.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 11:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    United States is the country of slaughter. Great FIRST WORLD!

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 11:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @5 Yeah, I get what you are saying. If people are inculcated from birth it seems the norm. It explains so much.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 12:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    What I cannot understand is why people want hand guns. They are designed for shooting people - not game.
    I was watching a program about a gun store in Texas-I think -and women were coming in to buy small hand guns made up like jewellery ! It had to match their clothes and accessories. Madness !
    Others were buying up to 6 guns at a time. For sale were semi-automatic weapons, large calibre rifles which could stop an elephant. Some idiot asked if he could fit a grenade launcher onto his M16 !
    It also made the fact that there were more guns in the USA than people.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 12:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @1. In reality, the people of the United Kingdom had the right to bear arms until the Pistols Act 1903. A right that needs to be reinstated. What happens when you call the police to report that you're being attacked? In England and Wales, a recorded message says “All our operators are busy. Please hold the line. Your call is important to us”. A car may arrive the next day. In Scotland, I believe a car sets off immediately to some address that suits the constables. In both areas, health and safety of personnel comes first.
    @3,5. I see no real problem with owning and/or carrying guns. How many people own and/or use something lethal? In countries such as the UK and USA, the level of ownership is between 30 and 50 per 100 people. And that's just one item. The car (automobile). Then there's the kitchen knives. The tools in the garage and shed.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 12:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @8 That's what I mean by inculcated. If you think it is the norm it is not shocking at all. I hope we never get to the point where we can pick up guns in a supermarket, as is possible in the U.S. But by far the majority of people in the U.S. do not tote guns as an accessory. This is a sad situation where a small but powerful lobby has control.

    People will argue that if you want to get a gun in the U.K. you can get one but I don't think we should make it easy or legal.

    Not incidentally, far more people are killed in accidental shootings in the U.S than by murderers. A large proportion are children.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 01:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Clyde....there is the northeast, west, south....and then there is Texas. That's all I will say about Texas......lol. Oh.....W was from Texas...

    I have no issue with anyone owning guns as well. As for carrying them in restaurants and bars........no fucking way. The wild west is over. What I do want to see in my country is a reasonable waiting period and a background check and mandatory safety training. It should be a flag when someone goes into a store and buys 9 rifles and needs them NOW! Last minute group hunting trip?

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 01:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    Just to continue my previous comment. We are, apparently, about to allow another 20,000 “somethings” into OUR country. 10-12% of the current population of the UK shouldn't be HERE. As has been seen, these migrants don't believe in law and order. Only in rioting and violence. Why do WE need guns? WE need guns to keep our country. WE can be reasonable. First shot at the feet is a warning. Second shot is fire for effect. The local authority can clear up the muck the next day.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 02:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FarmBoy

    Most Americans do want guns thats why we can still have them. It is not a minority lobby that is making it so. Where I am from in the country most people have multiple guns. No one forced them to buy the guns, no lobby was involved. Because a guy did a crazy thing with one we dont ban guns. We dont ban cars, knives or blunt objects when they are used in crimes either.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 02:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    From what I have seen in the US the gun thing is driven by fear. If they brought in strict laws about guns and guns were taken away its only the law abiding that would hand in their guns leaving the criminals and nutters with guns. I can quite understand Americans desire for guns.
    In Britain we have progressivly banned guns and there are no handguns whatsoever exect just a few in the hands of criminals. Rifles have very strict controls. Automatic weapons are banned and you have to have a legitimate need for a shotgun which is subject to checks, kept in a locked cupboard and there are background checks. So our gun control is pretty good.
    In America the genie is out of the bottle and the way I see it they just have to get used to frequent massacres. If they want to become more civilised and safe they have to gradually exert a squeeze on gun ownership over a period of years. They could make a start by banning automatic weapons and handguns able to fire more than 6 shots and bang up anyone hanging on to such deadly weapons.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 03:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    1 in 3 Americans own guns. Do you count corn on the farm or sit on it? Try another sn before that one gets deleted as well.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 04:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Problem Voice, is that you don't see the issue from both angles.
    Should you apply your Intergalactic Global Express 3 on this matter, you'd see the problem from both sides...

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 05:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    8
    The UK is not the US....there is very little in the UK to maul or bite you....
    Not so in the US ...they've got mountain lions..bears...rattlers and copperheads...
    At least a handgun may frighten a bear...
    They will outrun, out-swim and out-climb you...
    The locals say...if it's Brown lie down...it it's Black fight back....coz it will eat you....
    btw.....apart from the mountain lion, I was taking about what I've seen in my yard (garden) in PA....

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 05:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    17 Pelotudo, so you need a machine gun or Glock to protect you? Twat.. Shows how little you know about America. Liar.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 06:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    Just to put a little actual FACTUAL information into this somewhat frenzied topic.

    1) The UK banned short barrelled rim and centre fire pistols.

    Long barrelled pistols r/f and c/f ARE still LEGAL, I had both on my Section 1 FAC until I retired (0.22r/f and 0.357 Mag c/f), sold them and came to Uruguay. I used them for top level PISTOL target shooting competitions.

    2) When the two firearms amendment acts were passed post Dunblane (due to Northern Constabulary ignoring their own officers wishes to remove the FAC of Thomas Hamilton because of his unstable character) and as we in the shooting community had predicted, crimes involving banned guns tripled.

    You see, when you ban guns only the police (incompetent on so many levels with guns), the army (who cannot shoot, they WANT them to injure the enemy it takes soldiers to tend for them) and CRIMINALS who NEVER obeyed the law in the first place are left with guns!

    3) In the US it is a FACT that states that allow concealed carry (of pistols) have the LOWEST violence against the person and shooting deaths of civilians (as distinct to armed robbers). Do any of you understand why this is so, it's VERY easy to predict: why would any robber RISK a member of the public taking out his gun and shooting him dead? EQUALLY, in states that prohibit the carrying of firearms why would a robber BE frightened, he KNOWS only another criminal would carry a gun, law abiding citizens are sitting ducks!

    It is very easy to understand why Captain Poppy has the attitude he has: he has seen FIRST HAND the destruction that firearms are capable of in the hands of other humans. It's the human that kills, not the guns.

    Being taught gun safety by a family member may work, it did for me, but he KNEW what was required. “Sitting by Nellie” to learn a job is not acceptable with gun safety, their are too many nellies in the US in my actual EXPERIENCE.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 06:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    Education, perhaps.
    being educated on the dangers , raise the age limit, reduce the power you can obtain,

    after all, it is humans that kill, weapons are just that, weapons, and used by humans just look around the world,

    just a tiny impute.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Voice

    18
    I'm saying...as most of the US is rural...it's a way of life for them...
    I was offered a handgun, because I like to venture into the wilderness which is seamless to where I occasionally live. The relatives think I'm insane to venture unarmed....
    ...and they are probably right...
    Also every stranger is potentially an armed stranger...are they friendly are they balanced, do they want what I have...?
    The skinny little runt in the pickup is assessed differently in the US and the bright stainless steel box in the back is a giveaway....

    Not a place for you Grandpa The Voice..wouldn't stand much chance with your Zimmer Frame...

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 07:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    U.S.A. has had 142 school shootings since Sandy Hook 3 years ago.

    U.K. has had 0 school shootings since Dunblane 20 years ago.

    We changed the gun laws.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 07:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    Pistols have to kept in gun club premises in the UK. You cant keep them in your home. Sporting use of guns is legitimate but why do Yanks need machine guns and Glocks? Please explain? Are the bears armed? Its all willy waving.

    As for the prize pelotudo @21, wandered the wilderness in Maine, Louisianna, Utah many times and could see you off up any of those little bumps you have up there any day fatso. Why dont you venture where they have proper mountains?

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 07:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    I once came across a black bear with two cubs up in the Shenandoah Mountains. She was leaning against my hire car. I was unarmed. We both came away from the experience unharmed.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 08:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    You will never get Americans to accept gun control laws. You might as well try to change the law of physics and make it possible for two masses to occupy the same space.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 08:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    An inverted version of the Enterprise Global 3 Express would do just that, rc....

    Ilsen!

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 08:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Try that with a brownie.....aka a grizzly.

    I am not for outlawing guns in my country. However, I see no reason why civilians need to own Uzi's, mac-10s, M-60s, 50 cals.....it's out of hand. It's funny that here in the USA, the radical right plays into the fears of the gun owners, mostly modest class and working class, by telling them “they are coming for your ghuns, but we will protect your right to keep them”. Why do they do this? How the hell else can you get the working class to support the GOP who in turn caters to the wealthy elite?

    You can have smart controls and ownership existing together.

    “You will never get Americans to accept gun control laws.”

    Are you really not aware of that this is one of the causes of the USA's polarized society? I would not bet your life on that statement if I were you. And, if Obama had any balls, rather than crying...“I am so angry”, he would make a paln, submit it to the house. If it is not allowed on the floor for a vote, that there is the GOP's fault and he can tell the USA..........they do not care to protect you, only start wars and scare you that terrorists will kill you as 30k a year die with guns by criminals. How many American terrorist deaths?

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 08:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ElaineB

    @27 Haha! No thanks. The black bears were quite enough. I was a little worried until a couple of old folks walked near to where I was standing. I figured that if it came to it I could probably out run them especially as one of them was using a walking stick.

    You are right that the NRA uses fear to bolster its campaign. Restrictions are interpreted as a total ban. And people never like the idea of something being taken away from them.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 09:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • FarmBoy

    There are plenty of gun laws in the US already. The Supreme Court has already limited what scope such laws can have. So much so that all, or almost all, states now allow concealed carry.
    I think more spending on mental health services would be a good investment.

    Oct 02nd, 2015 - 09:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ilsen

    @26 Stevie
    Stop trying to provoke me, your neediness should give your therapist months of work.

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 03:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Marcos Alejandro

    12 Conqueror
    “ these migrants don't believe in law and order. Only in rioting and violence”
    Indeed!
    Half-British gunman killed 9 in US..
    Lucero Alcaraz, 19, of Roseburg

    Quinn Glen Cooper, 19, of Roseburg

    Kim Saltmash Dietz, 59, of Roseburg

    Lucal Eibel, 18, of Roseburg

    Jason Dale Johnson, 33, of Winston

    Lawrence Levine, 67, of Glide

    Sarena Dawn Moore, 44, of Myrtle Creek

    Treven Taylor Anspach, 20, of Sutherlin

    Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18, of Myrtle Creek

    Rest in peace.

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 03:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    ilsen
    You only say that because you want the inventions for yourself....

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 08:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #31
    He was brought up, educated in the USA and obviously approved of their gun laws

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 10:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Another example of anyone in my country's government and legislature refusing to do anything to at the very least curb this plague whatever is the root cause. What a few weeks and we will probably have another example.

    He was also a military reject......30 days and out.

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 03:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Heisenbergcontext

    I watched Obama's speech and found myself nodding every few seconds in acknowledgement. After the Sandy Hook massacre he spent the entire subsequent evening with the families of the victims, with no media representatives around. It must of been a harrowing experience. His frustration is understandable.

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 04:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    United States is in its final days. Rome also itself destroyed.

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 05:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    An interesting thought.

    Is Obama whiter than white on this (pardon the pun)?

    What has he said about black gun crime on black folks all the time he has been President? Not much in reality yet that type of crime is very prevalent in the poorer areas of the States and nobody takes any notice or even seems to care.

    When Obama came to the Presidency I was very hopeful he would be able to make real changes in the American society but apart from Medicare (which has a variable result depending who writes the column) I am struggling to think of anything big. I was the same with Mujica in Uruguay and I was equally downcast with him as I am with Obama.

    BTW ElaineB the change to gun laws did not reduce gun crime, the HO kicking the arses of Chief Constables to actually do something about gun crime did.

    Do you really think that criminals would stop using guns under the new laws when they use automatics which have been banned since the thirties? Come on, even you can't be that block headed even though you “know what you think despite the facts otherwise”.

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 05:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    It's not so much to stop criminals from accessing weapons, that itself is impossoble. However, we, at least me would like to prevent someone leaving a nuthouse, driving down their “road a piece”, buying a few Bushmasters, and working off their problems on others. There are a lot of states that have no control of that happening.

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 11:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    Nostril @36 shut up.. Your country is in its final days. Patagonia is going for independence soon. Hillary Swink is leading the charge and Santos Dumas in organising things with Cizneros. Havent you heard?

    Oct 03rd, 2015 - 11:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Kudos Voice.......there are times I find his ignorance beyond responding. These immature kids seem to think that by saying things.....they will happen....or others will say them too.

    Oct 04th, 2015 - 04:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Try sorting an average of more than one school shooting a day with independence...
    Or better yet, ask Mrs. Swink for a solution...

    Hahahaha!!

    Oct 04th, 2015 - 08:04 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Enrique Massot

    Real sad, recurrent events for the United States.
    In spite of its huge power, the country remains significantly backwards in its health care system, its treatment of minorities, and its stubbornness to remain a victim of itself by refusing to take dangerous death instruments from the hands of its citizens.
    I did find excellent this thought from Cptn. Poppy @27:
    “...in the USA, the radical right plays into the fears of the gun owners, mostly modest class and working class...
    ”How the hell else can you get the working class to support the GOP who in turn caters to the wealthy elite?”
    Spot on, Captain.

    Oct 04th, 2015 - 09:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    @ 38 Captain Poppy

    Even if the states went down the road of “mild” action such as requiring guns to be registered and the owners having to agree to the approvals authority having access to their medical records to verify their mental soundness it would all fall down on the record keeping, at least that is what is happening in the UK.

    The UK has these requirements set into law since before Dunblane: it used to be done by individual Police Forces with paper records. You can picture the result for yourself. Dunblane changes required it all to be computerised.

    I was well known in the UK shooting community and used to travel throughout the country either shooting in competitions or undertaking the training courses on behalf of the NRA (of the UK of course) for approved range control officers. I would take a number of firearms from my extensive working firearm collection together with my firearm certificates which had all the data showing the identity of each and the number (where applicable).

    Did the system work when crossing into another county? NO. Does the computerised system work better? NO, only this time it's down to the lag between forces putting the information on it when sales or purchases are made and that can take weeks.

    Up to that point the buyer has a handwritten entry made by the seller (with his FAC No on it) and the seller has no record on his ticket to the sale other than in his own handwriting.

    So there are still loopholes in a system that took from 1996 (Dunblane) until 2010 (when the computer was first used) and I sold all my guns. Brilliant eh?

    But here's the real problem. There were about 57,000 authorised firearm certificate holders who had pistols in the whole of the UK before the ban AND the police KNEW where they were because they were legally held and on FACs.

    How on earth is the US going to cope with their situation in any meaningful way? And what about the illegal firearms? It will take decades and cause immense bad will.

    Oct 04th, 2015 - 12:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/shooting-in-oregon-11-essential-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-america/#1

    Chris you seem to understand the uniqueness (good or bad) of the relationship of state and nation in the USA, unlike the hispanics here who think they do know the USA, they know what they are told or can google. That pesky assed 10th amendment!

    Guns are never going to leave the USA and I for one would never support that. How they are acquired and to whom will. Perhaps not today or tomorrow but it will. Do an analyses of states, gun laws and mass shooting or even murders. Tough laws will not and do not guarantee no mass shooting, but there is a correlation:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/shooting-in-oregon-11-essential-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-america/#1

    The issue itself is not just a gun issue, it's a multitude of factors. The “easy” answer is the obvious choice but not necessary the actual source of the problem. As there are so many economists, political advisors, ecology scientists, business titans, rich and wealthy who post here, they will all have the answers to the problem. The paradox os mass shootings is that it contradicts the current trend of general violent crimes decreasing in the USA while these events are rising. A few things are certain is that these shooters tend to be young.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/shooting-in-oregon-11-essential-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-america/#1

    Chances are that I will not post again on this article. Many things of my country I disagree with. These events have me outright ashamed. I will let you guys solve our cancer. After all, amid the insults, mud slinging and all else the Islanders, Brits and Argies do, your all as effective as the UN. Go at it.

    Oct 04th, 2015 - 02:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Captain
    With all respect, I hope you guys find a solution to the problem.
    There is nothing to mock in the current situation. Believe it or not, if there any problems where I focus more on the solution than on the ones guilty, is when there are kids involved.
    I too feel ashamed, as a human being. Without pointing any fingers.

    Oct 04th, 2015 - 04:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    in all fairness,
    the only people on this planet that can change America, is AMERICANS,

    the world has but an opinion,
    but Americans must and will deal with this problem,

    and I am confidant of that.

    Oct 04th, 2015 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brasileiro

    For now the Americans should not throw their weapons away. Especially now that Brazil, Russia, China and India have joined militarily to overthrow the Islamic state and the rebels who oppose Bashar al Assad.

    Oct 05th, 2015 - 11:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @47 Brasileiro

    You need to keep taking the medication as you are delusional.

    Russia, China and India would never join forces militarily, not even to 'overthrow' Islamic state. India is constantly on guard against China, a country which is trying to steal large swathes of Indian territory. The last time they clashed the Chinese were sent home after a good shoeing.

    Russia is indeed propping up Assad, but that may change when they start losing military to the Islamic state. All IS need is one good strike against them.

    As for Brazil. What is Brazil doing militarily against anyone?

    Captain Poppy.

    I personally have never understood why anyone would want to own a gun. I served in the British Army, and have fired weapons in anger, and it isn't a pleasant feeling or thing to have to do. However, if that is what the majority of US citizens want then it is their choice. I do agree with you that there needs to be more thorough background checks.

    Most of the mass shootings in the US are done by people who have legally acquired weapons, but obvious mental health issues, which if more robust checks were in place would've meant they probably would never been allowed a permit for the weapons.

    Another thing I can't understand is why some US citizens want semi-automatic assault rifles.

    I discussed this with a (IMO mentally challenged) NRA supporter who stated that semi and fully automatic assault weapons should be available to any US citizen because they would need them to overthrow the government!

    I did try to point out that the US was a democracy, and therefore it was the people in the US that made the choices, but he seemed confused as to what democracy actually was. He thought democracy was what he said it should be, and that anyone who disagreed with him was a traitor!

    Well I suppose you get nutters like him in every country.

    Oct 06th, 2015 - 04:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Hepatia

    Living in liberty comes at a certain price. That is all you enslaved Brits need to know.

    A valid question for any Americans that may happen to stumble across this site is whether, in the age of the Internet and NSA malfeasance, the rights afforded by the gun laws represent the liberty we think they do.

    Oct 07th, 2015 - 01:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Clyde15

    #49
    You have a peculiar notion of liberty if you think that allowing any nut job to acquire automatic weapons and cut loose whenever he feels like it.
    Ask the Afro Americans in the South if they think they live in a land of liberty.

    Enslaved Brits. Take a course in the English language before you peddle guff like that.
    It is just another symptom of your complete anti-British attitude on ALL matters. Are we still waiting on your 25 years or will you deduct the 3 years from it since you started your automatic post.

    Your other idea of liberty is to hand over the Falklands to a country that has no right to it but covets it.

    Oct 07th, 2015 - 06:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Hepatia

    http://en.mercopress.com/2015/10/02/frustrated-obama-challenges-voters-to-support-changes-in-gun-laws#comment416650: Our liberty is not based upon “allowing any nut job to acquire automatic weapons and cut loose whenever he feels like it.” That is a cost of liberty.

    I have never said that the return of the Malvinas by the UK within the next 25 years is consistent with liberty. Indeed I have never said that it should happen. I have said that it will happen. There is a difference.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 01:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Voice

    51 Nutjob, the Falkland Islands were never Argentinas and you are wrong. Read Camerons lips… You got humiliated last time you illegally invaded, next time you attack our territory you will be punished.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 08:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Vestige

    Some of the configurations available to american public go far beyond anything needed for any law abiding purposes.
    The right to bear arms was designed at a time of ye olde black powderey muskets.

    The trend will continue unless there is a realistic update to restriction laws outlawing compact/folding, and/or high capacity, high caliber weapons.

    GB and Australia being good examples of what to implement.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 11:15 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Briton

    I have said that it will happen. There is a difference.

    Argies say lots of things
    and it never happens,
    and neither will yours.

    Oct 08th, 2015 - 06:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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